Hubbard House honors six for strengthening community

ASHTABULA – It was standing room only on Saturday, Feb. 28, as a large audience filled the Hubbard House in Ashtabula for the 2026 Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum Recognition Awards.
During the morning event, the museum celebrated six award recipients.
Those honored were: Steve Sargent, Ashley Bell, Fred Robsel, Elijah Lyons, James Mayer and Dr. Natalyn Gibbs.
They were recognized for their service, leadership and dedication that the Hubbard House representatives said “has strengthened our community and beyond.”
Lyons, the founder/owner of JES Trucking, was the first recipient honored for his unwavering contributions to the community.
It was noted that his dedication and generosity have enriched the lives of many people.
“I want to sincerely thank the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum for this honor and for allowing me to be part of today’s event,” Lyons said, noting he was truly grateful to be considered for the award.
He said the recognition doesn’t belong to him alone.
“The honor belongs to those who came before me, the enslaved men, women and children who endured hardship,” he said, noting that it also belongs to the brave abolitionists and conductors of the Underground Railroad as well as the activists of the Civil Rights Movement.
As a Black man in the community, he said can live, work and serve because of their sacrifices and contributions.
Robsel was the next recipient honored. He has been a docent at the museum since the 1990s and a museum board member for many years, including two years as board president.
It was noted that his commitment, generosity and passion for preserving history has strengthened the museum and enriched the experience of visitors.
“In 1986, when I first came to Ashtabula, I didn’t know a soul,” he said. He recalled how the Hubbard family welcomed him to the city. “They introduced me to the history, the remarkable history of this county,” he said.
Dr. Gibbs, superintendent and chief executive officer of Erie’s Public Schools, was honored for her lifelong commitment to educational equity and excellence.
“Standing here at this historic Hubbard House, I’m filled with an overwhelming sense of pride,” she said. She drew attention to the school system’s 11,000 scholars. “Let’s give it up for them,” she said, which drew much applause. “On behalf of every single one of those students, thank you,” she said. “Thank you for this honor.”
Bell, a former clerk of council for Ashtabula City Council and a journalist with Erie News Now, was honored for her dedication for bringing awareness to the community through her work as a news reporter. Through the lens of her camera, it was noted, she has amplified voices, highlighted important issues and strengthened connections in Ashtabula and beyond.
She thanked the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum for the honor. “I am beyond grateful,” she said.
Mayer, who was honored next, has been a trusted financial advisor for the past 26 years for families and institutions across Northeast Ohio and is a senior member of Your Bridge Wealth Management.
It was noted that he has also served in roles of philanthropy and on boards of various non-profits.
“If I read every board position, past and present, this man has held, we’d be waiting for dinner,” a speaker said. “This man apparently doesn’t know how to say no.” He was recognized for his extraordinary dedication to Ashtabula and beyond.
“Thank you very much, I’m so honored,” Mayer said.
He said the Hubbard House Underground Railroad Museum is an amazing organization that has done so many good things.
Sargent, executive director of the Samaritan House in Ashtabula, was honored next. His dedication, involvement and omnipresence in the community was acknowledged, along with his unwavering compassion and commitment to helping others.
“Who does not know Mr. Sargent?” Hubbard House Executive Director Sally Bradley asked.
Former State Rep. John Patterson noted that Sargent had a lifetime of service and stewardship.
Beyond the Samaritan House, he noted Sargent’s many other endeavors, such as serving on the Ashtabula County 503 Board and the Ashtabula County FEMA Board, among many others. There were cheers when Patterson mentioned that Sargent pastors at Hiawatha Church of God in Christ.
“Well done, good and faithful servant,” Patterson said.
Sargent thanked the Hubbard House for the honor. He said he loved the history of the Hubbard House.
He was amazed by his fellow honorees.
“I looked at the list of people that were being honored,” he said, joking that he “almost called off sick today.”
During his acceptance of the award, Sargent paid tribute to the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who passed away less than two weeks before on Feb. 17.
Looking back, Sargent, who saw him in real life in Memphis, recalled how he memorized Rev. Jackson’s entire speech that he gave in 1984 at the Democratic National Convention.
“That’s how crazy I was,” he said. “And one of the things that he told us was that a leader must be tough enough to fight, tender enough to cry, human enough to make mistakes, humble enough to admit them, strong enough to absorb pain, and resilient enough to bounce back and keep on moving.”
A speaker, Pastor Nicholas Hall (House of Freedom), spoke about the topic of “Forward in Faith, Grounded in History.”
Pastor Hall asked what the audience would do after the awards ceremony.
“…What are we going to do when we leave here?” he said.
Hall asked if the attendees would listen to all the wonderful stories that were told at the event and just go home and go about their normal day-to-day activities.
“Or will we take what has been imparted into us through knowledge and carry it out to the generations to come?” he asked.
Pastor Hall said just as the freedom seekers had to fulfill their journey, he said those in the audience had a journey to fulfill as well.
He told those in the audience that this involved being grounded in the story of the freedom seekers while building their own story with a mind to move forward. He was applauded.
The other speaker, Mayo Makinde, president of the Makinde Foundation of Columbus, Ohio, spoke about a physical connection that was made between the Hubbard House and slavery museums in Africa by taking some emblems from here to there.
He also had kudos for the award recipients.
“To the honorees, congratulations,” he said.