King Celebration - 2011

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

The Albany Herald is a proud sponsor of the King 2011 Celebration An Advertising Supplement to The Albany Herald

2 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com

The Beginnings of the City-Wide Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration in Albany In 1996 the idea of a city-wide Dr. Martin Luther King Day Celebration that would bring Blacks and Whites together was initiated by Mrs. Alton Harpe, a local nurse, and Mr. Walter Johnson, an Albany State University Professor.

In 1999 the structure of the King Celebration was changed.

Under the leadership of Thomas Chatman, CEO Tomorrow, Inc., and Ken Hodges, Dougherty County District Attorney, the King Celebration Board was formed with Hellen Young as chairperson.

Members who served on the board were Paul DeLoach, Brenda TillerHodges, Cornell Kimbrough, Gwen Collins, Mary F. Jenkins, Karen Kemp, Pinneice Mosley, Gladys Berry, and Anthony Parker.

The Board secured non-profit status, and committees were set up to facilitate all aspects of the event; most importantly, each year the Dream Award recepients have been nominated and evaluated by the Awards Committee. The criteria is based on a numerical system which allows points for good deeds commensurated with the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Many local organizations have benefited from the funds generated by this event - just to name a few: Girls Inc., Dougherty County Even Start, and Dixie Youth Baseball League.

A few years later, because of the expansion of the Civil Rights Institute and its need for financial assistance, the board met and voted for full support. Since its beginning the success of the King Celebration has been due to the loyal dedication of corporate business sponsors who gave cash and in-kind donations. The large number of table sponsors led one speaker from Atlanta to say: "The Albany King Celebration is the largest in the state of Georgia outside of Atlanta."

In the production of the programs, the King Celebration has alternated between speakers and performing arts. Among the speakers were Congressman John Lewis, Senator Max Cleveland, Justice Robert Benham, Atlanta City Councilwoman Lisa Borders

and Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

The performing arts have ranged from plays, written and directed by Curtis Williams, to the power of songs including the Freedom Singers, Albany Symphony Orchestra, Dougherty High Chorale, and Tuskegee University Concert Choir.

Program Chairs have changed through the years.

Among the volunteers were Helen Young, Dr. Michael Rogers, Paul DeLoach, Gale Arthur, Christopher Pike, Karen Kemp, Dr. Anthony Parker, Greg Freeman, Kevin Hogencamp, Christopher Cobilas, Kenneth Hodges III, and Steven Belk.

Another component of the King Celebration is the Children of the Dream Youth Art Competition which is held in December. In the early stages of the event, Paul DeLoach initiated the idea of youth participation. At first the children made their presence known by walking through the Civic Center arena. Later, Helen Young conceived the idea of the art competition. She formed a partnership with the Dougherty County School System. Children in grades six through twelve created drawings based on themes dealing with current national issues.

Each year the art works are judged and winners receive cash prizes. More than $2,500 is awarded to winners. The exhibit is moved around the city, and placed for public viewing at Thronateeska Planetarium, Albany Mall, Albany Civil Rights Institute, Albany State University - ACAD Building, Phoebe Putney Hospital, Dougherty County Government Building, and the Dougherty County Judicial Building.

The Children of the Dream Youth Art Competition is a collaboration between the Albany Area Art Council and Thronateeska Heritage Plaza.

The 2011 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Day will be held on January 17 at 5:30 P.M. at the Albany Civic Center.

THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com 3

How to Nominate a Candidate For the 2012 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Awards

By Jewel Jones Faison, Ph.D., Co-Chair Dream Award Committee (This article is not intended to construct the sole criteria by which nominations for the King Day Dream Award are selected. It is purely intended to demystify the process of nomination and encourage greater participation of citizens in the southwest Georgia region for the M.L. King, Jr. Dream Award. When you consider the impact that Dr. King’s life has had on the lives of the poor and disenfranchised, a scaled comparison is a good rule of thumb when considering the viability of your nominee.)

