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I "Building Communicatlue Bridges S |
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V)N^E7<lFT I^NE 28-TH
V 872\/
Ait collectors and supporters of
Robeson County's outdoor drama,
rbe At Hie Wind" will again be
to gather at Lumberton's Ra
mada Inn on June 28 for the unveiling
and auction of a painting by Lumber
ton artist Gloria "Tara" Lowery at an
annual art dinner.
Hie SATW Art Dinner was first
held two years ago to raise funds for
the 13-year-old drama whose central
personality is a true historical char
acter, Henry Berry Lowrie, whose
outlaw exploits ? although somewhat
romanticized, according to some
accounts - are chronicled in the script
for the play.
The art dinner, sponsored by
Robeson Historical Drama, Inc. will
be the drama's largest annual fund
raiser and is expected to draw 300
guests who will pay $25.00 each and
have an opportunity to examine 20
pieces of artwork by the artist during
a hospitality hour prior to the 7 p.m.
prime-rib steak dinner. After dinner,
the commissioned five by five-foot
painting depicting members of the
Lowrie gang will be unveiled and
auctioned.
According to Robeson Historical
Drama Board Chairman, Harvey
Godwin, Jr., last year's framed
original painting of Henry Berry
Lowrie's wife, Rhoda, brought $9,000
The four by four-foot painting by
Maryland artist Ellis W. Sampson
was bought by Dr. Adolph L Dial. It
is on loan to Pembroke State
University's Native American Re
source Center.
YMRie first painting commissioned by
to drama board was of Henry Berry
Lowrie in a river scene by San Diego
artist Gene Locldear. Eugene Gene
Locklear of Lumberton now owns the
painting.
Godwin says Lowery, a Lumbee
Indian, was'selected as this year's
official art dinner artist because of her
excellent talent in capturing male
figures on canvas.
"Not only is Mrs. Lowery an
excellent artist, she's left no page or
stone unturned in researching the
history of the subjects appearing in
this special piece of artwork," Godwn
adds.
He says the board will only reveil
the subject matter of the Lowery
painting. Actual viewing of the work
by the West Robeson School art
instructor will take place at the
dinner.
He says the event will give art
collectors an opportunity to bid on the
painting as well as buy limited
printed copies of the original. Lowery
will be the exclusive artist showing
work at the event.
Tickets to the SATW Art Dinner go
on sale June 1. They may be
purchased from any Robeson Histor
ical Drama Board Member or from
the office of SATW located in PSITs
Old Main building.
For Art Dinner reservations or
information, call 919-521-2489 or
521-3112, or contact Ramada Inn in
Lumberton.
Hunt Becomes
New Row land
f -
C3o mm issioner
Voters in Robeson County con
tinued to remove incumbents from
the Board of Commissioners by"
ousting incumbent Henry Douglas
and nominating Johnny Hunt. In
cumbents Carl Britt, H T. Taylor
and Jack Morgan were turned away
by voters in the May 3 primary.
Their terms expire at the end of
November. ?
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO. . .
Benny R hett S Helen Sampson
Life since retirement has
been sweet as ^1^22^ XI (sugar)
for Benny Rhett and Helen
Sainpson. The Pembroke couple
gave a combined total of 67
years to public service before
retiring in 1976 and '77
respect ively.
For 31 years, Mr. Sampson was
Pembroke High School's Einstein. He
joined the faculty staff there in 1944,
and taught general math and science
for five years before taking over the
school's chemistry laboratory,
i And Mrs. Sampson donated more
than two decades to promoting health
and child care, homelife and wildlife
to people of Robeson County through
Home Extension Service. During a
course of 25 years, she became one
that hundreds of adults and young
people looked to for advice on
subjects which affected their life
styles.
It was at Cherokee Indian Normal
.School the couple met while students.
He was a neat formal-type young man
from a large Deep Branch community
family. She was a shy, well-schooled
in-etiquette young woman whose
mother had taught her the proper
jprocedure in setting flatware on a
dining table by age three.
After a chance meeting several
notes were delivered to Mrs. Samp
son from Mr. Sampson, which she
ignored at first At a school social
function a few weeks later, she
Inoticed how gentlemanly he really
was. His flawless appearance in dress
Icaught her eye, too.
A studious Mr. Sampson was doing
>a "sizing-up", too. "It may not have
I been love at first sight, but it was
interesting at first sight" he laughs
when remembering the first time he
met his wife of 48 years.
The 1931 school session ended and
Mr. Sampson graduated. The 19-year
|o!d received his B Teaching Certifi
cate and began teaching third and
fourth grade students at his childhood
school of Deep Branch for 11 years.
The following summer, at the
encouragement of his school teacher
and Indian Normal School trustee
father, Braxton Sampson, he left for
.Kentucky Slate Teachers College
I where he pursued study for an A
Teaching Certificate. But before he
'left, 'he worked out a formula which
Ihe figured would hold the heart of the
young Lumbee maiden he'd been
courting. He slipped an engagement
ring on her finger.
