The TF* i O^TT **** ? ? * ? ? h c Kixn f'orsyto f 1 I Photo by Todd Luck Beaufort Hailey is not ruling out another run for public office. Bowing Out Gracefully No longer a commissioner ; Bailey still plans to serve BY TODD LI CK I HI CHRONICLE^ He is just Beaufort Bailey these days. The title County Commissioner that used to precede his name no longer applies. In May. Bailey lost the closest primary race in Forsy th County to fellow Democrat Everette Witherspoon by only 95 votes. The loss brought his eight-year run as a member of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to an end. With no challenger in the General Election. Witherspoon was assured one of the two seats in District A and was sworn in on Dec. 6. Baile> said he's called Witherspoon to offer him his support and advice if he needs it. "1 just want Bverette to be successful." said Bailey. "He's a bright young man 1 think he can be (successful) if he pla>s his cards right." Plyler In retrospect. Baile\ said he should hase "heat the bushes more" instead of assuming that name recognition would garner him a wiq. It wasn't the first time that Baile> had lost an election. He had been a seventh-grade teacher for 1 1 years and was working at W inston Salem State University as an educational media specialist when he ran for School Board in 1972 He said he ran at the sug gestion of Wayne Corpemng. a former Wachovia Bank executive who would later became mayor. Corpemng thought the school board needed a black voice. Bailey failed to win a seat on the School Board on his first tr\. but two \ears later, he became the first African-American School Board candidate to win a county wide election. He lost the seat in 1978. but was reelected to the board tn 1982 and Sec Built-) on A3 Winter weather doesn't stop birthday party for 100-year-old BY I. AY I A I \K\1I K I HI ( HROSK I I Friends and loved ones of Lli/aheth "Bitty" Parks Caesar gathered at University Place Apartments on Sunday, to cele brate Caesar's century of liv ing. Caesar, who was horn on Christmas Eve. 1010. was showered with gifts and well wishes from the do/ens who attended the parts, despite the snows weather, on Dec. 26 "They just brought me so much stuff, look like I couldn't do nothing but cry." Caesar said of the gath ering. which was organized by her only child. Samuel Howard. "It was great. It was nice." It as a joy - ous occasion for Caesar, a former R.J. Reynolds employ e e whose father helped to build the historic Nissen building downtown. The centenarian takes pleasure in the little things in life, but says she isn't much for idle time, she's Pho<<> b\ I .ay I* Farmer Jilizaheth "Hilly" Caesar turned 100 years-old on Dee. 24. squeezed everything she could out of her 1(10 years of living Caesar is an active member of several ministries at Kimberly Park Holiness Church, where she has been a mem ber since she was a child, and sings on the church's Senior Choir. She says she doesn't miss a Sunday, unless she's accompanying Howard to a service at his church. Grace Presbyterian She drove until the age of 9K. and still cooks dinner in her kitchen every night. She walks without the aid of a cane or walker, and is well known for her baking prowess, espe cially when it comes to the cakes she often bakes just for fun "Sometimes people call me on the phone and say. Bitty, you got any cake in your freezer?' I say. 'Yes. come and get it,"' she related. "I used to sell them, but now I just give them away." Caesar is also active in the N.C. Order of the Eastern Star civic group - where she has been a member lor 55 years - a local Mahalia Jackson Ian club and the Hanes Hosiery Sec Caesar on A* Season of Giving PhoHo bv L*vta Farmer Smart Epperson Jr., president of The Light radio station, stops in to visit with "Santa" last week, during the sta tion's annual toy giveaway. Longtime Deejay \nita"Boss Lady" Dean (left) spearheaded the project. Read more about the event on page .42. Abbreviated Kwanzaa celebration starts BY LAYLA KARMI R I H| ( HRON1CLI After losing two days of the celebration to winter weather conditions, the city wide Kwan/aa celebration officially began Tuesday evening with a program observing "ujima." or col lective works and responsi bility. "The meaning of ujima is to build and maintain our communities, to make our brothers and sisters' prob lems our problems and to work collectively to solve them." UNC-Chape} Hill student Melvin Aikens Jr told the dozens" present at the celebration as he lit the can dle for the third day of Kwan/aa. observed Dec. 2b Jan. I . The event, which was slated to be held in the his toric St. Philips African American Complex, was moved to the Old Salem PHr*o by I ?n i? hfflW Melvin Aikens talks about the meaning of ujima. , Visitor's Center to pro\ ide easier access for partici pants. who braved the still icy conditions to attend Because Monday "s cele bration was cancelled. The Healing Force's Gail Anderson honored the Rev Dr. Francis Mann Jr Tuesda\ for upholding the Dec 27 principle of kujich agulia. meaning self deter ruination. Mann, a city native. was lauded for his commitment to area youth "Dr Mann has done extensive work, especially when it comes to working with children who have spe cial needs." Anderson said "...these children are so blessed to have him looking out for them because he goes the extra mile I've seen him do it." Maurice Pitts-Johnson of the Friends of the Happy Hill Cemetery was honored for ujima. For over a year. Pitts-Johnson has led the charge to clean up an unat tended cemetery in Happv Hill, the city's oldest African American neighbor hood In accepting the plaque. Pitts-Johnson urged others to support the group's work "We hope to see many of you join the effort." said Sre kwan/aa on K* DON'T PASS THE BUCK BUY LOCAL