The Browning community’s 29th annual Labor Day festival will honor one of the event’s founders, the late Robert Earl Moore.
In memorial, this year’s event will be called the Robert E. Moore Labor Day Festival.
Moore, a Leflore County District 2 supervisor for more than 27 years, was a lifelong resident of the Browning community. Members of the community mourned his unexpected passing in November 2018.
“We decided to change the name this year, because we suffered a great loss,” said Niqua Graham-Brooks, president of the Browning Progressive Civic League. “We wanted to pay homage to him.”
The Browning Progressive Civic League, in part with the Leflore County Board of Supervisors, sponsors the event each year.
Moore’s son, Reginald Moore, a member of the Browning Progressive Civic League, said this honor “means everything.”
Not only did the late District 2 supervisor enjoy the event each year, but also “he was instrumental in creating the Labor Day festival,” said Reginald, who was appointed to finish his father’s term as county supervisor.
Event organizers say Moore was a vital part of the Browning Labor Day Festival’s continued success and longevity.
“This is the first year we’ve done it without Robert,” said Charles Moore, a member of the Browning Progressive Civic League and Moore’s brother. “He was always here to give it that last little spark to make it go over.”
Charles said naming the event after his brother this year is in recognition of Moore’s impact on the community.
It honors “his leadership in the community in terms of getting this whole event started and in keeping it going for almost 30 years,” Charles said. “Keeping it going, that’s significant for the community.”
Prior to the Robert E. Moore Labor Day Festival, a Browning Founders Day program will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church.
The Labor Day festivities will start at 10 a.m. Monday in the historic community’s park.
The festival will include games and activities for children, concessions, arts and crafts vendors, live entertainment and a cash giveaway. Admission and parking are free, and the event is open to the public.
“It’s always fellowship, community coming together, family members coming back for the event,” said Leroy Ware, a Browning Progressive Civic League member. “So it’s all about visiting and seeing old acquaintances and reminiscing about good times and bad times. To me, getting together is the most important part.”
A parade will kick off the day of events, followed by games and activities in the park at 11 a.m. Entertainment by WGNL Live Remote will be at noon, and the Jay Morris Group will perform at 5 p.m.
The park’s basketball court will also serve as a dance floor.
Tickets for the cash giveaway will be $1 and sold at the event. Winners of varying amounts of money will be announced at 4 p.m.
Anyone who would like to be a vendor at the Labor Day festival is welcome to attend. There is a $35 fee to set up and $40 fee for vendors requiring an electricity hook-up.
The Civic League will also sell food and refreshments at the concession stand in the park. Proceeds from the concession sales go to the nonprofit organization, and the money is used to maintain Browning Park. The group also donates to other charitable organizations throughout the year.
The event is alcohol-free. Motorcycles and four-wheelers may ride in the parade but are not permitted in the park during the festival. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
“Everybody has a good time,” said Richard Fluker, a Browning Progressive Civic League member. “We have good food, we have a band here, and we have dancing. We have a lot of fun, and we look forward to it every year.”
Members of the Browning Progressive Civic League say the Labor Day festival serves as a way to keep the community’s identity alive.
Browning was formed over several years shortly after the Civil War. Extending from Mississippi 7 to the edge of Carroll County, Browning is one of the oldest historically African American communities in the area. About 90% of its first occupants were landowners. Most of its residents now are descendants of the community’s founders.
The Browning Progressive Civic League was established in 1961 to keep the community thriving after the Browning Vocational School was closed and students began attending school on the Amanda Elzy campus.
After the closure of the Browning school, which was an essential part of the community, it was important to the residents of Browning to keep their community going. Along with the formation of the Civic League, the annual Labor Day festival, which became open to the public in 1990, was a way to keep the community together.
“Every generation has something to add to the building and the sustaining of the Browning community,” said Reginald.
One of the earliest Labor Day festivals in the 1990s celebrated the re-dedication of the community’s artesian well. The well was built in the 1920s and is located across from the park on Browning Road.
Getting fresh spring water from the well brought many in the area together. In the 1960s, when a water system was established in Browning, many stopped coming to the well, which fell into disrepair. In 1976, the Browning Progressive Civic League worked to restore it.
“The celebration is centered around our community well,” said Reginald. “Every community needs a lifeblood. For this community, it’s the Browning well, and my father played an important role in the restoration of that well.”
For more information about the Labor Day festival or to purchase a vendor spot, call Kathleen Graham at 453-0311.
{{tncms-inline content="<p><strong>Schedule of events</strong></p> <p><strong>Sunday</strong></p> <p><strong>4 p.m.</strong> Founders Day Program, Morning Star M.B. Church</p> <p><strong>Monday</strong></p> <p><strong>10 a.m.</strong> Parade</p> <p><strong>11 a.m.</strong> Games and activities</p> <p><strong>Noon</strong> WGNL Live Remote</p> <p><strong>4 p.m.</strong> Cash giveaway</p> <p><strong>5 p.m.</strong> Jay Morris Group performs</p> <p><strong>Where:</strong> Browning Park</p> <p><strong>Details:</strong> For more information or to purchase a vendor spot, call Kathleen Graham at 453-0311.</p>" id="f6d1b1c2-b4d0-4e8e-82e3-a9d92f2967ab" style-type="bio" title="LABOR DAY FESTIVAL" type="relcontent"}}
• Contact Ruthie Robison at 581-7235 or rrobison@gwcommonwealth.com.
Schedule of events
Sunday
4 p.m. Founders Day Program, Morning Star M.B. Church
Monday
10 a.m. Parade
11 a.m. Games and activities
Noon WGNL Live Remote
4 p.m. Cash giveaway
5 p.m. Jay Morris Group performs
Where: Browning Park
Details: For more information or to purchase a vendor spot, call Kathleen Graham at 453-0311.
