THE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
^sssssmms post office box i?7s PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY pembkoke, n.c. m372
VOLUME 9, NUMBER 19 2Sc.per copv Thanday, May 7, 19C1
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A popular feature of the
talent show Friday night were
the Lumbee River Singers.
The Lumbee River Singers
will be performing in a special
concert tonight in the Per
forming Arts Center on the
Pembroke State University
campus, beginning at 7:30
p.m. The Lumbee River Sing
ers are students at the
Lumbee River Native Ameri
can Center for the Arts, spon
sored by Lumbee Regional
Development Association
ILKDA] in Pembroke.
The performance is free to
the public.
The "Spring Revue" will
showcase the talented stu
dents. A special presentation
of a play, "Who I Am" will
also be presented by the
students. The play was writ
ten by Dariy I Locklear, drama
and creative writing instructor
for the project. Ms. Janie
Maynor Locklear is project
director.
Seeking Life Goals
Forced Some Robesonians
Out of State
Editor's note: One of the joys of
publishing the Carolina Indian Voice is
the opportunity to "discover our past."
,_C\ur si Jv ay! ft?>-cbc*rs were extra
ordinary people who had an unquench
able desire to learn and contribute to the
society around them.
Unfortunately a great deal of our history
has been lost because of the exodus out
of Robeson County by many Robeson
County Natives who were denied the
right to grow and develop as human
beings in their own home land. Many
good and productive Robesonians had to
leave the place of their birth in order to
find their way in life.
Recently Mr. Ronald H. Lowry, now
living in Virginia Beach, Va., submitted
an article for publication. It is a beautiful
piece of writing and, more than this, tells
many of us something about our glorious
past that was decimated by that awful
scourge-Racism!
Mr. Lowry said, in an accompanying
letter:
"Some of the Native Robesonians who
went out-of-state for their education
would not use the name. Pembroke, as
the town near their homes because of the
bad reputation the town had achieved
over the years due-to the fact that only
the bad news made the newspapers,
concerning Indian accomplishments: at .
that time in our history. I worked with a
pharmacist for ten years, who was born
in Fayetteville and grew up in Cum
berland County. His knowledge of the
Indians in Robeson County, known to
him then as "Croatans." was that these
people would go into Pembroke on
Saturday nights, get drunk, and cut or
shoot one another. This viewpoint was
strengthened by the fact that he
witnessed a "Croatan cutting" on a
Fayetteville street. In earlier times these
type incidents made the headlines in the
local newspapers, but the good things
happening in the churches, schools, and
homes went un-publ:cized. I am very
happy to see that your paper is covering
the whole spectrum of Indian activities,
and to see that there is mucji more good
being accomplished than bad being
perpetrated.
"I've often wondered about all the un
recorded events which would have been
of great Historic value concerning the
Robeson County Indians, had a few been
inclined and able to write out in some
fashion the events which shaped the lives
of our ancestors in Robeson County. I
would love to see an encyclopedia
published about the Indians in Robeson
County detailing their accomplishments
in their fields of endeavor inside and
outside their native county. With this In
mind. I researched the life story of a
relative of mine. Circumstances made it
necessary for him to seek his goals In life
In a slate other then his native state of
North Carolina. This Information might
he of some Interest to some of your
leadership,
"The CareMoa lodloo Vafce Is my only
contact wtth die Mke back In my native
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county of Robeson. I look forward to
spending an hour with it each week, and
becoming informed of "What's Hap
pening" Ik t!v_ county I enjoy looking at
the pictures, now that the quality has
improved so much over earlier ones. I
would love to see an expanded "Letter to
the Editor Section" on open subjects so
that I could see what the people's
concerns are focusing on in your part of
the country."
Ronald H. Lowry
5513 Susquehanna Dr.
Va. Beach, Va. 23462
SEEKING LIFE GOALS FORCED
SOME NATIVE ROBESONIANS
OUT-OF-STATE
Recently I returned by way of
Washington. D.C. from attending the
25th Reunion of my Pharmacy Class of
the University of Mary1, nd in Baltimore.
This marked my first visit back to the
Baltimore Campus since graduation. The
only landmark I recognized from my
school days there, was the old Elm Tree
in front of the Medical School Building
said to date back to 1728. The Pharmacy
School occupies a new building, and the
building across the street from the
Medical School, in which I earned my
degree in pharmacy, has been renovated
for other purposes.
The struggle for education for Indians
in Robeson County is well documented.
It has been a slow arduous process.
Many of the early educators had to leave
the State of North Carolina in order to
earn higher degrees in the education
field. Many of these pioneers in Indian
Education returned to their native county
and spent their lifetime as teachers,
counselors, and motivators for Indians to
better themselves through education.
