107.3 JAMZ Celebrates Black History Month
Upstate Black History Maker Vernon Beatty Recognized February 05, 2007
Vernon Beatty: Patient, Caring, Good Listener

When Vernon Beatty looks in the mirror, he should see Success staring back. He is currently in his 23rd year of marriage to his wife, Gladys. Together, they have two beautiful daughters, Tiffany, 20 and Brittany, 13. He is a faithful member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC and a life-long member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Nearly as amazing is the long list of community achievements he's gained along his journey. Among these is Vice Chair for Spartanburg School District Seven Board of Trustees, Chair of the Piedmont Community Actions Board and Chair of the Spartanburg Residential Development Corporation, dedicated to providing homeownership to Spartanburg county citizens.

Among the most phenomenal is his work at the Spartanburg Terrace Tenants Association (the community now known as Crescent Hills). Since 1991, when the Association was founded, Beatty has worked vigorously to improve the welfare of families and children residing there.

Beatty and the Association received a grant in 2004 to sponsor the city's first Juneteenth Festival, a celebration to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. It also serves host to a successful after school and summer enrichment. In 2006, the summer program served more than 2000 children at 36 sites in Greenville, Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties. The after school program is now a partner of Project 2010, an initiative which believes in universal, positive access for after school care and learning for all children.

The Spartanburg Terrace Tenants Association just hosted its 27th consecutive talent show, where more than 200 youth were able to showcase their gifts. Proceeds went toward the Grady Hines Scholarship fund.

When asked how Beatty balances all of this, he stated that it requires "being patient and pacing yourself."

With so much work to do consistently, Beatty still manages to be an avid sports fan. He can often be found supporting local little league teams and enjoys rooting for the Dallas Cowboys, his favorite NFL team, whenever they play.

In Beatty's opinion, Black America is still in transition but has made great strides. He would jump at the opportunity to have met Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during his lifetime. Though he describes himself as a "patient, caring, good listener," it is clear that his work speaks loudly and urgently about his intentions for the future of his community.