The Freedom Fund Banquet is a national celebration of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The Lower Sussex County Branch uses this day of celebration to honor individuals who have devoted their time and energy for the building of the community.

This year’s honorees include Bishop Catherine Camper, Evangelist Joy Mifflin, Pastor Marvin Morris, Dorothy Smith and J. Jeanne Evans. This year’s theme is “We’ve Come This Far by Faith ... Milestones of the Past ... Gateway of the Future.”

The keynote speaker for this year’s celebration is Pastor Helena M. Bailey of Kingdom Life Family Ministries in Millsboro. Bailey is a Sussex County native who received her public education in the Indian River School District, graduating from Sussex Central High School. She received a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from the Logos Christian College and Graduate School in Jacksonville, Fla. She recently completed her master’s in biblical studies from the Enlightened Bible Institute in Houston, Delaware. She is married to Hayward R. Bailey. Together they have two children, Marcus and Crystal, and they have five grandchildren. Bailey was a member of the United Deliverance Bible Center in Laurel for 20 years, where the Rev. Doctor Catherine A. Camper is the founder and bishop.

She was employed for 12 years with the First State Community Action Agency where she held a position with the Head Start Program as a health coordinator. As a health coordinator, she served on various boards and councils as an advocate for children and families Delaware. These committees gave her the opportunity to learn about the social needs of Sussex and Kent counties.

Her quest for a new challenge led her to the Seaford School District, where she was employed with the Life Skills Program. She enjoyed teaching and being in the classroom. She resigned in February 2003 to devote her time to her pastoral duties at New Life Family Ministries in Millsboro, where she has been pastoring for six years. Some of Bailey’s accomplishments are appointment to the former Gov. Thomas R. Carper Minority Health Council for Delaware; serving as the advisory board president of the United Deliverance Bible School and College in Laurel; teaching at the Enlightened Bible Institute in Houston; serving as site director of the Sussex County Enlightened Bible Institute; founding and facilitating a single-parent support group; and founding an after-school homework club for minority and disadvantaged students.

Tickets to the banquet are $25 per adult; $12.50 for children under 6; 3 and under are free. They can be purchased by calling Lower Sussex NAACP President Jane Hovington at 302-856-7656. Checks should be made payable to Lower Sussex NAACP. There will be no tickets sold at the door. The public is invited to attend.