54 minute read
Frederick Douglass Memorial Community Park, Port Tampa
By Diane Egner, 83 Degrees Media
The senior bishop of the A.M.E. (African Methodist Episcopal) Church Worldwide, the Rt. Rev. Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., stopped by Port Tampa on Saturday to break ground on a new park and playground where the historic Frederick Douglass Negro School once stood.
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The consecration and groundbreaking ceremony took place across the street from the historic Mt. Zion (Port Tampa) A.M.E. Church at 7401 S. Kissimmee St., where Richardson’s father once served as the pastor.
Richardson, a graduate of Florida A&M University who received the Master of Divinity degree from the Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta and the Doctor of Sacred Theology degree at the ITC through the Atlanta Theological Association, told church members and friends who gathered for the service that he remembers well growing up in the neighborhood that provided the foundation for his global service today.
The church’s current pastor, the Rev. James T. Golden, led the service, which marks the continuation of an effort to build a community center next to the 132-year-old church and open a unique park and playground for neighborhood
children. Church members are busy planning an anniversary celebration in June and are gathering community support for honoring and preserving the history of the working-class neighborhood that was once home to Port workers in the late 1800s up until recent years when new homes and apartments began to dominate the landscape. Tampa Architect Jerel McCants is lending his expertise to design the park and playground as well as the community center. McCants, Yvette Lewis, president of the Hillsborough County NAACP, and Clara Glenn, president of the Frederick Douglass Negro School Alumni Association, were in attendance. ❏ ❏ ❏ IN CRITICAL CONDITION: VOTING RIGHTS, EDUCATION, AND AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
By D’Weston Haywood, Ph.D.
Republicans in state legislatures across the country are moving with lightning speed to restrict voting rights and ballot access. This is largely in response to dramatically changing racial demographics and the rise of “woke” voters, as well as recent narrow Republican losses to Democratic candidates. Farright conspiracy theories charging voter fraud, among other things, are also working to drive these efforts. Their success has been swift. States like Georgia, Florida, and Iowa are leading the way in legislation that limits early voting periods, absentee ballots, and mail-in voting, for instance. In Georgia, even offering food, water, or assistance to voters waiting in line could be prosecuted as a misdemeanor. Tennessee has joined the spirit of these problematic efforts in limiting democracy, though from another, deeply related front.
As Black Lives Matter (BLM) activists lead our modern Black freedom struggle, pushing America to address its racial past and present, the Tennessee General Assembly voted in May to ban the teaching of systemic racism in the classroom and to withhold funds from schools and districts that do so. The bill does not identify BLM by name but advocates indicated as much in their defense of the legislation, denouncing Critical Race Theory (CRT), one of the key philosophical tenets shaping BLM.
CRT began as an academic movement among legal scholars in the 1970s and has since spread beyond the academy to activist life. It rightly argues that racism is embedded in the country’s institutional structures and gets produced and reproduced by those structures pervading American life from the justice system to popular culture down to everyday interactions between people. If you have ever heard the terms “white privilege,” “intersectionality,” or “structural racism,” then you have probably encountered CRT as it has advanced a crucial vocabulary and framework of ideas in understanding and addressing racist thinking, policy, policing, laws, and institutions. Even Donald Trump had heard of it, repudiating it in an executive order in September 2020, not long after BLM protests had mobilized nationally with great impact in the preceding months. Tennessee is following the former president’s policy trend and states like Idaho, Utah, and Arkansas may also, given recent debates about similar measures in their legislatures.
These emerging, antiintellectual policies against classroom discussions that could otherwise help cultivate an informed future electorate invested in a civic engagement that helps root out longstanding inequities, in fact, go hand-in-hand with their antidemocratic cousin—the new wave of assaults on voting rights. Indeed, both are growing together, sprouting from the same seeds that are working to advance perhaps a new Republican form of criticality: the process of expending intellectual and institutional energies to devise virtually any means necessary to resist the expansion of democracy. Ironically, such moves affirm the very point that CRT is making, rejecting critical theory to instead embrace conspiracy theories about stolen elections. ❏ ❏ ❏
GREENWOOD, MISSISSIPPI HONORS TOP 30 UNDER 40
By Rev. Dr. Alice Hubbard Crenshaw, 8th Episcopal District
Turner Chapel Ame Church In Greenwood, Ms Proudly Recognizes “Bro. Johnathan Parnell As A Recipient Of Greenwood’s Top 30 Under 40 Honor.” On Wednesday, March 31, 2021 The Greenwood Commonwealth Publication Announced The Annual Honorees For 2021-22
Bro. Johnathan Parnell is a lifelong member of Turner Chapel AME Church, where he has served in numerous capacities. He is the son of a proud mother Sis. Viola Parnell who is also an active member of Turner Chapel. He is an Oracle Application Database Administrator in IT at Viking Range, LLC, where he has worked for 14 years. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University. He list his hobbies as playing video games, watching movies and spending time with family and friends.
Growing up in church, Bro. Parnell has worn many hats. He served as Sunday School Teacher, Trustee, Class Leader, Assistant YPD Director, Sunday School Van Driver, and Church Treasurer. He is currently, the Northwest District Sunday School Superintendent in the 8th Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Bro. Parnell is currently the social media administrator, ministry of media president and Choir Director for both the Adult and the Youth choirs at Turner Chapel AMEC. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, he served breakfast to the Sunday School Department and mentored the youth and young adults at the church by assisting them in their schoolwork, providing advice and guidance, and being like a big brother or father figure that they may have need for directions. He once received an Acknowledgment Honor from Tuner Chapel for his work, dedication and promotion of the church.
Bro. Parnell was led to his career choice because he always loved computers and technology. Seeing as how technology was always going to be a challenging field, he knew that was the arena for him. No matter what career he had, it was going to be related to and working with computers. In addition, he has always loved being a problem solver. He gets a sense of accomplishment when being introduced to a problem and developing a solution to that problem. His current career combines these two passions.
NEW LAND DONATED TO OAKLEY CHURCH AFTER JANUARY VANDALISM
By Victoria Bragg, KMIZ
Oakley Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is planning to move to a new area after January vandalism, MFA Oil Company donated 3 acres for the church’s relocation efforts.
Oakley Chapel was vandalized in January, the Callaway County Sheriff’s Department arrested five teenagers earlier this year for allegedly breaking in and damaging the church. As it was the second time within three months that the historically black church was vandalized.
