I ^CS& PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY Sff
raTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOIC i
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?. THURSDAY. JANUARY 7, 1988 J
DISTRICT ATTORNEY SEEKS JUDGESHIP
District Attorney Joe Freeman Britt
Joe Freeman Britt filed Monday, January 4th, as a
candidate for nomination as Superior Court Judge in the
Democrat Party primary election to be held on May 3, 1988.
While the seat is for the newly created Judicial District 16-B,
Superior Court Judges serve statewide.
Britt, who is serving his fourth term as District Attorney for
Robeson and Scotland Counties, was admitted to the practice
of law in North Carolina and Florida in 1963 and the US Tax
Court in 1964. His trial experience includes prosecution,
criminal defense and civil litigation, with appearances up to
And including the Noilh Carolina Siprtme Court. Having
spent over 20,000 hours in the actual trial cases at the Superior
Court level, he has consistently received the highest rating for
legal ability in professional and confidential surveys.
Britt received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wake Forest
University, a Master of Science degree from the University of
Tennessee and the Juris Doctor degree from Stetson
University. A member of the visiting faculty for the National
College of District Attorneys at the University of Houston Law
Center, he received the Lecturer of Merit Award in 1984. He
was named to the College's Distinguished Faculty in 1985,
having conducted advanced trial technique workshops and
1 having lectured extensively on varied topics involving
courtroom dynamics and trial advocacy. In addition, Britt has
taught trial seminars and Continuing Legal Education courses
in seventeen states attended by lawyers from every state and
territory and a number of foreign countries. In North Carolina,
he has served as visiting lecturer for the Wake Forest School
of Law Speakers Forum (Distinguished Alumni Series), the
Duke Law Forum, Campbell Law School, the North Carolina
Bar Association, the North Carolina District Attorneys
Association and the American Association of Identification
Experts.
In the criminal justice field, Britt has served as President of
the North Carolina District Attorneys Association and on the
Executive Committee of the North Carolina Conference of
District Attorneys, the Governor's Commission on Length of
Sentences in North Carolina, the Federal-State Law
Enforcement Coordinating Committee, and the Robeson
Technical College Police Science Advisory Council. He has
published a number of articles in' professional journals
concerning trial tactics and strategy, and he is co-author of a
legal treatise unrelated to criminal law. Prior to election as
District Attorney, he served as President of the Sixteenth
Judicial Bar Association and as chairman of committees of the
North Carolina Bar Association and the Robeson County Bar
Association.
A former trustee of Pembroke State University, Britt has
served on the Executive Board of the Cape Fear Council, Boy
Scoqts of America, on the Lumberton Board of Adjustments
and Appeals and as Chairman of the Lumberton City Heart
Fund Drive. A lifelong democrat, he served two terms as
President of the Robeson County Young Democrats Club, on
the Robeson County Democratic Executive Committee and as
Precinct Chairman.
An Army veteran, Britt served on active duty with the 25th
Infantry Division. He presently holds the rank of Colonel in the
Army Reserve, having entered as private, and is a graduate of
the US Army Command and General Staff College, the
Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and the Air War
College.
Britt is married to the former Marylyn Linkhaw of
Lumberton, and they have two children, Joe, Jr.. and Natalie.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO...
LAWRENCE LOCKLEAR
By Barbara Bray bo y-Jam: Idea r
Special To Carolina btdian Voire
His sharp wit leaves listeners in awe. And Lawrence
Locklear says if he had finished high school like his father
advised, he'd probably have been in Raleigh one day. "I may
have run for office." the 93-year-old grins.
"I used to strike out walking at sunrise in order to finish the
six-mile distance to old Barton School," he adds. He says he
completed seven grades at the school which was located on the
Pembroke-Wakulla Road in Robeson County.
Locklear, a widower, married the former Hattie Dew in
1919. There were four children born to the couple. One
daughter lives today and is a patient in a local extended care
medical facility.
The Lumbee Indian says he farmed for 27 years before
giving it up. A former tenant farmer, he says, "I quit
farm work because I couldn't make a living at it." He says he
worked jobs between a cotton gin and sawmill before going to
public work at age 21. He spent 16 years doing construction
work on Fort Bragg Military base and adds, "I knew how to
take a hammer and drive a nail straight." Not content with
only carpentry skills, he learned to finish concrete and asphalt.
"I believe I built a thousand miles of highways during my
years on the job," he remembers. "I could get a job when
- pothers could not."
-. A bicycle accident over 40 years ago left Locklear lame. It
I was after a long stay in a body cast that he was able to walk
?Glided by a cane. He now walks with two canes because of
. -severe arthritis. "Old arthritis pain hit me when I was 26 years
old," he comments. He says he ignores suggestions from
, others who think he needs a walker. "I don't need a walker.
I Canes are better."
" ? So as to push his point, he spritely stands up from his chair
: and demonstrates hi^ cane-walking ability.
