Page B6-The Chronicle. Thursday. June 7. 1984
Focus On Religion
His place in li
By AUDREY L. WILLIAMS
Chronicle Staff Writer
Before the Re\. Dr. Serenus Churn came South to visit
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, he says he first thought there
wouldn't be anything in particular that would convince
him to leave Messiah Baptist Church in Yonkers, N.Y.,
where he had been the pastor for almost 4 9 years.
"Before 1 came to see the church," Churn savs,^^^
once Isaw the church, f tnrcamr
impressed with the quality of life here."
An active community advocate, who served two terms
. as Yonkers NAACP president and as a past second vice
president of the Empire, N.Y., Baptist State Convention,
the 44-year-old minister and the congregation of 1,890
members raised the needed funds and constructed 130
housing units in the city. Churn, who jokingly calls
himself an "agitator," says during his reign as NAACP
president, the first school named after a black man was
due in part to his concern and others to see more youth
identify with Martin Luther King Jr.
Now that Churn has been oastor of 95-vear-old Mt.
Zion Baptist here in Winston since the encj of April (the
installation date is tentative), priorites he has placed at
the top of the list include the church's growth spiritually
and physically, he says.
Once completed, the church complex at the corner of
Ninth and File streets will house recreational facilities, a
chapel, meeting and child care rooms, he says.
Named for the Latin word serene, Churn will replace _
the Rev. Gilbert G. Campbell Jr., who served as Mt.
Zion's pastor for three years.
BE io .m
ioler Metropolitan
I. Fourth St, will
4:30 p.m. at the
t speaker. The Rev.
^araJane_Awe.
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Church Calendar, Focus On Rel
fe is the ministry
Licensed to preach at 15, the Camden, N.J., native had
his first pastorate as assistant to his father, the Rev. Dr.
C.H. Churn, at Union Temple Baptist Church in
Baltimore. Although he comes from a long line of
ministers, his final decison to pursue the ministry was his
own and God's call, he says.
"I believe everyone is born to fulfill a specific function
in life," Churn says, "and 1 believe my place in life is the
?
**t twcanre-convinced of-that at age seven," he says.
"... I'm not sure my lineage has anything to do with my
'7 believe everyone is born to fulfill a specific
function in life and I believe my place in life is
the ministry."
-- the Rev. Dr. Serenus Churn
vocation ... but 1 am convinced that the call of God is real
and urgent."
His wife, Shirley, presently serves as executive
secretary of the Housing Appeal Board in Mt. Vernon,
N.Y., and is also a civil service employee there. They are
the parents of two children, Serenus Jr., 17, who will
~ .
enron ai winston-aaiem state university as a freshman
next fall, and 15-year-old Starling Timothy, who will be a
lOth-grader at Parkland Senior High School.
Still commuting from Yonkers, Churn arrives in
Winston-Salem each weekend and returns to New York
on Tuesdays. The pastor's office is filled with certificates,
plaques, diplomas and other memorabilia of
Church Notes
Guild sponsors tea
The eighth annual Wardlow led the prayer;
"Calendar Tea" sponsored Loleane Williams read the
by the Pulpit and Floral scripture; Kay Smith gave
Guild wa$ held Sunday, the welcome address, and
May 24, in the fellowship Patrice Lowery sang a solo,
hall **of Macedonia True , Smith also won first prize
Vine Pentecostal Holiness for the best decorated table
Church of God Inc. for the month of May. Winnie
White and Barbara
The theme for the occa- Wardlow won second place
sion was "I Can Do All for the best decorated table.
Things Through Christ, The prize for the most
Who Strengthened Me." euests w?nt to Kav Smith
Geraldine Marshall serv- Lolcanc Williams reported
ed as mistress of the most money. Sally
ceremonies; Barbara Bethea is president.
Young Adults hold retreat
The Young Adult Depart- treasurer; Mrs. Phylisa Kelment
of the Women's Bap- ly, president of the Young
tist Home and Foreign Mis- Adult Department, and the
sionary Convention of N.C. Rev. Theodore Breeden,
held its second retreat, superintendent.