MFA Oil Company has donated 3 acres of its land near Katy Trail and Highway 94, after hearing about the church’s vandalism in January and the community’s concerns to protect the historical chapel.
“When we found out that you know that there was this community effort to try and find a new home for the church we thought it sounded like a good fit to donate the land,” said Adam Buckallew, the Senior Public and Government Relations Specialist for MFA Oil Company.
Buckallew says the people from the community reached out to the company after discovering it owned land near Highway 94. The company believed it was a great opportunity to give back to the community after seeing how important the church was to local residents and history.
“Giving back to the communities that we serve is always been a part of our culture here at MFA Oil company, we’re well aware of how important small towns are to Missouri and anything that we can do to help out communities like Tebbetts to preserve the history and the cultural significance of the Oakley Chapel we thought that was a great opportunity and it’s something that we’re proud to be able to help with,” said Buckallew.
Residents were seeking to move the church near Highway 94 so that it was more visible to keep an eye on. As leaders of the church say it’s currently located in a remote area where vandalism could easily happen again.
Members frequently check on the 143-year-old church but fear because it is distant from the public eye vandalism could easily happen again.
“Because of the vandalism the church is in pretty much a remote area, and I just don’t want to spend money putting a church back together in that area because it could happen again,” said Rev. Darlene Singer Smith, presiding elder of the AME Church’s St. Louis and Columbia district in its Missouri Conference.
Rev. Smith says she was overjoyed with the news of the company donating the land to the church. As MFA Oil Company signed over the deed to the church last week. Now Smith says, she is trying to raise money and find volunteers to move the church and restore the land it currently sits on.
Smith wants to restore the cemetery that’s currently behind the church as it was also vandalized. She says they are planning to create a historical memorial area where the church currently sits. The new land is near Katy Trail, Smith says they want the new church location to be a peaceful area that people can come to while walking the trail.
“A rest area for when people walk the Katy Trail, they would have a place to come long term goals is to make that property like a retreat area a retreat center, where you can just come to meditate and just have a quiet place to be,” said Smith.
Currently, Smith is raising money to begin working on the project and asks for the public’s help in moving the church and bringing their visions to life.
Smith says donations can be sent to Oakley Chapel Renovations 3101 Wheaton Avenue St. Louis, MO 63114 or Oakley Chapel Renovations P.O. Box 176 Tebbetts, MO 65080. ❏ ❏ ❏
Bro. Parnell cites the most influential person in his career has always been his mother. While growing up he watched her take care of his two older brothers and himself, and she did so on her own. There were days that were tough for her, but she stayed strong and never showed them that those days were tough. He watched her go after the things she wanted in life, and even when she thought about giving up, she did not. As a result, she got the things she worked so hard towards achieving, no matter how long it took. This influenced him, as he was told that his career choice in computers would be a difficult road. There were times when he wanted to give up, but he always held strong to his mother’s words and her drive, and he continues to pursue what he wants until he achieves it.
The Turner Chapel Family is extremely proud of Bro. Johnathan “Nick” Parnell for achieving this honor. He continues to live by his favorite Scripture, Psalm 1:3: “And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” ❏ ❏ ❏
PAYNE RECEIVES PATHWAYS FOR TOMORROW INITIATE FROM LILLY
By Rev. Betty Whitted Holley, Ph.D.
The Lilly Endowment seeks to assist theological schools in the United States and Canada accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) in efforts to do the following: explore emerging challenges and opportunities facing their institutions as well as the Christian congregations that they serve; gain clarity about their mission in light of these challenges and opportunities and relationship to the leadership needs of their constituent churches; assess the effectiveness of their educational strategies and financial operations for preparing and supporting pastors and congregational lay ministers; and design and implement plans to launch new or strengthen current projects to address their key challenges and opportunities and to make their institutions more educationally-effective and financially-viable for the continued preparation and support of pastors and congregational lay ministers into the future.
Payne Theological Seminary received a $50,000 seed-planning grant for the research, consultation, and pre-exploration of several prioritized challenges and opportunities. First, Zoom technology training for Payne’s leadership team is needed for the success of the research, consultation, and pre-exploration of the three listed challenges and opportunities: strategic planning process on important issues of stewardship around mission and money, cultural diversity training for pastors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students. This training will afford the connection needed to receive the ultimate benefits from consultants and workshop presenters to be the reach beyond the seminary walls in fellowship with various groups that are needed to acquire the information to respond to challenges and opportunities.
Second, a strategic planning process on important issues of stewardship around mission and money will be an opportunity for Payne to engage in its own strategicvisioning process. There is a need for Payne to visualize its place in the broader landscape of North American theological education to see the trends in a broad industry context, peer subsets, and institution-specific ways. The Board needs an understanding of the context of theological education, the distinctiveness of Payne as an institution, and the importance of stewardship of the mission and resources to fulfill our mission. Our Board, president, and administration could profit greatly from facilitated conversations around establishing benchmarks and key performance indicators that measure success toward institutional strategic goals.
Third, cultural diversity training for pastors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students is needed if the church is going to continue working and moving into interracial and intercultural engagements. Payne needs to explore opportunities to pursue untapped communities and find ways to serve them beyond classical education. We need to become more expansive in our reach. There needs to be an exploration of ways the church can confront racial oppression through prayer, discernment, and worship-based action and work together as allies with those who have different experiences than we do.
Fourth, the mental wellness of faculty and staff personnel through and beyond COVID-19 has presented a challenge and opportunity. The pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 but can make us feel isolated and lonely and increase stress and anxiety. Learning to cope with stress healthily will make us more resilient. The Payne community, including staff, administration, and students have experienced, first-hand, this horrible disease, which includes but is not limited to stress, anxiety, and burnout.
Payne will use these funds to envision its mission in a post-pandemic environment. All of us involved in theological education realize instinctively that the ground has indeed shifted. Our lack of clarity involves how our institutions can and should navigate unknown waters. This seed-planning grant will help Payne find its way. ❏ ❏ ❏
THE SANKOFA, THE EAGLE AND FRIENDS OF GOLD
As Scouts and Scouter’s, it is important that we look back like the Sankofa Bird to see where we have been; to look forward like the Eagle to see what the future brings; and to know that God loves us unconditionally, like a true friend, were “one is Silver and the other is Gold”.
The past 16 months (and longer) have been a challenge for our Youth, our Families, our Churches, our Country, and our World. But challenges cannot be allowed to define us. We are a people that have survived the Middle Passage and made it to the White House. What this pandemic has done is to confirm that we are all a Child of God.
