CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY
BLACK HISTORY MOMENT AWARDEES 2025
Dr. Walter Winfred Reid, III Is a product of the Atlanta Public School System where he attended Frederick Douglas High School where he participated on the soccer team and played the saxophone and graduated in 1976. “Billy”, as he was known to friends and family, would go on to attend Morehouse College where he continued to play saxophone in the Marching Band and graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology in 1981.
While deciding upon the next chapter for his life, Billy served as manager for Taco Bell and he did seasonal work for the United States Postal Service. Although Billy loved making and eating those tacos and burritos, he felt that this was not going to be the final stop on his life journey. Upon the urging of a family friend, Billy was encouraged to take the Dental Aptitude Test where he scored exceptionally well and thus began his journey to become a healthcare professional. Upon entering his postgraduate education, Billy’s name was foreshortened to Bill as a dental student at the Medical College of Georgia where he graduated with his DMD degree in 1988.
After completing postgraduate education, Bill was invited to join the Nanston Dental Group in 1989. When he joined the practice there was only one African American Dentist. Bill practiced initially on Campbellton Road, but with the practice growing at a rapid rate, the office was relocated to Fairburn Road and finally to Cascade Road. Over the course of his time at Nanston, Bill was invited to move his practice to Fayetteville Georgia in 1992. Bill accepted the invitation and the challenge as he would be the only African American dentist practicing in Fayetteville. He cultivated his Fayetteville practice and expanded it from a one-dentist practice to a multidisciplinary practice with 7 dentists. In 2010 with Dr. Reid as the President of the Nanston Dental Group, the offices had expanded to 17 locations around the metropolitan Atlanta area and sold to Great Expressions Dental Centers. Bill’s great “chairside manor” and genuine interest in more than his patient’s cavities or extractions garnered the respect and admiration of his staff, colleagues and patients alike until his retirement in 2024.
In addition to being a great dentist, Dr. Reid has always been interested in mentorship, his community and his faith. Bill joined Ben Hill United Methodist Church in 1989 and has been an active member serving on the Anointed Men’s Usher Team, NLD, SPRC, Board of Trustees and Associate Lay Leader. In 2001, Bill joined the 100 Black Men of South Metro where he was subsequently appointed as the Chairman of the Rites of Passage Program and served in that capacity until 2011. During Billy’s tenure as Chairman of the Rites of Passage Program, they made history by being the only chapter to have 2 consecutive “Mentees of the Year” awarded by the National 100 Black Men Organization. Billy was also an avid volunteer and supporter of Ben Hill UMC’s Boy Scout Program Troop 2020.
Angela P. Shannon, MD is a native Atlantan and graduate of Spelman College. While attending Spelman, she majored in Biology pre-med with a Biochemistry minor and did research as an ADAMHA – MARC honors scholar. Influenced by her ADAMHA-MARC program psychology exposure, a psychiatry residency was the obvious choice upon her graduation from the Wayne State School of Medicine (Detroit, MI).
Dr. Shannon returned to Atlanta where she completed 6 months of a pediatrics internship at the Emory University School of Medicine as a portion of her requirements for her adult psychiatry residency training at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Her Morehouse School of Medicine training also included 6 months studying Psychiatry and Neurology at The Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tuskegee, Alabama. She recognized early on in her post-doctoral years that she loved working with children and their families. This love colored her decision to pursue advanced training in child and adolescent psychiatry. She finished her child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at the Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Shannon is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology through December 2024.
Since completing her training, Dr. Shannon has practiced psychiatry in a variety of different settings including jail, community mental health, group homes, primary schools, College, juvenile detention centers, job corps centers, outpatient, hospitals, prisons, and Tele-Psychiatry. She spent 14 years in private practice in Stockbridge, Georgia during which time she co-founded A Positive Mental Attitude, LLC where she served as Chief Operating Officer. During her Stockbridge tenure, Dr. Shannon enjoyed 5 years of service as a consulting psychiatrist for the Christian City Children’s Group Home.
In the realm of academic psychiatry, Dr. Shannon served 11 years as Clinical Assistant Professor at The Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She enjoys mentoring to aspiring psychiatrists at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) where she was appointed in 2010 to the General Psychiatry clinical faculty which was expanded in 2021 to include appoint to the associate clinical faculty of the MSM Child and Adolescent Psychiatry program. Dr. Shannon also devotes time to mentoring and educating psychology students at local colleges as well as other Mental Health clinicians dedicated to the study of mental health. Her students have come from a variety of institutions such as Emory University, Morehouse School of Medicine, Windsor University School of Medicine, Mercer University, University of Georgia, Maryville University, Liberty University, Pointe University, Gammon International Theological Center and a host of various other medical schools and institutions of higher learning. Dr. Shannon served 4 years as a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation federally appointed (by a 3-Judge Panel) prison monitor attending to inmate mental health care needs until 2011 when she was selected as the Mental Health Director for Correctional Medical Associates (CMA). As CMA Mental Health Director, Dr. Shannon assumed responsibility for the psychiatric care for citizens adjudicated for treatment through the DeKalb County Drug Court.
