THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
Published each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOLUME 24 NUMBER 50 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11,1997 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
50th Anniversary Celebration
planned for Rev. and Mrs.
Coolidge M.Cummings
The children of Rev. Coolidge M. and Vanice L. Cummlngs request your
presence at the celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary on Saturday,
December 27 at 3:00 p.m. at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. No
invitations will be sent but family and friends are invited.
Bright Ideas " Grants Awarded
To Robeson County Educators
- /.?mAt?rtfl?-"Brighl Ideas" Grants
arc just that?bright ideas proposed by
local teachers to enhance the learning
experience in their classrooms.
This year Lumbcc River EMC
awarded grants iotaling$ l(M>95.00 to
, teams of teachers al I ^ schools in the
..fourxounty area Lumbcc Riser EMC
serves. Si,\ty five applications were
received, and winners included six
teachers front Cumberland County
Schools, seven front the Public Schools
of Robeson County. and one educator
from Hoke County. The grants involve
31 teachers and 3.208 students
in a v ariety of educational projects.
The most recent round of grants
was the fourth year Lunibcc Riser
EMC has participated in the program
which was launched by North
Carolina's electric co-ops in ilW4. The
funds go to North Carolina teachers
serving grades K-12
Checks were presented to Robeson
Counts Educators at a prcscntat on at
the Public Schools of Robeson Cc jnts
Board of Education in Lumbcrton on
November 20 with Interim Superintendent
Barry Harding, the school
principals and the winning teachers
participating. Thcchcck presentations
were made by Proctor Locklcar. Jr..
President of the Board of Directors of
Lumbcc River EMC. and board member
Ruth Oxendinc
The seven teachers from the Public
Schools of Robeson County arc:
Adrienne Pal ma. Tanglcwood Elementary
School: Anne McGirt. Fairmont
High School: Melissa Oxendine.
Union Chapel Elementary
School . Rene W. Pamcll. Long Branch
Elementary School: Kay Bradshcr.
Rowland Middle School: Carolyn B
Dccsc. Prospect Elementary School
and Katltv Dae Locklcar South Robeson
High School.
The "Bright Ideas" Grant Program
hclpstcachcrshclptlicmsclvcsby funding
innovative and creative leaching
proposals in a variety of disciplines,
including math, science, the social
seicnccs and reading. "This is the kind
of commit ni ty project co-ops I ike Lumbcc
River EMC hate been involved in
since their beginnings in the 1940s."
said Ronnie E. Hunt. General Manager.
"We mean it when we say that we
arc committed to the communities we
serve. Congratulations loall the teachers.
students and schools involved in
this year's Bright Ideas' Program.
We're already looking forward to next
year." '
Mr. Johnny Hunt, Principal of Prospect School is shon-n ivith Mrs.
Carolyn Deese, teacher.
Recieves National Awards
Lumberton, NC,- The Robeson
County Association of Life Underwriters
recently held their annual award
banquet at the Outwcst Steak House.
The National Sales Achievement
Award which was created in 1966 and
recognizes an agent's ability in client
building and representation was presented
to Curtis H. Allen Jr., LUTCF,
I year, Jerry Lynn Stephens, LUTCF 3
years, Leroy l.ocklcar, 9 years, William
W. Britt Sr., LUTCF 11 Years,
and Milton Gene Hall, CLU, CHFC 29
years.
The National Multiline Sales
Achievement Award which recognizes
an agent's ability to provide clients
with a wide range of insurance products
from property/casualty to life and
health insurance was presented to Jo1
scph Matthew Adams I Year.
The National Quality Award which
was created in 1944 and recognizes an
agent ability to provide long-standing
insurance products and service to clients
was presented to Joseph J. White
Jr., 9 Years and to Milton Ciene Hall,
22 Years.
The Educational Achievement
LUTCF designees were Daniel E. Cook
and Kenneth M. Spencer.
Mary Dawn Bass of Port-A-Medic
was the guest speaker delivering a
message on "Time Management".
The Robeson County Association
of Life Underwriters was fouhded in
1959 and has 61 members. It's mission
is to enhance professional skill and
ethical conduct of those providing life
and health insurance and related financial
products and services.
RuthLocklear Revels, Executive Director of GNAA
honored by Board and Staff as she nears retirement
Mrs. Ruth Locklcar Revels has
served as Executive Director for the
Guilford Native American Association
for twenty years. Recently she
announced her plans to retire. The
Board of Directors and the Staff of
GNAA dedicated the 21st Annual
Native American Pow Wow to her.
The dedication was made to recognize
her efforts and endless dedication to
I ndian people throughout North Carolina
and bocausc she is an outstanding
role model for Indian youth. She will
retired in June. 1998. The dedication
read as follows:
Guilford Native American
Association's Twenty -First Pow Wow
and Celebration w as dedicated to Ms.