AAMES believes: “We are a global people; Serving an omnipresent God; Developing global citizens.” Challenges are designed to reveal who we are, what we are made of and who we really trust. We trust God.
Over the past quadrennial, plus one, Our AAMES Scouts have earned badges, we have been camping in our back yards, we have been to high Adventure Camps, STEM Camps, and advocated for our communities and getting people out to Vote, we have started new Scout Units, and even sat as board members in our local councils (i.e., Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri Council). Some of our Girl Scouts have earned their Gold Awards and some of our Boy Scouts have earned their Eagle Scout Awards.
As AAMES, we proudly look back over the past 5 years and look forward to the future. We have and we are still creating programs to challenge our Scouts and all youth. Below is just a sample of the work we are doing and the new opportunities we are creating for our Leaders and Youth: ❖ AAMES” Youth Gardening
Contest” ❖ Charles Cleveland and Joyce
Charles Scholarship ❖ Bishop’s Award of Excellence ❖ AAMES “Episcopal Patch Series” ❖ The Dr. Kenneth H. Hill Legacy Award ❖ In collaboration with the AME Women in Ministry, the women’s “History Month Patch Series” was created. ❖ Continued efforts with the Program of Religious Activities with Youth (P.R.A.Y.) so our Scouts and Leaders can earn their Religious Awards. ❖ AAMES will be working with the “World Organization of the Scout Movement and the World Association of Girls Guides and Girl Scouts to get our youth in Districts 14 -20. ❖ AAMES will be forming a Board with other Youth serving organizations (i.e., YMCA, 4-H, Junior Achievement USA, and others) so that we can serve all youth, giving them the opportunity to be all that God has intended for them to be. ❖ AAMES has already partnered with the AMEC Health Commission, AME Social Action Commission and AME Women in Ministry to create projects to educate and serve our Scouts and the Youth of the Church and we are looking forward to partnering up with other ministries of the Church. ❖ AAMES has and will be holding Learning Seminars on STEM, Emergency Preparedness, Financial Awareness and Responsibility, Climate Control, Healthy Lifestyle, and Healthy Eating. To learn more about AAMES join us at our Virtual Camporee June 25th -27th . go to www.ameced. com web site and click on Scouting and then AAMES 2021 Camporee or contact Vivianne Frye-Perry Director of Girl Scouts (emails: vfryeperry@amescouts.org) or Clarence Crayton, director of Boy Scouts (email: ccrayton@amescouts.org) ❏ ❏ ❏
ALLEN UNIVERSITY SURPRISES LOCAL MOM
Allen University Athletics ended the spring semester with a bang. Celebrating a deserving mother in the community, Academy Sports + Outdoors partnered with Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC) by way of Allen University to provide a $500 gift card to Adrean Sanders, a team mom, with Columbia Knights Sports Organization.
Dr. Joseph Ray, the Acting Director of Counseling and Placement and Assistant Director of Athletics for Contracts and Compliance, Teddy, were excited to present the Sanders with the $500 gift that will assist her in impacting local youth. “The leadership at Allen University allows [us] to take a hands-on approach to impacting the lives of studentathletes on and off of the field,” Keaton explained. “By assisting our community to cultivate leadership in our future student-athletes from a young age, we are laying the foundation for long term success,” Keaton continued.
The Columbia Knights Sports Organization is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to developing young athletes and incorporating life skills that promote leadership on and off the field. Sanders’ devotion as a team mom impacts these children in incredible ways and motivates them to achieve their goals.
Academy Sports + Outdoors is the Official Sporting Goods and Outdoor Retailer of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAC). The partnership between Academy Sports + Outdoors and the SIAC focuses on establishing meaningful community initiatives within the SIAC footprint. Specifically, these initiatives will look to activate and amplify grassroots efforts such as youth outreach and mentoring programs that are inclusive of students-athletes and administrators from across the conference. ❏ ❏ ❏ CONNECTIONALNEWS
*Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font, General Officers and Blue font, Connectional Officers.
*Sis. Fredia Ann Hanley-Johnson, the Immediate Past President of CONN-MSWAWO Plus PK’S, Celebrates her 60th Birthday on Mother’s Day, May 9th
Blessings and congratulations are extended to a phenomenal woman, Sis. Fredia Ann Hanley-Johnson, the Immediate Past President of CONN-M-SWAWO Plus PK’S.
She will celebrate her 60th birthday on Mother’s Day, May 9th. Her birthday celebration with family and friends as well as her trip to Italy has been postponed to 2022 due to COVID-19.
Her husband, Rev. Dr. Wayne A. Johnson, Sr., her children, grandchildren and the Shiloh AME Church Family, Morganton, NC salute her and praise God for her love of family and God’s people.
Birthday wishes can be sent to: Sis. Fredia Hanley Johnson • 1293 N Powerhouse Rd • Morganton, NC 28655 • Frediaj2@gmail.com
Thank you for helping us celebrate this great woman God.
*The Reverend Dr. Jermaine Mulley Celebrates Two Academic Achievements, receiving his DMin from Payne Theological Seminary and Graduating From The US Army Chaplain School and Center
The Reverend Jermaine K. Mulley has successfully defended his dissertation on Good Friday 2021 and has now earned his DMin in Biblical, Political & Social Ethics from Payne Theological Seminary. He is the pastor of St. Luke AME Church, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, the Sixteenth Episcopal District, Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Presiding Prelate.
Additionally, he is a graduate of The US Army Chaplain School and Center (22 APR 2021) endorsed by Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, Endorsing Officer and The African Methodist Episcopal Church Chaplains Commission.
Congratulatory messages can be emailed to: jermainemulley@gmail.com, Rev. Dr. Rev. Jermaine K. Mulley.
On behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop Vashti McKenzie, president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin and editor of The Christian Recorder Mr. John Thomas III, we celebrate and applaud your achievements.
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)
To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org • facebook.com/ AMECFIC
Brother Albert Yarbrough,
former 12th Episcopal District Lay President who led with dignity and quiet strength, gaining respect from the members of the organization, the loving husband of Mrs. Betty Yarbrough and father of the Reverend Sandra (Stanley) Burton
The Reverend Willie Dell
Flowers, age 87, retired after pastoring several churches across the Ninth Episcopal District for over forty years, faithfully served as the Southeast Alabama Conference Secretary for several years and was actively assisting at St. Paul AME Church in Brundidge, Alabama until his passing.