Most recently, Dr, Shannon expanded her brand by pursuing and being granted licensure in 2 additional States: California and Michigan and completed a 60-day tour at a Napa Valley California inpatient Child and Adolescent unit. Dr Shannon was simultaneously caring for her Your Town Health-Palmetto Health Council clients on the East Coast by video conferencing then headed to the West Coast inpatient psychiatric unit to see adolescents and children; sometimes working until 2:00 & 3:00 in the AM due to the shortage of mental health providers compound by the explosion of those seeking mental health care because of the COVID19 Pandemic. While attending to the mental wellness needs of bicoastal inpatients and outpatients, Dr. Shannon, with the capable assistance of her therapist Joiet Wesley, continued to serve the needs of the referrals to the Faith-based Free-Clinic, Positive Balance Wellness Center @ Ben Hill United Methodist Church after hours and on weekends via Tele-Psychiatry. While pursuing licensure in Hawaii in 2022, she plans to continue her community efforts through the continued use of Tele-Psychiatry tools, the benefit of a 4-hour time difference and collaborative efforts with competent and trusted staff.
Dr. Shannon maintains membership in several professional organizations and has received numerous awards on both a local and national level. As an avid supporter of organized medicine, she has been elected and appointed to numerous offices. She completed an active and successful term as President of the Georgia Psychiatric Physician’s Association and remains active through her efforts related to mental health advocacy on the national and local level. In conjunction with her advocacy efforts, she also supports the APA and GPPA PACs. As a resident, Dr. Shannon was twice awarded the GPPA’s Hope Skobba Award for research. It was also during her residency that she first began her service on the GPPA board when she was appointed as the Member-In-Training representative for the Morehouse School of Medicine. She has also served the GPPA in the capacity of Public Affairs co-chair and Trustee. She is also a past recipient of the National Medical Association Ernest Y. Williams, M. D., Clinical Scholars of Distinction Award and Chester Pierce, M. D., Se. D., Resident Research Award.
Despite a hectic work and professional organization schedule, she also maintained community involvement through church, PTA, boy scouts, Sorority, volunteering for the Fulton County Talented and Gifted program (TAG) and local health fair participation. Being chosen to represent psychiatry as V-103’s “Hip Hop Doc” for the Ryan Cameron show has twice honored her. Her mission in participating in these community forums is to demystify psychiatry to reduce the stigma related to mental illness issues. In December of 2009, as an affirmation to her commitment to community, Dr. Shannon was awarded the status of Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. As a highlight of her 2009 community efforts, Dr. Shannon established a faith-based free clinic The Positive Balance Wellness Center in collaboration with the Ben Hill United Methodist Church and was named to the Board of Directors for Perfect Heart Shelter for Women and Children. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr. Shannon collaborated with several Community, Corporate, and Faith-Based agencies (Ben Hill United Methodist Church, Mind Matters, Myriad Pharmaceuticals, Arms of Love, Black Resiliency, Zane, United Methodist Women, 100 Black Men of South Metro, National Black Church Initiative, Raven’s Nest Foundation, Incorporated, and Rising Hope Foundation ) to address Covid19 Vaccination Hesitancy in peoples of color as well as to encourage ALL people to pay greater attention to their Mental Wellness Maintenance amid the increased stress generated by the isolation and mortality associated with COVID19 and its variants. Dr. Shannon’s dream is to foster a greater spirit of COMMUNITY for those with mental wellness challenges and developmental disabilities, through the collaborative efforts of area churches, community centers, schools, and other agencies. Her belief is that TOGETHER we can all contribute to making our world a better place for EVERYONE.
Dr. Shannon truly loves psychiatry and does not regard it as a ‘job’ but rather as her passion, her ministry, and her mission. She shares her life mission with her husband, Walter W. “Billy” Reid, III, DMD, and their son, Will. Dr.Shannon is proud to state that her most esteemed accolade is being able to profess that she is a CHILD of GOD and that without HIM none of the other accolades would have been possible.
Born in Charleston, West Virginia, to Alexander Pamplin and Estella Allen Easley. Seven children were born to their union, six are now deceased as well as his parents.
FAMILY | Rev. Easley’s joy of family is always present in his conversation. He has three children: Paul Howard “PJ” Easley, Jr., Verita Jean Easley (Joshua) Green, and David Allen Easley; 10 grandchildren.
EDUCATION | Education has been the foundation for his many footprints in life. He completed his secondary education at Garnet High School in Charleston, West Virginia and undergraduate studies at West Virginia State College (now West Virginia State University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technical Science with a concentration in Building Construction. His educational accomplishments were completed at numerous institutions: Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia, Bachelor of Divinity degree in Religion; Interdenominational Theological Seminary, Atlanta, Georgia, Master of Divinity degree; Iliff School of Theology, Denver, Colorado, Master of Theological Service degree with a concentration in Psychology and Counseling; Global Bible University, Baltimore, Maryland, Doctor of Ministry and Erskine School of Religion, Due West, South Carolina. He has also received Certificates in Psychology and Counseling from several Hospitals and Army Medical Centers.
