Younger power-hitter r
making his mark '
Little leaguers fall
short in tourney
Community
Best-selling author
launching talk show
? i ? ?
Church celebrates
60 years
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WlNSTON-S/VLEM G H I. E \ S B O K O 11 14.11 POINT Vol. XXVII No. 45
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__ r/rc Choice for African-American News
Church hopes new digs will
help to impact community
St. Peters plans several events to celebrate new buildings
BY T. KEVIN WALKER
THECIIRONK I.I.
St. Peter's World Outreach Center
has always had a mission as lofty as
its name. Now the church has a grand
campus to match, a campus it wants to
use to try to implement change in "the
city for the better.
After a year of construction, the
church is preparing to open its new
Family Life Enrichment Center and
Family Worship Center. The two
Goliath buildings now share a space
with St. Peter's World Outreach Cen
ter's old sanctuary, which was con
structed more than 10 years ago.
St. Peter's plans a litany of activi
ties to celebrate, including a concert
by gospel giants Mary Mary and Don
nie McClurkin Aug. 12 and a special
appearance by the Rev. T.D. Jakes
Aug. 26.
But the Rev. James C. Hash - who
took over pastoring duties for his
father at the church nearly 15 years
ago - is quick to point out that
although stunning in size and appear
m
ance, the buildings are not merely for j
people to marvel at. They are, he said, g
merely a means to what he hopes is a
better end for local residents.
"It is our goal to touch the com
munity and change it and make Win
ston-Salem a better place." Hash said
last week.
The Family Worship Center, the
church's new sanctuary, holds more
than 3,(XX) and was greatly needed to _
accommodate the church's growing
membership. The Family Life Enrich
St\ Church <m A3
Foundation
awards mean
R&R for heroes
Paid leaves, worth $15,000, will allow
nonprofit leaders a chance to regroup
BY MELDE RUTLEDGE
THE CHRONICLE
The Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation understands the
rigorous tasks that leaders from nonprofit organizations go
through.
To show its recognition, the foundation formed a spe
cial program more than a decade ago to relieve such indi
viduals from their work, based on the stress of their work
environment, the creativity demonstrated in their past work
achievements and their potential to
continue making significant contri
butions to public service - awarding
them sabbaticals (a paid leave of
absence) worth $I5.(XX) each.
Tony L. Burton III is one of (he
five recipients to receive the annual
award this year. He is the founder
and executive director of
VisionsWork Youth Services, a
local, nonprofit organization at 2020
e. i -iiii oireet mai worxs witn aao- Burton
lescents who are tangled in the court
system or are suspended from the local school system.
He plans on using the award to take three months away
.from the office to spend time with his family.
"I'm very excited about it," said Burton. "1 thought that
it was a great honor."
Four years of teaching middle sch<x>l prepared him for
VisionsWork. where he has directed and implemented
daily operations for seven years, while establishing and
maintaining relationships with collaborating agencies.
Two more VisionsWork locations have been estab
lished outside of Winston-Salem, in Rowan and Iredell
counties.
"We' II continue to grow and try to open up other pro
grams in more counties to meet the needs of kids in those
areas," he said. He feels especially rewarded when he is
.visited by teen-agers who were part of past VisionsWork
-^programs who have graduated and went to college.
To apply for the sabbatical, organization leaders must
request an application and turn in all information before
Dec. I of each year. Preference is given to individuals with
at least Five years of experience who are working for
Sci Sabbaticals ?? A2 |_
Photo by Kevin Walker
he Rev. J.C. Hash looks out at his church's new sanctuary.
Friends,
family say
goodbye to
educator
Grier died over the weekend
after a century of life
BY MLLDh RUTLF.DGF.
Illl CHRONICLE
Torchbearer
Photo by Kevin Walker
Carmen de Jesus, far left, and Diane Caesar look at a photo de Jesus took of actor Morgan Free
man in one of his early plays. Pictures buy de Jesus are on display at the Sawtooth Center.
Black theater photographer trying to keep tradition alive
BYT. KEVIN WALKER
llll CHHONig I
There was a lot of head scratching last
Friday night in the Milton Rhodes Gallery
of the Sawtooth Center. Many people
looked perplexed as they examined the
vivid black and white photos on the
gallery walls. After a moment or two, their
facial expression changed to one of recog
nition and they moved on to another pho
tograph where the whole process would
begin anew.
The guessing game was sparked by
folks tryingTO figure out whether that was
Den/el Washington staring back at them
from one of the photos and if the young
girl depicted in another photograph is
stage and screen legend Cicely Tyson.
