Goldsboro, NC — Over Memorial Day Weekend, Dillard/Goldsboro Alumni & Friends Incorporated (DGAF Inc.) commemorated its 70th anniversary with a powerful and heartfelt celebration that brought together generations of alumni, families, and community partners. From scholarship awards and parades to community service and cultural preservation, the milestone event reflected both the organization’s enduring legacy and its forward-facing mission.
Founded in 1954 by educator and community leader Dr. Hugh Victor “H.V.” Brown, the organization was created to reconnect alumni of the historic Dillard High School in Goldsboro and to celebrate the achievements of its graduates. Today, DGAF Inc. is not only one of the oldest and largest high school alumni associations in the country, but also a year-round service organization with a focus on education, youth empowerment, and community development.
A Milestone Celebration: 70 Years of Coming Home
This year’s Alumni Weekend was the culmination of months of planning and a year’s worth of organizational activity. The weekend kicked off on Thursday with DGAF Inc.’s signature Awards and Scholarship Night, held at the historic Dillard Middle School building — the former site of Dillard High School. The location held special meaning for many alumni, particularly older members, who were moved by the opportunity to gather in their former school.
During the event, the organization awarded nearly $100,000 in scholarships to over 50 students from Goldsboro High School, other surrounding schools, and legacy students — the children and grandchildren of Dillard or Goldsboro graduates. Scholarship recipients represented a national footprint, with awardees from across the country.
“This is the most important night of our celebration and truly the reason we exist,” said National President Jamarius Coley. “We are proud to have awarded over $4 million in scholarships through the decades.”
The evening concluded with a meet-and-greet social at the Alumni Center on Poplar Street, welcoming returning alumni and guests as they arrived in town.
Weekend Highlights: Fellowship, Fundraising, and Festivity
The celebration continued Friday with a golf tournament at the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course, hosted by the Dillard High School Class of 1968. All proceeds benefited the scholarship and building funds.
Friday night saw a packed house for the “Sneaker Ball,” a laid-back, multi-generational dance event where attendees paired formal wear with sneakers. The event brought together alumni of all ages — from 30-somethings to octogenarians — embodying the organization’s mission of unity across generations.
Saturday’s parade through downtown Goldsboro featured a stunning lineup of alumni queens in Corvettes, as well as community groups and local performers. Later that evening, DGAF Inc. honored 13 lifetime members, each recognized for more than 50 years of continuous service to the organization. Honorees received commemorative plaques and a special video tribute.
Throughout the weekend, DGAF Inc. operated shuttle golf carts to transport elderly members from parking areas to event sites. The Goldsboro High School Junior ROTC program served as official parking attendants and greeters — a service for which each student was compensated as a small “summer job” opportunity.
On Sunday, a powerful alumni choir performed during a morning praise party, followed by the weekend’s final gathering: the alumni tailgate. Class groups set up tents and grills across the campus, welcoming family and friends to share food, music, and memories.
Beyond Homecoming: Year-Round Commitment to Community
Though DGAF Inc. is most visible during Alumni Weekend, the organization works tirelessly year-round to support local residents — particularly youth and elderly neighbors. Among its initiatives:
- Holiday Outreach: In December, DGAF Inc. partnered with Safe Spaces for Youth to serve over 70 children in the nearby Lincoln Homes community. Children submitted holiday wish lists, and every requested gift was fulfilled by the organization, community donors, or partners. The celebration included a hot meal, dancing, a violence prevention seminar, and photos with “Santa Claus” — portrayed by President Coley.
- Technology Access: In collaboration with the Cramden Institute, DGAF Inc. distributed over 100 desktop computers in the first year and 500 laptops in the second to students across Wayne County.
- Historic Preservation & Housing Development: DGAF Inc. has hosted a series of community workshops with Habitat for Humanity on the McNair Heights Project—a new housing development on Harris and Slaughter Streets. The discussions have also centered on preserving the cultural identity of the historic Webbtown neighborhood.
- Youth Literacy Programs: The organization hosts the Battle of the Books program each year, in partnership with Wayne County Public Schools, where students from across the county compete in a reading-based academic quiz bowl.
- First Friday Community Outreach: On the first Friday of every month, DGAF Inc. sells fish plates during the day and hosts social gatherings in the evening. Free meals are delivered to elderly residents of Lincoln Homes, sponsored by chapter members and donors. These events will resume in July after a brief pause during homecoming preparations.
- Nonprofit Support & Arts Access: DGAF Inc. regularly opens its 400-seat fellowship hall and stage-equipped facility to other nonprofit organizations free of charge. Notably, ArtsEQ rehearsed its production of The Lion King in the space before staging it at the Paramount Theatre.
Preserving the Past, Empowering the Future
As part of its continued commitment to heritage, DGAF Inc. officially renamed its internal archive room in honor of Velma Atkinson, a 1954 Dillard graduate and lifelong member who first envisioned the preservation space. The Velma Atkinson Archives now house yearbooks, newspaper clippings, and other key documents from Dillard and Goldsboro High Schools.
While DGAF Inc. has operated for 70 years, the roots of Dillard High School stretch back to 1866, when the first school for African Americans was established in Wayne County. The formal Dillard High School began in 1924, and its final graduating class before integration was in 1969. The first integrated class graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1970.
Looking Ahead: Education, Youth, and Partnerships
DGAF Inc. is currently in the early stages of planning a field day and summer carnival to offer children a safe and fun environment during school break, complete with popcorn and snow cone machines, games, and outdoor activities.
The organization is also exploring the return of a free after-school tutoring program, aimed at boosting educational support for local students.
DGAF Inc. remains open to collaborations with like-minded partners. Nonprofits aligned with the organization’s mission — particularly those focused on education, mentorship, and youth development — are encouraged to connect for joint programming or use of the organization’s facility.
President Coley summarized the organization’s vision best:
“We come home every Memorial Day to party with a purpose. But the work doesn’t stop Monday morning. We’re here for the community 365 days a year.”
Contact Information:
For updates, facility inquiries, or scholarship information, interested parties may visit the organization’s website at www.dgafinc.org or email natdgafinc@gmail.com. Internal communications are managed by Paula Hamilton Edmonds, the organization’s Communications Chair.
