Augusta, GA
Augusta Pride celebrations bringing more than a good time to the CSRA
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Hundreds of people cheered on numerous floats and participants at the 14th annual Augusta Pride Parade.
The parade was held downtown on Saturday.
The parade started at the James Brown Arena and it was followed by the pride festival.
The streets were filled with kids throwing candy, an array of decorations, colors and people out having a good time dancing to music.
Caleb Hawkins said Saturday’s Augusta Pride Parade and festival marked five years for him.
He said every year encourages him more.
“Every year the parade gets bigger. Last night was amazing. The parade this year has been amazing, versus my first year where it was kind of like, you know, pride, but this year, it’s like, everybody’s coming out. You know, it’s not just the LGBTQ+ community. It’s also allies, which I really love that,” said Hawkins.
It was Megan Barlow’s first pride event and she said she could feel all the heart from the community and people who traveled to this event.
“All of the love and support like people just handed out so many things like we got so many stickers and pins and just just a surreal feeling of just just how happy and pleasant everybody was, ” said Barlow.
Organizers like James Mintz said it’s really about representing the LGBTQ+ community and remaining visible to our peers.
“We’re part of your community where your neighbors, your friends, family members, friends, colleagues, and we just want to be a visible part of the community. Because if they believe that you don’t exist, they’ll try and take away your rights,” said Mintz.
Hawkins hopes for more community engagement where these events can continue to flourish, but in the meantime, he said he likes where things are so far.
“I always think that there can be more representation, you know, with our community. But when it comes down to it, like I said, I feel supported, I feel I trust my community to you know, have my back,” said Hawkins.
After the parade, people gathered at the Augusta Common to continue the celebration for the festival.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.
Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.
After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
With deepest and heartfelt sympathy, G. L. Brightharp & Sons announces the transition of Mr. Willie J. Tanksley who entered into rest April 18, 2026.
Mr. Tanksley, a native of Richmond County, was a 1985 graduate of the Academy of Richmond County. He was a member of Greater Young Zion Baptist Church where he served in the Brotherhood Ministry.
Survivors include his wife, Sabrina Tanksley; two daughters, Ashley Tanksley and Taylor Tanksley; siblings, Elise Tanksley of Augusta, GA, Wilhelmina Roland of Atlanta, GA, Terry Tanksley, Tommy Tanksley, Watler Tanksley and Elder Claude (Kimberly) Tanksley all of Augusta, GA; an aunt, Frances Tate; an uncle, James Tanksley; mother-in-law, Sandra Harrison of Beech Island, SC; father-in-law, Jimmy (Elnora) Bing; three sisters-in-law, Fonda Rainey, Nicole Harrison and Nina Bing; a brother-in-law, Eric Bing; a host of nieces , nephews, along with other loving relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Greater Young Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. William A. Blount officiating. Interment will follow at Walker Memorial Park. Viewing will be held from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM Monday at the funeral home.
The family will not be receiving visitors at the home. We ask that you continue to pray for them during this time.
Professional Services are under the compassionate care of G. L. Brightharp & Sons Mortuary-North Augusta.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree’s funeral was held on Friday morning.
The funeral began at 11 a.m. at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, the Rev. Karlton Howard officiating.
WATCH THE FUNERAL
Interment will follow at Noah’s Ark Baptist Church Cemetery in Waynesboro.
A viewing was held on Thursday at Good Shepherd Baptist Church from 2-6 p.m.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Classmate remembers former Sheriff Richard Roundtree ahead of funeral
- Funeral announced for former Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree
News 12 first learned of Roundtree’s passing on April 11. He’d been in a metro Atlanta hospital with serious medical issues.
Several people spoke during the funeral service, but one deputy in particular spoke of Roundtree’s leadership.
“He was more than a sheriff. He was an innovator. He looked for better ways to serve. He led with integrity, courage and genuine commitment,” said the deputy.
Roundtree, 57, was the head law enforcement officer in Augusta for more than a decade − and when he took office in 2012, notably no sheriff had been like him.
He was the first African American elected to the title, something he spent a career working toward.
He was highly visible in the community, where he could frequently be seen in a vest, working a crime scene along with his deputies.
Former classmate Clarence Brown said he was proud of Roundtree for his work.
“I was proud of him for, for actually, you know, getting to that level. But at the same time I realized that that’s a heavy weight, especially being from the community, um, and, and to draw in the community,” Brown said. “And so I wanted him to know that there was somebody in his corner that didn’t need anything.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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