Tillery, NC – Some members of the Concerned Citizens of Tillery (CCT) and friends traveled to Durham, NC to the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on Wednesday, March 16, 2016 to see the stage production of The Lion King.  Departing from the Tillery Community Center at 4:00pm and driven by Robert “Bob” Mack on the RRRC Eco-Tour Bus, and prayer for safe journey by CCT board member Doris Taylor Davis, the group made the trip in relatively ease as the traffic was really light until getting into Durham. Arriving just shortly after 6:00pm, everyone, especially the seniors, was happy that the bus could just pull up to the main door at the DPAC and unload.
            The show, based on all who attended, was absolutely fantastic.  From our eldest member ninety two year old Theresa Harvey to our youngest member Jasmine Whitaker, granddaughter to CCT Board member Rose Whitaker and Luther Whitaker, there were thrills, chills, suspense, yells and applauses all through the show.  Those who had a sense of fashion talked about the costuming and all talked about the music, dancing and the actors.  Certainly we cannot forget the tiered stage setting and its changes.  It was just an electrifying event and evening.  While there was much delight, Gary R. Grant, CCT executive director, said, “It was just so thrilling to hear the former Nubian Youth singing the songs during the play.” One of the mothers exclaimed, “I guess they did know all the words.  They wore out two DVD’s of The Lion King” growing up!”
            Former Nubian Youth traveled from Greenville, Winston-Salem, and Greensboro to join their parents and the CCT members for the memorable evening.

​Tillery, NC – On Saturday, March 5, 2015 a group of young women known as the “Ladies On The Go” from the Washington, DC Metropolitan area visited the Remembering Tillery History House.  The group contacted the Concerned Citizens of Tillery to see if the Roanoke River Regional Collaborative (RRRC) Tour Bus would be available and could help them design a tour for Saturday as they would be staying on Lake Gaston.
            Gary R. Grant, CCT executive director and part of the RRRC, worked with the leaders of the group to set up a tour that included the Roanoke Cannel, Historic Halifax, the Remembering Tillery History House, and Sylvan Heights Bird Park.  CCT member Cary White, Jr. was the bus driver and picked the ladies up at 10:00am on Saturday, March 5 from the McDaddy House on Lake Gaston to began the tour.  After touring the Remembering Tillery History House, the ladies dined on real country food at the Edmonds Café & Catering at the Resettlement.  They had nothing but compliments as they were awed over the delicious home cooked meal.
            Their response to the tour was that they had learned a lot about North Carolina and Halifax County history, but the potion at the Remembering Tillery History House was “awesome, enlightening, educational and well worth the trip.”  They also stated, “Your (Gary Grant) expertise and knowledge were awesome. Good history!!!”  They agreed that more people need to know the history of the Tillery Resettlement Farm, and they would certainly spread the word.
            On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 during the weekly meeting of the Open Minded Seniors (OMS), Grant says that ninety-three year old Hazel Battle Hendricks called him over to her table and she said to him, “You had a group of ladies from DC here on Saturday, right?”  Grant responded that was true.  She said, “I know because they went back and were talking about their time in Tillery and the History House and just how nice the bus driver and the host at the History House were.  They told of the film (trailer) they saw with this elderly lady talking about the flood of 1940.”  Then she added, “What they did not know was one of the women they were relating the story to was my daughter.”  Wow! She was excited and so were we that such a connection had been made.
         Margie Carter, a leader of the group stated: "The “Ladies On the Go” travel club, based in the Washington D.C. area, was formed in September 2015 with a group of retired ladies (sisters and friends). We wanted to travel together and fellowship with each other. Then later, other ladies, still employed, wanted to travel with us as well. Since most of us are newly retirees, our mission for now, is to travel, relax, have fun, and enjoy our time on this earth. Our goal is to have quarterly weekend trips, travelling to places within 4 hours drive time of the Washington D.C. area. Every other year, we hope to do a “big” trip that could take us anywhere in the United States, and also include international trips.”   Our recent trip to Lake Gaston was such a blessing being exposed to “our” history at the Tillery History House. We're looking forward to upcoming trips, and expanding our mission with assisting and giving back to our community."
          The Remembering Tillery History House Museum is based on the Tillery Resettlement Farm Era of the 1930’s and '40’s when land, under President FDR’s New Deal, was made available for purchase to landless Black and White sharecroppers.  The Tillery Resettlement Farm was one of fifteen resettlement farm communities across the country for African Americans.  The “colored” Tillery Farms was later consolidated with the white section here in Halifax County and they were known as “Roanoke Farms.” They were so named because of the land being along the Roanoke River. The museum also covers the continued struggles of the African American community of Tillery as it carries on its efforts in fighting for social, economic, educational, environmental, and political justice through the Concerned Citizens of Tillery (CCT) organization.
            Due to current funding, the Remembering Tillery History House is open on Tuesdays from 10:00am until 6:00pm, and at all other times by appointment (including weekends).  Those interested in setting up a tour and learning about the Tillery Resettlement New Deal Farms and the Concerned Citizens of Tillery (CCT) should call the CCT office at 252-826-3017 or e-mail tillery@aol.com.  Some information is on the organization’s website at www.cct78.org.