The African American Heritage Society of Williamson County will be hosting its 19th Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Monday, June 19, 2023 at the McLemore House Museum in Franklin.

The community-wide celebration begins at the McLemore House Museum, joining the American Legion Post 215 in raising the American and Juneteenth flags. MoBetter BBQ’s food truck will be there along with live DJ music and many fun activities including the Denny Denson cakewalk, named after the late Reverend Denny Denson, beloved minister, community leader, and civil rights activist in Franklin. Free popsicles and snacks will be on hand for the kids, and traditional “Strawberry Soda”, which symbolizes the bloodshed of the enslaved and pays homage to their sacrifice, will be served. Museum tours will be offered at 12pm and 1pm for the opportunity to learn more about the life and legacy of Harvey McLemore and the rich African American history embedded in the soil of Franklin, Tennessee.

The celebration will end in Downtown Franklin with a special gathering at 5:00 PM in front of Avec Moi, a gift shop located at 418 Main Street, where a plaque commemorating A.N.C. Williams, a prominent African American merchant and community leader, will be unveiled. Upon his emancipation from slavery in 1863, A.N.C. Williams opened a shoe repair store on the square, the first black-owned business in Franklin, Tennessee. He later purchased real estate directly on Main Street, owning and operating a general merchandise store for over 60 years. A.N.C. Williams was more than a business owner; he was a pastor, a civic leader, a peacemaker, and a beloved husband and father.