Deaconess Dorothy Poston,
the mother-in-law of Rev. Clay Holliday, Sr., pastor of Mt. Sinai AME Church and grandmother of Rev. Clay Holliday, Jr., pastor of New Wright’s AME Church, Arlington, TN, West Tennessee Conference, Thirteenth Episcopal District
Ms. Annette S. Chapman,
sister of retired Presiding Elder Clarence G. Robinson, Fourth Episcopal District
Sister Annie Louise Watkins
Woodson, 104, the grandmother of Rev. Dr. Terence L. Mayes Sr., Presiding Elder of the Fayetteville-Pulaski District, Pastor of St. PaulAgnew AME Church, Pulaski Tennessee of the Thirteenth Episcopal District, and the Rev. Keith R. Mayes, Sr., pastor of High Hills AME Church, Dalzell, South Carolina, Seventh Episcopal District
First Gentleman Fred Far-
ness, husband of the Reverend Venita Farness, Pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church-Woodlawn in the Northwest Alabama Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District
Mrs. Martha Adams, the mother of Sister Bobbie Nelms and mother-in-law of the Reverend Sammie Nelms, First Lady and Pastor of Ward Chapel AME Church Bessemer, Alabama, in the Northwest Alabama Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District
Reverend Emmanuel Samo-
ma, a minister in the Solwezi East District of the Zambezi Annual Conference of the 17th Episcopal District, Pastor in Charge of Kajoba AME Church, serving God and the Church for 43 years, from the time he received his first ordination in 1978.
Sister Fay Carol Watkins
Oakley, the sister of The Rev. Dr. Cynthia J. W. Bailey, and Sister-In-Law of Brother Hezekiah Bailey, Pastor and First Gentleman of Greater Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church located in Starke, Florida, Eleventh Episcopal District Sister Frances Ann Davis a faithful member of Oak Grove AME Church in Florence, Alabama and sister of Reverend Sandra Anderson, Pastor of Grant Chapel AME Church – Calera in the Montgomery-Selma District of the Ninth Episcopal District Sister Verna L. Leslie, the wife of Rev. Willie Lee Leslie, a member of Suggs Chapel AME Church, Dellrose, Tennessee, Thirteenth Episcopal District
Rev. Merilyn D. Brown,
pastor of Miller Chapel AME Church/Christ Centered Ministries, in addition to being an itinerate elder who loved her AME Church family, she was an experienced and skillful attorney who worked for HUD.
Reverend Betty Jackson,
the sister of Reverend Lasagne Smith, Pastor, Matthews Chapel AME Church and St. Paul AME Church & sister-in-law of Reverend Jerry W. Smith, Pastor, Bailey Springs AME Church (St. Florian) in the Northwest Alabama Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District.
Condolences to the bereaved are expressed on behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop Vashti McKenzie, president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) Rev. Roderick D. Belin and editor of The Christian Recorder, Mr. John Thomas III. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NRSV) To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org •facebook.com/AMECFIC
MORRIS BROWN COLLEGE TO PARTNER WITH THE GEORGIA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMENCE
Morris Brown College (MBC) is proud to announce its partnership with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC). This partnership will allow Latino students to pursue higher education and gain exposure to desired career fields and experiential learning opportunities to enhance their portfolios.
Established in 1984, the GHCC’s primary focus is business formation, business growth, civic and leadership development, and engagement. The GHCC’s goal is to promote and support Latino businesses and individuals’ economic development and serve as a link between non-Latino entities and the Latino market. With over 1,000 members, the GHCC is one of the largest Hispanic Chambers in the United States. “We are excited about this partnership with the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As we fully restore Morris Brown College, it is our goal that we fully support not only the black community, but a major focus will be placed on serving the needs of the Hispanic and Latinx community. As we service a diverse number of majors, it is vital that we begin to develop a talent and supply chain pipeline that is diverse and inclusive by design,” said MBC’s President Dr. Kevin James.
“If we truly want to be inclusive, we have to be purposeful, which is why over the years, we have worked to encourage and promote diversity and inclusion in all levels of our organization. This partnership with MBC will further cement our commitment to ensuring that all communities and businesses are able to thrive together,” said GHCC Board Chairman Antonio Molina.
Founded by formerly enslaved religious leaders at Big Bethel AME Church in 1881, MBC is the first college in Georgia to be owned and operated by African Americans. The iconic Fountain Hall and the current Morris Brown campus are where Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote The Souls of Black Folk in 1903. Notable alumni include Alberta Williams King, the mother of Martin Luther King, Jr., and James Alan McPherson, the first Black writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. The partnership with the GHCC comes on the heels of a rewarding partnership between Chick-fil-A committing $500,000 for a leadership development program that will prepare students for careers in hospitality and organizational leadership. CGI Merchant Group, LLC, a minority-owned global investment management firm with a focus on real estate and private equity will make a $30 million investment in the historic college to convert existing facilities into a 150-key upscale Hilton hotel and hospitality management training complex. Construction of the 90,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility is expected to begin in the latter part of 2021. To learn more about MBC and the partnership with the GHCC process, visit morrisbrown.edu. MBC was founded in 1881 by the AME Church. It is a private, coeducational liberal arts college engaged in teaching and public service with a special focus on leadership, management, entrepreneurship, and technology. The institution is the only college in Georgia founded solely by African American patronage.
The mission of the GHCC is to promote and support the domestic and international economic development of Hispanic businesses and individuals and to serve as a link between non-Hispanic entities and the Hispanic market. ❏ ❏ ❏ h tr th fa p a p th c
SEVERAL AME PASTORS SHARE HOW THEY HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY FATHERS IN MINISTRY
By Sister Angelena E. Spears, Philadelphia Conference Reporter
Behind every successful pastor there is probably a Father in Ministry. Although this title is not found in the Bible, the concept of mentorship is prevalent in both the Old and New Testaments. Jethro was Moses’ spiritual advisor. Peter refers to Mark as his “son,” and the Apostle Paul refers to Timothy as “my true son of faith.” Four AME pastors shared how they have benefitted by having Father in Ministry relationships: the Rev. Cindy Carr Rudolph of Oak Grove AMEC, Detroit; the Rev. Tiffany Lett-Martin of Bethel AMEC, West Chester, PA; and the Revs. Byron and Sharon Moore of St. Andrew AMEC, Memphis, TN.
Rev. Cindy Carr Rudolph – Oak Grove AMEC, Detroit
Rudolph’s Father in Ministry is the Rev. Dr. William D. Watley, pastor of St. Phillip AMEC, Atlanta. Rudolph met Watley in the 90s when she was in her early twenties. At that time, he was the pastor of St. James AMEC in Newark, NJ, and a college friend had invited her to attend services.
