A pair of Black History Month programs will be held this weekend at the Cobbs Creek Arts Center, 61 Cobbs Creek Lane.

At 3 p.m. Saturday, the Mathews Branch of NAACP will hold its Black History Month Celebration. Featured speakers are:

S.A. Cosby, Mathews native and internationally renowned crime fiction writer.

Allison Thomas, writer and film/theater producer, founding board member of Coming Together Virginia. Thomas is descended from enslavers on Gwynn’s Island.

Maria Giddens, surgical nurse and family genealogist. Giddens is a descendant of James Smith, formerly of Gwynn’s Island.

Elsie Jones Williams retired from the U.S. Department of the Army. Williams is a descendant of Thomas Perley, formerly of Gwynn’s Island.

Thomas, Giddens and Williams will present their work on the history of the Black community on Gwynn’s Island and the exodus of Black residents from Gwynn’s Island in the early 20th century. They are part of the “Gwynn’s Island Project” (www.gwynnsislan...