Revelsfor her work in Guilford County,
in North Carolina and across the
United States. This Celebration fits
hc^philosophy and her beliefs. For
more than twenty years. Ruth has
sought out ways to make life more
pleasant for others especially the elders
and the children She worked
tirelessly and stood fast for principle.
D 1. _
It is toward this ideals that she has
modeled her life. And this in time has
given her heart to others. It is a legacy
that she is passing on to the leaders of
this community Her vision and leadership
has been crucial to our mission.
Her vision must continually guide efforts.
As we take the torch " Passing on
our Ancestral WaysToOurChildrcn.
we will pass it on to others, always
remembering Ms. Revels' commitment
to "Our Future: Our Future".
Shewasbornin 1936. in Pembroke
North Carolina on her Grandfather's
tobacco farm. Her home was next to
her grandparent's home. She spent
most of her time listening to her
Grandmother's stories. It was during
these times spent with her Grandmother
that her gift for passionate
story telling and w riting w as nurtured.
Ms. Revels has used these gifts to seek
justice for Indian people. She realizes
the power of words and stories, and
the iowcr of transformation.
She has helped to w rite a new story
for the children be establishing a day
care at the Center and providing opportunities
for them to establishing a
firm identify through music and dance.
as well as visual arts. There arc
other stories thai support Indian pride
and identity as well as economic development:
GuilfordNalivc Industries.
House of Kcyauwcc. Southern Native
American Furniture Accessories and
the Guilford Native American Art
Gallery. These progra ms w ere fou nded
under her able and committed directions
and leadership
A driving force in the larger community
of Guilford County. Ms. Revels
has often provided an Indian presence
in the arts, humans services in
ii A t
eluding health care the education, civic
and faith communities, economic dcvelopmentand
just any place she could
influence the thinking of the leadership
to include the needs and concerns
of Indian families. The importance of
the larger community understanding,
respecting and responding appropriately
to the cultural and phy sical needs
of the children and their families had
been a major focus of her work.
Her formal education includes a
B.A. Degree in English Education
from Pembroke State University She
taught English for sixteen years before
serving as the executive director
of Guilford Native American Association.
The words of a former student.
Mayor Pat McCrory. mayor of the city
of Charlotte, sums up Ms. Revels'
impact on the lives of youth. " Ms.
Rcvcls's impact on the lives of youth.
" Ms. Revels made a mark on my life
as my drama teacher that has had a
positive influence on all that I do"
Ms. Revels' achiev ements and rewards
arc measured in the sounds of
happiness in the day care center, the
number of Indian graduates from
Guilford County Schools, the pride of
the faces of elders as they participate
in the activities at the Center, the
improved economic status of families,
the spirituality and faith of Indian
people in the Triad Native American
United Methodist Church and her involvement
in defining what it means
to be Indian in today 's world.
Ms. Revels is married to W. Lonnic
Revels, Sr. and is the mother of two
adult children. Bill and Jennifer. She
has four grandchildren. Harrison and
Corbin Revels and Courtney and Rcid
Baxter. Her daughter-in-law is Kelly
WW W
Revels and her son-in-law is Scott
Baxter A wife mother, grandmother
.mother-in-law, she now longs for
more time to enjoy being "these" than
anything else
This Celebration was not just
memories of the past, but hope and
confidence for the future. What happens
to the children is what we do with
the legacy that Ms. Revels has given
us- an unselfish virtue of service and
many hours of work throughout the
day and many nights!
by Rose Revels Windfree
Mvtmcmoeringine /uuauin Lamp
by Ronald Lowery Virginia
Beach, VA
I have held on lo some or (he
memorabilia, which was nccessar) to
sustain a livelihood and some quality
of life in rural Robeson County before
and during World War II. I have the
iron kettlewhich was part of our hot
water heating system, the milk churn
which converted raw milk into butter
and buttermilk, and the 2-man crosscut
saw which converted trees into
wood for the heating and cooking
sy stems. When visited other siblings I
have seen other memorabilia display
in their homes, which was used on the
family farm. Brother Marvin has the
family Bible and sausage mill. Brother
Curliss has the fertilizer distributor,
and Brother Tolbcrt has the black
trunk and mantel clock We all have
memories associated with these keepsakes.
My memory goes back to the beginning
of the 19.10's. a period in our
country's history which was later designated
as" The Great Depression of
the 30's". Nobody in our family lost
any money or jobs due to the financial
breakdown in the economy. We had
no money to invest and our jobs due to
the remained available as the result of
being in the family farming business.
Having noclcctricity our lighting sy stem
was dependent on kerosene plus
the light we received from a wood
burning fireplace during the cold
months of the year. 1 began public
school in the fall of 1932 and we
advanced from the'kerosene wicktypc
to the aladdin lamp, another one
of my keepsakes. This lighting system
was a much improved one and beneficial
to preserv ing the ey e sights of 3 of
the children who were attending the
public school system in Robeson
county. - -- ??
