James Mixon receives the 2026 Community Pillar Award

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – The Nelson T. Gant Foundation held their annual Juneteenth celebration today and awarded a member of the community.

The foundation awarded local Walmart greeter, James Mixon, the 2026 Community Pillar Award for exemplary dedication and distinguished service to the community. Mixon moved to Zanesville 18 years ago for work and has called this city his home ever since.

“It’s definitely an honor, something totally unexpected. Like I said, the honor goes to my parents because that’s how I was raised,” Mixon said. “It’s totally unexpected like I said. It’s amazing, my hearts flutters as I stand here totally unexpected but I appreciate, I’m humble, and I’m thankful.”

James Sowers is a board member for the Nelson T. Gant Foundation and was honored to present the award to Mixon. After the presentation, Sowers explains how he felt to see him win the award and why he is so deserving of the recognition.

“Ah man, it feels great today because when I go in Walmart, I notice this man. He’s like ‘how’re you doing today?’ Smiling, even when you’re in a bad mood he cheers you up and you know his job is to say ‘hello, welcome to walmart,’ but he goes above and beyond that,” Sowers said.

Nelson T. Gant was a freed slave who went on to become Zanesville’s first Black millionaire and a conductor in the Underground Railroad. Mixon summarizes the impact of the foundation named in Gant’s honor with one final thought.

“Just one thing to remember, everybody is somebody,” Mixon said.