Bible reading, prayer, and Biblical
teaching occurred on a regular basis in
the schools. Patriotism and a desire to
achieve were implanted in the back of
many minds among the Indian youth.
When the time was right and the doors
were opened, many did achieve and arc
still pursuing their life goals without fear
of being denied these opportunities
because of their heritage.
A few of these early natives of Robeson
County went out-of-state seeking pro
fessions other than that of leaching. Such
was the case for my "Uncle Johnny" at a
time when educational opportunities
were very limited and difficult to obtain
in his native county and state. He
mastered everything available to him.
educational wise, in his native county
including being among the Brat ones to
earn a certificate of graduation from one
of the earlier predecessors of Pembroke
State University. It might be said that he
graduated at the lop and bottom of hia
class, since information informs that he
was the only member in his graduating
class. My uncle left Robeson County and
went to Baltimore to earn a degree in
medicine. Most of his life was spenl In a
small rural town In Virginia, ministering
to the needs id people physically, so
dally. aN^a^j|2^g
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ROBESON COUNTY
INDIAN YOUTH FESTIVAL
"A ROUSING SUCCESS"
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LUMBERTON-The annual
Robeson County Youth Fes
tival concluded Friday night
with an old fashioned talent
j show. Organizers and the
9 audience termed it "a rousing
success."
The festival, sponsored by
the Indian Education Project
of the Robeson County
Schools, drew large crowds
throughout the three days of
the festivities.
Ruth Dial Woods, the direc
tor of the Indian Education
Project, thanked everyone
who participated and promis
ed "bigger things" next sear.
A prominent speaker ad
dressed the audience each
day. Speakers included Sara
W. Hodgkins. secretary of the
Department of Human Re
sources; Arlinda Locklear. a
staff attorney with the Native
American Righnf Fund in
Denver. Colorado; and Dr.
Bobby Brayboy. of the U.S.
Health and Human Resources
in Washington. D.C.
Other activities included a
pew wow, cultural activities
and craft displays. '
A highlight of the festival
was the talent show Friday
night m.c.ed by the irre
pressible Carnell Locklear,
general manager of "Strike at
the Wind!"
Appearing on the talent
show were Willie Lowery.
Miriam Ovendine. Brigette
Bravbov (Miss Luntbcc). the
Lumbee River Singers and
Dancers. Little Miss Lumbee
(April Li>cklear). and others.
f
Dale Edwards Promotes
Gospel Musie Sing
Wlllard Dale Graham
IA.K.A. Dale Edwards | is
shown looking at some of the
An event will take place in
the near future that a local
young man is real proud of.
That event will be in the form
of a gospel concert in the
Cumberland County Memor
ial Auditorium in Fayetteville.
Willard Dale Graham, alias
Dale Edwards is at the helm
of this promotion. This is the
largest gospel program Dak
has booked to date.
Dale is the son of Mrs. Iris S.
promotional materials herald
ing the gospel sing he is pro
moting.
Graham and the late Wclton
Graham of the Deep Branch
community. Dale is a 197.1
graduate of Pembroke Senior
High School and a graduate of
Central Carolina Technical
College in Sanford where he
studied radio and television
broadcast communications.
Dale is currently employed
with WSTS Radio, a Laurin
burg'Fayetteville station. "I
Cont'd Page 4
Water, Sewer Bond vote Protest
set for Tonight
LUMBERTON-A public hearing will be
held tonight by the Robeson County
Board of Elections to f -ar complaints
lodged against the recently passed water
and sewer bond referendum in Pembroke
by Bob Brewington and Henry Smith.
two opponents of the measure.
The specifics of their complaints will be
aired at the hearing which will be held at
the board of elections office on Elizabeth
Road in Lumberton at 7:30 p.m.
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PEOPLE
AND PLACES
AND THINGS
REVIVAL AT HOPEWELL
Hopewell Holiness Methodist
Church. Route 1. Rowland. North Caro
lina. will hold Revival Services May 10
through 15. 19X1. Guest Evangelists will
he Rev. Steve Jones. Rev. Steve
Locklear, Rev. Adrain Locklear. Rev.
Grady Cuniniings. Rev. Jimmy Strick
land and Rev. Samuel Wynn.
Special music will be enjoyed nightly by
both Hopewell choirs and visiting gospel
groups. The public is invited to attend
these services. Services will begin
Sunday night at 7 p.m. and other nights
at 7:30 p.m. The pastor. Rev. James H.
Woods invites the public to attend.