.? 3r
1 hav e retained possession of this
aladdin lamp, which ceased producing
our light shortly after World War
ii ended and when wc got electricity.;
It is an aladdin lamp colonial mantle
lamp having a distinctive hand blown
amber glass lamp base. Wc did not use
the lamp shade, because the uncovered
lamp chimney would emit more
light into a room front the lox-on
mantle. The lamp generated lots or
heat, which was welcome during the
cold months Wc kept some distance
from our source of light during the
summer months. Wc only had one
lamp, and it usually sat in the ccntcrof
the dining room table, which served
as our stud} area after the food and
related equipment were moved into
the kitchen. Our aladdin lamp was a
very energy cfTicicnt operation, and
was designed to burn SO hours on one
gallon of kerosene. One gallon of
kerosene would run our lighting system
for 12 days to 2 weeks, and we
bought kerosene in a one gallon can
when needed The first errand I was
entrusted to do was walking the approximately
one mile up the railroad
track Pembroke to buy kerosene from The
Pate Supply Company's store. I
have used a large home-grown tyish
potato pushed down on the spout of
the kerosene can to prevent any sloshing
on the return trip. During the
1930's The Pates Supply Company
would allow us to use the barter sy stem
of exchange. We w ould exchange
eggs and chicken for merchandise,
and I have bartered a basketful of eggs
for one gallon of kerosene, matches,
cheese and bologna.
Brother Murril and his wife Jean
left their home in Indiana to spend
some 12 days on the coast of North
Carolina after Labor Day. They spent
some time in Virginia Beach and vis-.
iled with us. Since he is 2 years. 9
months. 2 weeks, and 5 day older than
me. I interrogated him about the early
lighting system while growing up in
Robeson County He wasn't sure of the
year w c advanced from the w ick-kerosene
type lamp to. the aladdin lamp
He did remember doing his homeworkaround
the dining room table by
the light from the aladdin lamp while
attending Pembroke Graded School
A common occurrence we booth remembered
was when the wick was
turned up loo high, the mantle became
blackened portion. I have heard that
another way to correct this problem is
to sprinkle a little salt down the chimney
and the mantle cleans itself The
aladdin lamp is still operational, and
a good stand-by to use when coastal
storms knock out ourelcctrical pow er
Learn To Tutor
Adults To Read
The Robeson County Church and
Community Center is offering (at no
charge) a 4 day workshop to tram and
certify Laubach Literacy VolunteerTutors
to teach adults to read. The workshops
will be held on January 20, 22,
27, and 29,1998 from 6-9 PM. All four
sessions are needed for the certification.
The workshops will be given by
Literacy Council of the Robeson
County Church and Community Center.
For more information or to register
call 738-5204 weekdays between 9
A.M. and 5 P.M.
"No Room At The
Inn " to be presented
PcmbrokeFirst BaptistChurch will
be presenting the Christmas play, "no
Room At The Inn" on Sunday. December
21 at 6:00 P.M.. The pastor.
Rev. Kent Chavis, and the congregation
extend a cordial invitation to the
public to attend.
Pembroke Fire
Dept. to host fund
raising event
The Pembroke City Fire Department
is having a special fund drive
for the next several weeks in cooperation
with Community Support Services.
Families will be contacted b\
phone and asked to make a pledge.
Each family that pledges receives a
beautiful 10x13 Canvas Mount Portrait.
complimcnlsofthcFirc Department.
Procccdsarcbcinguscdtooquip
a first response vehicle. For any additional
information call 1-800-2532638.
Thc\ appreciate vour past support
and look forward to .your help
this year
Free Poetry Contest
If you have written a poem, listen
up. The New York Poetry Alliance is
sponsoring a free poetry contest, open
to everyone. There are 28 prizes in all,
with a S 1,000.00 cash pnze going to
the winner.
"We award $25,000.00 in prizes
annually,"'says Contest Director Dr.
John Cusack. "This is our most exciting
contest to date. We expect our
contest to effect exciting discoveries."
A winner's list will be sent to all
entrants. The deadline for entering is
December 30, 1997.
To enter, send poem with 21 lines
or less to:
New York Foetry Alliance
Box ISSS
New York, NY 10116-1588.
Brother Curliss Lowerv is shmvn behind the Fertilizer Distributor in
front of his home in Georgia shortly btforb leaving to hand over his youngest
son in marriage tvearing his tuxedo.
Gospel film available
for local churches
The film "The Shroud" is available
to be shown at your church by
request Also .available on the 16mm
film is "Daniel in the Lion's Den."
For further information call 5218928
/" \
Santa Claus is
Coming!
Santa Claus will be at lite Pembroke
Public Library on December
17, 1997 from 4 to 5 15 pm
y Stories and treat for all! j
Ronald I. oh fry is shown listening to somefeatures Iteing pointed out By
his brother Murrill concerning the Aladdin Lamb.
Say Vou Read It In The Carolina Indian
Voiee. To Subscribe Call 521-2826.