In Our 25th
Year Issue No. 1957
December 2007
Associate Consultants
Serving the Triad
TRILIENT AWARDED GRANT
TO INCREASE CONilVIlNITY
SERVICE INITIATIVES
Marjorie Rorie
Truiiant Federal Credit
Union has been awarded a grant
of $14,600 for their new
Financial Opportunity Builder
Initiative from the National Credit
Union Foundation (NCUF). The
Foundation awarded 14 appli
cants out of 37 requests, which,
according to Stephen M. Delfin,
NCUF Executive Director,
“included many exemplary pro
posals for projects that credit
unions are undertaking in their
communities. We use a rigorous
review process to select projects
that will reach people of modest
means and those in need of credit unions’ affordable services,” he
said.
Funding will be used to support Truliant’s Tru-Opportunity Builder
initiative, which includes an innovative credit building product, plus
Continued on Page 7
CONSIMER CASKETS OPENS
LOCATION IN WINSTON SALEM
w
WM
Jeff Hendrick
By Brooke Anderson Brown
The loss of a loved one is per
haps the most difficult time in an indi
vidual’s life. This is also a time when
most people are the most vulnerable
and making well thought out and
informed decisions can be the fur
thest thing from the minds of those
CHARLENE RUSSELL-BROWN:
THEENLIVENER
engaging in mortal combat during my
tour of duty in Vietnam I returned to
America a nervous wreck. Consequently
I suffered a mental collapse and was
committed to a couple of psychiatric
wards. Upon getting released feeling
worthless and full of shame I wasn’t in
the proper mindset to encounter any of
my previous associates. But one after
noon as I was attempting to sneak in-
and-out of a local A&P Food Store,
then located on Bowen Boulevard,
Charlene called me out “Dwight is that
you?” ... “Is that Dwight Jones” she
shouted. Unable to ignore her call I
stopped and turned around. Moments
later with moisture filling her eyes as
maybe a half-a-dozen people looked-
on, Charlene embraced me while say
ing ... “Do you know how hard I’ve
been praying for you?”... “It’s so good
to see you!” After inquiring about my
grandmother, great aunt, mother,
father, sister, first cousins, second
cousins, plus third and fourth cousins,
she let go. When Charlene released
me my spirit was resurrected. I was
invigorated. To borrow a phrase from
the Rev, Jessie Jackson “I am some
body!” ... Thanks Charlene Russell
Brown - Emmanuel.
& Ed Hairston
suffering from family loss.
This is why the partners of
Consumer Caskets decided to go
into the business of providing afford
able caskets for consumers. When
Ed Hairston of Winston Salem, NC
lost his mother, he came to realize
that funerals ranked among one of
Continued on Page 8
Charlene Russell-Brown
By; Dwight Jones
Within seventy-two hours of hear
ing of the demise of Charlene Brown
five people of various backgrounds
expressed the exact sentiment to
honor her character: “all of the
Russell’s are nice people but Charlene
was an exceptionally nice person.”
Charlene was an exhilarator of
cheer and hope. She set aglow the
spirit of every person she encountered,
especially among “the least of these.”
Her kindness rendered vivacity to the
life of the down trodden while inspiring
the high and mighty to reach greater
heights.
Perhaps Rodney Carpenter a long
time employee of the Russell enter
prise best summarized her love for
humanity by stating: “Charlene knew
everybody - the fireman, policeman,
sanitation man, drinking man and
sober man. She also remembered
their mother, grandmother, sisters,
brothers, and children’s names.”
Charlene’s presence began to
influence my life more than fifty years
ago beginning on Woodland Avenue.
During those days as a teenager she
spent a great deal of time near a
kitchen window cultivating her skills as
the future matriarch of the Russell clan.
Below that window was a basketball
goal attached to a cement staircase
where her brothers Ed, Carl Jr,, and
Chris along with the Valentine twins
and me plus many others would get too
loud while competing. At that point
Charlene in her playful yet authoritative
manner would remind us of our close
proximity to Kate Bitting Hospital.
More profoundly, Charlene is one
of the cornerstones of my current exis
tence. At the age of nineteen years old
I was drafted into the U.S, Army. After
INSIDE
Through My
Eyes .. . . .
Until Justice Rains
Down: The Reason
for the Season . ..
INAACP and Urban
League: A House
Divided In War
for Equal Justice .
i
Rewarding Good
Service
I at the Holidays . .
I We Must Improve
i Ourselves
Paging Black
Fathers, Your Kids
Need You
Merry Christmas!
is Your Medicare
Drug Plan
Naughty or Nice