It's indeed a pie-movie star Washing
ton and an ingenue Tyson. Before they
were Hollywood stars, they shined in the
world of black off-Broadway plays.
A new exhibit presented by Delta Fine
Arts Inc. takes us on a photographic jour
ney into that world, with stops belonging
to James Earl Jones. Morgan Freeman,
Sidney Poitier and many others.
"Black Oft-Broadway - Images of
African American Theatre" will run
through Aug. 4 at the Sawtooth. The
exhibit, not coincidentally, will end the
same day that lights go out on the Nation
al Black Theatre Festival.
Dozens of photographs, stretching
from plays staged in the 1960s to today,
are featured in the exhibit. They were all
taken by Bert Andrews, the grandfather of
black theater photography who died in
1993. and his longtime assistant. Carmen
de Jesus, who now wants to carry the
torch that Andrews ignited.
"It's an important exhibition on differ
ent levels.^ said de Jesus, in town last
S, \ Photos on A10
Bishop Philip Cousin Sr. said
lhat people who need a long
introduction don't deserve one,
and those that deserve long intro
ductions really don't need one
"The same is true with eulo
gies. he
said. "Those
who deserve
long eulo
gies have
lived their
lives."
Cousin
was referring
to his moth
er- i n -.1 a w,
Maxwell
Christine
Grier
Banks Grier. who passed away
on July 4 . at the age of 102.
Grier was a figurehead in the
25th Street community, known
for her countless involvements !
there, especially with the youths.
People close to her say that
she loved children. As a teacher,
she taught inside and out of the
classroom, started a neighbor
hood club and held picnics at her
own expense for them.
Naomi Jones met Grier when
Jones was a fifth-grade student at
Columbia Heights Elementary
School. Grier was a teacher at the
school.
"She has kept up with me
ever since." she said at Grier's
homegoing service on Tuesday
morning at First Baptist Church
on Highland Avenue. "In fact, she
loved all the children."
She is also remembered for
her numerous organization affili- iI
ations, primarily with Sigma
Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. and her
42-year involvement with the
25th Street Flower and Condo
lence Club, which began by buy
ing floral arrangements for griev
ing families. Now the service
gives food to families in their
lime of need.
If there was an emergency in
the community, Grier was the
first one there to call people
together, telling them what they
needed to do. ?
"Mrs. Grier was always the
one who was there to guide us,"
said Evelena Clayborn. a friend
of Grier. "I cannot imagine the
25th Street community without
the presence of Mrs. Grier." j
Sfi? Grier ,?? AlO
A Legend Resurrected
Life of crooner Jackie Wilson to be told on stage at festival |
BYT. KEVIN WALKER Higher.'' bul his career cooled after \Beatle- formed outside of the Chicago land area,
TH1 OIROMCLI mania He died nearly 10 years after suffer- where the play is one of the most popular
ing a stroke on stage in 1975 and was buried and most critically acclaimed productions
Before Elvis Presley caused an interna- jn a grave that was left unmarked for several ever staged by the Black Ensemble Theater,
tional sensation with his swirling hips - years. "Jackie Wilson still does not get the kind
before Michael Jackson sent crowds into a The legendary Wilson will rise again of attention that he deserves," asserted Jack
frenzy w ith his gravity-defying dance moves during the National Black Theatre Festival ie Taylor, who founded the Black Ensemble
- before Prince sent female hearts ' Theater more than
?National Black Theatre Festival ^ ^/hoef
a Detroit-bom singer who had been ... ... .. ,s- ?t, .... .... ,v artist that enabled
there and done that, while setting con- w ** v ?? w w w ?? Prince and Michael
cert halls ablaze with his infectious Jackson to do what
melodies and often risque moves. rjulv 10 - A no 4i ' Tho farlrw> Wikon Qtorv th? ??
Photo courtesy of the Black Fnsemhlc Theater
Cast members from "The Jackie Wilson Story: My Heart is Crying, Crying
I ? FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS CALL (336) 722-8624 ? MASTERCARD, VISA AND AMERICAN EXPRESS ACCEPTED ? |
J - . ,? "~J ???
Wilson rode a wave of cross-racial popu- My Heart Is Crying. Crying" will kick off Taylor founded the black ensemble to
larity in the'5()s and ftOs with hit songs such ihc festival's week-long slate of plays and I
as "Lonely Teardrops" and "Higher and will mark the first time the play will be per- s<< Wilton play ,m AS