Join us for the Columbia Canopy Project community celebration
9:30 a.m. Friday, June 14
Marvin Heller Community Garden
1207 McDuffie Ave., Columbia, SC 29204
You’re invited to a special community celebration honoring the lives and legacies of five remarkable individuals from the Lyon Street neighborhood. Through the Columbia Canopy Project—a partnership between Columbia Green and Historic Columbia—memorial trees and interpretive signs will help tell the stories of 22 historically underserved communities, including Lyon Street.
This year’s honorees are:
• Willa Martin Bailey (d. 2020) – A retired automotive professional, community activist, and avid gardener, Mrs. Bailey was the daughter of esteemed Columbia educator Thomas S. Martin.
• Jessie Mae Watts Bracy (1916–2016) – A trailblazing nurse who served returning WWII soldiers and led as head nurse at Columbia Hospital, Mrs. Bracy was a longtime member of Zion Baptist Church.
• Wilhelmina Jefferson Hill (1919–2012) – A lifelong educator and servant leader, Mrs. Hill was deeply involved in Friendship Baptist Church and numerous neighborhood revitalization efforts.
• Alvin “Rambo” Lemon – A beloved community advocate known for his warmth and outreach, Mr. Lemon helped establish the Marvin Heller Community Garden.
• Dr. Eleanor Davis Pierel – A climate scientist and public health advocate, Dr. Pierel played a key role in organizing a neighborhood vaccine drive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The event will feature a brief program, unveiling of interpretive signage, and complimentary refreshments. Join us as we uplift the voices of those who shaped our neighborhoods and continue the work of building a more equitable Columbia.
Free and open to the public. Food will be provided.
RSVP by Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
This project is made possible through the generous support of the CWD3 Fund of the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina.
RSVP here:
http://bit.ly/3ZTBQfc
Also check out other Health & Wellness events in Columbia, Nonprofit events in Columbia.
