NAACP Mobile Branch #5044 to Unveil the Major General J. Gary Cooper Legacy Award Plaque

MOBILE, Ala. - The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Mobile

Branch #5044, will unveil the NAACP Major General J. Gary Cooper Legacy Award plaque on Friday,

August 28, 2026, at 11:45 a.m. at Commonwealth National Bank, located at 2214 St. Stephens Road in

Mobile, Alabama.

The award honors the life, legacy, and enduring values of the late Major General J. Gary Cooper - a trailblazing Marine, statesman, diplomat, and Mobile native who was the first African American to command a Marine Corps infantry company in combat and the first African American Marine Corps officer to attain the rank of General. Major General Cooper was a longtime, proud member of NAACP Mobile Branch #5044 and served for years as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Commonwealth National Bank, the first minority-owned national bank in Alabama - making the bank a fitting home for the unveiling.

The award, presented annually at the NAACP Freedom Awards Banquet, recognizes individuals who embody his core values - integrity, leadership, excellence, mentorship, community service, resilience, dedication to diversity, and commitment to family - and who strengthen their communities through service and equity.

To date, two individuals have been honored with this distinction:

• Beverly M. Cooper - 2024 Honoree

• Birdie May Davis (Manning) - 2025 Honoree

NAACP Mobile Branch #5044 welcomes the public, community leaders, and members of the press to join

in this celebration of legacy, service, and community values.

Event Details

What: Unveiling of the NAACP Major General J. Gary Cooper Legacy Award Plaque

When: Friday, August 28, 2026, at 11:45 a.m.

Where: Commonwealth National Bank, 2214 St. Stephens Road, Mobile, Alabama

Who: NAACP Mobile Branch #5044, community members, honorees, and invited media