Rudolph (who was raised Episcopalian) says she was so touched by the preached word, that she kept coming back.
“For me, a Father in Ministry is someone who not only teaches, but leads by example,” says Rudolph. “I learned just as much from watching Rev. Watley as I did from what he told me.”
Rudolph says that although Watley has always been an “expert” pastor, she observed that he was always striving to improve himself. “He was always learning and always reading. I’ve learned so much from his desire to better himself,” she says.
“This still pushes me now,” she adds. “Doing well in ministry isn’t enough. You must always do more to grow the Kingdom, despite how much you have accomplished.”
“I joined the AME Church because of his leadership,” says Rudolph. “And I remain in the AME Church because of his mentorship.”
“One of the things I admire most about Rev. Watley, is his desire to train and support the next generation,” says Rudolph. “If someone doesn’t have a mentor, I would advise that they think of someone they admire, whose ministry they admire, and reach out to them.”
Martin’s Father in Ministry is her biological father, the Rev. Dr. Charles H. Lett, Sr., who is the senior presiding elder in the Philadelphia Annual Conference. Martin says that in addition to having her dad’s guidance, she was doubly blessed in that the late Rev. Kanice Johns (who was her pastor at Mt. Zion AMEC, Norristown) had been her “Mother in Ministry.”
Martin appreciates that her dad is always there for her as a sounding board, but never tells her what to do. “He shares his wisdom and that guides me to the right direction,” she says.
She says her dad is able to offer her a male perspective on things, which is helpful to her as she ministers to both men and women. She says a good Father in Ministry is also able to help you understand why things are the way they are, and her dad does this by providing a historical framework of where we have come from [as a denomination] and how we arrived.
Because he is her biological dad, she has been able to observe him operate in ministry from the inside and the outside. He has taught her, through example, how to balance family, the church and a secular job. She remembers that he never missed a sports game she or her two brothers were involved in, even though he was often the one parent who showed up in a suit and tie because he had come straight from his secular job.
Martin says what she admires most about her dad is his genuine love for the people of God. “One of the things that he has always said is, ‘If you love the people of God, they will love you back.’” He also taught her the importance of taking time to cultivate relationships with the sick and shut-in members, because they are vital members of the ministry.
Martin advises that if someone does not have a mentor, they should not be afraid to reach out. “I believe in my spirit that many clergy, especially pastors, want to pour into the lives of someone else. We want to invest in the lives of others, but sometimes people never ask.”
“Just reach out to someone that the Spirit leads and guides you to and maybe they will bless your life,” she encourages.
The Moores look to Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram, the presiding prelate of the First Episcopal District, as their Father in Ministry. Sharon Moore met Bishop Ingram and his wife, Dr. Jessical Kendall Ingram, in 1987 when they were assigned as pastor and co-pastor of Oak Grove AMEC in Detroit.
At the time, Sharon Moore was just 19 years old, and her family had joined the church prior to the Ingram’s arrival. Byron Moore met the Ingrams nine years later when he joined the church.
Sharon Moore says a Father in Ministry is someone who cares for his children in ministry at their weakest emotional points in life. She shared the example that when her biological father had open heart surgery, Bishop Ingram arrived at the hospital at 5 a.m. to pray with the family. He did this even though her father had not been regularly attending services, she says. “This represented shepherding at a whole different level,” says Sharon Moore.
Byron Moore says a Father in Ministry is someone who pours into you with hopes you will be all that you can be. “They see more in you than you can see in yourself and they desire that you will do even greater works than they have done. And I think Bishop Ingram checks off all of those boxes,” he says.
Both Moores said the quality they admire most about Bishop Ingram is his tenacity. “No matter what he has been faced with, his determination to be excellent has always risen to the occasion,” says Byron Moore.
Sharon Moore says what impresses her is the story Bishop Ingram shares of how long it took him to get through the Board of Examiners – it took him 10 years vs. the standard four years. “That is tenacity,” she says. “He accepted his call while an undergrad in college. He was hitchhiking rides to get to the Board of Examiners classes. Most people would have quit over that time, but his determination is proof of his true calling. And some of the same people who may have erected obstacles [along his way] -- now call him ‘Bishop.’”
Both Moores said they admire Bishop Ingram’s Wtl i hi d i t t i d tth t
h l ll
M modeling of excellence in ministry. Sharon Moore d li f ll i i i Sh says Bishop Ingram has always embodied the perfect combination of visionary, administrator and shepherd. And Byron Moore says it has never been difficult to understand Bishop Ingram, because his verbal instruction and guidance are always supported by his non-verbal. He lives by example.
A wisdom nugget both Bishop Ingram and his wife, Dr. Jessica Ingram shared with the young clergy couple was, “Don’t allow people to pit you against one another. You are not in competition with each other, you are in coalition.”
“I would tell anyone that having a mentor in
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The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation Board, which manages the fundraising, construction endowment, and outreach for the Emanuel Nine Memorial, announced the Ford Foundation has donated $500,000 to the Emanuel Nine Memorial. The funding will help the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation build social justice programs and initiatives to help eradicate racism.
The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation’s outreach programs will focus on the implementation of anti-racism and racial equity curriculum for adults, school children, colleges and universities; resources to educate and help bridge inequities in our communities; guidance to help advocate for equality and justice; and training to help promote peaceful reconciliation with our neighborhoods.
As a part of its outreach programming, the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation announced additional plans to introduce its Luminary program, which designates supporters of the Emanuel Nine Memorial who will spread its mission through the advocacy of racial healing to various spheres of influence. “The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation is extremely grateful for the Ford Foundation and looks forward to growing our partnership by working together to develop social justice programs to help build a more inclusive and equitable society,” said the Rev. Eric S.C. Manning, the pastor of the Mother Emanuel AME Church and the co-chair of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation.
“This generous grant from the Ford Foundation highlights the organization’s unparalleled support of programs bringing about social justice,” said John Darby, CEO of the Beach Company and co-chair of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation. “We are looking forward to working closely with the Foundation to improve communities across the country for all Americans, starting right here in South Carolina,” he added.