After over 13 years on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Day Committee and more than 8 years on the Dream Award Committee, it is my pleasure to try to respond to the question, “How do you submit a Dream Award nominee?

Although there are diverse citizens who are at work making our region great, the M.L. King, Jr. Dream Award is awarded specifically granted to people who show evidence of providing direct leadership in social, economic, or political change and/or personal ministry (service) to the economically and socially disadvantaged or other marginalized voices in our regional landscape. Many of the people who have been winners have provided clear service through volunteerism to others. These people’s lives have directly demonstrated impact and benefit to others. Their hours of volunteer service are rendered in areas beyond that of their typical careers. That is, someone who brings exceptional programs and performs with excellence in the line of their duties on the job, while notable; they are paid a salary for those endeavors. However, when someone provides programs, services and volunteer hours in the community to those who would otherwise not have those programs or services that becomes the groundwork for a Dream Award.

Why is this only considered “groundwork,” you may ask?

Simply because it is important to note that the Dream Awards typically represent a lifestyle of delivering service, advocacy or causing change on behalf of others. It is not a one-time positive event or even a one-time heroic effort in the life of an individual. Therefore,

when thinking about nominating a person for the Dream Award the process begins with asking and answering the question, “How does the work of my nominee contribute to the greater good of the community?” Once it is established that your nominee has a solid history of service to others, the next step is to contact the King Celebration Awards Committee during the months of November and December. The nominee application is run weekly in the Albany Herald. The days vary therefore it is necessary to just watch for the announcement.

Once you have decided to make your nomination the process becomes more serious. You must follow the instructions on the application-explicitly. Your presentation must clearly explain to a reviewer, who does not know your nominee, what specifically makes the candidate worthy (see above criteria) for selection. The nomination form clearly asks for various kinds of information that can support or lend evidence to a general write-up explaining your nominee’s credentials and service. Sending random news articles, award citations, videos, pictures etc. without a general summary type write-up (letter) outlining specifically how these evidences support your nominee’s service is unacceptable. You must not assume that the committee knows or that they have the time to try to find out this information about your nominee! You should write as if no one knows the person except you – albeit often times the person may have community recognition. Yes, if you are thinking that this is a lot of work, you’re exactly right – it is! However, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Award is a highly competitive award and for the highest level of consideration you want your application package to clearly say, “THIS IS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS MADE A SUSTAINED CONTRIBUTION TO HELPING OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY!”

4 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com

The Names of the 2011 King Day Award Nominees are: 1. Theodore N. Walker 2. SPC Wesley Barswell 3. Rev. Johnny Gardner 4. Horace Reid 5. Sandford B. Hillsman 6. David Adams 7. Karla Heath-Sands 8. Reverend Deacon Jim H. Purks III 9. Joyce Barlow 10. Charles W. Lamb, Jr., Esq.

King Day Planning Committee Annette Allen Anita Allen Libba Baldwin Steven Belk Sherrell Byrd Christopher Cohilas Gwen Collins Dr. Jewel Faison James Floyd Hattie Ford Dr. Lee Formwalt Bessie Graper Kenneth Hodges Harriet Hollis Mary F. Jenkins Pamela Jinks Pamela Johnson Nature Malone Jason Moore Pinneice Mosely Eric Riggle Bill Robinson Sheriff Kevin Sproul Dr. Brenda Hodges-Tiller Irene Turner Helen Young Jim Wilcox

THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com 5

The Albany Movement and Martin Luther King, Jr., 1961-1962 © Lee W. Formwalt Prior to 1961, African Americans in southwest Georgia made efforts to improve the quality of life and erode the control Jim Crow had over their lives. In 1948, several black leaders created the Dougherty Voters League to encourage African Americans to register to vote. Six years later (1954), Dr. Aaron Brown, the second president of Albany State College was fired for his Voter League activities. Within ten years of its establishment, the Voters League could point with pride to the registration of nearly a fifth of those blacks in Albany eligible to vote. In the late 1950s, black businessman Thomas Chatmon, Sr., organized a local NAACP Youth Council. In 1960, members of the black men’s group, the Criterion Club, petitioned the Albany City Commission to form a biracial city committee to discuss matters of concern to the African American community.

