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*Bertha June "BJ" art world until its closing in
Hampton Cooper 2000.
became the 1st Government
entrepreneur in the Class of
1969 when a $5,000 *Avonia “Peggy”
investment from her father, Lemons was the first black
William Hampton enabled woman to become a
her to open Hello Dollies in Manager of a Field Service
1972, the 1st Black owned Office providing employment
telephone answering service and unemployment services
in Atlanta. With loyal clients Brenda Martin Mitchell's for the Georgia Department
including Black Enterprise, love of African culture and of Labor in 1989. After a 32
Atlanta physicians, attorneys art was the foundation of her year career with numerous
and businesses, BJ led 27 year ownership of African achievements and awards,
Hello Dollies for 20 years Connections, a boutique gift Peggy retired as the
before selling the company shop featuring African and Department's Director of
and moving to another Diaspora art, artifacts, Customer Relations and
chapter in her life. jewelry, clothing and Marketing.
accessories. She grew the
business from a small *Patricia Eason Walker
operation in her home in was the first black County
1973 to a retail space in Director of the Department
Little 5 Points that became of Family and Children’s
an institution in the Atlanta Services in Georgia. She
retired as Field Director for
