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PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY <4? ? ? U
raTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOIt 1
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"Building Communicative Bridges DOOFfiOM JVMIAfTl ? ?<
I PEMBROKE. NwC . In A Tri-raga! Setting." . HLEfcbVlN UUUWn
^ 2% CENTO VHURSDA Y~JANUARY U^JSSS J
JULIAN PIERCE ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY
FOR SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE
JUlJ AS PIERCE
Julian Fierce, who has served as Executive Director of
Lumbee River feegal Services, Pembroke, announces his
candidacy for Superior Court Judge of Robeson County. Pierce
made his announcement at a press conference on Monday at
the Ramada Inn in Lumberton. Pierce released the following
statement:
"It's time for a change in Robeson County! It is time for our
Court Systems to demonstrate an ability to serve all the people"*
of Robeson County. It is time for us to elect court officials who
have proven their willingness to apply the law fairly and
objectively. It is time for us u> begin to restore trust and pride
in our judicial system in Robeson County. Therefore, on
Friday, I resigned my position as Executive Director of
Lumbee River legal Services in order to file with the State
Board of Elections notice of my candidacy for Superior Court
Judge of Robeson County.
"I bring to this position a wealth of education, legal and
administrative experience. I am a graduate of Pembroke State
University and North Carolina Central University School of
law. I also have a Masters in Law from Georgetown University
law Center in Washington, D.C., and I have been practicing
law for over eleven years. I have practiced law in the United
Stales Supreme Court, the United States Circuit Court of
Appeals, and the United States District Court. On the state
level, I have practiced before the North Carolina Supreme
Court, the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North
Carolina Superior Court and the North Carolina District
Courts. I have also practiced before both federal and state
administrative agencies. I have litigated cases in a broad
range of substantive law areas with which a Superior Court
Judge must be familiar. My experience has not been limited to
one major area; it is broad based. I have experience in
interpreting and applying stale and federal administrative
regulations, experience in state and federal constitutional
issues, and experience in civil rights claims, personal injury
claims, real and personal property, title disputes, contracts,
and many other areas of law.
"I bring to this race diversified legal experience.
Furthermore, I possess the judicial temperment, compassion,
integrity, dedication and competency to be an excellent
Superior Court Judge. I believe in the people's right to open
govenment and their right to be judged fairly, objectively and
impartially. If you look at my background you will And that I
have dedicated myself to representing all segments of our
society. More importantly, I have been willing to represent
clients whose interests were apparently adverse to the
interests of the majority. I have done this because I know that
in the long run, the protection of such interests is vital to our
democratic system of government and to the maintenance of
the rights given us by our State and Federal Constitutions.
"I also enter this race because of my commitment to the
citizens of Robeson County. I am very concerned about our
community and have dedicated a substantial amount of my
time to serving it, I currently serve as Chairman of two major
non-profit corporations in this community. First, I am
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Robeson Health Care
Corporation. This corporation was formed in 1985 to provide
affordable and accessible health care in the rural areas of
Robeson County. Robeson Health Care Corporation has a 1.4
million dollar budget, employs a staff of more than 40 people
and maintains three fully staffed medical clinics, one located
in each of the towns of Pembroke, Maxton and Fairmont. I am ,
proud to serve as Chairman of this Board. Not only are we
making medical care more accessible to all the citizens in
these areas, we are also providing a means for low income
persons .to receive affordable medical treatment that they
would otherwise not be able to receive. Second," for the past
year I have served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for
the Robeson Historical Drama Association which produces this
county's outdoor drama "Strike at the Wind." I am proud to
service this organization because of the drama's artistic,
historical and educational value to this county. I have willingly
given the time required to these organizations because I
believe they are important to the future growth and prosperity
of this county.
"We, as Robsonians, should look to the future and work
together to improve the economic, cultural, social and political
opportunities for all of this county's citizens. We should work
together to elect a Superior Court Judge who has judicial
temperament and compassion -one who will judge fairly,
objectively and impartially. Therefore I seek the support of the
citizens of Robeson County in the primary election on
Tuesday, May 3rd, as together, we strive to restore trust and
pride in our judicial system in Robeson County."
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO
Maudie Chavis Revels
MAUDIE CHA VIS REVELS
By Barbara Brayboy-Locldear
Special To The Carolina Indian Voice
It's against the nature of Maudie C. Revels to say "no"
wh?n it comes to serving others. "I just can't turn people
down," says the rural St. Pauls resident. Her husband of 51
years says if she had a billion dollars, she'd have it only two
days before giving it away.
The 70 year-old Lumbee Indian says the value of sharing
and raring was instilled in her by her late mother. Revels, one
of stx ciaugntere bom to tenant farmers, grew up in the
Saddletree Community.