Saturday, June 2, at the Mrs. Bronnie Daniels,
J.J. Johnson Baptist state young adult director,
Assembly in Laurel Hill. presented the consultants
Approximately 150 and their topics for class
young men and women sessions. The consultants
from across the state at- and the topics were Dr.
tended the retreat. Priscilla A. Brodie. "Wavs
The retreat was opened to Talk to the Unsaved;"
with devotion by Mrs. Mrs. Julia McDonald,
Sharon Bishop. Mrs. Jewel "Christian Mothers and
Dunn, Mrs. Sarah Mendez Wives Working'^Under
and Mrs. Bronnie Daniels Stress," and Mrs. Colenc
led the praise and song ses- Stanley, "The Effects oi
_ sion. Greetings wear heard Rock arafc. Roll Music or
-from Mrs. Thelma Horton, Our Lives."
Kinchen singers to perform
The James Kinchen Singers Katherine Davis, Randal
will present their second Thompson, James Kincher
concert of the year Friday, and arrangements oi
June 8, at 7:30 p.m. at spirituals by Williarr
Wentz Memorial United Dawson, John Work anc
Church of Christ at 3435 Marshall Bartholomew.
Carver Road.
The choral group is basec
The program will include at the Delta Arts Center anc
music by Palestrina Gib- is directed by James Kin
bons, Jacob French, chen.
Fellowship service to be held
The City of God Prayer son and Evangelist Lewi:
Fellowship at 2201 23rd St., Hunter will lead the service
N.E., will hold fellowship
services beginning Friday, At the 11 a.m. worship
June 8, at 7:30 p.m. service on Sunday, June 9
the Rev. Anna Cartel
Elder Ashley Thompson, Lester will be the gues
Elder Charlie Clemons and sp>eaker and at the 7:3(
Evangelist Barbara Nash p.m. service, the gues
will lead the service. sp>eakers will be Elder Larn
On Saturday, June 8, at Butler, Evangelist Rost
7:30 p.m., Ronnie Nowlin, Pepp>er and Elder Conrac
Evangelist Annette Thomp- Douthit.
1
f.'t
gion
igion, Church Notes, Obituaries f
>r^- \ .
^
The Rev. Serenus Churn says he was not only Im
the quality of life in Winston-Salem (photo by J
Churn's academic accomplishments at Morgan State,
Howard and Drew universities.
"Parting is always sweet sorrow," says Churn. But the
opportunity to become part of a progressive community,
possibly do a little "agitating," and lead an ever-growing
and _jesponsive church helped make leaving Yonken
easier, he says.
"I see Mt. Zion as a real challenge," he says, "... ef
r fJK.
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Delia Shouse
Funerals
Mrs. yl lice Lou i
, Mrs. /4//ce Lou Davis
i Cuthrell
Mrs. Alice Lou Davis
: Cuthrell was born May 6, f gHBty
1884 in Clemmons, North w
u-Carolina ta the late
Carolina Melissa Oliver and
! II ?ipwwiWW? HMHi'i jawtrimi rmi nrmtt
John Anderson Davis. She VI
departed this life May 24,
1984 Forsyth County
Hospital. She was educated
Forsyth and acepted
l Christ at Warners Chapel
f now Capernaum Church of ,
. Christ. She washed to Alice Davis Cuthrell
1 the late George Washington Cuthrell. To this union
born twelve children.
She leaves to cherish fond memories six children: thre<
j daughters, Mrs. Ethel King of Detroit, Mich., Ms. Editl
j Cuthrell of the home, and Mrs. Juanita Brown o
. Mocksville, N. C.; three sons, George Cuthrell of Mid
way, Claude Cuthrell of Welcome, N. C. and Odel
Cuthrell of the city; twenty-seven grandchildren; eighty
six great grandchildren; fifty great, great grandchildren
six daughters-in-law, Mrs. Clara Cuthrell and Mrs. Car;
Cuthrell, both of Detroit, Mich., Mrs. BettyXuthrell o
5 Michigan, Mrs. Barbara Cuthrell of Midway, Mrs. Ber
nice Cuthrell of Welcome, and Mrs. Beulah Cuthrell o
the city; one son-in-law, Mr. Odell Brown of Mocksville
5 N. C.; a brother-in-law, Mr. Charlie Cuthrell of the city
several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of othe
r relatives and friends.
