PHOTO BY JORDAN MILES

The Cumberland Missionary and Education Conference held its inaugural “Honoring Our First Ladies and First Men” event on Saturday, May 20 at the Bright Hope Community Center in Cumberland County. Honorees included men and women married to pastors are numerous Baptist churches across the county. Pictured are, from left, Dorothy Davenport, Rising Zion Baptist; Gloria Smith, Rocky Mount Baptist; Cybil Jones, Sharon Baptist; the Rev. Larry Smith, Rocky Mount Baptist; the Rev. Wesley Davenport, Rising Zion Baptist; the Rev. Robert Jones, Sharon Baptist; the Rev. Alvin Witcher, Mount Olive Baptist; the Rev. Timothy Woodson, Bethlehem Baptist; Denena Woodson, Bethlehem Baptist; the Rev. Sherri Thomas, New Hope Baptist; Michael Thomas, New Hope Baptist; Shelia Watkins, Cornerstone Baptist; Rosetta Carrington, Tearwallet Baptist; the Rev. Sandy Carrington, Tearwallet Baptist; Omari Watkins, Cornerstone Baptist, Jerry Watson, Midway Baptist; and the Rev. Irma Watson, Midway Baptist.