One of the major responsibilities of each local unit of the NAACP, across the nation, is to be supportive of the state and national branches with assessments that fund operations while working for justice.

The Davie Unit has two major fundraisers a year.

The Annual Mother of the Year Contest was held earlier at Erwin Temple CME Church. Azalee Stockton, the 2016 queen, gave the history and purpose of the assessment and crowned Hazel Dilliard, the representative for Mainville AME Zion Church, the queen.

President, the Rev. Joe Clark, addressed the audience and Chad Dalton provided music.

The Annual Freedom Fund Banquet will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20 at the Senior Center, 278 Meroney St., Mocksville. Tickets are $25; different levels of sponsorship are available. For more information or for tickets, call 336-940-7155 or 336-682-6138 by Oct. 14.

Xavier Zsarmani Sr. of Statesville will be the banquet speaker. He is a licensed bail agent and master barber instructor. Two of several businesses he has built are Xavier’s Barber Styling and Role Models, Inc. He serves on the board of directors of Energy United, 5th St. Ministries, Piedmont Mediation and the Salvation Army.  He is the recipient of many awards and is a Prince Hall Mason, a Shriner and past vice president of the Statesville NAACP Branch. He and his wife Tonya are the parents of six children.