Eighteen months ago, Locklear became a resident of
;-Sampson Rest Home near Island Grove Baptist Church. He
-1 *ays the bi^ <est thing he does is stay around the rest home all
- -seek and go to his church on Sunday. He attends Freedom
^Assembly.
v He has strong views on how people should live a Christian
- life. One thing they must not do is gossip. He says it gets on
- his nerves.
; "It almost kills me. I call one a fool when he's running his
I mouth all the time about people." Pointing to his tongue, he
I^exclaims, "I don't use this! And when one does, I don't want
I him. God don't want him and will not have him."
I . Tapping one of his canes against the floor, he laments, '' Did
T you know a tongue tattler? There's no heaven for him."
? Locklear attributes his longevity to God and a longtime >
practice of respecting others. "I was good to my mother, and I
always honored all old people."
>1 Reclining on the edge of his bed, he continues, "If a man
^'.was black as tar, I honored him. If he was white as snow, I
y honored him. The way I look at it, we're all people, and God
? ;made us all." Tapping both canes together, he adds, "Why
I-are you going to have race prejudice for? That's a sin."
An occasional bout with indigestion reminds Locklear to
stay away from some foods. "I like vegetables, but I wouldn't
eat pork meat if you were to buy it and give it to me." He says
the fatal illness of his father influenced his decision to give up
pork consumption 44 years ago.
Most days catch Locklear dressed in his "week-end"
(Sunday) clothes. He says he might as well wear them since he
no longer needs work clothes. He retired 28 years ago.
Among the things he likes are non-gossiping people and
listening to the radio located in his room.
For almost a century, the sage has received blessings from
prayers he uttered decades ago, "I prayed to God to give me
my wisdom, my knowledge, mv everything."
Pearlean Revels Out
As Elections Supervisor
At press time, Mr. Ray Revels, who was voted in Tuesday
night as Supervisor of Elections for the Robeson County Board
of Elections, was the only employee on duty. One source
stated that some of the employees wereftuf. sick and others
were on vacation. Full coverage of this next
week. We will also explore the politics in Robeson County
which resulted in overlooking 16 years of service by Feariene
Revels and the hiring of Ray Revels. We will try ?a Colore the
reasons the only Indian on the Board of Elections, Adolph
Blue, would vote against another Indian....
N, 0
HENRY BERRY LO WRLE LIVES ON
Left to right: Robert Locklenr, General Manager, Strike at
the Wind; Adolph Dial, Professor, Pembroke State University;
North Carolina Indian history received a bit of its past, when
Jimmy and Frankie Locklear donated the Henry Berry lowrie
House to the N.C. Indian Cultural Center today.
The house was Henry Berry Lowrie's birthplace and
childhood home. It was also the place which his wife, Rhoda -
Strong, called home at various times during their life together.
Legends abound regarding the house and the famous Indian
Robin Hood's hideout from the Home Guard of Robeson
County as well as the tragic stones ot "revenge," killing of
Henry's Dad and brothers.
Jimmy and Frankie locklear donated the house to the N.C.
Indian Cultural Center, whith the agreement that the house be
restored as historically accurate as possible so that
generations of Indian people and Americans all over this
nation might learn about Henry Berry. Henry Berry Iowrie
fought to free Indian pople'from bondage and give them an
opportunity to be free, with the full rights accorded American
citizens. This story is told each summer in the drama "Strike
at the Wind" which operates from July 4th through labor Day
weekend.
Professor Adolph L Dial, Chairman of the Native American
- m - ? ? ?
Dr. He If Ji M. Srheirlteek, Director, N. ('. Indian Cultural
Center, he.: Jimmy Ixteklear, Donor, Lorldear Trucking
Company.'
Studies Department at Pembroke State University, gave the
Cultural Center a challenge grant of $5,000 for the purpose of
moving and restoring the Henry Berry Lowrie House at the
Cultural Center's site.
~~ In accepting th> donation of the house from Jimmy and
Frankie Iocklear and the challenge grant from Professor
Adolph L. Ihal, Dr. Helen M. Scheirheck, the Centers
Development Director, noted; " It is an importaptujilfstPQe in ,.
the Center's history that "its rirst major donation of historic
property and financial assistance comes from three Indian
people".
This donation illustrates the importance and necessity of
local Indian involvement in the planning, operations, and
financial assistance to the N.C. Indian Cultural Center.
Dr. Scheirheck invites any member wishing to assist in
restoring the Henry Berry lowrie house to call or write the
N.C. Indian Cultural Center, Inc. P.O. Box 1285, Pembroke.
N.C. 28372 ? telephone 521 2433. The Center is a non profit
organization dedicated to preserving, maintaining, and
strengthening Indian culture and tradition.
Currently the Center is involved in developing a master plan
for use of the site.
