By Rita Cook
Correspondent
Texas Metro News
was the Mistress of Ceremonies at
this year’s event
ELLIS COUNTY – The Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library held its 2026 annual induction last month honoring community members from around the county.
The inductees included:
Glenn Height’s Human Right’s Activist Thomas Muhammad;
Red Oak’s Willie J. Franklin, Jr., the city’s first black mayor pro-tem;
Midlothian’s Sherilyn Taylor who was the first black woman police officer in the city;
Bardwell’s Elbert Bailey, the city’s first black councilman and mayor;
Ferris’ Dr. Wise E. Allen, a respected public servant and Tommy Scott recognized as the first black mayor pro-tem in Ferris;
Waxahachie’s ShaMonica Adams, the first black woman police officer in Waxahachie; Stephan Hunt, first black president of Waxahachie Rotary; Rev. Dr. Broderick Sargent, Waxahachie City Council and Martin Van Buren Davis, the first black band director at Waxahachie High School;
Ennis’ Judge Alfred H. Bennet who is the first black Federal Judge who is now in Houston and Walter Furnace, the first black state representative in Alaska originally from Ennis.
Dr. Hasaan Rasheed whose careers include sports, academia, entertainment and entrepreneurship, was the guest speaker.
Glenn Heights Mayor Sonja A. Brown served as the Mistress of Ceremonies.
“Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies for the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library’s Annual Fall of Hame Induction/Scholarship Luncheon was deeply personal for me, having been inducted in 2024,” Brown said of the event. “To return not just as an honoree but as the voice guiding the celebration was a full-circle moment rooted in legacy, service, and a continued commitment to uplifting the very stories that shaped my own journey. This was more than a role. It was a responsibility to honor legacy, amplify excellence, and stand in the presence of greatness that has shaped our communities in powerful and lasting ways.”
Brown and others in attendance concurred that the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library stands as a living archive of resilience, brilliance, and truth, preserving the stories that built us and inspiring the generations that will carry us forward.
This was the museum and library’s 5th annual Hall of Fame.
Since 2016 the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library has inducted 90 notable African American residents of Ellis County who have made great contributions in the areas of humanity, education, religion, law enforcement, judicial, medical, community activism, community service, politics, civil rights, social change, business, economic, and aviation.
President Dr. Jamal Rasheed said, “The purpose of the Museum and Library is to create an avenue to educate our youth and build a bridge of understanding between the world and Ellis County.”
The mission of the Ellis County African American Hall of Fame Museum and Library is to exposes all students, teachers and citizens of Ellis County to new ideas as they explore African American history encouraging critical thinking and creativity.
“Our educational initiative makes history come alive through the arts to amplify African American history,” Rasheed said. “We provide programs and curriculum that are designed to entertain, engage, and educate the community using standards which can be useful for educators of students in pre-school through high school and home classes. The Museum exposes students and teachers to new ideas as they explore African American history by including creative and imaginative workshops, lectures, hands on activities, and visual and performing arts showcases, to encourage student’s imagination and their creativity as they learn history and culture.
The Museum also maintains the records for the historic Prince Hall Fraternal Cemetery in Waxahachie, maintains the 8/47 Monument in Freedman’s Park across from the museum dedicated to 18 African Americans and one Caucasian killed in the most tragic accident in Ellis County, the Juneteenth Monument in Prince Hall Cemetery dedicated to former slaves, and the African American Veterans Monument in Prince Hall Fraternal Cemetery.
Rita Cook is a world traveler and writer/editor who specializes in writing on travel, auto, crime and politics. A correspondent for Texas Metro News, she has published 11 books and has also produced low-budget films
