Montgomery County will honor eight outstanding African American community leaders with Living Legend Awards during its annual Juneteenth celebration weekend.
The awards ceremony will take place at 11am on Saturday, June 20, at the BlackRock Center for the Arts in Germantown. Hosted by the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights and the County Executive’s African American Advisory Group, the event will recognize individuals whose lifetime achievements have strengthened the community through leadership, public service, advocacy, education, faith, business, and civic engagement.
County Executive Marc Elrich will present the awards to this year’s honorees: LeCount Davis, The Honorable William L. England Jr., Juanita Goudy, Gladys Hawkins Lyons, Reverend C. Glenn Taylor, Patricia Ann Tyson, Millie West-Wiggins, and Joann Snowden Woodson.
“The African American Living Legend Award honorees represent the vast talents, skills, knowledge, and wisdom of Montgomery County’s African American community,” Elrich said. “Through decades of service, advocacy, and leadership, they have expanded opportunities, strengthened neighborhoods, and helped make our area a better place to live.”
This year’s recipients represent a wide range of contributions across Montgomery County. Their accomplishments include advancing financial literacy and mentorship, serving in education and public service, preserving local history, advocating for civil rights, supporting faith communities, and strengthening neighborhoods through decades of volunteerism and leadership.
Among the honorees is LeCount Davis, a nationally recognized financial planner who became the first African American in the United States to earn the Certified Financial Planner designation. Juanita Goudy is being recognized for more than four decades of service in education, while Patricia Ann Tyson is honored for her efforts to preserve the history of the historic Lyttonsville community.
Other recipients include retired administrative law judge and Human Rights Commission Chair William L. England Jr.; longtime educator and community servant Gladys Hawkins Lyons; pastor and community leader Reverend C. Glenn Taylor; civil rights advocate Millie West-Wiggins; and historian and Clarksburg community leader Joann Snowden Woodson.
Following the awards ceremony, Montgomery County’s Juneteenth celebration will continue from 1pm to 10pm at BlackRock Center for the Arts, located at 12901 Town Commons Drive in Germantown. The event will feature cultural performances, educational exhibits, vendors, community activities, and family-friendly entertainment.
The Living Legend Awards ceremony is free and open to the public, though seating is limited.
