By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The West End Community in Clanton honored three people for their lasting contributions to helping others during the fourth annual May Day celebration on May 12.

This year’s honorees were Olivia Washington, Melvin Hunter and Elizabeth Hill.

Greg DeJarnett, West End Neighborhood Watch member, said the honorees were selected based on individuals who “had made a significant contribution to the well-being of this community throughout the years.”

Hunter was a pastor in the community for 25 years.

“He has a servant’s heart,” DeJarnett said. “He is the type of a person that even if you did not attend Union (Baptist Church) back at the time that he was serving as minister, he still provided you with minister’s care and concern.”

DeJarrnett said Hunter had been his pastor when he was a child and young adult. After DeJarrnett went off to college at the University of Montevallo, Hunter would visit him on campus.

“He always encouraged me as a young man … he was the kind of person that never forgot you and would try to help you in any way he knew within his power,” DeJarrnett said. “He also believed in empowering people, which meant the status quo was never enough when I was growing up at Union.”

DeJarnett said it was Hunter that encouraged him to pursue his doctorate degree. Even though Hunter is retired, DeJarnett said Hunter continues to care for and serve the community.

After receiving the award, he said his grandfathers, who were both pastors, were his example for how to serve people and work in ministry.

Hunter thanked those involved in putting the event together and for honoring him.

Jessie Binion, West End Neighborhood Watch member, presented Hill with her award on behalf of another member who could not attend, but described Hill as one of the kindest people she knew.

Hill also worked with the Community Action organization for several years assisting those who could not pay their utility bills.

Hill thanked the Neighborhood Watch for selecting her.

“What God puts on our hearts to do we should do, and (that is) what I have done in my life,” Hill said.

Francine Lewis presented Washington, whom many in the community call Mama Washington, with her award.

“When I moved here, she treated me like one of her own,” Lewis said. “She treated you kindly. She treated you with discipline if you needed discipline … She had that total respect of everyone in the community.”

Lewis said Washington is a humble person who does not talk about the contributions she has made to the community, “but I know what she has done for me and my family … there is a lot that she has done for me.”

“Thank you, this is a blessing,” Washington said.

She thanked the members in the community who had impacted her life.

Washington said although she was not a Clanton native when she moved into West End “we came with a desire to do what we could for the community.”

“To the young people that are here, do your best and make sure your best is acceptable to God,” Washington said.

She encouraged the young people to respect the adults, and the adults to respect the young people.

“Our neighborhood is growing and we are still tackling problems, but we can do it together,” Washington said. “We cannot do it apart.”

The West End Neighborhood Watch also announced four scholarship winners in its annual scholarship program. The recipients were not able to attend, but parents received checks on behave of the two local students. The other recipients have ties to the West End community, but live out of state.