CHASING HISTORY: Native Arkansan Evetta Whitby aiming to become first black woman mayor of historic Forrest City
Andre Johnson 
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)
NATURAL STATE WINNER
FORREST CITY, Arkansas — With God, her Helper, steering the way, Evetta Whitby is on a fervent quest to accomplish one majestic, monumental feat.
Make history.
“Growing up as a child was challenging, but we survived,” a three-time-elected Forrest City School Board member, told Making Headline News this week. “I married at 21 years old and never looked back on my childhood in a negative way. I always concentrated on positivity and turned all my negative situations into something positive and, in the midst of it all, I always asked God, ‘What do You want me to learn from this?’ My answer was, ‘I am that I am.’”
Given the remarkably immeasurable strides she’s made in her current political post, Whitby undoubtedly seems destined to take yet another massive step in her illustrious profession as a well-respected public servant.
VOTE WHITBY: https://www.evettawhitby4mayor.com/
A native Arkansan, Whitby, 50, in May announced her candidacy for Forrest City mayor, pledging to help bring an array of favorable changes to the city she has been proud to call home since birth.
Aiming to become the chief executive officer of a rural St. Francis County, Arkansas establishment that is named after General Nathan Bedford Forrest and is comprised of roughly 15,371 residents, according to the latest U. S. census, Whitby emphasized, among other things, that she is the right candidate to unseat incumbent Cedric Williams and become Forrest City’s first black woman mayor.
Early voting begins October 28 and runs through November 7. Election Day is November 8.
DESTINY STEPS
As Whitby explained, the town in which she grew up, by all accounts, has essentially become of shell of itself throughout the years.
“As a concerned citizen, I was no longer pleased with the image of my hometown,” Whitby told MHN. “Forrest City’s image was not the city I grew up in. After realizing that silence is not the answer, I needed to use my voice. After praying and discussing these issues with my family, we decided for me to become a candidate in this race.”
Having worked for the Arkansas Department of Finance Administration Child Support Division since 1995, Whitby believes her valiant contributions as a notable member of the city’s school board have greatly equipped her to assume Forrest City’s highest political office.
CLEARING HUGE HURDLES
“Success is grounded in evidence and it becomes effective, it’s determination, failure, accomplishments, value, self-love, and self-respect,” Whitby said. “I say that because in life, I have worked for our state government for 27 years and, within those years, it’s evident that I worked my way from the bottom to the top.”
Amongst Whitby’s notable achievements includes having implemented two statewide programs, both of which ultimately led to her finishing first runner-up as Employee of The Year for her dedicatory public service.
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“My work ethic is effective, and I have learned that determination is a never-giving-up process,” Whitby said. “Sometimes, it may lead to failures but, in the end, accomplishments will prevail. In order for me to be determined, I had to grasp hold of my value and I learned that I am the child of the Most High God, He’s Alpha and Omega, He’s the beginning and the end.
“I learned that my value exceeds more abundantly, above all that I can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in me,” continued Whitby, reciting the familiar passage that is Ephesians 3:20. “I gained self-love, which led me to extend agape love because God first loved me. In order to extend agape love, I had to gain self-respect for myself in order to release it to others. I can’t expect anyone to respect me if I don’t respect myself first.”
If elected mayor of a predominantly African-American city that has increased by more than 1,500 residents since 2000, Whitby said amongst her strategic pledges and policies would center largely on:
Being a “visible, fair and consistent Mayor.”
Understanding “I can’t do anything by myself; it will take us as a community” and,
“Coming together to develop a strong team.”
“Which leads me to WE,” said Whitby, placing emphasis on such a subject pronoun in all caps.
“WE pledge to improve our city’s image. WE pledge to assist with decreasing our city’s crime. WE pledge to enhance our economic development with our city,” she said without hesitation.
MORE ON WHITBY: https://www.evettawhitby4mayor.com/meet-evetta
A 1990 graduate of Forrest City High School, Whitby acquired an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice from East Arkansas Community College. Consequently, she enrolled at Arkansas State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminology.
Born to the late Floyda Williams and Herbert Gates — both of Whitby’s parents died in a span of two months in 2020 — Whitby has been married to LaTwon Whitby for 29-plus years. The couple shares two sons: TaJuan Whitby, 26, and JaJuan Whitby, 21.
Having credited her family and solid faith walk for fueling her desire to run for Forrest City’s highest political seat, Whitby’s rise as a successful public servant comes amid humble beginnings, something by which she doesn’t merely take lightly, in large part because she has managed to defy arguably the toughest of odds.
DISPLAYING AGAPE LOVE
Now, with Election Day looming, Whitby doesn’t shy away from the notion that she’s determined to shatter what undoubtedly would be a massive Natural State color barrier for the ages.
“As a child growing up, my mom used to tell us as children to be the best that we can be, never allow anyone to underestimate or define who we are,” Whitby said. “She said she was told that her children wouldn’t be anything but, when we look back over our lives, we are who God created us to be, and mom prayed that God bless and show favor upon her children. I can say her prayers were truly answered.”
How else to explain why this beloved native Arkansan is on a fervent quest to accomplish one dignified, monumental feat in the very town in which she grew up?
SHE IS FORREST CITY
When asked to finish this sentence: If Evetta Whitby wins her forthcoming election, Whitby wasted little time and uttered, “She will make history.”
And, in doing so, she will have taken yet another massive steps in her illustrious profession as a well-respected public servant.
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For more information about Evetta Whitby for Mayor of Forrest City, call 870.945.0978 or connect with her via Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/EvettaWhitby4Mayor. Send email to: evettawhitby4mayor.com.
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Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder and Publisher for Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former staff reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson covers the NBA Southwest Division from Dallas, Texas. To reach Johnson, send email to makingheadlinenews@gmail.com or to memphisgraduate@yahoo.com. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist or Instagram at @makingheadlinenews.
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