Health Department’s McCluskey receives annual Lloyd Burton award
The Kissimmee City Commission followed Tuesday with its own proclamation and a Black History Month celebration. (Photo/Ken Jackson)
The celebration of Black History Month is well underway in Osceola County, as proclamations and awards have been given in celebration of such an important segment of the area’s heritage.
Osceola County started Monday by honoring the Osceola County NAACP with a proclamation of Black History Month. Then, as part of its first Commission meeting of the month, Commissioner Viviana Janer honored Florida Department of Health in Osceola County administrator Vianca McCluskey with the Lieutenant Lloyd Burton Jr. Service Award. The Kissimmee City Commission followed Tuesday with its own proclamation and a Black History Month celebration.
The Burton award honors the contributions and service of African-American leaders in the Osceola community.
McCluskey is Florida’s first health department director, and Osceola’s is one of the state’s largest.
“She has led the county through unprecedented health emergencies and responses,” Janer said. “She continues to collaborate with community partners to protect, promote and improve the health of others.
“Her lifelong commitment to service continues to make a lasting impact on Osceola County, and exemplifies the spirit of the Lt. Lloyd Burton Jr. Service Award.” McCluskey noted that she was also the first black health director in her home state of Tennessee.
“But I wasn’t the last,” she said, and that’s what this is all about. I’m thankful that the Board takes a moment to recognize Black History Month, I think it’s critical to look back at the contributions of others. I came here having never been away from family, but what I found is Osceola County is truly home. This is a welcoming community with partners who work together.
“That’s something that, as a public health official, is critically important because most of the work that we do relies on collaboration of partnerships. I witness over and over how willing our partners are to come together to meet the needs of our neighbors. That collaborative spirit and our diversity are two strengths of this county.”
Janer and Osceola County created the award exactly a decade ago to honor Lloyd Burton, the first black deputy in the Sheriff ’s Office and spent 30 years in law enforcement.
Past Lloyd Burton award honorees include local luminaries Anna Pinellas, Belinda Johnson-Cornett, Delores McMillon, Dr. R. LeWayne Johnson, Celestia McCloud and LaVell Monger.
