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Dublin honors Black History Banner recipients and names employee of the year
Summary
The Dublin City Council honored three Black History Banner recipients—Reverend Richard Earl Sheffield, Pauline Latimore Smith and Anne M. Smith—and recognized Nicholas Dixon as employee of the year during its Dec. 11 meeting; council invited families to a reception and explained the banner application process.
Council members opened the Dec. 11 meeting with a Black History Banner ceremony recognizing community leaders whose banners will hang downtown and on Madison Street from Jan. 1–March 1. Valia Burke (V. Marie) introduced the awardees and named committee members who reviewed public nominations.
Reverend Richard Earl Sheffield was honored for his civil‑rights activism beginning in the 1960s, including protests, boycotts and legal actions that the introducer said helped secure fair hiring and voting access. Sheffield thanked the council and community and spoke briefly at the podium.
The family of Pauline Latimore Smith recalled her founding of Paula's Fried Chicken on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and her role in creating jobs, mentoring youth and feeding the hungry. Speakers noted the restaurant’s ongoing role in local culture and civic life.
Anne M. Smith was recognized for long service as an educator, civil‑rights advocate and community builder; family members recounted her work with the NAACP and local youth programs. Presenters said banner applications will be distributed around the start of the new year and invited the public to submit nominations.
Separately, the council announced Nicholas Dixon as employee of the fourth quarter and employee of the year for 2025, praising his seven years in the accounting department and his work on accounts payable and vendor relations.
Council members closed the presentation portion by inviting honorees and attendees to light refreshments in the front lobby and encouraging residents to apply for future banner nominations.
