Newspapers / Chowan University Student Newspaper / Oct. 1, 1973, edition 1 / Page 12
Part of Chowan University Student Newspaper / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Drama Department Has New Head \ Mrs. Nancy Robinson Touring Choir,Schedules Annual Spring Concerts The Chowan College Touring Chior presented concerts at six North Carolina high schools during its annual spring tour, AprU 16-18. The 25-member choir also presented concerts at Enterprise Baptist Church of Littleton and Hampton Baptist Church, Hampton, Va. The choir, joined by the College Stage Band, also sang at Manteo and Cape Hatteras High Schools. The two groups also performed at Gates County, Perquimans, Bertie, and Williamston High Schools. According to James Chamblee, chairman of Chowan’s fine arts department and director of the choir, ‘‘the school programs included some sacred selections including music from the 16th century through the 20th. Members of the bank joined the choir in one number, a setting of the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God," by the modern American composer, Glen Darst.” Chamblee said other selections included spirituals, pop songs and “two very modem works by the American composer, Irving Fine. The pop songs included the theme music from “Cabaret.” Hie two Irving Fine selections are settings of words from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland.” The band, under the direction of Professor Bob Brown was featured in several selections for stage band including “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” ‘■‘Every Things Alright,” “Rockin’ Horse,” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy.” Six Chowan Students Serve With Youth Corps Six Chowan College students served as Baptist Youth Corps Workers this summer. Each served in a different North Carolina Baptist church for a period of 10 weeks. The students and the churches they were assigned are: Mary Ballance of Aulander to the University Park Baptist Church pastored by the Rev. Jeunes E. Palmer; Pat Espinosa of Monroe to the Enterprise Baptist Church pastored by the Rev. Jerry E. Harper, Sr.; Sharon Johnson of Windsor to the Thompsonville Baptist Church pastored by the Rev. James E. I.aster; Mark Morris of Rocky Mount to the Crossnore Baptist Church pastored by the Rev. Joe R. Puett; Tommy Speight of Suffolk to the Enon Baptist Church pastored by the Rev. T. E. Robinette; and Steve Wall of Winton to the Inwood Baptist Oiurch pastored by the Rev. Morris L. Jackson. The program is sponsored by the North Carolina ^ptist State PAGE TWELVE Convention’s Church Training Department. Some 65 students from the state’s seven Baptist colleges were involved. According to Rick Traylor, who directs the program for the Church Training Department, Chowan paid half of the salaries of the workers and the local churches the rest. Last summer, three Chowan students par ticipated as workers. While the program is designed as a service to the local churches, the three reported it also helps the per sonal growth of the individual worker. Traylor agrees. “Everyone benefits from the participation of the college students in the Baptist Youth Corps. Not only do the churches receive the assistance of a young person, selected for his dedication, ability and per sonality, but the young people have the opportunity to grow and develop as they become involved in the life of a church in a leadership position,” Traylor explained. By JAMES MOORE Great things are on the horizon for Chowan’s drama department and its new head Mrs. Nancy E. Robinson, who plans to produce six shows a year. Although new at teaching, Mrs. Robinson has had considerable experience in both university and community theatre. Interestingly enough, she did not major in drama in college. Instead, she graduated from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio with her B.A. in English and was working in Anchorage, Alaska when she had her first experience with the theatre. Her job there was assistant director with a com munity group. However, the actual director never showed up and Mrs. Robinson ended up putting the show together herself. It was a “fascinating ex perience” she reports and the beginning of her interest in drama. As a result, she entered Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, where she began studies for a masters degree in speech and drama which she received in August, 1971. In many instances, she found that it was a “from the ground up” job as many of her classes were with freshmen. However, she “loved it,” especially her two years in graduate school. During this period she did everything from acting to building sets to lighting. Following her graduation, Mrs. Robinson went to work for the Veterans Administration in Atlanta, where her mother lives, until she accepted her present position at Chowan. Her plans for the drama department include showing six plays during the year. Four of these are scheduled to be acted in Daniel Hall and the other two will be presented in McDowell- Columns auditorium. The department’s first production will be “Waiting for Lefty,” which premiers October 2 at Daniel Hall. Next on the agenda is “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” Written by Clark Gesner and based' on Charles Shultz’s comic strip “Peanuts,” it is described by Mrs. Robinson as a “fun fun musical.” It will run from November 15 through 17 on McDowell-Columns stage. Mrs. Robinson also commented that she is “really enjoying” her new job. She says that Chowan’s drama students are good, though few in number. She is especially anxious to stress that anybody and everybody