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Page B8-The Chronicle, Thursday, February 23. 1
Focus On Religion
Mitchell prefers
By AUDREY WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff Writer
Inside a barbershop, where oldei men gather to talk
about when the> were voung. and the vounger ones
gather to talk about when thev get older, four-letter
words are likelv to be heard, as well.'as talk of women,
wine and song.
The Rev. John O. Mitchell, a barber at the Delight
Barber Shop on Liberty Street, would rather it stav that
way.
"1 am me," he says, "and 1 don't want to be treated in
a special way. I like respect, but people are going to be
people and I don't expect them to conform to my beliefs.
There was a time in my life when 1 wasn't exactly considered
a saint."
Mitchell, who has been in the ministry four years, says
he would rather be referred to as an evangelist because he
claims no particular denomination, heads no church and
carries the gospel wherever it leads*___ _.
Amid the* R&B music station tj^ft can be heard in the
distant, Mitchell, 31, a husband and father of a 14-yearold
daughter, shifts his attention away from the appointments
ahead and talks about his work as an evangelist.
"Going into the ministry wasn't something I desired
myself/' he says. "It was a divine call and I was obedient.
I've always been a believer because I was brought
up in the Holiness Church.
"But I'm not concerned with denominations now and 1
don't claim one because it has caused so much division in
the body of Christ," says the Winston-Salem native.
44I'm only concerned with what God wants me to do."
Church Notes
Men's Day held
The men of Hanes Memorial Christian Methodist
Episcopal Church at 819 Highland Avenue will celebrate
its annual Men's Day observance beginning Saturday,
Feb. 25.
On Saturday, the men of the church will sponsor a
prayer breakfast at 8 a.m. followed by a Men's Day service
at 9:30 a.m. Warren J. Smith will be the speaker.
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Council, is a native of Winston-Salem and he and his wife
Georgia, have three children. He is also a Sunday school
teacher, chairman of Steward Board No. 3, a member of
the Board of Christian Education, the Commission on
Membership and Evangelism, treasurer of the Chancel
Choir and numerous other church organizations.
George Evans Jr. will be the worship leader for Saturday's
service, with Hazel McGriff and Charles Baucum
leading the prayer and scripture. John S. Hampton and
Frank McKissick will lead a special segment on the meaning
of prayer. Guest soloist will be Robert Tate.
Chairpersons for Saturday's service will be Charles
Patrick, Baucum and Evans.
m^4y FEBRUARY 25 I
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i working in field
Mitchell sa\s alter he received the calling to entet the
ministry, he became one of five associate pastors at
Phillips Chapel Baptist Church on Patterson Avenue.
"I was just there," he says, "and 1 was there for only a
shor t time. But I knew that God had a more forceful purpose
for me, and 1 knew it was God's will for rne to work
in the field."
He's had offers to join other churches as pastor or
associate pastor, but he says that along with the final
decision being left up to God he has no desire to become a
"stationary minister."
"I'm very happs with my choice," says Mitchell, "and
I like traveling to other churches. But the only wa> I
would pastor at another church would be through ,the
spirit of the,Lord."
Mitchell, who says the barbering business seems more
like semi-retirement because of the not-so"-strenous work,
also sees it as an outlet to helping others. But, he says, of
_iheL many customers he encounters throughout the day,
* 90 percent of them aren't aware of his active role in the
ministry.
"I don't broadcast it," he says. "I would rather for the
way I live speak for me instead of using words to let people
know who 1 am."
It's hard to pick Mitchell out from the rest of the other
barbers he works with daily, and he says that's one of the
added conveniences of helping others who might not
otherwise seek advice or encouragement while sitting in
the barber chair.
"Barbering gives me a great opportunity to meet, greet
and minister the word of God to different individuals
EH
* < ,.,
__
Warren J. Smith
At the Sunday morning worship service, the Rev.
George Oliver Bell, Jr., will be the guest speaker. Bell is
pastor of Reynolds Temple CME Church. He is a native
of Burlington, N.J. and studied at Lincoln University in
Oxford, Pa. and the School of Religion at Temple
University. While serving in the United States Air Force
in England, Bell studied philosophy and child psychology
at Oxford University. After returning to the states, he
began a teaching career and also worked in his family's
mortuary business. In 1960, Bell began his ministry in
Wilmington, Del., under the leadership of the late Bishop
George F. Brown at Bethel AME Church. Fie also served
as associate pastor' of Holsey CME Church in
Philadelphia, Pa., as well as several other CME churches
and civic organizations in the northeast. Bell is married to
Barbara Easley.
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Cousin speaks at service
The Rev. Phillip R. Cousin, bishop of the Ninth
Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal
Church in Alabama and president of the National Council
of Churches will be the guest speaker Sunday, Feb. 26
Please see page B10
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Being a bafber and a traveling evangelist is secoi
James Parker).
without them knowing that I'm a minister," he says.
"That way, people are themselves. ?
"The public really tells his barber things that he;
wouldn't tell his close friends or family," Mitchell says,
"and my ability to give them the word Pf God and enBenson
is featured
Donald Benson will be the guest speaker for the Men's
Day service at Cleveland Avenue Christian Church at 945
N. Cleveland Avenue, Sunday, Feb. 26. at the morning
worship service.