MILITARY | His military assignments during his distinguished military career have included: Hospital Brigade Chaplin, Senior Chaplin, Post Chaplin and Assistant Post Chaplain in Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, Republic of Korea, Fort Riley, Kansas, Ft. Slocum, New York, Fort Hamilton, New York, Staten Island, New York and Republic of Vietnam, United States Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also served as I Corps Chaplain in Korea and Post Protestant Chaplain, Presidio of San Francisco. He was the first personnel assigned and organized the Army’s first Correctional Training Facility for Retraining of Military Confines at Fort Riley, Kansas, and the US Army’s Drug Treatment Center at Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam; and served as the second Chaplain appointed and first African-American appointed as “Colonel” of the Regiment of the United States Army Chaplain Corps.
MINISTRY & COMMUNITY AFFILIATIONS | Rev. Easley is a member of the United Methodist Church, West Virginia Conference with their charge conference at Simpson Memorial United Methodist Church, Charleston, West Virginia. He has held pastorates at Fairmont, Lewisburg, Ronceverte, White Sulphur Springs, Brownsburg, Seebert, Lincoln and Williamsburg, West Virginia. Rev. Easley held additional pastorates in Atlanta, Griffin, and Red Oak, Georgia.
Although Rev. Paul Howard Easley, Sr. has a very Distinguished Career, he remains humble and never wants accolades for anything he does. Not only does he give freely, but he has spent many years supporting Most Ministries if not all here. He spent several years taking hot food on Wednesday Night to the ailing Bishop and his wife, convalescing Seniors, Feeding the Homeless, and September 2022 he not only supported the Water Mission to Jackson, MS but he also paid for majority of the 26 Foot Penske Commercial Truck Rental for the over 760 miles round-trip carrying over 10,000 pounds of Water, Mega Snacks, Clorox Wipes, and Hand Sanitizer. We Thank him for continuing his Service to America and now resting and being loved at the young age of 94 years.
A native of Dayton, Ohio, Alford is the fourth of seven children born to the late George W. Sr., and Lillian Grace Alford. He gave his life to Christ at the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Dayton, Ohio at the age of nine under Dr. J. Welby Broaddus. He is a product of the Dayton Public Schools having graduated from the Roosevelt High School after which he attended the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio and graduated Cum Laude from Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio in 1972. He earned the Master of Divinity (M. Div.) from the Lexington Theological Seminary in Lexington, Kentucky in 1994 with Honors and earned the Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.) in Preaching from the McCormick Theological Seminary at the University of Chicago in 2008.
Dr. Alford has served the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church as an ordained Elder in full connection. His ministry began as Associate Minister at the Phillips Temple CME Church in Dayton, Ohio. He has pastored the Grace CME Church of Richmond, Indiana; The Phillips Memorial CME Church of Lexington, Kentucky; The Lane Metropolitan CME Church of Cleveland, Ohio; The Historic Butler Street CME Church of Atlanta, Georgia and The Stewart Memorial CME Church of Mobile, Alabama, from where he retired in 2014. Throughout his distinguished time of ministry Dr. Alford has served across the spectrum of national and world causes beyond denominational and ecumenical lines. He has seen to the leadership of the church as well as the needs of the church. To that extent he was elected as the founding President of the Regional Council of Churches of Atlanta, an amalgam of churches of all denominations across the twenty-six counties of Metropolitan Atlanta.
He was among a group of Clergy invited to the White House by President Bill Clinton that gave shape and voice to what later became “Health Care Reform” later known as Obama Care. He has served as a Chataqua Fellow at the Chataqua Institute. He served five terms as a member of the World Methodist Council (the governing body of the World Methodist Conference). This service extended over twenty years, and he represented the CME Church at World Methodist Conferences in Singapore; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Brighton, England; Seoul, South Korea and Durbin, South Africa. While in Atlanta he was consistently voted among Atlanta’s ten top preachers from 1998 through 2010 and has been recognized as a gifted faith leader. Alford has been the recipient of many noteworthy awards and recognitions including the Eagle’s Award by the American Pastor’s Association, being named a Kentucky Colonel by Kentucky Governor Paul Patton for his meritorious community service, and recipient of the Commander’s Award for Excellence at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. Alford is also a recipient of the coveted induction into the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College in 2005 where he was the first inductee from the CME Church. He is a member and former officer of Eta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
After retirement from active pulpit ministry the Alfords joined the Ben Hill United Methodist Church of Atlanta. Since coming to Ben Hill, he has led in the development of the ministry on Six Marks of Discipleship which resulted in Sunday School curriculum for 48 lessons for all age groups. He taught the Wednesday Evening Bible Study and served as Director of Operations.
Alford is married to Attorney Debra Gray Alford. They are the proud parents of two sons Anthony M. Jr., (Dr. Genesis B.) and Dr. Aaron M., (Dr. Corrie V.) and they are the doting grandparents of six. They make their home in Southwest Atlanta.
