Meet the S.F. NAACP Branch Officers

Known among World leaders, Presidents, celebrities, and academicians alike for his trademark activism, intellectual discipline, and masterful oratory, Dr. Amos C. Brown is a legend in his own time. At TBC we find him to be a shepherd who takes seriously his responsibility to protect the sheep from predators-whether elected government officials, public analysts, or religious leaders – who would misguide, mislead, or mis-feed his flock. Tutored by Medgar Evers, Benjamin Mays, Samuel Williams, J. Pious Barbour, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (as one of the eight students in the only class Dr. King taught in his lifetime at Morehouse College), Dr. Brown has never seen the issues of society as separate from the mission of the church, especially when the members of the church are directly affected by systems of evil.

Rev. Arnold G. Townsend, an Associate Minister at Without Walls Church has been a resident of San Francisco's famed Fillmore District for over 45 years. He has served as a Government and Community Relations Consultant, President Board of Directors for the San Francisco Economic Opportunity Council (EOC), Commissioner of the San Francisco Elections Commission. As 1st Vice Presidentof our Branch Rev. Townsend is a Life Member and has successfully chaired the Freedom Fund Gala for two years.

Dr. Jonathan Z. Butler is the 2nd Vice-President and Health Committee Chair for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) San Francisco Branch. Dr. Butler is also an appointed member for the Sugary Drink Distributors Tax Advisory Committee  (SDDTAC) of San Francisco representing the medical institution seat.

He is a research scientist and has dual appointments in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division in the Center for the Study of Adversity and Cardiovascular Disease (NURTURE Center) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).

He is an associate minister at the historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, the Executive Director for the Third Baptist Foundation and board member of the San Francisco Students Back on Track tutoring program. 

Dr. Butler earned his Master’s of Divinity and Doctorate of Philosophy in Sociology at Howard University. He earned his Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the Jesse H. Jones School of Business at Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. He is also an avid reader, habitual gym-goer, and lover of music. 

A native San Franciscan and a 29 year dedicated member of the San Francisco Police Department, Yulanda D.A. Williams is committed to advancing the principals of procedural justice, reform, global transparency, and accountability in policing. In October 2019, based on her expertise, leadership, and constant volunteer service to our diverse communities Yulanda Williams was appointed as the acting Captain of the SFPD School Resource Program in the San Francisco Unified School District, where she utilizes her talents and passion to better serve our youth; our future leaders.  She is devoted to the core values of the NAACP. 

Currently, Cassie Cook serves as SF NAACP Treasurer, which is the center of her world. She is a subscribing NAACP Life member. A long-time civil and human rights advocate, having started working with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights’ Movement in Birmingham, Alabama, she is dedicated to the human struggle. She has experience in Corporate America and a wealth of non-profit experience. Ms. Cook serves on the Glenridge Cooperative Board of Directors, a 275-Unit affordable housing property, where she is the current Vice-President. She has participated in National Housings training programs; as well as, equipping herself as a Certified Occupancy Specialist.

She has leadership experience in the Fashion Design industry, promoting fashion designers, entertainers, etc. throughout California, specifically in the Bay Area. Many of the designers were successful in marketing their clothing lines in the United States and Canada. Ms. Cook founded the Designer of the Year Award (DOTY Awards). In addition, Ms. Cook has published two books for the Historic Third Baptist Church, Inc. of San Francisco. Copies of her work can be found in the San Francisco Main Public Library and at the Historic Third Baptist Church. She has published many Souvenir Journals for notable Events -which leaves great moments to remember. As an Event Specialist, she has a vast list of organizations that have copies of work which can be found in most of the Bay Area Cities. Ms. Cook has a very tender love for telling stories in writing, desktop publishing, and graphic art. She loves to travel to broaden her view of people and this wonderful world God created for us.

She is a Lifetime Member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC, Inc.). She held positions as President for the SF Business and Professional Women Club and Governor for the Western District of NANBPWC, Inc. which consist of several states including Hawaii and Alaska. Currently, she is NANBPWC’S Western District’s Advisor and is a professional volunteer in her community.

Rev. James Parrish Smith serves as the Minister of Music at the Historic Third Baptist Church of San Francisco.  He is also the Artistic Director of the Charles A. Tindley Academy of Music in collaboration with San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Dillard University and the Master of Music from Samford University. 

James Parrish Smith is an active organ recitalist and choral director. Recently he was honored to play the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Organ in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has also played in the presence of President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. He is the conductor of the Amos C. Brown Heritage Chorale of San Francisco. 

James Parrish Smith is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity, American Guild of Organist and Hymn Society in North America. 

James Parrish Smith also believes community awareness. He currently serves as the secretary for the San Francisco branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He also serves on the African-American Advisory Board for the police chief of the city and county of San Francisco, California. 

Mrs. Catherine Bradford has been a resident of San Francisco for 45 years. After moving from Tuskegee, Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia, Mrs. Bradford joined the NAACP as a college student under the influence of one of that branch’s most recognizable activists of the 60's, her aunt for whom she is named, Mrs. Catherine Buchannan. 46 years later from her initiation into the NAACP, Mrs. Bradford was elected Assistant Treasurer of SF NAACP Branch where for over three years she has and continues to work faithfully.

Mrs. Mays is the San Francisco African American Chamber of Commerce Executive Director.  In this role, Mays has primary accountability for the business strategies and operations of delivery system.  Prior to Mays’ current role, she was executive director of a large non-profit providing fiscal oversight for an annual budget of $2-million, leadership to management and supervision to a staff of eighty professionals and Para-professionals.
Mrs. Mays holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Masters Degree in Education with a concentration in Black, Asian and Chico Education from the University of California at Berkeley, from which she graduated with three teaching credentials.  Her gifts for administration have gained her employment and recognition within and beyond the field of Education. From receiving the designation of Corporate and Strategic Planning Specialist from Harvard School of Business at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass. or recognitions by the California State Assembly, Contra Costa County and the City of Richmond for her work with children and families.  (She was given the Contra Costa Child Care Council, highest award, their “Kiddy Award”.)

Since 2007, Mrs. Mays has and continues to volunteer as the Executive Office Administrator for our Branch ensuring that we maintain a weekly presence in the city and county of San Francisco.