Waynesboro's Juneteenth celebration coming to Ridgeview Park

Monique Calello, Staunton News Leader
·4 min read
Brandon Dell Curry and his father Joseph Walker, Jr. stand in front of Curry's custom made food truck, Brandon Curry's Backyard Gourmet LLC, in 2020.
Brandon Dell Curry and his father Joseph Walker, Jr. stand in front of Curry's custom made food truck, Brandon Curry's Backyard Gourmet LLC, in 2020.

WAYNESBORO – Before opening up his food truck business in 2020, Brandon Dell Curry said he had some ups and downs in life throughout the years. He got himself on track, he said, and started working at Outback Steakhouse as a dishwasher for $10 an hour.

"I've always had it in me, whatever I'm doing, I'm going to do my best and give it my all," said Curry.

He thought to himself, there has got to be something good in my genes. His dad is a master chef who runs restaurants at different hotels. His grandfather, the late Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Walker Sr., fought in two wars and was the strongest man he ever knew alongside his other grandfather and war veteran, Jack Curry.

"He took care of everybody," said Curry. "My granddad was the rock."

Having been raised to never give up, Curry continued to work hard and moved from the dish room to ultimately running the main entree grill which took a lot of hard work and dedication. When the pandemic hit, he decided he was pretty good at cooking and spoke to his dad about running his own business.

"I started loving the atmosphere of cooking, just doing new things and seeing how I can improve it every day," said Curry. "So I talked to my dad, we sat down, we put a plan together, we thought of what would probably be good and catchy, something new to the area, besides barbecue, just something different."

Brandon Curry's Backyard Gourmet will be serving up food at Ridgeview Park to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday.

People gathered for a Juneteenth celebration in Wayensboro's Constitution Park on June 19, 2020.
People gathered for a Juneteenth celebration in Wayensboro's Constitution Park on June 19, 2020.

Curry said, Waynesboro needs this day.

"Bringing people out, getting people together, just trying to get people to love one another and help one another and be there for one another instead of hate," is what Juneteenth means, said Curry.

"Freedom today is still trying to be understood," said Curry. He doesn't think many people understand how much freedom means to African Americans and why Juneteenth is such an important day. But he wants everyone to come out and be a part of it, he said.

"I believe that times like this will hopefully help people see, we got to be here for each other, not trying to tear each other down, hurt each other," said Curry. "If you just look at the whole meaning of what Juneteenth is, I feel like at some point that might help."

Juneteenth celebration

Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates June 19, 1865, the day that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free — two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Hosting this year's Juneteenth in Waynesboro is the local branch of the NAACP. Joyce Coleman, president of Waynesboro NAACP, said she wanted this year's celebration to emphasize the holiday's history.

Happening at Ridgeview Park's amphitheater, Waynesboro's Juneteenth celebration kicks off at 9 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 19. The park is located on 700 S. Magnolia Ave.

A free event, everyone is welcome. Just bring your own lawn chairs and come out for a full day of live gospel music, poetry readings, folk music, dancing, African drumming, and so much more.

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Event participants include:

History of Juneteenth:

  • Charles While, editor/owner of The Informant newspaper in Buckingham County

Great gospel song:

  • Rev. John Butler, Shiloh Baptist Church, Waynesboro

Poetry readings:

  • Latoya Garrison, Staunton

  • Latoya Sharpless

  • Christ Tabernacle, Waynesboro

Great Gospel singing:

  • Clarence Eldridge, Buckingham

  • Rev. Eric Luck, White Hall

  • Jackie Black and Heather's Angels

  • Mt. Salem Baptist Church, Staunton

Folk music:

  • Myer Joy, Nelson County

  • Mylie Civil

Dancing:

  • Praise Angel Dancers, Shiloh Baptist Church, Waynesboro

Anointed Gospel singer:

  • Sadie Miller, Waynesboro

Smooth R&B singing:

  • Christine Nelson, Stuarts Draft

Smooth voice:

  • Joe Pettis, Waynesboro

Musician/singer:

  • George Hunter, Staunton

African drumming:

  • Mae Stoll, Staunton

Buffalo Soldiers: 

  • Rev. Doyle Thomas & others, Charlottesville

People gathered for a Juneteenth celebration in Wayensboro's Constitution Park on June 19, 2020.
People gathered for a Juneteenth celebration in Wayensboro's Constitution Park on June 19, 2020.

Display tables

  • New Directions Center, Staunton

  • Photographer, Rev. Roosevelt Miller

  • Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave

  • Democratic Committee, Sharon Van Name and Jennifer Lewis

  • Katt's Creations, Kathy Mallory, Charlottesville

Food trucks

  • Brandon Curry's Backyard Gourmet, Waynesboro

  • Troy & Maxicelia Robinson Order Up!, Charlottesville

Radio DJ:

  • Razor/Mac radio station 101.3, In My Humble Opinion

— Monique Calello (she/her) is a social justice reporter with The News Leader. Story ideas are always welcome. You can reach her at  mcalello@newsleader.com.  

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This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Waynesboro Juneteenth celebration coming to Ridgeview Park