Anniston, AL — Community members, local officials and former students gathered Thursday, Sept. 24, to celebrate the opening of the new Thankful Community Center at Thankful Community Park, marking a new chapter for a site with deep ties to education and community life in west Anniston.
The Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitors Center joined county and municipal leaders for the ribbon cutting at the new facility, located at 3162 West 14th Street. Guests were also invited to tour the community center following the ceremony.
Calhoun County Commissioner Fred Wilson spoke about the history of the Thankful community and the former school that once served generations of residents in the area.
Wilson said local citizens petitioned for the creation of a school as the community’s need for a permanent educational facility grew. According to the history shared during Thursday’s ceremony, the school operated at multiple locations in its early years before residents worked to establish a dedicated school building.
Wilson said Booker T. Washington’s son was asked to assist with plans for the school, while community members were tasked with raising $500 toward the purchase of land. The original building included a classroom and sewing room, and residents continued supporting the school by helping provide necessities such as coal and wood.
Those efforts eventually developed into Thankful Junior High School. Wilson said the school later transitioned from a junior high to an elementary school in 1969 as integration changed the local school system. The school ultimately closed in the mid-1970s.
Several people attending Thursday’s event had personal connections to the former school, including former students and educators. One former teacher, Rep Barbara Boyd, reflected on the accomplishments of students who came through Thankful and encouraged residents to continue working together for the community.
Wilson also credited the county commission and former county administration for their roles in bringing the new community center project to completion. He recognized the architects, contractors, county employees, elected officials and community members involved in the project.
Anniston Mayor Ciara Smith-Roston said Wilson has consistently worked to secure resources for west Anniston.
“If we ask him for resources, he provides them,” Smith-Roston said. “If we ask him to help us pave roads, he paves those roads. We ask him for community support, he offers community support.”
Smith-Roston said the new center fills a need in the Thankful community and said she was pleased to join residents in celebrating its opening.
Calhoun County Commissioner Terry Howell said he had watched the project develop from beginning to completion and praised Wilson’s work on behalf of the area.
“He’s a man of few words, but when he speaks, it actually means things,” Howell said. “I’ve actually seen this whole project go from the beginning to the end.”
Commissioner Danny Shears, who said he has worked alongside Wilson for the past five years, also spoke about Wilson’s commitment to the residents he represents.
“If there’s anybody that truly cares about their community and the people they serve, it’s Commissioner Wilson,” Shears said. “I’ve seen time and time again where he wants to put their needs and their wants above anything else.”
Representatives from throughout the area attended the celebration, including local elected officials, county representatives and community leaders. Wilson also recognized Anniston Mayor Smith-Roston and Hobson City Mayor Alberta McCrory among those in attendance.
The ceremony concluded outside the center with the official ribbon cutting. Before Wilson cut the ribbon, attendees joined together in a countdown and shouted, “We are thankful.”
Guests then returned inside the new facility for lunch and fellowship.