In 1961 Albany witnessed the intersection of some of these local efforts with those of three young Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) workers—Charles Sherrod, Cordell Reagon, and Charles Jones—who had come to the Albany area to conduct a voter registration drive. The SNCC workers encouraged students and others in Albany to challenge the establishment and its segregation policies. From the start they faced opposition from whites as well as conservative African Americans. Divisions in the black community would continue to plague civil rights efforts throughout 1961 and 1962. Yet at important moments, Albany's African Americans rose above the divisions. They did so in mid-November 1961, when the major black improvement organizations in town formed the Albany Movement and selected as their president William G. Anderson, a young black osteopath.

A couple of weeks earlier, on November 1, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) ruling requiring the desegregation of interstate transportation facilities went into effect and SNCC workers came to the Trailways Bus Station in Albany to witness the testing of the ruling. Nine students entered the White Only waiting room and were ordered out by police. No arrests were made. Three weeks later on November 22, the day before Thanksgiving, five students were arrested for violating the segregation rules at the Trailways Bus Station. Julian Carswell, Evelyn Toney and Eddie Wilson, members of the NAACP Youth Council, were bonded out in a few hours, but Bertha Gober and Blanton Hall, two Albany State students affiliated with SNCC, chose to remain in jail.

The newly organized Albany Movement called for its first mass meeting at Mt. Zion Baptist Church the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The following Monday, Albany State College students led the first mass march to City Hall in support of the five arrested students who were on trial. The five were convicted, fined, and released.

On Sunday, December 10 an integrated group of eight Freedom Riders and a witness took the train from Atlanta to Albany and arrived at Union Station, location today of Thronateeska Heritage Center. There they and three bystanders were arrested for disturbing the peace. Two days later, 267 marchers protesting the Freedom Riders’ trial were arrested and jailed. The following day more than 200 more were arrested for marching on City Hall without a permit. By mid-December with more than 500 demonstrators arrested and jailed, Albany Movement leaders decided to call in

Martin Luther King, Jr., to keep the momentum going and to secure greater national publicity for the cause.

On December 15, King spoke at mass meetings in both Shiloh and Mt. Zion Baptist Churches, right across the street from each other. Dr. Anderson asked King to march with them the next day. He and 264 other marchers walked down the block on Whitney to Jackson Street and then north on Jackson to City Hall where they were arrested and jailed.

Convinced that city officials had agreed to certain concessions, King accepted bail two days later only to discover that the white leadership refused to consider any of the movement's demands. King returned to Albany at the end of February for his trial and was found guilty of disorderly conduct and parading without a permit.

Sentencing was delayed until July.

In Albany, King witnessed the power of song to inspire and empower the crowds attending the mass meetings. Out of Albany emerged the SNCC Freedom Singers, including Albany natives Bernice Johnson Reagon and Rutha Mae Harris, who brought this rich musical tradition, borrowed from the rural Baptist churches, to other communities around the nation.

In the summer of 1962, Martin Luther King returned to Albany for sentencing on the convictions relating to the December 1961 marches. Although he and fellow civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy chose jail over paying a $178 fine, a white attorney anonymously paid their fines, and they were released against their will on July 12. After his unexpected and unwanted release, King decided to stay and carry on his effort to desegregate the city. He brought in his Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) staff to coordinate the campaign. But the neighboring county jails (arranged for by Albany Police Chief Laurie Pritchett) swallowed up the waves of marchers encouraged by King. In the end, King ran out of willing marchers before Pritchett ran out of jail space. Once again King got himself arrested, and once again he was let go.

Even President John F. Kennedy, when asked about Albany during a news conference, found the situation there “wholly inexplicable.” He could not understand why, when American and Soviet leaders could sit down for discussions in Geneva, white and Negro leaders could not sit down and discuss matters in Albany.