t Gilmore Funeral Directors were in charge of services
)
t Mrs. Julia Shoffner
/ Mrs. Julia Shoffner of 837 N. Jackson Avenue, diet
i Thursday, May 31st, at her residence. She was a nativ
1 of Virginia and had lived in this city for the past seventy
one years. Mrs. Shoffner was a retired employee of th
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pressed by Mt. Zion's progresslveness, but also by
ames Parker).
fective in allowing me to have a creative ministry and be
involved in the community. I have a history of community
involvement. I like the style of living here. It's a good
place to raise a family.
; "I'm also led to believe that the people here (at Mt.
? ?Zion) are very devoted to their church," Churn says,
"and that they are sincerely interested in their communi
ty."
Shouse is honored
Mrs. Delia Shouse was Shouse and her two grandrecently
honored at daughters, Mrs. Patricia
Bethania AME Zion Smith and Constance
Church with plaques from Powell,
the church for her loyal and
dedicated service to the Others attending were
church. Mr. and Mrs. Max Fultz of
Greensboro, Mrs. L.E;
cu . . , Stauber Sr. of Rural Hall,
She was also presented , _ _ _ _ .
... . . c cy the Rev. L.B. Speas, former
with a bouquet of flowers . _ . . wr
" . . . pastor of Bethania AME
, by her great- ^
aa u. v - c " Zion Church, the Rev.
granddaughter, Keia Smith. _ , # _ t .
7 -r n 11 .u Robert Bailey, pastor of
LaTonia Powell, another _ ...
/ . . . . Bethlehem AME Zion
great-granddaughter, , . . _ ...
... u Church and the Rev. L.V.
recited a poem. Mrs. . . ^ _
ou , Lassiter, pastor of Grace
Shouse s son, William _ . . .
_ . Presbyterian Church. 4
Eugene, sang a solo, accompanied
on the organ by
his sister, Evelyn. Mrs. Remarks were given by
Bessie Philson also the pastor of Bethania, the
presented her sister with a Rev. Bobby Smith, and
gift. Mrs. Macie B. Shore, who
coordinated the program.
Family and friends attending
the celebration in Mrs. A reception followed in
Shouse's honor were her the lower auditoruim of the
_ daughter-in-law, Emma church.
Davis Cuthrell passes
R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and was of the Baptist
faith. Surviving are a daughter, Mr. Adrinna Dansby, of
the home; and other relatives.
Funeral Services were conducted Tuesday, June 5th at
4:30 P.M. at the Gospel Tabernacle Holiness Church.
MntCrnmCITt followed in the P^rtrrrntTt r.a.vU.t,
w <
f Hooper Funeral Directors were in charge of services.
County
f School System. Mr. Jordan ^^H
was a veteran of the U.S. A I
1 Armed Forces. He was a HH HI
- member of B.T.U. and Robert Jordan
; former recording technician for radio broadcasts. He
a leaves to cherish his memory a wife, Mrs. Shirley Wesley
f Jordan; of the home; two sons, Therman Andrew and
- Stephan Anderson Jordan; one daughter, Miss Angel Lee
f Jordan; one foster daughter, Miss Katrina Smith; one
\ grandson, John Coleman and one foster grandson,
; Kedrick Lamont Smith, all of Winston-Salem; one sister,
r Mrs. Mary E. Willis, Winston-Salem; two brothers,
Johnnie Jordan, Bridgeport, Conn, amd George Jordan,
Winston-Salem; his mother-in-law, lMrs. Mary Fields;
J L. - ? I *. * ^ ? ...
unc uaugmer-in-iaw, ivirs. ueooran Jordan and two
brothers-in-law, Paul France and Billy Ray Wesley, all of
^ Winston-Salem and other relatives. Funeral services will
e be 5 p.m. Thursday at St. Stephens Baptist Church.
e Please see page B8