Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 21, 2000, edition 1 / Page 25
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The Chronicle OMMUNITY lunitv idar iionary Depart- educational sem- nar ational Services the Missionary John Christian copal Church will Educational and r on Friday, Dec. until 1 p.m. at the ill be held on sume writing and Sara Lee Corp., .rote speaker dur al session. Dr. Ifrom the continu- department of State University the session on ra McWillis from will conduct the ame writing and ig. Gerald Bau- tative from Cam- . (an organization lege-bound stu- ipuses), will also tiare his expertise to the special ses- hk r forum with a ^ se group of busi- ional profession- The guest pan- Derwick Paige, ng, city of Win- Mable Millner, Iticultural affairs, ity; Dr. Monte C. |rtiiatrist, Williams ' Amos, guidance Reynolds High Foxworth, tax R Tobacco Co.; an, investment S .aymond James ces; John Daven- N.C. Department Ration; Sandra esident, SMSI. •iMissionaries feel be an excellent youths, young eir parents. We lijjic to join us for day. There is no l^j h lunch will be jrew is the presi- )hn’s Missionary adette Booker, the Educational [tment, will serve ir. E Church is at Ivford Place. The 'bby R. Best. For pn about the sem- irch office at 336- instruction umming Work- Qers, Sunday Jan le Golden Flower iter, 612 Trade i, learn the basics nd explore tradi- A fee is charged, tl- No experience Bill Scheldt at trve your space, umming Course [tarts Wednesday i)ji it45 p.m. at the ^ jT’ai Chi Center, ^ treet. Winston- ■^1, learn the basics xplore tradition- ^ discover drum- •ation. A fee is drums available, necessary. Call yjfet 774-8075 to ' it /if i! ice. Winston-Salem Greensboro High Point The Choice for African American News December 21, 2000 Carolin’ Crusade East Winston group sings its way into residents’ hearts BY T. KEVIN WALKER THE CHRONICLE For members of the East Winston Restoration Association, spreading Christmas joy to those who most need it has become an unofficial prong of of the organization’s mis sion. Members have gathered each December for more than a decade to travel to various nursing homes in East Winston, singing spirited Christmas carols and handing out certificates to homes they pass on the way with stellar Christmas deco rations. The tradition continued last Fri day evening. The group invited me to tag along. As in previous years, I was expected to put my camera down during some stops and join the group for a few tunes. Many familiar faces were back this year for the ritual. Lois Hanes, the president of the association, vol unteers her home for the meeting place and starting point. Ola Ash ford brought along lyrics to several popular songs for those of us who tend to hum lyrics we are unsure of. She also brought along her husband, Willie, to add some bass to the makeshift choir. Alderwoman Joyce- lyn Johnson directed us to our vari ous stops while Luther Jones drove the church van we called home for about three hours. “I look forward to this every year,” Hanes said before the ball got rolling. “I love when the people real ly enjoy what we do.” The Golden Lamb Nursing Home was our first stop. It was decided that we would leave a little early this year so that we would catch the residents at the center before they went to bed. The last two years, we sang as we walked up and down the hallways of the center because residents were already tucked away for the night. This time, however, we found a captive audience as soon as we walked in - several ladies sitting in a row, waiting for their baths. The group began to sing. I took pictures. It wasn’t long before the seniors began to join in. Johnson asked for requests after the group had finished singing a few tunes. Asking residents for requests and items on their Christmas lists has become customary for the aider- woman, as has leaving a fresh, color ful poinsettia at each nursing home that they visit. We stopped next at Dogwood Family Care, a few minutes away. This small center had many residents who remember the group members from previous years and look for ward to their performance. Again, the residents sang along with us. (I sang a few notes this time....It wasn’t pretty). We got a treat ourselves at Dog wood. We met Arthur Peoples, a 105- year-resident at the home. Peoples, a very young looking 105, greeted us warmly. One of the care givers at the center said despite his age. Peoples is as sharp as a needle. When I asked him the secret to his longevity, he summed it up like this: chasing women, not drinking and praying. New Beginnings Assisted Living Center was our next stop. Many of the faces there I recognized from past years. And one of the songs we sang there, “Go Tell It on the Moun tain,” I remember humming to last year as Johnson did an impressive job leading. We sang that song and other spir ituals at the nursing homes. One res ident in particular was in the mood to hear spirituals, as opposed to car ols, and the group graciously obliged her. The residents hated to see us go, but one member of the group assured them that there would be more songs next year. After a brief stop at Sims Recre ation Center in Happy Hill Garden, where the annual Peace Toys for War Toys program was being held, we handed out a few certificates to own ers of homes with beautiful Christ mas decorations. The selection process is intense. The group drives up and down streets in Johnson’s East Ward, which unbelievably stretches nearly into Kernersville. Preliminary choic es are put on a short list and then are narrowed down to the absolute best. We stop, Johnson signs one of the fancy looking certificates and knocks on the door to present it to the inhabitants. The last nursing home was the one at Oak Summit. The nursing home is far from Johnson’s ward, but it is home to one of East Winston’s own, Mary Sloan Jones. “Ms. Jones was one of the first community advocates in East Win ston....She was instrumental in get ting the stoplight at Trade a* 1 Northwest,” Johnson told me as we walked to Jones’ room. Jones was all smiles to see us. Johnson reminded her that she had a birthday coming up. The group treat ed her to an early birthday present, a rendition of “Silent Night” that she truly seemed to enjoy. She was also given a poinsettia, which she eyed appreciatively for some time. Before we left, she said that the children back in the neighborhood need people to look out for them. Johnson promised to relay her mes sage throughout her ward. All photos by Kevin Walker
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 21, 2000, edition 1
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