WS Chronicle

By Busta Brown

Joyce Hacket’s doctor recommended that she take it easy physically and mentally due to some health issues, “but my aunt called me and said your community needs you there, dead or alive.”

The aunt was talking about Hacket’s 5th Annual Piedmont Circle Holiday Dinner in Winston-Salem. “This is my therapy,” Hacket said, while serving dinner to families in the Piedmont Circle community. “I love doing this, it gives me so much joy to see all of these people smiling and happy. Most of my family is here for support and they help me cook, decorate and serve dinner.” This phenomenal woman is a loving mother, grandmother, and beloved community organizer. As we continued talking, she couldn’t stop looking around to make sure the families were happy, especially the kids. “These children are the main reason I do this, them and God. I have 8 grandkids and I feel like all of the kids in the community belong to me,” she said.

I noticed a young lady taking trays of food back and forth; she kept the food trays filled. She was one of the hardest working volunteers there.  “This lady right here is one of the people that made all of this possible, and that woman over there, as well”, said Hacket. The volunteer that kept the food trays filled was Forsyth County Clerk of Court Susan Frye. When I looked her way, she gave me the sweetest smile.  Frye is very instrumental in the success of the 5th Annual Piedmont Circle Holiday Dinner. I asked her to share what she felt as she looked at all of those beautiful and extremely happy families, “I think we, as Christians, have to reach out to our fellow Christians and teach children what it’s all about to be loved and that Jesus does love everyone.” The Forsyth County Clerk of Court looked down to gather her thoughts and then got emotional, “I love coming out here to work with these children and adults, showing them a different part of life. I do my best to show them we’re here for them, to help in any way we can. My church, Hope Community Church supports this as well. I give God all of the glory.”

The other lady Hacket directed me to was none other than Forsyth County District Court Judge Denise Hartsfield, and of course we chatted, “Hey Busta, it’s good to see you,” she’s always a sweetheart when I see her. “This is ultra important for public and elected officials to come out among the people who vote for them. This is about the community being able to touch me and see me outside that robe, playing with their kids, and serving them.” A few people came over to say hey and share how much they appreciate Judge Hartsfield. Before they walked away, the beloved Judge gave them hugs. She looked at some little girls that were playing with the toys the WSFD and other organizations donated, and said, “At the end of the day, what it does the most is help girls like that realize, wait a minute, this lady is a judge and she came here to eat and talk to us; I can be that one day. To be an example to somebody that understands that I’m not unlike you is the greatest Christmas gift I can give.”

The first African American Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. was in attendance as well. “This is what we do, this is the only place I want to be, in the community with the people,” he said while serving dinner and mingling with families with his colleagues; like Major Rocky Joyner and Captain Henry Gray of Forsyth County Sheriff’s Department. I asked Sheriff Kimbrough how we keep this kind of urgency to love each and  every day, “Where will the world be without love, because that’s the only thing that gets us through difficult times? So can you image where we would be with more love? That’s the key.” The 5th Annual Piedmont Circle Holiday Dinner was nothing but love, and Esmeralda (a Holiday Dinner attendee), her beautiful newborn baby, mother and siblings experienced that love, “Me and my family love Christmas, and my Christmas would have been sad if it wasn’t for this, so I thank God. I feel so blessed.” Go to our YouTube page, Winstonsalem Chronicle to see more interviews with more beautiful families, the awesome volunteers, Major Rocky Joyner and Captain Henry Gray of Forsyth County Sheriff Department, and more.