10/29/2025
🌟 St. Luke’s Health-Memorial Lufkin celebrates community excellence at Sarah's Hope Standing on the Shoulders banquet! 🌟
We were honored to be among the many supporters at Sarah’s Hope's third annual banquet, a truly inspiring night celebrating East Texas leaders who embody exceptional service through their work, volunteerism, and philanthropy.
The theme, "You are your ancestors' wildest dreams," beautifully set the tone as we honored boards of educators from public schools and community colleges. As organizers shared, "We honor those who have come before us, paid the price, risked their lives, and made sacrifices to be where we are today." What a powerful reminder of the shoulders we stand on!
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the incredible honorees, each a beacon of dedication and inspiration:
Lacy B. Chimney: A warrior, fighter for justice, community leader, educator, and a man of excellent family values.
Johnny Giles: Attributing his success to family, church, and school, he had a distinguished career, including 20 years as assistant superintendent for Lufkin ISD.
Dr. LaTonya Goffney: A trailblazer, the first African American superintendent for Coldspring-Oakhurst CISD, Lufkin ISD, and now Aldine ISD.
Joe Deason: Cum laude graduate of Prairie View A&M, U.S. Army commissioned officer and Vietnam veteran, teacher, coach, counselor, principal, and dedicated member of several community boards.
Kenneth Williams: A Dunbar and Prairie View Interscholastic League Hall of Famer, and the first Black City Manager of Beaumont, Diboll, and Buda, with service as assistant city manager in Lufkin.
Barbara Thompson: A dedicated community leader, advocate, former Main Street Director, and recipient of many awards, whose faith guides her commitment to uplifting others.
Dr. Monica Peters Clark: A passionate leader, educator, and community advocate with over 25 years of experience, currently Director of Business Engagement for Dynamic Workforce Solutions.
Sellestine Hunt: Retired Associate Dean with 45 years in higher education, now a realtor, continuing her lifelong passion for serving others.
Dr. Patricia McKenzie: Committed a lifetime to education, public service, health care, and community, including serving on the board of Memorial Health Systems of East Texas since 1972. Spending much of her career at Angelina College where she was a nursing instructor, Dean of Instruction and Vice President.
Willie Rogers: An accomplished artist and musician, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, and a 26-year veteran of Angelina College, leaving a legacy of technological innovation.
Johnnie Ross: A Lufkin High basketball standout, magna cm laude graduate of Wiley College, first African American supervisor for the Lufkin office, and fifth-degree black belt in American Taekwondo.
Gloria Gilder: A pioneer in library science, who, guided by her faith, bravely took a position at Angelina College during a tumultuous time and held it for 31 years as the first and only African American woman in that role.
A special thank you to guest speaker Pastor Lawyer Curtis Jolley, who shared his inspiring educational journey, becoming the first in his family to earn a degree and later the first African American Plant Manager in Chevron Phillips Chemical Company's history.
Sarah’s Hope empowers youth through education, performing arts, and history, focusing on student achievement and historical preservation. We are proud to support their vital work in our community!
