Bluefield State University-Black History Month

08/19/2026

BSU President Dr. Darrin Martin outlines how higher education, industry, and government must collaborate to keep technical talent in Southern West Virginia.

03/06/2026

03/06/2026

🎉 Congratulations to the winners of the 2026 Black History Month County-Wide Student Contest! 🎉

We are so proud to celebrate the creativity, talent, and thoughtfulness of students across Mercer County who participated in this year’s contest!

🏆 Winners by grade group:

K–2:
✨ Charlotte Meadows — Bluefield Primary School Home of the Beaver Kits
✨ Ryder Hedges — Mountain Valley Elementary

3–5:
✨ Grace Ponder — Bluefield Intermediate School
✨ Doris Adegbile-Seick — Bluefield Intermediate School

6–8:
No submissions were received in this category.

9–12:
✨ Kyrie Martin — Bluefield High School Beavers

We are incredibly thankful to all students who submitted their work. Your participation helped make this year’s contest special! As a token of appreciation, all participants will receive a Chick-fil-A gift card. 🎁

One of the highlights of this year’s contest was seeing so many classrooms complete projects together! Because of that, selected classrooms will be surprised with a free classroom book and pizza party! 🍕📚
The principals of those classrooms will make the announcement next week.

This annual initiative continues to grow, and we are so grateful for the enthusiasm and support surrounding it. We encourage students from all across Mercer County to participate again next year!

Please join us in congratulating all of our winners and participants! 👏🏽🖤❤️💚

A special thanks to Big Blue Market for being our contest sponsor!

02/25/2026

Snapshots from our 3rd Annual Legacy Luncheon ✨

What a powerful afternoon of community, culture, and connection. The room was filled with joy, reflection, and legacy-building conversations and it showed.

A heartfelt thank you to our phenomenal guest speaker, Crystal Good of Black By God The West Virginian, for delivering a message that inspired and challenged us to continue doing the work.

We’re grateful for our incredible vendors:
🍽 Catering by Jah’Kater Kitchen
🧁 Desserts by Savannah Confections
🎁 Giveaway prizes from the Bluefield State University Campus Bookstore
Event Design by Something Borrowed Wedding & Event Rentals

Special appreciation to our sponsors who made this event possible:
Mercer County Commission - WV,
Big Blue Market,
OnPath Graphics,
Bluefield State University Alumni Association - Mercer County Chapter, and
WV Community Development Hub.

Thank you to the BSU Black History Month Committee and to every single person who showed up, supported, and continues to stand with us in advancing meaningful initiatives set by the ASALH: Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Legacy is not just remembered , it’s built together. 💙

02/20/2026

🖤💛 Black History Month Spotlight
Patricia Hayes (1953–2019)

Trailblazer | Educator | Mentor | Community Leader

📍 Roots
Born March 4, 1953
Graduate of Bluefield High School
Alumna of Bluefield State College (now University)

🚔 Barrier Breaker
Became the first African American female police officer in the Bluefield Police Department
Graduated with top honors from the police academy

📚 Educator & Mentor
Transitioned from law enforcement into education
Taught at Bluefield Middle School, Bluefield High School, and Bluefield State College
Actively mentored and uplifted youth throughout the Bluefield community

⛪ Faith & Family
Later moved to Tampa, Florida, where she devoted her life to her family and church

✨ Legacy
Patricia Hayes broke barriers in uniform and continued her service in the classroom. Her life reflects courage, leadership, and a deep commitment to guiding the next generation. Her impact lives on through the students she taught, the youth she mentored, and the doors she opened for others to walk through.

02/19/2026

🖤💛 Black History Banner Month Spotlight
Charles Thompson (b. 1944)

Trailblazer | Public Servant | Athlete | “The Singing Mailman”

📍 Roots
Born in Bluefield, West Virginia
Graduate of Park Central High School
Star athlete in football, basketball, and track
Attended Bluefield State College, competing in college athletics

📬 Barrier Breaker
Became the first full-time African American employee at the Bluefield, WV Post Office
Served as a dedicated mail carrier for nearly 35 years
Upon retirement, CNN recognized his milestone, noting the retirement of the first African American hired at the Bluefield Post Office

🎶 Community Voice
Affectionately known as “The Singing Mailman”
Frequently invited to sing at weddings, funerals, and civic events across the Two Virginias
Recognized for one of the most beloved voices in the region

👨🏾‍👩🏾‍👦🏾 Family & Legacy
Married to Allonia Jones Thompson for over 50 years
Proud father of six sons
A steady, positive presence in Mercer County for more than eight decades

✨ Legacy
Charles Thompson’s life reflects dedication, humility, and quiet excellence. From breaking barriers in public service to uplifting his community through music and mentorship, his story reminds us that history is made not only in headlines, but in everyday commitment to family, faith, and hometown pride.

02/16/2026

We are honored to announce that our 3rd Annual Legacy Luncheon guest speaker is none other than Crystal Good, Founder & CEO of Black By God The West Virginian

As the visionary behind a media movement transforming storytelling in West Virginia, Crystal has boldly elevated the voices of Black and BIPOC communities across Appalachia.

BBG is focused on spotlighting culture, agriculture, technology, business, civics, and the lived experiences too often overlooked.

Through Black By God, she is redefining representation and ensuring our stories are told with excellence, truth, and power.
Founded in 2020, Black By God has become a hub for innovation, creativity, and community-centered journalism.
Crystal’s leadership continues to shape a stronger, more informed, and more connected West Virginia.

Join us in Bluefield, WV as we honor our past, celebrate our present, and boldly claim our future while looking ahead to 100 more years of Black commemorations.

This is more than a luncheon. It’s a legacy moment. ✨

02/14/2026

🖤 Black History Banner Spotlight:
Charles Barnett (1954–1996) 🖤

• Born in Bluefield, West Virginia
• Built his comedy career performing multiple daily sets in Washington Square Park
• Auditioned for Saturday Night Live in 1980
• Best known as “Noogie” on Miami Vice
• Mentored a young Dave Chappelle and influenced Jeff Ross

From a small Appalachian town to national television, Charles Barnett left a lasting imprint on comedy through bold talent and powerful mentorship.

Bluefield’s legacy reaches far beyond our hills. 🖤

Today, we honor Charles Barnett — Bluefield native, comedic pioneer, and mentor to some of the most influential comedians of our time.
His story is part of our story.

02/12/2026

🖤 Black History Banner Spotlight: Thelma Stone (1905–1981) 🖤

A Legacy of Hospitality, Enterprise, and Safe Haven in Bluefield
Born in 1905 in Pocahontas, Virginia, and laid to rest in Bluefield, West Virginia in 1981, Thelma Stone was more than a businesswoman, she was a visionary and a pillar of Black economic empowerment during segregation.

In 1949, Thelma purchased an old house on the corner of Wayne and Logan Streets and transformed it into what would become a cornerstone of the African American community — The Hotel Thelma. She expanded the property with a large concrete block addition and built far more than a hotel. For over a decade, Hotel Thelma offered:
✨ Hotel rooms for travelers
✨ Apartments for residents
✨ A grocery store
✨ A restaurant serving the community
During an era when Black travelers were denied safe accommodations, Hotel Thelma stood as a place of dignity, safety, and excellence. Many prominent Black entertainers stayed there — including a young Ike and Tina Turner.

💡 She did not just run a business.
She was building infrastructure.
She was creating safety.
She was sustaining community during segregation.
Today, we honor Thelma Stone’s bold vision and the powerful legacy of Black women entrepreneurs who shaped Bluefield’s history — brick by brick, room by room, meal by meal.