The social justice initiatives will launch in 2021 and the Emanuel Nine Memorial, the permanent memorial honoring the five clergy and four church members murdered at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, will open in mid- to late 2022. “We are proud to support the Emanuel Nine Memorial and pay tribute to the Mother Emanuel AME Church members and Charleston community,” said Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation. “The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation is building an enduring legacy of hope, justice, and resilience and we look forward to seeing how their work transforms our society in the years to come,” he remarked. The design process, led by Michael Arad who previously designed the National September 11 Memorial, began by reframing the church grounds to create this sacred space. The Memorial will have three components: The Memorial Courtyard, The Survivors’ Garden, and Contemplation Basin. With a fundraising goal of $17.5 million to design, build, maintain, and protect the Emanuel Nine Memorial as well as fund educational outreach and social justice initiatives, the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation relies on individual and corporate contributions that can be made online by visiting: www.emanuelnine. org/donate. The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than 80 years, it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the Foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation Board was established as an independent 501(c)(3) organization to support the mission of the Emanuel Nine Memorial. The Board manages the fundraising, construction, endowment and outreach for the memorial. The roots of Mother Emanuel AME Church run deep in Charleston and its history is one of perseverance in the face of racial hostility. The Church is affectionately called “Mother Emanuel” because it is the oldest AME Church south of Baltimore. Founder Morris Brown first opened the Church’s doors in 1818 but the church burned to the ground a few years later after plans for a slave revolt were exposed. In 1834, a state law making it illegal for Blacks to assemble in places of worship was passed in South Carolina. Following the Civil War, the Church bought the site of the existing structure and named it Emanuel, meaning “God with us.” The Church was rebuilt, continued its push for equal rights, and welcomed distinguished leaders such as Booker T. Washington and civil rights titan Martin Luther King, Jr. Today, Mother Emanuel is an established institution in Charleston. With seating for 1,200, it has the largest capacity of any African American church in the city. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. ❏ ❏ ❏
BETHEL AME CHURCH, VAUXHALL BURNS MORTGAGE THREE YEARS EARLY
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were with us. Early one morning in May 2021, Pastor Dennis E. Hughes, officers, and members assembled on church grounds to give thanks and rejoice for what God had done for us. Roman 13:8 says, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
Bethel AME Church in Vauxhall, New Jersey, celebrated 100 years of Kingdom-building on June 27, 2021. The theme is “We Have Come This Far By Faith” from Hebrews 11:1-3.
Twenty-one pastors have served Bethel from 1921-2009. The 22nd and current pastor, the Rev. Dennis E. Hughes, was appointed on August 9, 2009. The Rev. Hughes has demonstrated extraordinary ministerial leadership by enhancing the current ministries and establishing new ones such as the Wednesday morning conference prayer, increasing church membership, reinstating the senior lunch program, implementing numerous improvements to the church edifice, as well as other church-owned properties, including the men’s room, altar, and the rehabilitation and renovation of the two-family rental property.
A sump pump was installed to prevent flooding. A new furnace was installed to replace the original furnace and the longawaited chair lift, enabling all members to worship together as one. A youth church service was planned and the new church directory was released.
The Rev. Hughes and his wife, the Rev. Valerie V. Hughes, continue to provide spiritual leadership and guidance to the ministerial staff, officers, and members of Bethel as well as the citizens and Union/ Vauxhall. His dedication and work are respected and acknowledged by all. Bethel has grown from a faithful few to a dynamic institution in the Vauxhall Community.
...From Several AME Pastors p10 ministry is essential,” says Byron Moore. “Without the wisdom of those who have gone before, your context in ministry may lack a
certain substance.”
“Our mentor in ministry has blazed a path to show us how far he has been and how much further we can go,” adds Sharon Moore. “So to the person who does not have a mentor, pray for a person who will sharpen you in the areas in which you may be dull and will celebrate you when you surpass them in some areas,” she says. ❏ ❏ ❏
PRESIDING ELDER MALCOLM LAWSON EWE (1934-2021)
A former presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bermuda and pastor of Bethel AME Church in Shelly Bay has died. The Reverend Malcolm Eve was 86.
He was a champion of traditional values and a strong voice for the church’s roots in the 1700s as a catalyst for freedom from slavery.
Rev. Ewe wrote in The Royal Gazette in 2007: “We have strong sympathy for people who are now suffering what our foreparents once suffered.
“We recall the enormous social and political effort required to achieve liberation.”
He stepped down in 2010 after 17 years as elder and was succeeded by the Reverend Betty L Furbert-Woolridge.
The Reverend Larry Dixon, the AME presiding elder and pastor of St Philip AME Church, Smith’s said his friendship with Rev. Eve dated back to their time in the 1990s as fellow elders, when he was in the New York conference.
Rev. Dixon said: “Reverend Eve was a classy dresser, and I liked to tease him, saying ’I want to be just like you’.
“As fate would have it, I followed in his footsteps as the pastor here at St Philip and presiding here in Bermuda today.
“Certainly he and his wife are a classy couple, and I cherish his friendship and wisdom.
“Both of them have had a lifetime impact here on the island and on the AME church and are well liked and well respected.”
Reverend Dixon added: “He has left a great legacy that will live on in Bermuda.
“When we speak of the AME church’s mission, Malcolm Eve’s name will be a part of it.”
Presiding Elder Eve began his working life as a dockyard apprentice – part of the civilian staff at the West End naval base who serviced Royal Navy ships.
He started aged just 15 as a ship fitter.
Presiding Elder Eve was among a handful of apprentices selected to go to the Royal Naval Dockyard in Portsmouth in the UK in 1950 to complete their training when the Dockyard at Ireland Island was closed by the Admiralty.
Many of the apprentices went on to hold prominent roles in Bermuda.
Presiding Elder Ewe played in a band of others from the island, The Bermuda Four, while in Britain.
He worked in marine technical trades when he returned home before he committed his life to the church.
Presiding Elder Eve was later appointed as pastor at St Philip Church in Smith’s and served the congregation for a decade before he moved to Bethel AME in Hamilton Parish.
Presiding Elder Eve was brought up in the West End along with his cousin, Bishop Vinton Anderson, in the home of Charles Lawson Ratteray and his wife Fanny.
He met his wife, Elvia, at a dance in 1975 and the couple married the next year.
Presiding Elder Ewe is founder of the Mother Eve School for children in the southern African nation of Zambia.
Malcolm Lawson Eve, a former presiding elder of the African Methodist Episcopal church in Bermuda, was born on August 15, 1934. He died in April 2021. Mr Eve was 86.