is welcome to help in drama productions. Many students want to help but hesitate to say so because they think our program is open only to drama majors,” Mrs. Robinson com mented. “This just isn’t so” she continued. “We need and welcome anyone who wants to be a part of our productions in any way.” Mrs. Robinson feels that her department and Chowan have something very important in compion. They are both small but Rowing. She says the thing she likes most is that “here the effort of just one person means a lot.” Chowan students can rest assured that Mrs. Robinson will mean much to them for she is dedicated to and loves hei" work. HOW FBI GREW In the 48 years that J. Edgar Hoover directed the FBI—1924 to 1972—its personnel increased more than tenfold to about 20,000. The agency’s budget was $334.2 million in 1972 compared with $2.2 million in 1924. A Good Friend Passes ^She Never Forgot Her Alma Mater’’ In 1908, Mary Judson Powell graduated from Chowan College after completing a four-year course in education. She taught two years in Chadbourn before deciding to pursue a career in music. The decision resulted in her moving to Boston, Mass. to study at the Boston Conservatory of Music. She lived the rest of her life in Boston, returning to her home in Woodland only on vacations. But Mary Judson Powell, who had become Mrs. James A. Murphy, never forgot Chowan nor what Chowan had meant to her. With regularity, she sent contributions to the alumni fund. And before she died on April 20, 1971, she remembered the Baptist college in her will. The estate has now been settled and Chowan, because of Mary Powell Murphy’s love and ap preciation, has received $19,302. 42. Mary Judson Powell was bom in Woodland, the seventh child of Mr. and Mrs. Godwin Powell. Her father was a farmer. Her mother was the former Cornelia Holloman. Mary had six older brothers. The family was closeknit. From the brothers were destined to come no less than three doctors: Dr. J. B. Powell, optometrist of Franklin; Dr. John M. Powell, optometrist of Galax, Va.; and Dr. C. G. Powell, dentist of Ahoskie. The other brothers were also sub stantial citizens. They were Bob Powell, merchant of Woodland; Will Powell, businessman of Windsor; and Walter C. Powell, farmer of Woodland. All are deceased. Mary attended public school in Potecasi and was a member of Potecasi Baptist Church. After completing high school, she decided to enter Chowan to prepare for a teaching career. Her first job, after graduating from Chowan, was destined to be her last in the teaching profession. After two years teaching at Chadbourn, she decided to capitalize on an in terest and talent in music and make singing her career. She enrolled in the Boston Con servatory of Music where she was trained as a concert singer. In this capacity, she met her husband, then playing piano for the famed Boston Symphony. Then misfortune struck. Her promising career as an opera singer was cut short when her throat was inflicted with an ailment that affected her voice. For a time, she could not even speak but she regained her speaking voice. But as a soloist, her career was ended. She and her husband decided to enter the business of importing coffee and tea. They in turn sold to a number of major distributors in the Boston area. They had no children and Mr. Murphy died in 1942. For a number of years she maintained the business before selling it. Soon after this, Mrs. Murphy cared for an aged individual, Dr. William Brickley, who had been a lifelong friend of her husband. Dr. Brickley had served as medical examiner of Boston and when he died at the age of 93, Mrs. Murphy was named in his will. This money and her savings from business became her estate which she left to relatives and worthy causes. In addition to Chowan, she remembered in her will Potecasi Baptist Church, Childrens Hospital Medical Center of Boston, Massachusetts Heart Associatwn, Inc. of Boston, and Perkins School for the Blind of Watertown, Mass. Among survivors are Mrs. Virgie D. Powell, a sister-in-law, and Mrs. Powell’s daughter. Miss Georgia H. Powell, a niece, both of Woodland. Also surviving are three other nieces: Mrs. Newlin C. Outland of Conway, Mrs. Mary P. Hill of Woodland, and Mrs. Naomi P. Forloines of Richmond, Va.; a niece, Mrs. Robert Glenn Cullifer, Fr. of Rich Square; a sister-in-law, Mrs. J. M. Powell of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; and Mrs. Lowell K. Powell of Ahoskie, whose husbnad was a nephew of Mrs. Murphy. Chowan’s president. Dr. Bruce E. Whitaker, commented: “Chowan College and generations of young people will benefit through all the years to come because of the legacy provided her alma mater by the late Mary Powell Murphy. This gifted and lovely lady remem bered Chowan by means of a percentage of her estate; this method of including the college in her will demonstrated her business acumen and her wisdom.” He continued, “The members of the Board of Trustees, other alumni and friends of the college, all join me in appreciation for the life and in gratitude for the legacy from the estate of this cherished alumna. “By action of the Board of Trustees, undesignated gifts by will, like this one coming from the estate of Mrs. Murphy, go into the General Endowment oi the College. As we build an ever enlarging general endowment, we build a stronger and greater Chowan College. May the tribe of Mrs. Mary Powell Murphy in crease,” Dr. Whitaker said. Mrs. J. A. Murphy THE CHOWANIAN
Chowan University Student Newspaper
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Oct. 1, 1973, edition 1
12
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75