In August and September, white terrorists firebombed four churches in Lee and Terrell counties that had hosted SNCC voter registration drives. In mid-August, Dr. King toured the ruins of Shady Grove Baptist Church, one of the burned out churches in Lee County. Five days later, he sent a telegram calling on the clergy to come to Albany to “stand with the people of Albany as they strive for freedom.” A week later nearly 80 religious leaders from Chicago, New York, and New Jersey descended on Albany and the next day 75 of them were arrested for protesting. The following week, however, a Ku Klux Klan rally drew 1,000 people to Albany.

By the end of the summer of 1962, it was clear that King had proved ineffective in bringing about change in Albany. King himself felt he had failed in Albany, but African Americans in southwest Georgia knew that King's failure did not mean that the movement had failed.

See Movement, page 11

6 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com

2011 Dream Award recipient KARLA HEATH-SANDS

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As music is the universal language, so has KARLA HEATH-SANDS’ voice been a melodious symphony throughout south Georgia. Whether heard during her morning greeting as anchor for WALB’s “Today in Georgia” and the “12:00 News,” or singing to seniors at nursing homes, her voice has become legendary because of her unselfish willingness to share her vocal talents throughout the community. Her mantra, “To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required,” is truly lived out in her many community and social appearances which she makes personally to add an air of light-hearted joy with her heavenly sounds and warm smile.

Mrs. Heath-Sands, has been on stage for most of her life! The Brunswick, Georgia native has been a participant in the Miss America Pageant system where as Miss Macon she placed fourth runner-up to Miss Georgia 1982 and as Miss Georgia Brunswick-Golden Isles 1985 she placed second runner-up.

Karla’s voice can be heard on stage at Six Flags Over Georgia in the Crystal Pistol or in many competitions where she has placed as semi-finalist for Star Search and selected as a Quarterfinalist for the 1997 SAVANNAH ON STAGE International Vocal Competition. She has also performed as a guest soloist with the Macon Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, the Albany Symphony and Opera Albany. She was invited to sing the National Anthem in Kurobe, Japan as part of the Cherry Blossom Festival in 1998. She has also appeared on BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel Hour and has been a featured singer with the Bob Cummings Band for more than 25 years.

Karla has sang the National Anthem for the opening ceremonies for the State Games of the Special Olympics, Native American Festival at Chehaw Park (Albany), Opening ceremonies for the South Georgia Wildcats, numerous Little League season openers, Police Memorial Services, Veterans organizations, and an exhibition game for the Atlanta Hawks in Macon, GA. Additionally, Karla is a frequent volunteer at the Slater King Center and other nursing and assisted living homes in the area as she fills their halls with song. She has also graced regularly the Albany Annual King Day Celebration dinner with her euphonious treasured voice!

Mrs. Heath-Sands is a leader- volunteer in other community activities as well.

She is a trustee for Girls, Inc. of Albany; a member of the Albany Chapter of the Links Inc., where she serves as Chair of the Arts which is singularly responsible for bringing the Atlanta Opera to Dougherty County for a community appearance before elementary aged students. She is a Boulé member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Board of Advisors member for The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and a member of Bethel A.M.E. Church (Albany, GA). Karla is a former chair of the Albany Chamber of Commerce’s Image Committee and has served as the host for the Albany State University’s Homecoming parade as well as the Holiday Lights parade for the City of Albany.

Mrs. Heath-Sands has been a volunteer emcee at numerous pageants and events. She has served as a judge for Miss Georgia Preliminaries and Junior Miss Programs of Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Her recognition by the Girls Scouts as a “Woman of Distinction” typifies why it is our honor to distinguish Mrs. Karla Heath-Sands as a 2011 King Day Award recipient.

Truly, much is required of her and much is given by her!

THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com 7

2011 Dream Award recipient REVEREND DEACON JIM H. PURKS III

Ecclesiastes not only describes some of the bittersweet nostalgia of a man’s life work, but it holds a special truth experienced by the very life of this 2011 Dream Award Recipient. Solomon succinctly shares, “I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time” (9:11).

