Rose Martin, former executive director of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.The director of the Bessie Smith Cultural Center, who was in charge of the Bessie Smith Strut when tens of thousands of dollars in uncounted cash from the event was stolen, is out, officials confirmed Wednesday evening.
Board Chairman Jeffrey Wilson said Executive Director Rose Martin is no longer at the center and the former chairman of the board, Irvin Overton, has taken her place.
But Wilson wouldn't say if Martin left on her own or if the board removed her. He declined to answer any questions about the board's decision, saying he didn't like the Times Free Press' "coverage of the center."
"I'm not going to comment on all that," he said.
Overton, who was chairman of the center's board for years, couldn't be reached for comment late Wednesday.
The Bessie Smith Cultural Center, comprising an African-American museum and an event hall, came under scrutiny after this year's Strut when former employee Torrey Hines stole about $42,000 in cash. The cash was left in a locked office drawer, uncounted, with the key stored in an open safe that wasn't locked, an audit found.
The board of directors hired an independent auditor, which found the center's management had failed to impose controls to ensure funds were properly accounted for during the center's largest annual event. This was the third year the center coordinated the Strut, which takes place during the nine-day Riverbend music festival.
City Councilman Moses Freeman said it was inevitable that Martin -- who headed the center for seven years -- would step down. And he said he hopes Overton can help the board to find new leadership and carry out a new mission that will lead to restored trust in the Bessie Smith center.
"Due to his familiarity with the board and the programs of the African-American Museum as a longtime board member, this would probably be a logical transitional step to appoint Irvin Overton," Freeman said.
Contact staff writer Joy Lukachick Smith at jsmith@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6659.