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“A Celebration of a Century of Service to the East Side” set for Aug. 2 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church

 

TRYON—Award-winning composer and civil rights advocate Dr. Samuel Waymon will headline and host a homecoming celebration Friday, Aug. 2, at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, honoring the historic Black congregation’s enduring presence on Tryon’s East Side.

The free event, titled “A Celebration of a Century of Service to the East Side,” begins at 11 a.m. and will feature a unique blend of live music, storytelling, and community reflection. A public reception will follow in the parish hall, with a meal of ribs and all the fixings.

Waymon, who will serve as both performer and master of ceremonies, said the audience will be welcomed as full participants in the experience.

“This isn’t a sit-and-watch concert,” said Waymon. “This is a shared moment where music, memory, and the spirit of this community all come together. Everyone is invited to feel it, sing it, live it with us.”

The acclaimed musician—best known as the brother and longtime collaborator of Nina Simone—will weave together music and spoken word, reflecting on his family’s legacy in Tryon. His parents and much of his family are buried at the church cemetery.

“Tryon knows of me, but they don’t know me,” Waymon said. “This is a full-circle moment. I’m returning to share my truth and honor the place that shaped it.”

Waymon will also debut “Freedom Is My Name,” an original piece from The Freedom Project, a multimedia collaboration with senior producer Melvin H. Cox. The project is currently in development and is expected to be released internationally.

Cox, of Sportsquest International, will film the event. Sound will be managed by James Little, a technician with the Tryon Fine Arts Center, assisting independently.

“As a filmmaker, I know how rare and vital these stories are,” Cox said. “We need to preserve and elevate them.”

“You walk into this chapel and feel something sacred,” said Little. “And what Sam is doing here—it’s powerful.”

The church, originally located at Green River Plantation, once served enslaved laborers. Later, it became home to the Tryon Industrial Colored School and remains a cornerstone of East Side history.

“We’re not just celebrating a building,” said longtime member Nancy Pemberton. “We’re celebrating generations of strength, faith, and community.”

The event is free and open to all.