In several instances during this recipient’s life, he has been in the right place at the right time.

Mr. Jim Purks’ success at becoming a journalist with the AP and later becoming Deputy Press Director in the Jimmy Carter White House pales second to his endeavors and humble journey toward his other noteworthy accomplishments.

When asked about his favorite story written as a journalist, he exclaims that while not his “favorite story,” the “most moving” story was written by him as a neophyte writer with the Associated Press (AP).

This story covered the September 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church where four little black girls were killed by the cowardly act of members of the Klu Klux Klan. Mr. Purks was one of the first reporters to give national voice and unmasked the hideous ugliness of racial prejudice, hate and discrimination perpetuated against blacks in Birmingham, Alabama. It is believed that the power of this story intensified the press’ interest and coverage of the Civil Rights Movement and brought the national press to Birmingham,

Alabama. While a noted work, this was not the only writing that Mr. Purks completed during the years of the Civil Rights Movement. He is credited for regularly covering the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during the years of the struggle.

In the 2006 Pulitzer Prize winning book entitled, “The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle and the Awakening of a Nation,” a picture of Mr. Purks, Drs. King and Abernathy along with Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth appears on the cover. This picture was said to be “on the spot and very real; capturing …the emotional content of the times.” While this may sound prestigious and we’re honoring Mr. Purks today for his accomplishments, let’s be real clear that the reporting of civil rights matters during that era was very dangerous work. Mr. Purks remembers all too well stepping inside of a phone booth in the dark of the night to phone in a story and “feeling the eyes of racists who’d just as soon to beat you as you stood there with the receiver in hand dictating a story. Of course, this faceless, nameless member of a cadre of ‘foot soldier’ writers would initiate the stories that more prominent writers would be dispatched to follow-up on and given unearned credit for completing.

Jim spent seven years with the AP before becoming immersed in state government and political writing. When Jimmy Carter was elected president in 1976, Mr. Purks became Deputy Press Director in the Carter White House, and was able to be involved in many momentous occasions, including the Egyptian-Isreali Peace Talks which culminated in the agreement between those countries. As an ardent photographer as well as a prolific writer during the peace talks, Mr. Purks got a wonderful picture of President Carter and President Sadat of Egypt. In 2010, he presented this

photograph to President Carter who accepted it as a piece of history and placed it in the Carter Center in Atlanta. After the White House years, Mr. Purks tried writing in corporate America. However, his own self-appraisal leaves one to know that service is at the core of this man’s writing career and corporate America just was not the right place and the right time for him.

Thus, his initial return to South Georgia as a media writer with Habitat for Humanity allowed Jim to again give his heart which is the core element of expression through which he writes.

To this very day this energetic, selfless servant spends his life in service to others as an ordained Deacon of the Episcopal Church as a member of the Order of St. Luke which is a healing order that focuses on healing and wholeness.

While becoming a Deacon he spent 3 ½ years a volunteer for HIV/AIDS support groups, worked at two hospices and became a volunteer hospital Chaplin at both Sumter Regional and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospitals. He most recently (2010) returned from a mission trip in the Dominican Republic where he worked on

houses, a church, and the reading of the Gospel and Prayers of the People in Spanish at two celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.

He also finds time and energy to lead noon-day Wednesday Healing Services, co-mentor entrants in the Education for Ministry seminar at St. Pauls Church and induct four new members into the ministry Order of St. Luke in Moultrie, Georgia.

Whether ‘Right Place at the Right Time’ or ‘Every Place All of the Time,’ Mr. Jim H. Purks’ life of service and selfless volunteerism personifies the ingredients indicative of a Martin Luther King, Jr. Dream Award. The committee proudly presents this 2011 Dream Award recipient.