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WILLIAM THEOPOLIS BRIGGS, SR. (1935-2021)
Mr. William Theopolis Briggs, Sr, age 85 of Nashville, TN, died April 23, 2021. Mr.William T. Briggs was born June 17 1935, to Lizzie Wilson and Willie Briggs in Huntsville, Alabama. He was the eighth of ten children. His family moved to Fayetteville, TN when he was three years old. He grew up on a farm his parents proudly owned on Molino Road south of Fayetteville. He received his early education in the Lincoln County Schools graduating from West End High School in 1954, as the Valedictorian of his class.
William attended Tennessee State University receiving a B.S. degree in Biology, and his M.S. degree in Zoology. He later attended Vanderbilt University working toward his Ph.D. in Development Biology; however, he did not finish this degree. He worked as a Research Assistant at Vanderbilt University Biochemistry Department for 6 years; then as a Research Biologist at the Nashville Veteran Administration Medical Center for 28 years. Since retiring from the VA, he has obtained his real estate license and became a relator in residential sales. His greatest disappointment in his career was that he was not able to gain admission to medical school. He attempted twice and narrowly missed being accepted.
William decided to follow and to make Jesus Christ his choice at a very young age while attending Solomon Chapel A.M.E. Church in Fayetteville. It was at this church, he learned how to play the piano. He played for the choir until he graduated and left for college. William united with Greater Bethel A.M.E. church in Nashville in 1975. William was a talented musician, he played both piano and organ; he frequently served as pianist and organist for various churches throughout the city, and at one time for the male chorus at Bethel Church. During his service at Greater Bethel Church, he served in the position of Sunday school teacher; Sunday School superintendent; steward, receiving the honor of steward emeritus after 30 years of service; Vice-Chairman of the steward board; administrative assistant to the Pastor; class leader; director of Christian Education, receiving the honor of Director of Christian Education emeritus after 23 years of service; and served as the South Nashville District Superintendent of Sunday School.
William will be especially remembered for this quick wit of storytelling during his numerous presentations at the church altar call moments. This ability allowed him to bring real meanings to the message that he was trying to convey.
William is survived by his wife, Carolyn Craig Briggs, whom he met in 1955 while attending Tennessee State University. They were married on April 12, 1959. He is also survived by two sons William Theopolis Briggs, Jr. (Madeline) of Bordentown, NJ and Roy Myron Briggs of Chicago, IL; three grandchildren, Anais Briggs, Daria Briggs, and Jonathan Briggs; brother; Milton Briggs (Barbara); Numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son, John Byron Briggs.
Born in Selma on September 17, 1942, Duncombe and his family moved to Montgomery early in his childhood. It was his parents’ dedication to serving that inspired him to do the same, Duncombe’s children said. His father previously served as the pastor of St. Paul AME Church, where Duncombe also went on to serve.
An alumnus of Booker T. Washington High and Florida A&M, Duncombe returned to his high school to lead his its band for seven years, before being transferred to Lanier where he served among the district’s first wave of Black teachers to integrate MPS and later became the school’s first Black principal.
During his time at BTW, Duncombe led the school’s Yellow Jackets “Marching 100” band to many awards and adoration from the community.
Outside of teaching, which also included serving as Carver High’s principal, Duncombe served as Grand Chapter Chaplain of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and at the time of his death, as pastor of the First Congregational First Christian Church. Ordained in the AME Church, he had a long career both as a pastor and Presiding Elder before reaching mandatory retirement age.
His other Civic and professional affiliations include memberships in Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band
Fraternity, Inc.; Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity; American Beauty Lodge F&AM; Board Member, Cleveland Avenue Y.M.C.A; Board of Trustees, Daniel Payne College; and, Board Member, Capital City Boys and Girls Club. Among his many accolades includes being named Man of the Year 2021 by the Emancipation Association of Montgomery. Reverend Duncombe died on June 2, 2021 peacefully in his sleep. He is survived by his wife of over fifty years, Juanita Delores and their two children: United States Army Lt. Col. Farrell J. Duncombe, II (Antoinette), and Dr. Djuana T. Paden (Jerome), and their grandchildren Farrell Jackson Duncombe, III, Loryn Nicole Duncombe and Trinity Wilson.
JAMES EDWARD MCCOY (1944-2021)
JAMES EDWARD McCOY was born January 28, 1944, the first son and second child of James McCoy and Maeola Hammock McCoy. James was deceased on Tuesday afternoon, April 27, 2021. Both of his parents and a brother, Billy Ray McCoy proceeded him in death. James was born in Warren, Ark., and he spent good quality time in his early years in Wilmar, Ark., with his maternal ...continued on p13
...From Transitisons p12 grandparents, Law and Gussie Hammock, now deceased, and his uncles.
James received his early education from the Bradley County Public Schools, Warren, Ark. He graduated from Bradley County High School in 1962 as the Salutatorian of the class. He received a Potlatch Forest Foundation Scholarship to attend college. He was a natural leader and quite a popular scholar athlete during his high school years. James played varsity basketball for the Bradley County Lumberjacks and helped the team accumulate an enviable record in Southwest Arkansas. He remembered fondly the game in which he scored 45 points. In 1996, he was inducted into the Warren Lumberjacks Sports Hall of Fame.
James’s family, friends and classmates of Bradley County called him “Ed” McCoy, and, of course, this followed him in college. After graduation, he went to AM&N College, now UAPB in Pine Bluff, Ark. James received the BSE degree in Biology in 1966. While on campus, he was very active in intramural basketball, always playing for Alpha Phi Alpha teams. He was the Superintendent of the John Brown Watson Sunday School, and active with the events of the Baptist Student Center. He served as the Advisor to the Student Government Association President during his senior year of college. He was a member of the “Spotlighters” drama club and a member of Alpha Psi Omega (a national fraternity for drama). James Edward McCoy and Morlin M. Carlton were married on July 2, 1966 in Marianna, Ark. They are the proud parents of three adult children, James Edward McCoy, Jr., Althea L. McCoy Fulton, and Daven J. McCoy.
In 1966, he moved to Marianna, Ark., for employment. He joined the St. Luke AME Church and immediately went to work as a Trustee, Sunday School Superintendent, Lay Organization President, and church announcer. After 30 years of good and faithful service at Saint Luke and the Lee County School District, James and his family moved to Little Rock, Ark., and joined with Bethel AME Church, NLR, Ark., where he was soon made a Trustee, also serving in the Choir, Men’s Ministry, Organized Lay and Church School Superintendent.
