Big smiles and good times were the order of the day Saturday as Eatonton celebrated Juneteenth in style with a morning parade through downtown, followed by a community festival featuring music, vendors, and delicious food on the Butler-Baker School grounds along Alice Walker Boulevard.
Eatonton native Takeshia Hill launched the local Juneteenth celebration in 2018 to honor Black history.
Although she now lives and works as a high school teacher in metro Atlanta, Hill continues to serve as the festival’s primary organizer, while Jesse Hill oversees the parade.
This year’s Putnam County Juneteenth Community Award winners were:
- Spades Champions: Stephanie Horne and Shawanna Evans
- Employee of the Year: Breanna Dennis
- Entrepreneur/Business of the Year: Alexis Browning
- Hairstylist of the Year: Dontricia Griffin
- Chef/Restaurant of the Year: Anfrankina Little
- Lifetime Achievement Award/Fan of the Year: Sue Andrews Williams
- Faith Leader of the Year: Pastor Christopher White
- Trendsetter of the Year: Dexter Swain
- Coach of the Year: Sha’Kedra Ellison
- Event Organizer of the Year: Brandon Riley
- Educator of the Year: Jennifer Mitchell
- Community Group of the Year: MANup Mentoring
- Good Neighbor of the Year: Lucindia Monday
- Citizen of the Year: Eris Ellison
- Miss Juneteenth 2026: Zaniyah Monday
- Athlete of the Year and Mr. Juneteenth: Tamaud Woodson
Hill said the awards all bear the name "Hillstory," which is the name of her business, her social media brand, and the nickname by which many people in Eatonton still know her today: Ms. Hill, the history teacher.