Lasting Impressions Of <
World War U
By Sam Kerns
Special To The
Carolina Indian Voice
This week concludes the
series of articles on Mr.
James Godwin as he remem
bered his experiences shortly
after the dropping of the
atomic bombs on Japan at the
end of World War II.
* After Mr. Godwin returned
to the United States, he
continued to have severe phy
sical problems as a result of
what he feels was exposure to
the radiation during the clean
up after the bombs were
dropped. It was around 1958
when he began to have ulcers
on his legs and they started to
become plaster-like, similar to
the consistency of the old
timey plaster-like dolls. Mr.
Godwin says that Dr. D.E.
Ward of Lumberton treated
him and cured the ulcer,
problem in 1972. He related
that Dr. Ward indicated that
he was not very knowledge
able about radiation poison
ing.
One doctor at the VA
Hospital wanted to amputate
his legs due to poor circula
tion and the periodic tendency
of his legs to turn black.
In January 1980 his legs
and eyes became swollen and
he went to the VA Hospital in
Fayetteville, NC but relates
that the docton said that they
did not understand what his
problem was coming from.
The VA never would admit
that his problems were com
ing from radiation poisoning.
He left Fayetteville and went
to Duke Hospital where he
has been receiving treatment
but the doctors there seem
secretive and will not tell him
the cause of his problem. All
of his medication was than
ged and he was given silver
dene cream to use on the
rashes which break out on his
legs and arms. The cream is
used to treat third degree
burns and as a treatment for
exposure to radiation.
Mr. James Godwin says
that he is interested in finding
out exactly what caused his
condition because he is not
service-connected disabled by
the VA. He says that he has
what is called an improved
pension. As a result, his
descendants, who are also
having some health problems
that could be attributed to his
exposure to radiation, are not
eligible for any medical treat
ment by the government.
One doctor at Duke told M r.
Godwin that he is like a
walking time-bomb, subject to
die from his illness any
minute. When he asked thf
doctors for copies of his
records they told him that
they are classified. When he
gave Dr. Frank Warriax a
power-of-attorney to get his
records he relates that Dr.
Warriax was not successful.
James Godwin feels that he
is part of a continuing study
"*by the VA into the long term
effects of persons exposed to
radiation. He also feels that
the government is not treating
Americans as they are treat
ing the Japanese who also
were exposed to radiation.
When asked if he had any
ill feelings toward the US
Government he said, "No.
We had a job to do and we did
it" He does feel that the
government has a responsibi
lity to take care of the medical
treatment of all veterans and
their descendants who are
Contmu*d on foot 4
SUIT CHALLENGES ELECTORAL
SCHEMES
AND BOUNDARY LINES
At approximately 10 a.m. on December 30, 1987 plaintiff.-'
attorneys filed a voting rights colnplaint in the US District
Court for the eastern district of North Carolim, Fayetteville
division.
The complaint is for declarative and injunctive relief under
Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and the first, fourteenth and
fifteenth amendments of the US Constitution.
The defendants are the memlers of the four city boards of
education and the members of ihd Robeson County Board o.
Education. The Robeson County Board of Education is a part;
to this action due only to the fact that potential relief granted
to plaintiffs in this action may affect their boundary lines. The
Robeson County Board has an admirable record for equity in
racial representation and their district plans are an example . .
for all people.
The purpose of this action is to challenge "at large"
electoral schemes and boundary lines that deprive largt
segments of our population an effective and realisti<
opportunity to participate in the governance of our
educational systems. For example: the Lomberton School
administrative unit elects 6 Whites, no Indians and 1 Black to
its boafd with an at large system. The Lumberton City Council
elects 3 Blacks, 1 Indian and 4 Whites with a district system.
The "at large" system clearly works to deny Blacks and
Indians an opportunity to serve on *:ie board of education that
governs a student population that is 54% Black and Indian.
The "at large" system not only tends to elect representatives
from one or two precincts but in some cases atmott next door
neighbors, thus denying true geographic representation. *
This same scenario is repeated in the electoral process of St
Pauls, Red Springs, and Fairmont Boards of Education. W
contend that these electoral processes are patently unfair anc
rob the educational community of the vital participation and
interest of broad based segments of our population.
Our main objective is to increase the participation in and ,
involvement with the education of all 25,000 students in
Robeson County. Our county has staggering facility needs (72
million dollars), inequity in educational opportunity, and oqe,
of the highest illiteracy rates in the nation. We need a united
effort to attack these problems. We need broad baaed,
tri racial teams to manage the effort.
A recent newspaper editorial sums up oar position: "We ^ I
can think of nothing that would make for a healthier politics,
a mors effective public educational effort, and ? a mors
wholesome public confidence in local government than...to
put aside the anachronistic at large electoral a/alam."
(Fbystteudls Jim., Oct 25, 1287, in reference to Hadeo
County) We feel *at the same sftatffon is appHtahls to