While in Marianna, James served as President of the East Northeast (now East) Conference Lay Organization for 13 years. He attended many of the church’s local, district, conference level, episcopal level, and connectional level conferences and meetings. For the 2016 General Conference, he served as a delegate and as a member of the Episcopal Committee. For the 2020 (2021) General Conference, he was elected as a delegate and appointed to serve again on the Episcopal Committee.
James was first employed in the Marianna School System where he taught the physical and biological sciences. In 1969, he was appointed as Associate Director of the Innovative Individualized Science Instruction Center. In 1975, James was appointed as Principal of Strong Middle School, Marianna, Ark., and he worked as an Administrator for 30 years in Marianna.
He continued his graduate work and in 1971 and received the MS degree in Physical Science from Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn. He received a MSE degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, Ark., in 1978. He and his family moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 1999 and he worked as a science instructor in a program at Metro High School for eight years.
He was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. He served as a Consultant via the State Department of Education for Middle School Principals in the 1980’s. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Math and Science School, Hot Springs, Ark., for two terms. James loved working with students and after 42 years in education, he reluctantly retired in 2008.
He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife of 54 years and nine months, Morlin M. McCoy; three lovely adult children, James E. McCoy, Jr. (Richelle A. Davis McCoy) of Solon, Ohio; Althea L. McCoy Fulton (Vernon Jamal Fulton) of Atlanta, Ga.; and Daven J. McCoy (Amber Booth McCoy); two brothers, Olen McCoy (Patricia) and Samuel K. McCoy; four sisters, Joretha McCoy Cooley, Betty J. Hudson (Leroy), Ellistine McCoy Alfred (Sidney), and Sonya LaJune McCoy Foote (Lavel); three special aunts, Elizabeth McCoy Baker, Christine McCoy Spencer, and Hattie Lavern McCoy Lewis; four grandchildren, Jasmyne E., Jayla E., Kordae, and Vernon Joshua Fulton; two special nieces, Rhonda and Carmen Ridgell, the McCoy nieces and nephews, the Stephens nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives.
Services entrusted to G.W. Hammons & Son Funeral Home, Warren, Ark. Public Viewing and Family Hour will be held on Monday, May 3, 2021, at Bethel AME, North Little Rock, Ark., 72114, from 2-6 p.m. The funeral service will be Tuesday, May 4, 2021, 11 a.m. at Second Baptist Church, 1709 John Barrow Road, Little Rock, Ark., 72204.
LAMAR P. HIGGINS (1959-2021)
Lamar Powell Higgins, passed away on Thursday, April 15, 2021 after extended health issues. He was born July 12, 1959 and grew up in Marbury, Alabama. Preceding him in death are his parents, Jessie & Joe Higgins; his brothers and sisters, Gladys Knox, Joe Louis Higgins, Alphanso Higgins, Alfred Higgins, and Lillian Key. Lamar leaves to mourn his passing; his sisters, Annette Hunigan, Chicago, IL; Phyllis Bergen-Jackson (Travis), San Antonio, Texas; and Jacqulyn H. Rich, Chicago, IL; his brother, Dr. Warren Southall, Flint, MI; and sister-in-law, Mildred Higgins, Great Neck, NY. Lamar also leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends, Mildred Riggins, Margie Caffey, Brenda Kahn and Fine Geddie & Associates.
Lamar was a graduate of Marbury High School and attended Troy University as an academic scholar. He served as Student Government Association President in his junior year, and was reelected SGA President in his senior year. He was a dedicated Trojan and served as Vice President Pro Tempore on the Troy University Board of Trustees for 25 years. He was instrumental in many of the University initiatives during that period, most notably the establishment of the Rosa Parks Museum and John Lewis Hall. He also helped lead the charge for legislation naming Dec. 1 as Rosa Parks Day and for a statute of Rosa Parks and Helen Keller to be placed on the grounds of the state capitol.
Lamar joined the Fob James Gubernatorial Administration as an intern in 1979 and afterwards was appointed as executive assistant on the governor’s staff. He handled every assignment with a work ethic second to none, a “can do” attitude and sheer grit to get the job done on time every time. He later joined the Space and Rocket Center staff and then became Special Assistant to the Mayor of Huntsville.
Huntsville became his second home and he loved the city and its people. He served on Senator Howell Heflin’s staff and later returned to Montgomery to serve as Deputy Director of the Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs, before joining Fine Geddie Governmental Affairs and becoming a partner. Lamar had a genuine love of the governmental and legislative process, and was the “Dean of the African American Lobbyists” in the Statehouse. At his passing, the firm issued a statement… “We all were served well by his wisdom and his perspectives on all issues and life itself ... he always strived to make things better, and Lamar Higgins made us all better along the way.”
Lamar was a community servant and advocate. His devout Christian parents instilled in him principles of hard work and community service. He founded “Twenty Distinguished Young Men” in Huntsville, Alabama, a community service organization nationally recognized for their work with young African American men. NBC’s news program, “TODAY,” spotlighted Lamar and the organization for a program, “Guns For Life,” which took more than 300 guns off the streets of Huntsville and out of the hands of teenagers.
Lamar was an active member of the AME Church. He served as a delegate to the General Conference and the Lay Biennial, and was a member of the Episcopal Committee, the General Board and the General Conference Commission. He was a member of St. Paul AME Church, Montgomery, Alabama, the home church of Mrs. Rosa Parks, where he served as a Steward and Exhorter. Lamar was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.
GERGORY JACOBS (SHOCK G) (1963–2021)
Born Gregory Jacobs on August 23, 1963, Shock G became well known under a different alter ego in 1990, when “The Humpty Dance” shot up the charts. Rapping as Humpty Hump and wearing a large fake nose, Shock G taught the world the dance named after his alter ago: “You got it down when you appear to be in pain.” Digital Underground followed “The Humpty Dance” with “Doowutchalike,” which they had previously released independently but rerecorded for their debut album, Sex Packets.” Later singles included “Same Song,” “Kiss You Back,” and “No Nose Job.” Shock G led Digital Underground until the band’s breakup in 2008.
Tupac Shakur got his start as a guest rapper on Digital Underground’s “Same Song,” and Shock G, also a producer, went on to co-produce his debut album, “2Pacalypse Now.” He also produced Tupac Shakur’s 1993 breakthrough single, “I Get Around,” introducing the legendary rapper to a wide audience. Shock G also produced music for artists including Monie Love, KRS-One, and Bobby Brown. He released the 2004 solo album “Fear of a Mixed Planet.”
