By Clifford L. Williams,

The NAACP Berkeley branch held an awards ceremony to present the coveted Diamond Life Membership plaque to Judge Henry Ramsey Jr. on Saturday at the Church by the Side of the Road in Berkeley.

    Ramsey’s plaque read: “Having paid the sum of $2,500 into the Treasury of the National Office testifying forever to our faith in the future of all Americans in the U.S., and in the principles of equality and justice in the American Constitution. In witness whereof the Board of Directors has caused this certificate to be issued.”
    The event became an extended family affair as Ramsey introduced his six granddaughters, Ade Porter, Alike Porter, Adrianne Ramsey, Aisha Ramsey, Monica Ramsey and Anais Schuhman, all of whom received Junior Life Membership plaques.
    Frank Brown, president emeritus of the NAACP Berkeley branch, presented the awards. Brown reminded the recipients that “life membership is the lifeblood of the NAACP in carrying out the struggle for civil rights.
    “We need memberships to survive, and life membership means giving more than the regular gifts in the fight for civil rights,” he said. “It’s a dedication of time and energy, and Henry and his whole family does that more than most.”
    Ramsey has worked with the NAACP for the past 30 years.
    “I’ve been a member of the NAACP for at least 62 years,” he said. “I joined when I was 12 years old. As a youngster I saw up close and personal the efforts of the NAACP in the very first message of hope and conscious about our need to struggle against discrimination and segregation.
    “For me, to be a life member of the NAACP, given the achievements and accomplishments of my life, all of which flow from the efforts of the NAACP and the Legal Defense Fund, this award recognition is a privilege and an honor,” said Ramsey.
    Other plaque recipients included Thurdell Wickliff and Yvonne Brisard-Wickliff, who received Golden Heritage awards, and Carla Hall, Elaine Pannell, Carole Kennerly and Doris Barrett, who received Silver Life Membership plaques. Kennedy Gibson, granddaughter of Hall, received a Junior Life Membership plaque.
    For more information on the Berkeley branch of the NAACP call, (510) 845-7416 or mail correspondence to P.O. Box 613, Berkeley, CA 94701.

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