Carl Payne to star in DeLand play SEE PAGE 3
East Central Florida’s Black Voice
EE FR
GEORGE CURRY: Whites still live in ‘state of denial’ on race SEE PAGE 4
B-CU ATHLETE A NOMINEE FOR NCAA WOMAN OF THE YEAR SEE PAGE 7
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015
YEAR 40 NO. 26
www.daytonatimes.com
Local kids getting free meals during summer programs BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
PHOTOS BY DUANE C. FERNANDEZ SR./HARDNOTTSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
The Rev. Nathan Mugala, pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church in Daytona Beach, speaks to the congregation on Sunday, June 21.
A.M.E. pastor reflects on Charleston tragedy Allen Chapel’s Mugala wants to see ongoing dialogue on race
had White people come in and just joined with us in prayer. I mean it was a powerful moment.” The latter serves as a vote of confidence for a country racially divided and torn apart by a series of homicide related incidents involving Black men and White assailants. It has been reported that Dylann Roof killed his victims after telling friends he wanted to spark “a race war.”
BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
T
he Rev. Nathan Mugala had just driven to his Daytona Beach home from Jacksonville when he turned on his television and heard the tragic news that stunned the nation. A lone, White gunman had opened fire during a Bible study at the historical Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, S.C. All nine congregants in attendance were shot to death – all were Black and ranged in ages from 26 to 87, including 41-year-old Rev. Clementa Pinkney, a fellow A.M.E. pastor and state senator. Hours earlier, Mugala, the senior pastor of Daytona Beach’s Allen Chapel A.M.E. was attending an African Methodist Episcopal Lay Conference where he listened intently to an encouraging keynote address delivered by Anthony Scott, whose brother, Walter, was the unarmed Black male shot five times in his back on April 4 by Michael Slager, a White, North Charleston policeman following a routine
Allen Chapel’s male chorus sang during last Sunday’s service. traffic stop that went awry.
Interacted with Pinkney For Mugala, the irony was surreal. “This is a tragedy for all, but the death of Rev. Pinkney is a major loss to the A.M.E. Church. Nobody within the 7th Episcopal District (which encompasses the entire state of South Carolina) will be able to fill his place,” shared Mugala. “I met him at some of our A.M.E. meetings and he was a very good brother called into the ministry at age 13 and by 18 was ordained in the A.M.E. Church. He was a very sound biblical preacher with great
leadership skills. It was a joy and a delight to interact and to share with him. He had a bright future.”
Prayer vigil After learning of the Charleston tragedy, Mugala acted with haste and planned a prayer vigil last Thursday night in his own historic church, which was founded in 1910 and has about 500 members. Mugala said 130 people – Black and White – poured into Allen Chapel in a show of unity that required fewer than six hours to plan. “The response was remarkable,” stated Mugala. “One of the things that really blew my mind on Thursday is that we
‘Righteously angry’ The African-American church has served as a community pillar of protest and peace for centuries. From Daytona to Charleston and beyond, it is a sacred stature as a place of worship with historical roots. Emanuel being the oldest black congregation south of Baltimore. Denmark Vesey is one of the founders who planned a slave revolt in 1822, and the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. also visited during the 1960 civil rights movement. “When I saw what happened on the news, I was righteously angry with the murder of nine innocent lives in Bible study in the house of God,” explained Mugala. “But then after the anger you have to get to that place where you learn how to forgive the person that Please see CHURCH, Page 2
The federal government is trying to make sure that no child goes hungry. Free, nutritious meals and snacks are being provided at 72 sites in Daytona Beach and surrounding communities due to a federally funded, state-administered program that began June 8 and will continue through Aug. 14. The programs are approved only for geographical areas where 50 percent or more of the children qualify for free and reduced-price meals during the school year and assures there will be no discrimination in meal service. The Food and Nutrition Services Division (FNS) of the United States Department of Food and Agriculture (USDA) and collaborative partner Florida Impact funds the program to help children experience a healthy transition when school dismisses into summer months where they can learn, play, and grow without missing a meal.
Full and focused According to the FNS, “Children who miss school breakfast and lunch are more likely to be sick, absent or tardy, disruptive in class, and inattentive. They also score lower on achievement tests. Good nutrition is essential for learning in school. The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides an opportunity to continue a child’s physical and social development while providing nutritious meals during long vacation periods from school. It helps children return to school ready to learn.” Those 18 and younger may receive free meals and snacks through the SFSP. Meals and snacks also are available to persons with disabilities, over age 18, who participate in school programs for people who are mentally or physically disabled. In 2014, 71 Volusia County sites participated in the program and 2,571 children received either one or two meals each day and sites are responsible for transportation meals to individual program locations and establish their own distribution times. “The only meals some children receive are provided by the school during the school year,” stated Patricia James, Human Services activity manager for Volusia County. “This program is significant because without it, last year over 2,000 children in Volusia County may not have had nutritious meals available to them during the summer months.” Please see MEALS, Page 2
Retired B-CU vice president Dr. Shirley Lee dies at 96 BY PENNY DICKERSON DAYTONA TIMES
Dr. Shirley B. Lee, retired executive vice president of BethuneCookman University, died June 21 at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center, Daytona Beach.
ALSO INSIDE
She was 96. She was a community pillar and accomplished academic who dedicated herself to Bethune-Cookman in 1945 as a faculty member and held numerous positions at the school throughout her celebrated career, in-
cluding executive director of Sponsored Programs. A rich legacy of service has been left by Lee, who was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and Dr. Shirley served as the loLee cal chapters president from 1962 to 1968. She also was a member of The Links Inc.
An endowed scholarship was established in her name at Bethune-Cookman and those close to her covet fond memories from her neighborhood friends to coworkers.
‘Great leader’ “I remember Lee as being very driven and a persistent worker,” offered Dr. Cleo Higgins, who worked alongside Dr. Lee and retired from Bethune-Cookman in 1988 as vice -president of Ac-
ademic Affairs. “Lee was a great leader who always believed more could be done to advance the work at B-CU.” Funeral arrangements are being handled by R.J. Gaines Funeral Home. Information about funeral services for Dr. Lee were not available to the Daytona Times by the newspaper’s Wednesday night deadline.
COMMUNITY NEWS: PLAY THAT ADDRESSES CHALLENGES OF CAREGIVERS COMING TO B-CU | PAGE 3 NATION: 103-YEAR-OLD ‘BLOODY SUNDAY’ SURVIVOR RECOUNTS BEATING | PAGE 5