"I've always looked for somebody who needed me, and I
helped them," she comments. She says the giving spirit is a
carryover from childhood days when her mother sent her to
deliver baked goods and other foods to neighbors who were
shut in. The goods were delivered by a small wagon,
hand-pulled by the youngster. Today, when the retired
nutritionist is unable to deliver baked items and gifts to
friends and neighbors, one of her five children acts as a
carrier.
For more than five decades. Revels has concerned herself
with preparing nutritious foods for her family and others.
Shortly after marriage, she and her husband, Herdman, built
a restaurant near their home alongsid *jsy US Highway 301
outside St. Pauls in Robeson Count} Working long hours
serving tourists didn't bother the you j energetic mother.
And the industrial kitchen lent her the >portunity to test an
array of recipes she normally wouldn't tave done at home.
She began making randies to sell to t e travelers dining at
the busy restaurant which operated 24 i. >urs during the 40'>?
Once she had perfected her candy making she began making
hor d'oeuvres. News of her scrumptious astries and fancy
candies quickly spread throughout the community, and
requests came for her to cater social events.
For 20 years, she juggled her time among managing a
family, restaurant and cottage rentals. Traffic along Hwy. 301
lessened with the construction of I 95 through Lumberton. and
the Revelses eventually closed the restaurant which had
served thousands of hungry tourists.
Revels took a short sabbatical from the 24-hour business
way-of-life. Not having enough to do every day, she thought,
"How'd it be to get out and work for somebody else?"
She says the late 0. Tom Blanks encouraged her to apply for
a position with Robeson County Extension Service. In 1969.
she joined the staff as a nutritionist aide. During the ten years
with the service, she taught nutrition to various gruups, in
private homes and to school children throughout Robeson
County. She retired in 1979.
Decades of hard work and subsequent poor health have
done little to break the spirit of Revels. 'T ve always looked up
in dealing with my illness during recent years." she says. An
automobile accident in 1975 left her confined to her bed for
weeks. Rather than wallow in pity, she rekindled her interest
in crocheting-a needlecraft she'd learned at age 12. Lying flat
on her back in bed at home, she created her first afghan.
There was to be another automobile accident two years later.
Those who know Revels say she worries about everyone*
except herself. She says her strong Christian faith leaves no
room for s'"f-pity.
In 1985, after undergoing open heart surgery, she offered
consalence to her worried family and pastor. "It's like I'm
sitting on a fence. It doesn't matter whether I get better or
not. Either way, I'm going to be alright." She says she was
spared because she was never afraid to die.
Today.- fully recovered from that operation, she busies
herself around her home. She enjoys visits from her
grandchildren, whom she refers to as her " buddy-buddies."
Crocheting consumes- much of her time during the day.
And when she gets really bored, she makes candy in her
kitchen which has served three generations of candy lovers.
She says she has no idea how many different kinds of randies
she's prepared over the years, because she experiments right
much. "I've never made a bad batch yet," she adds. "I've
never gotten tired of cooking after all these years."
Revels says of her life, "I've had a good life. I can't
grumble. I've done most of the things I've wanted to do."
The quality of her life is measured in service to her family,
community and church. And serving others has never been a
bother to Maudie C. Revels. No bother at all.
N.C. Senior Citizen Queen Pearl Lowery Bell
PhlARL LOWERY BELL
By Barbara Bmyboy-Lor Hear
Special To The Carolina Indian Voice
Pearl Lowery Bell ignored the advice ot a local baptist
minister and joined a senior citizens club. After all, she is 68
years old and retired. ?
"The preacher said, 'the worst thing one could do after
retirement is to get with senior dtixens,'" laughs the
great-grandmother.
Two years ago, she retired from her nuns's assistant
position at Southeastern General Hospital. She had given 20
years to caring for the ill at the Lumbeiton medical facility.
With more time on her hands than ever before, she Joined the
Seddletree Senior Citisens Club in rural Lumbeiton.
Last fall, when time came to select a candidate to enter
Citizen Coronation, the Lumbee Indian was drafted by her. ?
fellow club members. Her candidacy was further endorsed by
Lumbee Regional Development Association, an area American
Indian affairs agency based in Pembroke.
The coronation, sponsored by the N.C. Indian Senior
Citizens Coalition, was scheduled, and Bell was getting
nervous trying to decide what she'd do for the talent division
of the competition. Her love for gospel music, & her lifetime
practice of singing spirituals helped her to make the decision
to sing in the event.
Once her song selection had been made, the pumberton
resident embarked on the task of finding printed music for her
choice. After several attempts, she was able to locate a
recording of the hymn.
"I met with a local group of gospel singers and listened to
them sing the song," she remembers. "I then practiced
singing with a pianist a couple of nights." She says she was so
determined to get the song perfect that she'd put the recorded
cassette in her automobile's tape player and sing along as she
rode up and down the highway.
