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Lewes celebrates Juneteenth Freedom Day

Heat, heritage and entertainment mark third annual festival
Cindy Mifflin shows off her artwork at the third annual Lewes Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration. The event was held June 22 in George H.P. Smith Park. BILL SHULL PHOTOS
Bill Shull
June 24, 2024

Lewes celebrated Juneteenth Freedom Day on the scorching-hot afternoon of June 22.

Visitors were into the festival and the history. They were also into the shade wherever they could find it in George H.P. Smith Park. Organizers had tents and free water to provide relief from the 100-degree temperatures.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday that marks the day the last slaves received official word that they were free, June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas.

The Rev. Dr. Deborah McCaffity, pastor of St. George African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lewes, said the purpose of the celebration is to not let Black history die.

“We want to instill a sense of heritage and pride in Black youth and help us come to remember that we are a people who have a strong sense of overcoming and are full of resilience,” McCaffity said.

Mayor Andrew Williams read a proclamation from the city marking the Juneteenth holiday. He said he remembers when he was growing up in Lewes, the city was more diverse, and he hopes it will be again.

“We have a strong and long history of contributions by the African American community,” Williams said. ”I’m appreciative of the African American Heritage Commission to make sure the present-day community remembers that.”

Lewes African American Heritage Commissioner Trina Brown-Hicks said 70 vendors and three food trucks has signed up for the celebration.

There were performances from Best Kept Soul, Bethel AME Praise Team, and Christy Taylor & The Groove.

Beebe Healthcare provided free healthcare screenings.

Darryl and Darnell Daisey placed some of their family’s vintage photos around the park. They also created a Lewes Black history timeline for people to read as they walked into the main entrance. The Daiseys can trace their genealogy as far back as 1773.

The photos are part of an exhibit at the Lewes History Museum called Voices Heard: The History and Legacy of the Black Community in Lewes.

 

 

 

The Rev. Deborah McCaffity, pastor of St. George African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lewes, welcomes visitors and talks about the history of Juneteenth.
Members of the Lewes African American Heritage Commission gather for a photo with Sussex County Councilman Mark Schaeffer. Shown are (l-r) Trina Brown-Hicks, Bishop Arthur Jones, the Rev. George Edwards, Bill Collick and Schaeffer.
Best Kept Soul is the first band to perform at the festival.
A visitor braves the heat to check out some of the vendors.
The Daisey family can trace their heritage in Lewes to 1773. Members shown are in front (l-r) Darryl Daisey, Darnell Daisey, Micah Ferguson, Sarah Daisey Minor and Debbie Daisey Street. Frank Minor is standing in back.
Volunteers working the welcome table with Juneteenth T-shirts, hats and water bottles are (l-r) Rhoda Brown, Monique Jones and Sharon Hines.
Tracee Deberry from Magnolia, right, gets some much-appreciated water ice from Little Pee Wee’s.
Lewes Mayor Andrew Williams reads a proclamation from the city marking the Juneteenth Freedom Day celebration. Williams said it is important for the present-day community to remember Lewes’ African American heritage.
Deborah Harkness is one of the vendors selling arts and crafts and paintings.
Italian ice is a popular way for folks to try and stay cool during the event. Shown are (l-r) Kathie Cherry, Helen McCarell and Theresa Burton at the Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens booth.
One of the kinetic sculptures erected by artist Paul Daniel in George H.P. Smith Park provides a makeshift stand for artwork by Theresa Taylor.
Sylvia Johnson, left, and Jean Duffy from the Black Nurses Rock Delaware Chapter are on hand in case anyone needs help in the heat and to provide healthcare education.
Enjoying the Juneteenth celebration are (l-r) Pam Costanzi, Fourth Street Preserve Open Space Alliance campaign manager, Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, and Delaney Huxtable.
Members of the Buffalo Soldiers are (l-r) Al Haynes, “Law Dog,” “Uncle Milt,” “Beebop” and “Classy.”
Darryl Daisey put together this timeline of Lewes’ African American heritage for people to read as they walked in the main entrance of George H.P. Smith Park.
The Lewes Juneteenth celebration included plenty of tents where people could get relief from the heat and enjoy the entertainment.
Trying to stay cool are (l-r) Rochelle Knapp and Shervaun Hinton of the Delta Tau Sigma Alumni Chapter, Tiffany Jordan holding Ruby, and Marybeth Batten.
Jill DiPaolo, Lewes Public Library director, left, and Leslie Newman, library board member, hand out freebies during the event.
Darryl and Darnell Daisey displayed some of their historic family photos around the park. The photos are part of an exhibit called Voices Heard: The History and Legacy of the Black Community in Lewes at the Lewes History Museum.
Jean Banks, left, and Chanvra Phillips from Georgetown find some shade near the stage to enjoy the entertainment.
Scorching-hot weather kept most of the crowd under shade during the Lewes Juneteenth celebration.
The Bethel AME Praise Team performs at the Juneteenth celebration.
Diaz Bonville serves as master of ceremonies for the Juneteenth event.
Trina Brown-Hicks, a Lewes African American Heritage Commission member, dances to the music of Best Kept Soul.

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