Ms. Mary Harris, President and Chair
Mrs. Harris has been the driving force behind the Wilson County Black History Committee since its founding. She organized the Committee’s efforts to compile, organize, and publish the history of African Americans in Wilson County. Mrs. Harris is a respected leader in the community and maintains the vision for the restoration of Pickett Chapel, which will ultimately serve as the permanent home for an African American History Center & Museum in Wilson County.
Board of Directors listed alphabetically by last name.
Mr. Robert (Bob) Black, Board Member
Bob Black has spent 45 years, after graduating from Texas A&M and SMU, holding senior management positions and building businesses and creating Innovative Sales and Marketing programs for Companies, across the US. He and Pam moved to Lebanon In 2001 to be closer to Family and started a new business Payment Express Systems, which grew to 50 Employee’s with annual revenue of $14mil. In 2010 he purchased the Historic Capitol Theatre on the Square in Lebanon. They began renovations in 2011 and re-opened the Art Deco themed Event Venue in 2012. He sold his company in 2016 and put all his time to the Capitol. They are excited that they were the catalyst to bring more excitement to the Square.
Bob and Pam were honored with the Algernon-Sidney-Sullivan Award for our work in support of Non-Profits in our community. Those activities include: Rotary, New Leash on Life, Historic Lebanon, Habitat for Humanity, Community Foundation of Wilson County, 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center and Wilson County Black History Committee.
Rev. Vincent Harris, Board Member
Vincent Harris is an elder in the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC) serving as Superintendent of the South District. Vincent is a life-long, fourth generation Methodist, born in Lebanon, Tennessee, who entered ministry at age 26. He is a graduate of Tennessee State University (B.S.) in Nashville, Tennessee, Wesley Theological Seminary (M.DIV.) in Washington, D.C., and Houston Graduate School of Theology D.MIN), Houston, Texas. He is also a certified Christian educator in the United Methodist Church. Vincent has served in various capacities of ministry. He served thirteenth years under appointment at Journey of Faith UMC and four years at Riverside UMC. He served 12 years collectively on the Little Rock Conference and Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. He served one quadrennium as a candidacy mentor and Dean of the Texas annual conference local pastor’s school. He served eight years on the Texas Annual Conference Core Leadership Team. Vincent served as chaplain, associate dean of students and assistant professor of religion at Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. As chaplain he helped established the Young Scholars Program, the first Habitat for Humanity chapter at the college, RAPP (Rising above Peer Pressure) a rites of passage and civil rights education and mentoring program, reestablished the Wiley Student Leadership Forum, and helped in initial planning, project funding, and program initiatives of the current Julius S. Scott, Sr, Chapel. He served as national vice-chairperson and national chairperson, respectively, of Black Methodists for Church Renewal from 2003-2006. Vincent also participated in the General Board of Discipleship High Potential Metro Church Project. He served three years with the NAACP National Religious Leadership Summit. Vincent is a Trustee of the Gulfside Association, Gulfside Assembly. He is married to the former Paula Trammell, of Shreveport, Louisiana. They are have a merged family of four adult children, Gregory, Paula, Brandeon and Desmond, with one grandchild, Nyhla. His scripture reference is Mark 10:27 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Vincent uses the famous quote from Frederick Douglass, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress,” as a motivator for life.
Mr. William H. Moss, Captain (USA), Retired, Board Member
Biography forthcoming.
Mr. Robert O’Brien, Board Member
Biography forthcoming.
Ms. Jo Doris Pride, Board Member
Jo Pride is a long term board member of the Wilson County Black History Committee. She was raised in the Commerce Community of Wilson County. She was educated in the Wilson County School System. She was employed by Precision Rubber and retired from there after 39 years of employment.
Ms. Pride is a member of Cedar of Lebanon Primitive Baptist Church and has served in many leadership capacities. Her offices have included President and Secretary of the Usher Board, President of the Mission Fund, Reporter, Kitchen Committee, and President of the Anniversary Committee.
She is the sister of one living sister and one deceased brother and sister. Mrs. Pride is a widow and natural mother of two sons and bonus mother to too numerous to count bonus children whom all share a very special love for each other.
Ms. Annie Watkins, Board Member and Treasurer
Biography forthcoming.
THE RESTORATION OF PICKETT CHAPEL 