J. Timothy Cole will speak at “A Celebration of African American History” at the New Bethel AME Zion Church on Forest Street in Forest City on Saturday, March 7 at 12 p.m.

Born in Lenoir, J. Timothy Cole is a scholar, professional librarian, and archivist who lives in Greensboro. His parents, both natives of Rutherford County, moved to Lenoir in 1951. He is a descendant of the Flack family, a family whose presence in Rutherford County dates back to the late 1700s.

Cole has written articles and books about people, places and events in Rutherford County. His books include Collett Leventhorpe: The English Confederate (2006), Chimney Rock Park and Hickory Nut Gorge (2008), and The Forest City Lynching of 1900 (2003).

Cole’s address is part of an exhibit and program sponsored by the African American Heritage Museum of Rutherford County. The exhibit will be held in the fellowship hall of New Bethel AME Zion Church. It will include numerous documents, photographs and artifacts related to local (Rutherford and Polk Counties as well as the border areas of adjoining counties) and national African American history.

The exhibit will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, March 6. It will reopen at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, prior to Cole’s address. It will open again following Cole’s address and a reception for him. Both the exhibit and program are free to the public. Call 828-245-2478 or 828-552-7009 for information.

-Submitted by J. Lee Greene