Days leading up to the scheduled event found Bell busy
shopping for the "just-right" gown, shoes and accessories to
wear in the coronation. A local civic organization rallied
financial support for the contestant The United Saddletree
Center-an offspring of the Saddletree Jaycees-made available
funds for her hotel lodging. LRDA, her main sponsor, shared
in wardrobe costs.
After weeks of preparatipn, the grandmother arrived at the
hotel in Fayetteville to face her competition. She waa one of
eight Native American senior citizens vying for the title of
queen.
On stage, with family, club members and state Indian
officials watching, Bell presented her musical rendition of "I
Want To Be Together In Heaven."
"Before I finished singing, I felt my legs shaking," she
comments. She was able to complete her talent without
anyone's recognizing her nervousness. At that point, BeO says
there were three contestants left to present their talent.
So as to assess her chances at winning, she thought quietly,
"Unless they've got something real good. I stand a chance of
winning."
All the weeks of her preparing paid off for Bell when it was
announced she was the new queen. Wearing the official cape
and handbeaded crown, the proud winner gave an encore of
her talent to the insistent audience. * ?
With the title came a trophy, cash prise, roses, gifts and
cards from the state's 14 American Indian organisations.
Bertha I?fkiaar of the Saddletree Senior Citisens Club
Southeast Native Americans Honor Chief Junaluska
Revit Simeon Cummin gt
thoum left recetvii 7 1 < h? vk
for $500.00 frvvi Frank
Daughtrey, FUNT1 Pembroke,
for the Native Americati Pro
ject
A bronze bust of Chief Junaluska will be unveiled at Lake
Junaluska Assembly, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina on July
12, 1988, during the 1988 SE Jurisdictional Conference of the
United Methodist Church states The Reverend Simeon F.
Cummings, Coordinator of the Southeastern Jurisdic ion
Association for Native American Ministries located in
Pembroke, North Carolina, and a member of the Boan of
Trustees of the lake Junaluska Assembly; sponsored by the
Lake Junaluska Assembly Trustees.
The life span of the celebrated Cherokee Chieftain,
Junaluska, is believed to lave covered a full century,
beginning in 1758. His life is closely interwoven with this
nation's most turbulent, exciting, and radical years, dating
back to when his people were the first Americans, before the
white settlers came. The courage and heroism that
characterized his life has been described as the relationship
that in all times unites a great person with- other people.
? Historians have described him as a man with a powerful
mind and body, quick to see, to reason, and to act Also, as
being very friendly and a great lover of nature. Together with ,*
recently presented Bell with an engraved plaque from tha'
club in recognition of her accomplishment.
Bell has been busy since receiving her crown. Her year's
reign enables her to officially represent hundreds of Nativ
American Senior Citisens throughout N.C. in publit
appearances.
The lovely and poised Indian still finds time to be an active
retiree. She says she enjoys keeping house,
needlecrafts, traveling and her weekly gathering with her
senior citiren dub members. Hie past two years as an official
senior citisen have sparfced-new energy, friends and public
recognition for her.
Bell has proven that one cannot argte that being with senior
dtisens is the worst thing one can do after retirement For her
accomplishments have defied the ill-advice ones given.
his warriors, he saved the life of General Andrew Jackson at
the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, and for bravery and
faithfulness. North Carolina made him a citizen and gave him
land in Graham County.
Rev. Cummings is requesting Native Americans, especially
in the Southeast, to be a part of this special project > y giving a
contribution honoring Junaluska, a Cherokee In'! an Chief.
The life size bronze toreo (including arms a 1 hands) of
Chief Junaluska will be set on a native stone f- ndation and
placed in front of Stuart Auditorium on the g unds of Lake
Junaluska Assembly which is the conferen and retreat
center of the United Methodist Church o! the Southeast
Jurisdiction. Hie Assembly gets its name ffun. the Cherokee
Chief. The statue jn memory of this outstanding Cherokee
leader will represent all the Native Americ. Tribes in the
Southeast A bronze plaque will be placed on tl <? foundation to
list (upon request) tribes making a contribute to the project
The estimated cost of the memorial is <10,000; funds
received above the cost of the memorial ? Jl be used for
? ? ? ? ?
scholars nips tor Native American students who ha< ?financial
needs,
A cordial invitation is given to all to sttend and ne s part of
this historical event the unveiling of the memorial.
More than 60.000 people visit Lake Junaluska Assembly
annually. The Assembly is located near Interstate 40 and U.S.
Highway 19 at the foot of the Greet Smokey Mountains
National Park and in view of the Blue Ridge Tarkway.
Send y?ur gift or contribution (gifts or contributions are tax
deductible) listing individual s name, address, <ity, state aad
sip. Make check payable to: Native Ameii-an Minlshifci~