Ross Rossin, a Bulgarian-born American artist,
has established his reputation as one of the world’s leading portrait painters with a focus on world leaders in politics, business, science, history and the arts. His work can be found in various government institutions, museums and private collections around the globe. Four works are in the permanent collection of the prestigious Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C.: baseball legend, Hank Aaron; Ambassador Andrew Young; famed actor, Morgan Freeman and beloved poet, Maya Angelou. In April 2015, Rossin’s portrait of Maya Angelou was chosen for the US Postal Service’s Forever Stamp. securing a place in history for this iconic American born.
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING Lift ev’ry voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies; Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won. Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our people sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered; We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the bright gleam of our bright star is cast. God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
Presiding
Billye Jewel Suber Williams Aaron is a native of East Texas and the fourth
of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Nathan (Annie Mae Smith) Suber. She graduated from Texas College with a B.A. in English and received her M.A. in English from Atlanta University. She has held teaching positions at Spelman, Morehouse and Morris Brown Colleges, South Carolina State and Turner High School. A pre-eminent high school and college teacher, trailblazing television talk show host and renowned fundraiser, Billye continues to be a passionate advocate for educational opportunities for African American young people. She has been recognized on numerous occasions for her selfless devotion to community service and philanthropy, and has been honored with seven honorary degrees. She was married in 1959 to The Reverend Samuel W. Williams, civil rights leader, Morehouse College professor and chair of the department of Religion and Philosophy and pastor of the historic Friendship Baptist Church in Atlanta. She was widowed in 1970. She made history in 1968 when she became the first African American woman to co-host a daily morning talk show on WSB-TV called “Today in Georgia.” In 1973 Billye married baseball great Hank Aaron and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1974, where she hosted her own television talk show called “Billye.” She began working for the United Negro College Fund in 1980 when she helped to develop the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars telethon. At UNCF, she worked as Area Development Director for seven years, and in 1987 she was promoted to Vice President for the Southern Region. She became a passionate fundraiser and administrator, founding UNCF’s premiere fundraiser, the Mayor’s Masked (Mankind Assisting Students Kindle Educational Dreams) Ball. In 1994 Billye and her husband, Hank Aaron, founded the Hank Aaron Chasing the Dream Foundation, a philanthropic trust that assists children between the ages of nine and 12 in chasing their dreams. This program has evolved into a college scholarship program that provides endowed scholarships at nine historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and two majority universities in Wisconsin. Mrs. Aaron has one daughter, Diedra Cecile Haydel, and two grandchildren, Emily Jewel and Victor Aaron Haydel. She and Mr. Aaron have been married for 42 years.
Lawrence Edward Carter Sr.
Dean, Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Audience
Greetings
11th President of Morehouse College
John Silvanus Wilson Jr. ’79
Evocation
William V. Guy ’57
Musical Selection
“If I Can Help Somebody”
Pastor Emeritus, Historic Friendship Baptist Church
Ann McPhail Accompanist: James Abbington
Reflections
Mack Roach III,
Nephew, Professor, University of California Radiology, Oncology and Urology Division San Francisco, CA
Yvonne King Gloster
Widow of 7th President of Morehouse College
Andrew Jackson Young ’75 (Hon.) Ambassador to the United Nations
42nd Mayor of the City of Atlanta
Remarks from the Artist
Ross Rossin
Tribute to Honoree
The Reverend Dean
Unveiling of Portrait
Victor Aaron Hydel, Grandson Henry “Hank” Aaron ’12 (Hon.), Husband
Internationally Known Portrait Painter
Response of Honoree Billye Jewel Suber Williams Aaron ’11 (Hon.) Adjournment Marva Griffin Carter, Associate Professor of Music,
Georgia State University, Pianist
Reception to Follow