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8 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com

JOYCE BARLOW

2011 Dream Award recipient

MS. JOYCE BARLOW, CEO of Englewood Hospice Care, Inc. is clearly a woman on a mission to serve. The Holy writings admonish us to, “Let he that is greatest among you, be the servant of all.”

That is exactly who Joyce Barlow is: A Servant to All. For over 25 years she has been a part of this community with a giving spirit that stretches the business that she so aptly envisioned and founded beyond the borders of just providing health care services on many levels.

Ms. Barlow uses her tremendous servant spirit and the capacity established from the community trust and financial success of the JCAHO Accredited and Albany based Englewood Health Systems, Inc. [An Adult and Pediatric Home Health Agency serving 7 counties that has skilled nursing, occupational, physical and speech therapy), Englewood Health Care, Inc. (Two Personal Care Homes located in Albany and Dawson and Certified Home Health Aides), and Englewood Hospice Care, Inc. (A Hospice Care Agency serving 21 counties in southwest Georgia)], in

ways much like Ghandi for Human Rights, Mother Teresa for Human Value, Bill Gates for Technology and Martin Luther King Jr.’s passion for Justice & Equality. This servant of the people gives of her financial capital and well as her human capital resources to raise the quality of life for people, organizations and causes throughout the southwest Georgia region. She champions causes for children and youth by co-chairing the ASU Community Service Award Scholarship. She is vice president of Girls, Inc. and is a long-time mentor and Partner in Excellence with Martin Luther King Elementary School.

As an active officer in the Albany Links Inc., she has volunteered weeks with childhood obesity initiatives throughout this community. As the immediate past-president of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc.’s Ivy Academy she spends many volunteer hours teaching young females the importance of self-love, self-respect and the power of a good education. Her direct missions work through Hope for Haiti provided relief, medical supplies and toys to children of Haiti and their families who were seriously affected by its most recent disas-

We Salute The Man who made civil rights a reality. His dedication made a dream come true for many. King fought for this dream peacefully and will always be remembered as a man with the courage to speak out against injustice - and be heard.

To keep Martin Luther King’s memory alive we must remember his dream and strive to achieve equal rights for everyone. His work is not finished - it is up to us to continue the struggle.

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ter. Restoring hope and wholeness to those in need – especially our youth - is truly one of her special gifts!

Ms. Barlow is civic-minded and has taken a leading role in leading her employees and all who will listen into a “Greener Environment.” When Joyce launched her Higher Level of Green Initiative to help keep Albany- Dougherty Beautiful, she knew that a better community is a clean community. Rugs in her office are from recycled materials and each employee was given a recycle bin and she created a recycling center on-site for plastics, paper and glass. This effort was recognized and she was cited as the 2009 Keep Albany-Dougherty Beautiful/ Clean Business of the Year. Additionally, as a member of the Albany Housing Authority Board she advocates for funding to support efforts that provide housing for low income and elderly families. She’s also served as chairperson for the Innovative Housing Board and has been consistent with her concern and donations to the homeless.

Ms. Barlow’s never-give-up spirit finds volunteerism and meeting the needs of others a calling and not just a decision!

Thus, her passion enables her to readily form local and national collaboratives that further the dignity and care of others. Such is the case when she joined with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 to launch the “WE HONOR VETERANS” campaign which aims to help improve the care of those who have served our country during their hour of need for hospice and palliative care services. She also served on the State of Georgia’s Long Term Care Committee and she always finds creative ways to conduct and sponsor health educa-

tion seminars and fairs. Such is the case with her work with SOWEGA Council on Aging to sponsor the Fall Prevention and Wellness Program. She proudly sponsors a free Mother’s Day Health Fair at the Albany Mall during the week-end of Mother’s Day. Ms. Barlow has served as past president of SOWEGA American Business Women Association. Further, she was awarded the SOWEGA Small Business of the Year Award in 1986 and 1987. She is an alumnus of Leadership Albany and a past member of Women in Network. In 1993 she was awarded the Outstanding Minority Business Award. Many may ask where this lady finds the time for business success and community volunteerism at so great a level. This question can best be answered by one of her employees who so aptly wrote, “Mrs. Barlow has the strength to stand for those who can’t stand on their own. She has the strength that many call Courage: Courage to say, ‘We can do better and we can be better.’ ” For this courage and more, the awards committee of the Albany King Day Celebration, proudly award MS. JOYCE D. BARLOW, as a 2011 King Day Dream Award recipient.

THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com 9

2011 Dream Award recipient MR. CHARLES W. LAMB, JR., ESQ.

A description given of Mr. Charles W. Lamb, Jr., was said to be taken from a 1968 sermon by Dr. M.L. King, Jr. that reads: “If you want to be important – wonderful.

If you want to be recognized – wonderful. If you want to be great – wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. Given that definition of greatness… everybody can be great because everybody can serve.

You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”

This excerpt depicts Mr. Charles Lamb’s service to others as a true calling to servant-hood!

What’s more important, Mr. Lamb serves in spite of his own personal needs. While he has earned degrees in business and law from the Flagship University of Georgia after sustaining an incomplete cervical spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed from the chest down, he has forged a path using his rehabilitation and radical accomplishments to work for others. He regularly and single-handedly has taken on the task of educating the public on programs and opportunities, as well as on the rights of individuals with disabilities. He was named one of Southwest Georgia’s 40 under 40 and Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 Under 40 and has been recognized for his advocacy on behalf of individuals with disabilities by the Georgia Bar Association. He recently was honored as one of ten of Georgia’s more than 32,000 lawyers to receive the coveted Justice Benham Award for Community Service (2010). He also locally serves on the Board of the Albany Advocacy Resource Center, the Board of Leadership Albany, and is president-Elect of the Dougherty County Bar Association. He is a member of the Dougherty Leadership Development Institute Class of 2007, the Leadership Albany Class of 2008, and the Leadership Lee Class of 2009.

This very active community service advocate finds time to serve statewide and nationally as well. From 2002-2005 he served as one of only fifteen members from around the country, on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law. He also serves statewide as a member of the Georgia State Rehabilitation Council, an independent oversight and advisory body for the Vocational Rehabilitation Program of the Georgia Department of Labor. As the Chairman of the Appeals Committee for the Georgia Brain and Spinal Injury Trust Fund Commission and as a member of the Board of ARC of Georgia, he finds himself at the helm of advocacy for children and adults with brain and spinal injuries as well as intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Mr. Charles Lamb is without a doubt a leader in the social, economic, and political change for our community and provides personal ministry to the socially and economically disadvantaged regardless of race, creed or color. While it was written in Metro Albany News’ Back Page (2005) circular (paraphrased): “Charles walks into the next challenge armed with something which Charles feels is more powerful that a perfect body – a spiritual quest that awakens him to life’s subtleties. He will retain part of the demure, deny thyself nature that keeps him humble … He’s fought hardship; he’s achieved success. He’s given back, though he’ll accept no accolades…” But tonight it is our distinct honor to bestow accolades to you, a man so deserving as a 2011 King Day Dream Award Recipient. For you, Mr. Charles W. Lamb, this community and committee are most proud!

Join in the

Dream As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. today, we remember his strength and determination in fighting for the equal rights of all Americans. By learning about the struggles that he and many others experienced in their quest for equality, may we be inspired to join in their dream that all people truly live in freedom and unity.

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10 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com

Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Albany Movement Timeline Compiled by Lee W. Formwalt Dec. 15, 1961 At the invitation of Albany Movement President Dr. William G. Anderson, MLK comes to Albany and speaks to overflow crowds at Shiloh and Mount Zion Baptist Churches.

Dec. 16, 1961 MLK leads 265 African Americans and one white man on a walk from Shiloh Baptist Church, east on Whitney Ave., then north on Jackson, across Oglethorpe into downtown Albany, where they are arrested. MLK, Ralph Abernathy and Dr. Anderson are taken to the Sumter County jail in Americus.

