Newspapers / The AC Phoenix News … / Dec. 1, 1988, edition 1 / Page 12
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AC Phoenix, December 1988 Page 12 Cover Story Caring, Sharing: The Rockers As children we read fairytales and believed within our hearts that the princess always got the prince and the two lived happily ever after. As young adults we watched Dallas, Dynasty and Falcon Crest and learned that rarely life is such a crystal stair. As adults we ac cepted the realities of life and made the deci sions to either fall by the wayside or continuously reach tor the stars. Kenneth and Gwen dolyn Rocker of Win ston-Salem, N.C. have read the fairytales and watched the soap op eras and have jointly ac cepted the realities of life while continuously reaching tor higher ground. The Rockers roots are traced back to Mobile, Alabama. The high school sweethearts graduated from Mobile County Training School in t958. Kenneth was Valedictorian and Class President, while Gwen held the office of secre tary. Upon graduation Kenneth enrolled at Talladega College and Gwen enrolled at Al abama State University. After one year at Tal ladega College Ken neth enlisted in the U.S. Navy. In 1962 Gwen com pleted her B.S. in Physical Education from A.S.U. and accepted a teaching position at Williamson High School. On August 30, 1963, "In order to be an innovative par ent, you must accept change...Each child must be approached differently, because no two are alike." Gwen Rocker There is no such word as perfection when one speaks of growing up, family ties and rearing children. Everyone goes through trials and tribulations within these categories. But then there are those excep tional families which all of us have wished to have been apart of at one time or another. The Rocker family, con sisting of Kenneth, Gwen, Kenya and Ken neth Terrance are one such such family. Kenneth, and wife Gwen have a lot in common. Both are born in December, under the sign of Sagitarius. Ironi cally their children Ken neth, 22, and Kenya, 15, were both born in July under the sign of Cancer. Kenneth and Gwen were married. The cou ple just recently cele brated their Silver An niversary by renewing their wedding vows. Kenneth went back to college thereafter at Tuskeegee University. In 1968 he graduated with a degree in Electri cal Engineering. While at Tuskeegee, Kenneth received a scholarship through Western Elec tric - AT&T. The ties through the scholarship eventually landed the Rockers to Winston- Salem where Kenneth is presently Department Chief of Consumer Products at AT&T. The move to Winston- Salem via New Jersey gave Gwen Rocker the opportunity to meet and learn the people of the"Twin City" through the school system and recreation department. Gwen taught school at Carver High School for nearly ten years. Her experience at Carver in cluded meeting and be friending The AC Phoenix publisher, Rodney J. Sumler. Gwen also worked in the Winston-Salem Recre ation Department tor nearly five years. Kenneth and Gwen Rocker have been blessed with two lovely, energy-filled children who they are immensely proud of. Kenneth (who is not a junior), attended North Carolina A&T Uni versity for three years before joining the U.S. Navy. He, like his father plans to be an engineer in his own right after his duty is up. Kenya Trenethia Rocker is a sophomore at East Forsyth High School where she is active as Captain of the J.V. Cheerleading squad. Honor Student, Mem ber of the track team and several other orga nizations. The Rocker family is blessed and they realize that it is all for the grace of God. They are active members of New Bethel Baptist Church where the Reverend Jerry Drayton is pastor. Ken neth is President of The Laymens League and Gwen is a member of Missionary Group #5. The Rocker's are ex tremely active in the community. Both are devoted members of the NAACP. Kenneth is former Chairman of the YMCA Board of Direc tors, an alternate on the Zoning Board, Member of the Salvation Army Boys Club and Member of the Pioneer Club. Gwen has served as a Board Member of the local NAACP, Twin City Civitan Club and former precincf worker. The Rockers were chosen AC Phoenix Family of the Year be cause of what they do, and not what they say. The values that were in stilled in them is being passed along to their children. life," said Gwen. She adds, "I prefer having my family than having a job. Ken is basically the same way in not bring ing his job home." Although Gwen has been out of the public school system for a while she is still teaching in her home. "I'm proud of both kids", she said. "We tried to instill in Kenneth Terrance Rocker, a former A&T State Univer sity Engineering Major plans to comple his educa tion after his enlist ment is up. Kenneth is stationed in Nor folk, Va. as a mem ber of the U.S. Navy. always want them to use their minds", stated Mrs. Rocker. "When the final decision is made...let it be your choice, she added. The success of "The Family" in the Rocker home is not simple by any means. They do know where they have been, where they are "I'm proud of both kids...We tried to instill in them to remember where they came from. We talk to them, and they know the things that have helped us to be the people we are. We want them to be aware of their heritage." Gwen Rocker As a teacher in Forsyth County Schools one might see a conflict of job and family for Gwen, but she man aged to keep every thing in perspective. "It was no problem sepa rating job from home. You always have one or two situations that tend to linger, but I never let it interfere with my home them to remember where they came from. We talk to them, and they know the things that have helped us to be the people we are. We want them to be aware of their heritage," she added. The Rockers have led by example and set in motion the future suc cess of their children. "I and where they are go ing. In succeeding as parents Gwen has the approach so many fami lies need. "In order to be an innovative parent you must accept change," she said. "Each child must be ap preached differently, because no two are alike," she added.
The AC Phoenix News (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Dec. 1, 1988, edition 1
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