Benson, assistant to the chancellor of student affairs at
Winston-Salem State University and former dean of men,
is a native of Winston-Salem and attended the public
schools here.
He is also a graduate of WSSU and the University of
North Carolina at Greensboro, where he recieved his
In a church news item titled, "Officers installed," in
the Feb. 16 issue of the Chronicle, we inadvertently omitted
Miss Naomi C. McLean as one of the officers installed
at Wentz Memorial United Church of Christ. McLean
is director-pianist of the Inspirational Choir. The Chronicle
regrets the error.
Funerals
i
Funeral services h
Mr. Charles William Knox
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of 3714 Carver School Rd., were held Feb. 9, at
2:00 p.m. in First Baptist Church with Dr. David R.
Hedgley officiating. The body remained in the
Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home until 1:00
p.m., at which time it was placed in state in the
church until the funeral hour.
Interment followed in the Gardens of Memory.
Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home in charge of services.
Mr. Eliza Matthews Little
Funeral services for Mrs. Eliza Matthews Little, of
200 AVheeler St., were held Fe. 11, 1984 at 3:00 in
Goler Metropolitan AME Zion Church with Rev,
Jerry A. Quick officiating. The body remained in
Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral "Home until 1:00
p.m., at which time it was placed in state in the
church until the funeral hour.
Interment followed in the Cedar Hill AME Zion
Church Cemetery in Yadkin Coynty.
Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home in charge of services
Mrs. Mary W. Williams
Funeral services for Mrs. Mary W. Williams, of
1415 Oak St., were held Feb. 14 at 4:00 p.m. in
New Bethel Baptist Church with Dr. Jerry
Drayton officiating. The body remained in Clark
S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home until 3:00 p.m., at
which time it was placed in state in the church
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Interment followed in the Evergreen
Cemetery.
Clark S. Brown <&. Sons Funeral Home in charge of services.
Mr. Daniel Webster Cuthrell
Mr. Daniel Webster Cuthrell, of 3015Vi Glenn
Ave.,xdied at his home Feb. 13. The body remained
at Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home. He
was a native of Mocksville, N.C. and has lived in
this city for the past seven years. He was a construction
worker and was of the Baptist faith.
Surviving relatives are four sisters, Mrs.
Mildred Lyons of this city, Mrs. Madiliene Eaton,
Mrs. Harriett Richmond, Mrs. Lelia Lawrence all
of Mocksville, N.C.; one uncle, three aunts and
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rid nature to the Rev. John O. Mitchell (photo by
-eouragement is part of the gospel."
The last chair in the back, on the right belongs to Mitchell
and there, he says, he waits for customers to come in
who are not only in need of good grooming, but good
words of encouragement from the gospel.
?
master's. Benson also studied at Wayne State University,
Bennett College and the American Management
Associate Institute in Chicago, 111.
He is a member of Mount Pleasant Baptist Church,
where he serves as a Sunday School teacher, assistant
superintendant of the Sunday School, a member of the
Young Adult Choir and the Usher Board.
Benson and his wife have a four-year-old daughter. *?
Church hosts Assembly
New Faith Chapel Holiness Church at 1419
Waughtown Street will hold its Quarterly Assembly Sunday,
Feb. 26 through March 4, with services beginning
7:30 p.m. nightly.
The Rev. Frederick L. Gilbert, associate minister of
Tiredstone Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus,
Ohio, will be the guest speaker for the assembly. Gilbert,
a native of Tampa, Fla., is a student at Eastern Union Bible
College, which is affiliated with the Eastern Union
District of the Ohio State Baptist General Convention.
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other relatives and friends.
Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral Home in charge of services.
Mr. Fred Douglas
Mr. Fred Douglas, of Hamlet, N.C., died Feb. 15.
He was the father of Mrs. Margie Bohannon, of
2311 Gerald St., in this city. Funeral services were
held Feb. 18, at 3:00 p.m. in the St. Stephens AME
Zion church in Hamlet, N.C.. The body remained
in the Nelson Funeral Home in Hamlet, N.C.
This is a courtesy of Clark S. Brown & Sons Funeral
Home.
Mr. Thomas E. Brown
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died Feb. 17 in Atlanta, Ga.
Surviving* relatives are one sister, Mrs.
Elizabeth Lewis of this city; one brother, Mr.
Wendell Brown of this city; two sisters-in-law and
other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Feb. 21 at 2:30
p.m. in ; Atlanta Ga. Sellers Brothers Funeral
Home in charge of services.
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Home.
Mr. Lonnie Odell Neely
Mr. Lonnie Odell Neely, of 811 Moravia Street
died Feb. 12 at Forsyth Memorial Hospital. He
was bom in Rowan County and had lived here
for approximately 65 years. He was a faithful
member of Christ Rescue Temple Holiness
Church and a retired employee of R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Company.
Surviving relatives are his wife, Mrs. Mary Neely
of Pellcare Nursing Home; one sister, Mrs.
Pearl Rhindhart of High Point; one niece, Mrs.
Christine Thompson; one nephew, Mr. Willie
Thompson, both of the home; one aunt, Mrs.
Mary Stinson of the city; one sister-in-law and
other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were conducted Feb. 16, at
4:00 p.m. at Christ Rescue Temple Holiness
Church with Bishop Willie Davis Jr. officiating.
Interment followed in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Johnson's Home of Memory Funeral Directors in
charge of all services.