2 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com
Dr. Martin Luther King Dream Award Recipient Hilton H. Gillespie Hilton Gillespie was born on a farm in Grady County, Georgia. He felt the call to preach at the age of eighteen. He did his theological studies at Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, TN. He met his wife of sixty-four years, Christine Mobley Gillespie, while preaching a store front revival in Whigham, GA in 1950. Together they have four children, nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Reverend Gillespie pastored at two churches in Tennessee before moving his family back to Georgia in 1952. He has served as Senior Pastor at churches in Americus, Mt. Olive/Wrightsville, Barnesville, Columbus, Augusta, and Albany. The Gillespies moved to Albany in 1981,
where he served as pastor at Albany First Church of the Nazarene for over twelve years before retiring. He also served as the interim pastor in Cairo, GA and at Albany Grace Church of the Nazarene, where he still serves as the Associate Pastor. During the flood of 1994, Rev. Gillespie was instrumental in leading both Albany Nazarene congregations to begin a compassionate ministries outreach at 206 South Monroe Street, which became known as the Monroe Street Mission. Over the years, it has served as a homeless outreach center, and now, as Albany One Love Church of the Nazarene, it still reaches out to its neighbors to meet their spiritual needs. Reverend Gillespie served as a hospice volunteer before moving to
Albany, and when this very important service first began in our community, he became one of the first volunteers. He served as a hospice chaplain for Albany Community Hospice for many years, visiting and ministering to patients and their families during their time of greatest need. He now serves on the Advisory Board of the Albany Community Hospice. As Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Gillespie still makes pastoral calls to the hospitals, visits the nursing homes in Albany and Southwest Georgia, and he officiates weddings and funerals. He is a member of the Silver Sneakers at the Albany YMCA, and at the age of eighty-six, enjoys going three times a week. He also loves watching the Atlanta Braves play baseball.
THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com 3
Dr. Martin Luther King Dream Award Recipient Anne Johnson Milledge Anne Johnson Milledge envisions a community where all people, especially the youth, reach their full potential through education, healthy lifestyles, and spiritual renewal. She inspires and empowers youth by identifying, developing, and implementing training programs while mentoring them through challenges they may encounter such as bullying, low self-esteem, and domestic violence. Using mentoring as a tool to deter gang participation, juvenile delinquency, and to reduce behavioral problems in school and the community, she introduces youth to events that are nurturing to help them succeed and become positive role models. They are given the opportunity to develop their skills and receive encouragement for their efforts and successes. Some of the valuable skills include: decision making, problem solving, organizing and
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planning, integrity, working well with others, and public speaking. This type of training fosters self-motivation, selfempowerment, and academic excellence. Anne has partnered with area schools to promote excellence in education. The goal is to strengthen and enrich the instructional programs in schools to ensure all students graduate with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for life-long learning and successful functioning as members of the workforce, community and society. She worked with the Greater Second Mt. Olive Baptist Church’s community outreach Family Learning Academic Achievement and Growth (or FLAAG) program as a Mentor for fifth grade girls at Jackson Heights Elementary and as the GED Program Teaching Assistant for Mt. Olive Community Outreach Parents Program. She has been a keynote
speaker for the Dougherty County Alternative School, Mitchell Elementary School, and Terrell Middle/High School Career Day for the past five years. As President/CEO of H.E.A.R.T. (Hands Extended Across Reaching Together), Inc. since 2000, Anne has worked tirelessly to help improve the quality of life for low-income, distressed, and/or underprivileged residents. Under her leadership, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast (the catalyst for the growth of the organization) for over thirty-five years continues to gather the community and promote the need for social harmony be servicing those less fortunate. The organization received its non-profit status, as well as broadened its vision to promote a healthier community by See Milledge, page 7
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4 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com
Dr. Martin Luther King Youth Service Award Recipient James N. Robinson, III
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James Robinson, III is a very bright, intelligent young man, and an avid reader who takes his education seriously. As an eleventh grader at Albany High School, James was enrolled at Darton State College in the fall of 2013. At the age of 15, he became the college’s youngest fulltime student. It is what he did after being accepted that shows both his ability to lead and to serve. James reached out to his fellow classmates, informing and encouraging them to follow this same path. This path was not without challenges, one being timing. It was summer, students were scattered, and there would not be another nationally given SAT or ACT test in time for his classmates to enroll for the fall semester. After learning that an institutional ACT would serve their needs, James tutored the other students and helped prepare them for the test. In all, six students ended up enrolling and becoming the charter students for the ExPand program (a program which supports early enrolled college student and was created by Jayda Robinson, James’ sister and former MLK Youth Award recipient). These students affectionately became known as “The Six” and will graduate, with honors, receiving both high school diplomas and Associate’s degrees in May, 2015. James, along with his mother and sister, spent countless hours during spring 2014 standing before high school students at school gatherings, church functions, and community events, informing, encouraging, and educating them about going to college early. Moreover, while most students were enjoying their summer, James spent his testing, assessing, and tutoring students for the ACT, so they would be eligible to participate in the program. Somehow, he manages to maintain an A average, study for long hours, tutor other students in their homes or at the library or even at a local McDonald’s, all without even having a driver’s license. In 2014, the number of students enrolled in the ExPand program increased to over twenty, due in large part to James’ efforts. James has impacted our community economically, academically, and socially. Economically because, as more students enroll in college while still in high school, families potentially save thousands of dollars on college-related expenses. Also, these students are far less likely to be over-burdened by student loans. Academically, he offsets some of the negative publicity caused by a high dropout rate and gives the system some positive role models to point out. Socially, as the number of high school students entering college early increases, more students will begin to take an interest in such an opportunity. Going to college early may become the “cool thing” to do. Although James has done very well on the SAT and ACT, he has watched as other students have painfully and dreadfully prepared to take these standardized tests. In an effort to help such students, he is currently finishing his book entitled The ACT is the Test for Me. This book is filled with his views, experiences, and tips for taking the ACT versus the SAT. James is focused on the future. He is moving into the future by meeting the challenges of the present, including multiple chronic physical conditions which plague him. However, he never lets these challenges dissuade him. He is a leader who leads by serving others. This makes him a truly inspiring young man.
THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com 5
Dr. Martin Luther King Youth Service Award Recipient Candace Shirley Candace Emree Shirley is the seventeen-year-old daughter of Patsy Shirley and the late David Shirley. She is a senior at Lee County High School in Leesburg, GA, ranking in the top 1% of her class. An academic powerhouse, Candace maintains a weighted GPA of 4.569 and has been awarded the University of Georgia Certificate of Merit. As a young child of four, Candace suffered the traumatic loss of her father to suicide. Because of the outpouring love from her family, friends, and church, Candace felt the love of her community at an early age. As a result of this, Candace has, in turn, become a compassionate young lady who seeks out ways to give back to her school and her community. Candace currently serves as an
Ambassador for the Southwest Georgia Chapter of the BigHouse Foundation, which is a Christ-based organization serving the needs of children in foster care. She has served on the Lee County Youth Council in several positions of leadership for the past four years and currently serves as the President. She is also the President of the International Thespian Troupe #5297, which she has been a part of since 2012. She is a member of the Student Government Association and has served as Student Body Secretary/Treasurer and Vice President. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the National Beta Club, and her school Math Team. The term “everyday philanthropist” is a new term that has become descriptive of Candace Shirley. A philanthropist in one who works to make a difference in whatever way they can, with what they possess. Candace does not possess riches, which is what many connect with the word philanthropy. What she does possess is time, energy, love, and consistency.
The way in which she shares those things makes her an everyday philanthropist. Candace has worked in her community trying to make a difference and giving what she can to those most in need. During her busy high school career, Candace made time to perform more than 700 hours of community service in a variety of different areas. She has worked with Habitat for Humanity, the United Way, the Lee County Family Connection, the Lee County Youth Council, Albany Community Hospice, the Lee County Chamber of Commerce, the Kiwanis Club of Lee County, and a variety of school drama clubs, just to name a few. Candace hopes to attend Emory University in Atlanta to pursue a Liberal Arts degree. To quote Candace, “I am a strong, independent young woman with dreams to make a difference in this world in which I live. I often reflect on Ghandi’s quote, ‘Be the change you wish to see in the world.’ I wish to influence societal change in this world through my life’s work.”
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6 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com
A look at the life and influence of Dr. King
Martin Luther King, Jr. played a pivotal role in race relations in the United States for nearly a decade. He helped secure the end of legal segregation of African-American citizens, created the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and served as a source of inspiration for black individuals across the globe. Dr. King did not begin his life as a crusader or public figure. He had much more modest beginnings in rural Atlanta. Born Michael King, Jr., he was the middle child of Michael King, Sr. and Alberta Williams King. Michael King, Sr. served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church upon the death of his father-inlaw, who was the church's prior pastor. At this point, the elder king decided to change his name to Martin Luther to honor the famed Protestant religious leader. His son soon decided to adopt the name as well. A religious family, the Kings tried to shield their children from the realities of racism that were alive and well in the country. They believed racism and segregation to be an affront to God's
will, and Martin, Sr. discouraged separation of class and taught these lessons to his children. Those lessons resonated with Martin, Jr. Dr. King attended Booker T. Washington High School and was so advanced he was able to skip both the 9th and 11th grades. He went on to college at the age of 15, graduating from Morehouse College in 1948 with a degree in sociology. In his junior year of college, King enrolled in a Bible class that sparked a renewed enthusiasm for the ministry. He later enrolled in the liberal Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor's of Divinity. Later he attended Boston University and earned a Ph.D. at the age of 25. It was during his time in Boston that he met his future wife, Coretta Scott. While he was completing his dissertation work, Dr. King became the pastor for the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama. Martin Luther King, Jr. became directly involved in the civil rights movement after the head of the local
NAACP chapter in Montgomery met with him on the night that Rosa Parks was arrested for failure to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Dr. King helped institute the Montgomery Bus Boycott. During this time, AfricanAmericans refused to ride the public bus system in Montgomery. The boycott lasted 382 days. During that time, Dr. King's home was bombed due to his involvement in the boycott, and he was arrested for conspiracy. His work paid off on December 21, 1956, when the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation on public transportation was illegal. Dr. King promoted nonviolent protests against unfairness to the AfricanAmerican community, urging civil disobedience and peaceful protests, tenets that formed the basis for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC, which he led. He participated in numerous nonviolent protests and was arrested several times. During one stint in jail, he penned his famous, "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Dr. King established a relationship with fellow African-American civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who shared similar interests, including the teachings of Gandhi. Rustin would serve as King's mentor and also was the main organizer of the March on Washington that took place on August 28, 1963. Approximately 250,000 demonstrators were involved in the march, and it was the largest demonstration in the nation's capital up to that time. In front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King issued his famed "I Have a Dream" speech. He later met with President John F.