Dec. 18, 1961 MLK and other African American protestors are released from jail after reaching an oral agreement with Albany city officials that city leaders would negotiate with Albany Movement leaders. City officials later renege on the agreement and the meetings never take place.

July 24, 1962 Federal Appeals Court Judge Elbert Tuttle lifts the federal injunction against MLK. A spontaneous night march led by Marvin Rich results in rock-, bottle-, and brick-throwing, and a number of protesters are arrested.

July 25, 1962 MLK declares a day of penance in the wake of the previous night’s violence and calls for a 24-hour halt to demonstrations. MLK makes his plea at a press conference as well as in the streets and in pool rooms.

July 27, 1962 MLK and others are arrested and jailed for praying on the Pine Street sidewalk at City Hall.

July 28, 1962 Dr. Anderson is bonded out of jail so he can replace MLK who is scheduled to be interviewed on Meet the Press July 29.

February 27, 1962 MLK returns to Albany for his trial. He is convicted of disorderly conduct and parading without a permit. Sentencing is delayed until summer.

August 4, 1962 MLK comments that segregation is on its deathbed in Albany—what was uncertain was how expensive city officials were going to make the funeral.

July 10, 1962 MLK and Abernathy return to Albany for their sentencing. Offered a choice of a $178 fine or 45 days of hard labor, they choose the latter.

August 10, 1962 At the trial for their July 27 arrest, MLK and Abernathy are found guilty, but their sentences are suspended and they are released from jail.

July 12, 1962 At the behest of city officials, Attorney B.C. Gardner secretly pays MLK’s and Abernathy’s fines in the hope that they would leave town. MLK expresses his unhappiness with the “subtle and conniving tactics” used to secure his release.

July 20, 1962 Federal Judge Robert Elliot issues an injunction against further demonstrations in Albany and specifically forbids MLK and Movement leaders from marching.

August 16, 1962 MLK tours the ruins of Shady Grove Baptist Church in Lee County which had been firebombed for its voter registration activities.

August 20, 1962 MLK sends a telegram calling on clergy to come to Albany and “stand with the people of Albany as they strive for freedom.”

August 28, 1962 In response to MLK’s telegram, an interracial and interdenominational group of 75 clergy descend on Albany. They march downtown and are arrested and jailed for a day. This is the last significant Albany Movement event associated with MLK.

THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com 11

SNCC field secretary Charles Sherrod remarked, "Now I can't help how Dr. King might have felt, . . .

Continued from page 5 but as far as we were concerned, things moved on.

We didn't skip one beat." In fact, black voter registration efforts were so successful that, two months after King left Albany, African American businessman Thomas Chatmon secured enough votes in the election for a city commission seat to force a run-off election.

Movement

President John F. Kennedy Comments on the Situation in Albany, August 1, 1962 “Let me say that I find it wholly inexplicable why the city of council of Albany will not just sit down with the citizens of Albany, who may be Negroes, and attempt to secure them, in a peaceful way, their rights. The United States government is involved with sitting down at Geneva with the Soviet Union. I can’t understand why the government of Albany, City Council of Albany cannot do the same for American citizens.”

Albany Mayor Asa Kelley’s Response to the President “We agree with the president, that the commission of the city of Albany should discuss local problems with local nigras in an effort to reach local solutions. That has been and is now the policy of the city of Albany. But that policy does not embrace outside agitators including Martin Luther King and his coterie of troublemakers who jump about the South like so many fleas on a hot griddle and cause racial rashes where none have heretofore existed.”

DIVERSITY

We proudly salute the 2011 Dream Award Winners....

These individuals go to work in our community, teach our children and perform community service, all in order to build bridges of understanding and foster respect for each other.

146 N. Slappey • Albany, GA • 432-9338 STORE HOURS: Mon-Fri. 8:30-6:00; Sat. 9:30-4:30

12 THE ALBANY HERALD • KING CELEBRATION 2011 • Wednesday, January 19, 2011 • www.albanyherald.com