Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 30, 1982, edition 1 / Page 7
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* I Chronicle Profile Former Priso By Edward Hill Jr. '4 Staff Writer At the ripe age of 22, Matthew Davis had nearly everything going his way. He was a student in college, he was married and he held a comfortable job. But life sometimes has a way of being unkind to us, .and Davis became a victim of life's unpredictability. It all began, Davis said, with a business deal that fell through. He was then forced to drop out of i school. And finallv. his marriaop hrnlfp nn Uov.ir>r, , ?c>- "K ?vwi'lfc I; him disillusioned. 441 was so confused and disoriented over my personal life that I got involved'in the drug scene,"* Davis confessed. "One thing led to another and then 1 robbed a bank." Davis was convicted and sentenced to 15 years^at Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. In reflecting on the experience of being incarcerated, Davis surprisingly sees it as a blessing. "At the sentencing, the judge told me that he hated < # I; doing it because of my strong family ties (his father is a minister) and by virtue of the fact that I had shown that I was a responsible person," said Davis. "But he said it was the law and he had no other choice. "Many people would have been depressed but it was actually one of the best things that could have happened to me. I needed time to get my life together ; i * ? . I I ' : \ ' 4 i | \ ' : ; I " %1 u |Hk9K *' :?m^M fd\ 5 9 *IP - _ fl Byj^BBi^^^^^iKT^J P^M H wB P^BI Detroit City Council Erma Henderson waves to the Budwelser Clydesdle wagon. Mrs. Henderson rode i nationally televised Thanksgiving Day parade throu< NCNW Hosts Christ! On Wednesday, Dec. 22, Masonic Temple on 14th mc the National Council of Street. ha Negro Women, Winston- The Council distributed me Salem Section, hosted a bags of groceries, clothes Christmas Cheer party for and refreshments. The wh families in the community, children selected a toy of of This event was held at the their choice. Family Ms Baker Returns From Navy data systems During the six-month fro ^ technician 2nd Class deployment, the ship era Michael S. Baker, son of operated as the flagship of for Anne C. Baker of Winston- Mediterranean Amphibious sio Salem, has returned from a Ready Group 2-82, which Be: deployment to the Mediter- landed the U.S. Marine ranean Sea. contingent of the multi- we Baker is a crewmember national peacekeeping force Un aboard the amphibious in Lebanon. The ship par- Co assault ship USS Guam, ticipated in the successful Co homeported in Norfolk, evacuations of American for Va. citizens and PLO members pej Club News Along The Garden Path The Along the Garden report of Holiday House m? Path Garden Club held its Tour tickets was made. na December dinner meeting at Each member received a Fc Club Les Arbes with Mrs. 1983 calendar and the H{ Evelyn Thompson as "Talk and Tattler Newslet- Jo hostess. ter' was distributed to Lo A brief devotional period subscribers. Mi included Scripture reading, Dr. G.A. Hall gave the Mi C? K1#?ccino anH u H#?1irir*iic Hin_ w. \ji ay*,i wi ji. i iauv.13 ui ^.>e u?u ? uvnv>v>uj IVI i Assisi, and Christmas songs ner was enjoyed by all. _ led by the hostess, with After dinner members en Mrs. Elsie Foy at the piano, joyed games, exchanging I ' Mrs.ivey Nelle McDaniel gifts and greeting cards. I was welcomed as a new Other members present at A member by the club Presi- the meeting were: Mrs dent Mrs. E.S. Banner. A Roberta Cook, Mrs. Em. iier Put Time To and think things out. Being in prison afforded me that opportunity." Davis spent his time in prison taking college courses in psychology, sociology, art and music through a prison college program. He learned to play the piano as well as read and write music. He eventually obtained a harhplnr'c m w VV ill political science from Mercer College and also played "Many people would have been depressed but it was actually one of the best things that could have happened to me. I needed time to get my life together and Think things out. Being in prison afforded me that opportunity. " ? Matthew Davis and sang in gospel bands. Despite such judicious use of his time, however, Davis conceded that prison life was no picnic. "Basically, life in the institution is a wild and perverted one," he said emphatically. ?I would say that a majority of the people who are there use their time to sharpen their skills on the