Kennedy to appeal for greater rights for African-Americans and called for an end of segregation. As a result of his civil rights efforts, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1964, at the age of 35. He was the youngest person ever to receive the honor. He donated all of the prize money to his racial equality effort. Through the late 1960s, Dr. King expanded his Civil Rights Movement to other cities. But he was often met with criticism, especially when he appealed to white middle-class citizens. Many militant black organizations considered King's methods too weak and ineffective. His support was faltering and Dr. King grew weary of marches, jail and protests. However, in April of 1968, a labor strike in Memphis drew King's attention, and he gave a speech about the sanitation labor dispute, which would prove to be prophetic. The next day, on April 4, Dr. King was hit by a sniper's bullet while standing on an outside terrace of his motel room at the Lorraine Motel. King's words from the previous day, including, "I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land," were haunting. James Earl Ray was charged with the assassination. In his honor, Americans have celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday since 1986. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. Many streets have been renamed in his honor, and Dr. King remains a source of inspiration decades after his death.
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THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com 7
Cooper
Continued from page 3 improving the activity and mobility in children by implementing the Shoes from the HEART initiative. Since December 2009, over 2,700 pairs of new athletic shoes have been purchased and distributed to K-5th graders in need within the Dougherty County School System. Anne’s services also include purchasing school supplies and uniforms for children in Holley Homes Projects, providing low-income and elderly citizens with food, clothing, medicine, and spiritual enrichment. Anne has participated in and/or chaired numerous community and charitable benefits such as the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast, Hurricane Katrina and Haiti Relief, and Stop the Violence Youth Summit. She has also worked with Habitat for Humanity, the American Red Cross, the Albany Rescue Mission, the Alzheimer’s
Association, Desserts and Divas (Cancer Coalition of South Georgia), Read Across America, and The Albany Museum of Art to host President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (24th President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate). She has received numerous awards, including: 2013 Woman of Distinction (Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia), Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk Team Captain of the Year, and Procter & Gamble Corporate Supplier Diversity Coordinator of the Year. Anne’s civic, social, or professional organization affiliations, past and present, include: President/CEO of H.E.A.R.T. Organization, Inc.; Shoes from the HEART Leader; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Program & Breakfast Chairperson; Past President Albany Diversity Council; Read Across America Advocate; United Way Team Leader; March of Dimes Team Leader; Feed the Children Advocate; Boys & Girls Club Motivational Speaker; Holley
Homes Projects Advocate; Alzheimer’s Awareness Speaker; Team Captain Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk Team; Albany Stop the Violence Executive Board; Albany Stop the Violence Youth Summit Chairperson; Dougherty Chorale Advisor/Chaperon; AAPHC School-based Health Care Advisory Board; and President of the GATE Education and Empowerment Foundation. Anne likens herself to the priest and great leader, Ezra: her life is dedicated to serving God and God’s people. As a mission worker, she ministers to the broken-hearted in housing projects, nursing homes, and senior centers. As a community youth leader and motivational speaker, she mentors and aids in creating programs for our young people to improve their quality of life, help develop them into community leaders, and prepare them for adulthood and employment. She has high integrity, is trustworthy, and is totally committed to whatever she gets involved in. She’s a system owner and knows how to persevere. She’s not a
quitter! Her principles and values drive the way she thinks and acts. She has love for the community and all of God’s people. She embodies the very essence of keeping the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. alive by recognizing the need for this great country and community to come together in true fellowship and love. She, too, believes our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. She has adopted one of his most famous quotes as her motto in life:”Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” Anne Johnson Milledge is the mother of one daughter, Dr. Kenya T. Lemon, and is married to Pastor Larry L. Milledge, Sr. She is a member of Gateway Empowerment Temple where she is First Lady, Praise & Worship Leader, and Youth Bible Study Teacher.
8 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION • Wednesday, January 21, 2015 • www.albanyherald.com
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