Bexley honors local Black leaders through annual banner program
BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Driving down Main Street this month, those passing through Bexley will be greeted by banners up and down the road honoring local Black trailblazers.
The Bexley Minority Parent Alliance, in partnership with the city of Bexley, is honoring African American residents who have a difference. This is the second year of the annual tradition, which celebrates influential individuals with connections to Bexley, honoring them with banners up and down Main Street throughout Black History Month.
Nine 2025 honorees were selected, adding to the 23 honorees from 2024. Among them were Bexley City Schools employees, doctors and trailblazers. Parent alliance member Bryan Drewry said the alliance held an event recognizing the winners, four of whom were able to attend. View coverage of last year's honorees in the video player above.
Drewry said those honored this year are integral members of the community. All honorees were nominated by fellow community members.
"It serves as a powerful reminder of how much these individuals, from unsung heroes and prominent historical figures to current-day teachers and coaches, contribute to the vibrancy and growth of the Bexley community and beyond," Drewry said.
Five of the nine honorees are Bexley City Schools employees: Nyesha Clayton, Carleton McGrady, Heath Goolsby, Ken Stewart and Lisa Viney. Clayton has been the principal at Montrose Elementary School since 2021, and was the first African American principal in Bexley.
"The Bexley Minority Parent Alliance and Bexley Schools are important parts of the Bexley community and we’re very excited for our faculty and staff members to be recognized so prominently within the community – both this year and last year!" Bexley Superintendent Jason Fine said. "Thank you to the BMPA and the City of Bexley for recognizing the hard work and positive impact of our teachers and celebrating them in this year’s Black History Month Main Street banners."
McGrady and Goolsby are both coaches at Bexley. McGrady began at Bexley coaching high school track in 2012, and became a high school paraprofessional in 2020. McGrady also serves as a defensive coordinator for the football team, according to his LinkedIn. Goolsby is head varsity tennis coach at the high school, and is the assistant varsity coach for high school girls' basketball. He previously served as the middle school girls' tennis coach and works as an intervention specialist, per his LinkedIn.
"Since coming to Bexley, I have felt nothing but love from peers, parents and athletes. Because of this love, it has helped make Bexley feel like home for me," McGrady said. "Since becoming a paraprofessional at the High School, I have wanted to give back by showing that same love and support that so many have shown me, to students and peers every day they walk into the building."
Viney is the art teacher at Maryland Elementary and is a previous Bexley Educator of the Year winner. She was the first African American teacher hired at Maryland when she joined the district in 2002. Stewart, also an author, said many of his assignments for his middle school students became permanent installations in the school, including a Black History Quilt and Holocaust Shadow Boxes installed at the entrance of the middle school library and the American Flag 9/11/2001 project in a hallway between Cassingham Elementary and the district middle school.
Stewart also served as an adjunct professor at Capital University, joining honoree Douglas Wells in serving as Capital faculty. Wells died in 2004 and had such a profound impact on the university that the law school holds the Annual Wells Conference on Child Welfare & Adoption Law in his name. Wells was also a journalist, working as a sportswriter, columnist and editor over his career.
Honorees Sylvia Jones and William (BJ) Hicks are both doctors with Bexley connections. Jones has seen national recognition for her research to improve communication within diabetic health care teams. She also founded Violet Eyeware, which allows customers to give underserved individuals access to vision case through her Buy One, Bless One program.
Hicks is a neurologist specializing in stroke care. He is a key leader in stroke care and Co-Director of Riverside Hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center. He was elected President of Medical Staff at Riverside and OhioHealth asked him to become Vice President of Neurosciences.
The ninth honoree is Jawana Smith, a former Bexley police officer and the first Black officer in the department's 64-year history. She has been active in law enforcement and the entertainment business in both central Ohio and Los Angeles, at one point working as an actor in L.A. She has previously been recognized for her contributions to the city of Bexley when Bexley Mayor Ben Kessler proclaimed Feb. 16 Jawana Smith Day.
The full bios for each of the honorees, including those honored in 2024, can be found online. The parent alliance will also hold a minority teacher and staff reception on Feb. 27 from 4-6 p.m. at the Bexley Library. Drewry said all are welcome to celebrate minority staff members.