Dr. Cindye Richburg Cotton was honored with the Legacy of Excellence Award by the NAACP Lexington County Branch during its Freedom Fund Awards Gala, held Friday, August 7, 2026, at the Brookland Banquet and Conference Center.
The award recognizes Dr. Cotton’s leadership, community service, and commitment to expanding educational, health, technology, and social service resources for residents of Lexington and Richland counties.
As Executive Director of the Brookland-Lakeview Empowerment Center (BLEC), Dr. Cotton has been instrumental in securing grants, donations, and partnerships to launch and expand vital community programs and services. These initiatives include Mental Health First Aid training, academic enrichment programs for youth and teens, diabetes prevention and management education, case management services, food pantries and community gardens, a clothing bank, and technology training for senior citizens.
Among the significant accomplishments under Dr. Cotton’s leadership was securing a partnership with AT&T to establish the first AT&T Connected Learning Center in South Carolina at BLEC. The center provides the community with free access to high-speed internet, computers, internet services, digital resources, and technology support, helping bridge the digital divide and expand access to education, employment, and other opportunities.
The NAACP also recognized Dr. Cotton for spearheading efforts to preserve the history and legacy of the former Lakeview School. Historic preservation accomplishments include the installation of a South Carolina Historical Marker, the property’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places, and its inclusion in the African American Civil Rights Network. These efforts help ensure that Lakeview School’s important place in African American education and community history is preserved for future generations.
Dr. Cotton was unable to attend the gala. Her husband, Joseph Craig Cotton, along with BLEC Board members Bennie Sulton, Dr. Rudy Wise, and Pete Prioleau, accepted the Legacy of Excellence Award on her behalf.
Reflecting on the honor, Dr. Cotton shared:
“Receiving the Legacy of Excellence Award from the NAACP means more than I can adequately express. The NAACP has paved the way for generations, making it possible for people like me to lead, serve, and continue meaningful work in our communities today. To be acknowledged by an organization with such a powerful legacy is an honor I will always cherish.”
The Legacy of Excellence Award celebrates Dr. Cotton’s dedication to both preserving an important chapter of African American history and building upon that legacy through programs, partnerships, and services that empower residents today.
Through her leadership at BLEC, the historic former Lakeview School continues its legacy as a place of education, opportunity, service, and community empowerment for residents of Lexington and Richland counties.