“Darryl Hunt’s spirit spoke innocence,” said Dr. John Mendez of Emmanuel Baptist Church. This was a beautiful and succinct description of Mr. Hunt, who dedicated his life to eradicating the death penalty. He spent 19 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Once exonerated, he dedicated the remainder of his life to giving a voice to inmates, whom are some of the most marginalized among us.
A small group of his colleagues, friends, and loved ones gathered at Emmanuel Baptist Church on March 13, 2017. At that gathering, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation announced plans to create a $100,00 endowed scholarship fund that will be used to help previously incarcerated Forsyth County residents pursue higher education. The first scholarship will be awarded in 2018.
Mr. Hunt worked closely with the Carolina Justice Policy Center, as was acknowledged during the endowment announcement. Together, we fought to promote real, sustainable awareness and change in the criminal justice system and to eliminate the death penalty. We were forever changed as an organization by standing beside Darryl in his endeavors. This endowment is a wonderful extension of Darryl’s work and legacy.
You can read details on the endowment.
