Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Feb. 2, 1995, edition 1 / Page 38
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J ? i -pe.+i m j/\ <Z- K i e.v vr\ e. rvh Life Achievers: Paving the Way for Future Generations ? Guardian of Justice Called "a slave for all people' Velma Hopkins has been on the fore front for equal rights practically all her life. She worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company for 20 years before being "released from employ ment." One day while at the Reynolds plant where she worked with :he thick smoke and S.10 an hour wages she decided enough is enough. r i J Velma Hopkins Those who remember the event said Hopkins pulled the switch and told management they (blacks) were not working anymore until working conditions were improved. She led numerous black workers out of the plant, leaving behind their jobs to prove to Reynolds manage ment they were serious. From that act. Hopkins formed the United Tobacco Workers Local 22 and her efforts secured a contract with the company that included new wage rates, a grievance procedure, paid vacationT profit sharing and dues check-off. A true community activist. Hopkins enrolled the first black stu dent at the all-white Reynolds High School during the 1950 s. She forced - an all white children's center for the handicapped to take its first black child and fought to keep the only black nursing home open. She was also in the forefront of helping to maintain Reynolds Health Center as a medical facility. Hopkins organized the first voter registration drive for blacks in Winston -Salem and was instrumental in getting the first black alderman. Dr. Kenneth Williams, elected to office. To add to her credits Hopkins also formed the committee for the first Black Easter Sunrise Service in the city, held at Evergreen Cemetery in 1957. The 'service was held for people to pay tribute to their passed loved ones. ? Role Model Dr. Manderline Scales has given back to the community through her work as an educator and community leader. Born in Winston-Salem. Scales attended Winston-Salem/Forsyth County public schools. received a bachelor's degree from Spelman College and a master bf education degree from the University of Pittsburgh. She earned a doctorate degree in education from the University of North Carolina at preensboro. r ?? Her educational career expanded Dr.Manderline Scales from the Forsyth County school sys tem where she taught mathematics, physical education and four levels of social science. French and Spanish. As an assistant professor at Winston-Salem State University she taught four levels of Spanish and geography. She was Director of stu dent activities, coordinating all stu dent and university calendarsiadvis ing student groups such as the NAACP. college Democrats, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Her busy career did not keep her from beins involved in the communi w ^ ty. Her civ ic involvement includes the Greater Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce. National Council of Negro Women. Inc. Delta Fine Arts Center Board of Directors and the past national president of National Women of Achievement. Scales awards and recognition include WSSU Teacher of the year 1970. 1971. 1972: Who's Who Among World Women. Citizenship Award by the Business and Professional League and the A. Phillip"Randolph Institute. She is married to Robert Scales and they have one son. She is a mem ber of Shiloh Baptist Church where the Rev. Paul Lowe is the pastor. A Community Leader * Marshall B Bass is president of Marshall B. Ba.ss and Associates, a man agement consultant firm. Bass joined RJR Nabisco in April 1968 as manager of personnel develop ment and was elected a corporate vice president in 1982. He held a number of positions in the human resources area until February 1986. when he was pro moted to corporate public affairs officer. yv Marshall B. Bass In this capacity, he was responsible for managing worldwide public and govern mental affairs issues for the corporation. He was elected senior vice president in April 1986. In September 1986. he was named senior vice president^for cor porate affairs. He retired from RJR Nabisco on January 1. 1991. Bass. 67;1s~aTso a retired U.S. Army officer whose last position held was Chief of A rm> ? Promotionsv-ailhe Pentagon. He received a bachelors degree from ihe University of Maryland and holds doctor of Humane Letters degrees from Florida A&N1 University. Kings Memorial College. Saint Augustine's College. Livingston College and Winston-Salem State University. Bass is a member of the board of directors of the Winston-Salem State University Foundation. Inc. and chair-, man of the board of trustees of Saint Augustine's College. Over the years . he has served as a member of more than 25 community organizations, coalitions, foundations and boards. He is married to the former Celestine Pate of Raleigh. They have two daughters: Brenda. a physician and Marsha, who is employed with a major corporation. A Business Founder Naomi C. McLean is the founder of the first black business school and the first black public stenographic office in Winston-Salem. McLean is a native of Salisbury and moved to the city at age four. She enrolled in classes at the P h > 1 1 i.s Wheatly Institute in the city to study business. She later graduated from Central Christian College in Huntington. West Virginia with the bachelors degree L u Saomi C. McLean in business aamimstration., McLean also attended Winston-Salem Teachers College and Livingston College. McLean opened her stenographic office on July 26.1939 and two years later, she opened the business school ? The Star Stenographic School of Business and operated it until 1965 McLean has received many honors and has been listed in numerous publica tions including The World's Who's Who of Women. Who's Who of American 1 Women. Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans, and ^the Dictionary of International Biography. ? Inspiring Pastor Rev. David R. Hedgley is the pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church at 700 Highland Avenue. Hedgley. 87. is a native of Chicago, who came to Winston-Salem in 1944 from Florida where he was Chaplain at Florida A&M University for eight years. Under his leadership. First Baptist Church grew tremendously and regis tered more than 1000 members. After 32 years as pastor. Hedgley retired in 1974. One of his most successful accom plishments in the community is estab lishing the Highland Homes apartments in 1973. The public housing complex on Highland Avenue and File Streets, spon sored by the church but controlled by the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem, has 114 units for senior citizens at least 65 years old. Hedgley holds an A.B. degree from Virginia Union, a divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, a masters degree from the University of Chicago, and honorary doctorate of ^dlliiiii^degrees from Shaw University ^ ' ?? ' ? ? Re*. David R. Hedglex and Virginia Union. He has served on the board of direc tors of the NAACP and Urban League and is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and the Minister's Conference of Winston-Salem. ? Famed Beautician Ola Mae Forte, who owned one of the first beauty schools for blacks in Winston-Salem, is planning to celebrate her 100th birthday on April 21. Forte, a native of Asheville. studied at Minor College in Washington. D.C. After living in Chicago, she moved to Oklahoma City, with her husband .Allen, who was a chiropractor, who thought that would be a good place to do busi ness. It was also the site where Forte opened La Mae Beauty College in 1932. She then moved to Winston-Salem in 1937 and opened the school at the comer of Sixth and Patterson Streets. Forte started with 18 students and grew to take as many as 75 students a year. She said most of the beauticians in the area graduated from her beauty Ola Mae Forte school. She retired in 1974 and her hus band died in 1979. Before the civil rights era. Forte entertained many celebrities in her home including musicians Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington. Count Basie and former heavyweight boxing champion Joe Louis. She was instrumental in organizing the Winston-Salem Beautician's -Club and affiliating the group with the nation al organization. She is a member of the NAACP and attends First Baptist Church where she is active in the choir and the Women's Service Council. Forte is the sole survivor of 14 chil dren and has one adopted daughter. Dorothy Forte who lives in Washington, two grandchildren, and one great-grand son. * ? NAACP Advocate Sally Mitchell has not let age get in the way of her level of community involvement. She has served as a volunteer for the Samaritan Soup Kitchen since it opened and has been a member of the NAACP since 1928. Mitchell worked hard in the community to get new members for the i organization and was even its contact person at First Baptist Church where she is a member. People who know her say she s written up quite a few new mem berships for the NAACP. Mitchell's NAACP involvement saw her working on many litigation cases the organization encountered. Mitchell is known in the communitv as a woman 9 ? who is not afraid to speak out She has been known to pick up children in the community on Sunday and take them with her to church and would, right away, let them know when she saw them doing something wrong. She could also be seen inviting young girls into her home to offer needed guidance. Sally Mitchell At First Baptist. Mitchell is presi dent of the Men's and Women's Auxiliary, chairperson of the Naomi Missionary Group, a member of the Addie C. Morris Club, the SOttor Adult Ministry and a faithful Sunday School member. Mitchell is also still active in the Black Political Awareness League. ? Female Deacon Evelena Claybom is a history maker. She is the first ordained female deacon of First Baptist Church and now serves as second vice-president of its deacon board. Also, she is the first female deacon accepted into the Forsyth County Deacon's Union and now serves as its second vice presi dent. She is president of the Forsyth County Missionary Union, Second Vice-President of the Women's Auxiliary or the Rowan Baptist Association and assistant secretary of the Lott Carey Foreign Missionary Convention, USA. The mother of two and the grand mother of five, Claybom is the immediate past president of Church Women United in Winston-Salem? Forsyth County, president of the Y activities club. 25th Street Flower and Condolence Club, Rho Zeta Sorority, treasurer of the Les Amie Civic Club and is the coordinator for the Meals on Wheels route. She is retired from R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company after 44 years and nine months of service. Evelena Clay born
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