things that got them there in the first place. "I was trying to utilize my time as much as I could. BIMHHHH^nPHB^WPPWVP crowds from high atop her perch aboard the I atop the famous hitch during Detroit's recent gh downtown. * mas Party :mbers were made very chairperson and Dr. ppy, knowing that so- Manderline Scales is presi:one really cared. dent of the Council. This is an annual event The regular Council lich the National Council meeting will be held at -7 Negro Women sponsors, p.m., Jan. 11, at Shiloh >. Mabel Johnson is Baptist Church. Deployment im Beirut. The ship's air- American dignitaries ift were used extensively such as Secretary of shuttle diplomacy mis- Defense Casper Weinberger ns between Tal Aviv and and Special U.S. Envoy irut. Philip Habib were aboard The Guam crewmembers the ship for briefings on re presented trie Navy Beirut proceedings, lit Commendation by the The Guam is 602 feet mmandant of the Marine long and carries a crew of rps, Gen. Robert Barrow 609, with accomodations their participation in the for an additional 1,700 icekeeping efforts. combat ready troops. i Qub Holds Meeting iline Goodwin, Mrs. Ver- Eliza Williams and Mrs. Grier, Mrs. Creola Savilla Wilson. >ote, Mrs. Louise Visitors at the meeting inimilton, Mrs. Julia eluded Mrs. Elsie Foy, Mrs. hnson, Mrs. Eunice Inez Simms and Dr. G.A. ?ng, Dr. Lillian Lewis, Hall. r?. Mrfl^nnnn i iic v^nnsimas spiru wnn | rs. Catherine McLean, Along the Garden Path had I rs. Ruth Shoaf, Mrs. already begun. r1 BUILDING ON w.JYOUR ROOTS I The Good Use That's why I started taking courses and getting involved in music and things that would stimulate me and nrpnnrp mf? fr?r rhp rvntciH** " ! V ,<.V i VI tilV VUIOIUV ? V/l IU . , Because of his industriousness during his prison stay, Davis was paroled after only two years, something he feels borders on the unbelievable. "Normally when you get 15 years, you have to do at least five," he said. "But because of my family support and the positive things, I did while 1 was incarcerated, I was able to get out sooner." Although he had prepared himself for the outside world, Davis said it still took him two years to adjust once he was released. He said his biggest adjustment was avoiding the temptation of getting involved with the same people he associated with before his incarceration. * ^ Now that he said he is over the "adjustment period," Davis said he is trying to. chart a positive course in life. He has enrolled at Winston-Salem State University, where he will pursue a degree in computer science: He is also cpmposingmusic. But the activity that is of greatest interest to Davis is his involvement with Freedom Road Association, a newly formed organization designed to help youthful offenders through the penal system. . "It is my feeling that society should take more of a responsibility when 16- or, 17-year-olds get their first offense," said Davis, who has two sons of his own., , . See Page 11 HAIR [> RAVES 1 The Ultimate In Hair Care <4| 333 POLO ROAD 724-1024 (Photo by Ja FEATURING ALL FA( ,mum i r*"-] PERIV BLOW-DI ..4\Q PRE-INVENTOF STORM were S A $mq QQ U Mm SAVE $60.00 o CROSSBUCK AND FULL 30" AND 36" SIZES. BROWI SOME SIZES AND CO SHOP EARLY FOR E We sell first quality and discontinued merchandise Irom S items were formerly ottered by Catalog or in many Sears I QUANTITIES AND ASSORTMENT! EBE Chronicle, Thursday, December 30, 1982-Page 7 BP w Iww k o^ JMBbPP I 3^bL ^yfl H^uj^Pfi! I ? mm V fWE/l^^^^mB^^Ek I ; '^w ippVTBtial Ks2v i T9 BT ^R Matthew Davis made good us? of his time in I prison. Incarcerated in Atlanta Federal Penitentiary for a bank robbery conviction, Davis earned his B.A. degree and also learn- I ed to play the piano and read and compose music (photo by James Parker). 1MB wm zl iiHS ^ flp t: Edith Williams, Babette Scales and Vicki Thomas. imes Thomas) :ets of hair styling i lAHEfffS" "H COLOR 1 I W STYLING 1 I ?J AT THE PARKVIEW SHOPPING CENTER /Vinston-Salem, N.C. 5 Points Rts. 311 & 150 Reynolds Park Road IY CLEARANCE DOOR s U99 N AN ASSORTMENT OF .VIEW STORM DOORS. N, BLACK OR MILL FINISH. LORS ARE LIMITED IEST SELECTION! ears. ' IVas " prices are the regular prices at which the detail stores around the country. > ARE LIMITED. SO HURRY IN! PARKVIEW OPEN: , I SHOPPING MON-WED 9 30-^30 ^ I CENTER THURS-FRI 9.30-9 00 winston-Salem, n.c. SAT 9:30*5:30 9
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 30, 1982, edition 1
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