CLASS REUNION
Attention Pembroke Senior High's
graduating Class of 1971. It is time,
according to Or. D.E. Brooks, for your
Kith Year Class Reunion. Some con
cerned graduates would like to hear from
you. They would like to start planning
now si) that each class member can be
properly notified.
If any class member or graduate is
interested in helping to organize, please
call Ricky Johnson at 521-8365 or David
Earl Brooks at 521-8116 or 521-3431.
A REMINDER FROM THE
PROSPECTJAYCEES
The Prosper!" JiP irces .souId like to
remind everyone that May 10th is
Mother's Day. They would like to wish
all Mothers a good and happy Mother's
Day. Elmer Butler is president of the
Prospect Javcees.
CHURCH HONORS PASTOR
On Sunduv. May J. 1981 the Church of
God at Saddletree observed "Pastor
Appreciation Day." The Rev. David
Hatcher, formerly of Greensboro. NOrth
Carolina, was honored as several mem
bers made comments in appreciation of
their Pastor. Rev. and Mrs. Hatcher
were then presented many gifts from the
congregation in addition to a love
offering. The Rev. Bowman Hunt of the
Rowland Church of God was guest
speaker.
GERALD HILL SENTENCED
TO 7-10 YEARS
LUMBERTON-Gerald Hill, formerly
Lumberton's director of its housing and
redevelopment commission, has been
sentenced to 7-10 years for bribe taking
and making fraudulent payments to
contractors for the housing authority.
I'he sentence was imposed by Judge Sam
Britt Tuesday in Robeson County's
Superior Court after a relentless prose
cution by Joe Freeman Britt. the district
attorney. Hill was defended by Jim
Nance. Jr. and John Wishart Campbell.
The jury found Hill guilty of all 19
charges against him. The district attor
ney relied heavily on the testimony of
John Bennett, a former Lumbcrton City
Councilman, and a "small* jobs" con
tractor for the authority, and Joan Bacot.
a former finance officer for the authority.
Bennett charged that he "kicked ba'
some S50.000 to Hill over the cour
his employment with the auth'
It was the second trial for Hill r
higher court granted him a ne*
irregularities in his previous c
His attornies estimate that h
eligible for parole in thr.
indications are that Hill will
the conviction.
The sentence Tuesday is li.
the nine to 15 years he recei
previous trial.
Although found guilty on all 19 c
Judge Britt ordered that the sei
run concurrently.
ROBESON SCHOOL BILL DIES IN
HOUSE "FOR LACK OF SUPPORT"
RALEIGHAs expected Rep. Horace
Loeklear's proposed bill in the General
Assembly to merge Robeson County's
five remaining school units died from a
"lack of support" from the local legis
lative delegation, specifically Senator
Sam Noble and Representatives Bill Gay
and David Parnell
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The bill, seeking a referendum on the
matter, died in a state house education
committee Tuesday at the request of
Locklear.
Gay. formerly a principal at Lumberton
High School, said. "No one expressed
support for it ...probably no more than
three people..."
But Gay's tally seemingly did not add a
significant number of black and indian
Indian parents who were in favor of the
measure, including Lumbee Regional
Development Association n Pembroke
and the Robeson County Board of
Education.
KINGSDALE MANOR CELEBRATES
NATIONAL NURSING HOME
WEEK MAY 10-7, 1981
To make someone smile is a beautiful
gift. It's a gift to e shared. And what
better time to share it than during
National Nursing Home Week.
Come spend a few minutes ? .111
afternoon, together with someone in a
nursing home in our community.
During National Nursing Home Week,
visit an old friend, or make a new one. at
Kingsdale Manor, formerly Moderncare
of Lumberton. at 1555 Willis Ave.
You may think a smile is a very little
gift. But during National Nursing Ho-*
Wcek. May 10-17. such little gifts ...
make you both very happy.
PEMBROKE SENIOR HIGH
ATHLETIC BANQUET SET
FOR MAY 16
PEMBROKE--The Pembroke Senior
High School athletic banquet will be held
May lb (Saturday) at 7:30 p.m. in the
Pembroke High Cafeteria.
Guest speaker will be Dr. Gerald
Maynor. chairman of the education
department at Pembroke State Univer
sity. Dr. Maynor is also a member of the
Robeson County Board of Education.
WARD CLARK'S FURNITURE STORE
DAMAGED BY FIRE
MAXTON-Ward Clark's Shopping
Center, named ' ai?i ee Shopping Center
was heavily damaged by Are Saturday
night. The fire seemingly sprang from
the flames of a field being burned off
near by.
Damage estimates wet* set at "be
tween S25.000 and MO-OOO" although
officials figures had not been complied at
press time.
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