And aa he studied that summer, a
(particular formula remained ever in
jhis thoughts. It became known aa the
tFV?mr We: Watching her. Working for
'her, Waiting for her and Worthy of
iher.
He tested and tested the formula. It
'worked. The couple married in 1940.
After marriage Mrs. Sampson put
her education on hold and became a
full-time homemaker. After the birth
of her son and daughter, she returned
bo school and graduated from Che
rokee Indian Normal School in 1949.
JShe taught school at Oak Grove
ISchool for two years before becoming
the first American Indian female to be
employed with Robeson County's
Extension Serivce Her assignment as
'Assistant Associate Agent working
with Indian 4-H Youth and home
makers came before the enactment of
[the Civil Rights Bill. She was to
endure years of racial prejudice from
some fellow staff members. Even
jtraining for agents was segregated
and mixing races of homemakers was
not practiced she says.
Some positive change came about
in the 1960's when her district
extension office passed a resolution
abolishing the separation of white,
black and Indian homemaker clubs.
'' In spite of the early years of racial
^prejudices, I was committed to
'staying with the Extension Service
because of the joy I received in
working with people. I knew my
people had talent in all fields that only
needed tilling," the 71-year^old
grandmother says.
"I would have knocked myself out
until I died to prove we could compete
equally as well. Where the whites in
[the county had three female agents to
do the job, the Indians had me," she
sadly remembers.
Her hard-nose, hard-work attitude
baid off when she saw and Indian 4-H
"Club member become Robeson
County's first state officer. With
welling eyes and a swelling heart she
was to see an Indian 4-H youth win a
local, state and national award in the
health field.
| And when she retired, Mrs.
Sampson regretted that there had
I been no other Indian female employ
ed as an agent during her long
tenure.
Not only was Mrs. Sampson intent
|on turning out good human products
during her career, her husband
thrived to do the same. But what the
energetic chemistry teacher found in
the school's chemistry lab when he
'took over, left him with aghast
t >1
"The facility was extremely limited
with one sink, one Bunson burner and
{a couple of homemade thin plywood
tables," be remembers. "And them I
0
s
was with 25-30 students and expected
to teach chemistry."
Determined to build a decent lab.
he gained permission from Principal
Elmer T. Lowiy to meet with Robeson
County School Superintendent and
request funds for lab improvements.
With his list and speech in hand, Mr.
Sampson drove to Lumberton. There
he stood and argued his case
persistantly. He won and was given
authorization to purchase $5000 worth
of much-needed supplies. Two days
later on a Saturday, Mr. Sampson was
on his way back from Raleigh with a
backseat filled with bottles of chemi
cals.
"We were a bit uneasy hauling the
supplies, not knowing whether they
would explode or not," laughs Mrs.
Sampson who accompanied her hus
band on the trip.
The same school year, Mr. Samp
son negotiated with Pembroke State
College to secure six lab tables from
its science department which was
relocating to another campus build
ing. A $300 bid made to the state won
the tables for his school.
Mr. Sampson says teaching is a
training process for any teacher. And
he loved the. process. He says he
never tired of teaching chemistry.
Throughout his teaching career, the
74-yearold chemist was held in the
highest esteem by his students.
"Students aren't going to remem
ber a lot of data and detail items.
What most of them leam and value
are principles," he comments. "You
can secure as many degrees as a
thermometer and still be a fool."
When Mr. Sampson retired, he
wondered what in the world he'd do
with his time. Afterwards, he won
dered if he could develop a formula
whereas there could be more hours in
a day. There's been little slow-up in
the lives of the couple who has had
many rich experiences in traveling
thoughout the U.S. A 1964 visit to the
World's Fair in New York sparked an
interest in tour travel. Immediately
after retirement Mr. Sampson con
tracted as an independent agent with
Trail ways Coach Lines in Fayette ville
and conducted tours for eight years.
In retirement the Sampeone con
tinue to broaden their knowledge
through study of various subjects.
They've taken woodcrafts courses at
Robeson Com unity College. She's
studied art there and at P3U. She's
known far and wide for her exquisite
creations in eggery. The energetic
couple stays 'physically fit through
proper diet and exercise-mostly waft
big tw miles daily.
v."
I WHEREAS, crime and its effect
(upon the lives and property of our
citizens is of utmost concern, and the
(continued efforts of our local govern
jment, citizens' organizations and
(individuals to curb this problem is
[greatly appreciated; and
WHEREAS, the problems of crime
'touch and effect all segments of our
society, and can undermine and erode
the moral and economic strengths of
our communities and their citizens if
unabated; and
WHEREAS, public awareness and
determination to maintain the faith in
preservation of law and order and
the appreciation of the importance of
Jaw enforcement officers and their
role in preserving social order in a
democracy is everyone's responsi
bility; and
WHEREAS, Optimist Clubs and
their member^ continue to sponsor
and support programs aimed at
combating crime and disrespect for
Jaw through year round efforts;
NOW, THEREFORE, L Milton R.
Hunt, Mayor of the Town of Pern
broke, do hereby Proclaim the day o
June 4, 1988 as "RESPECT FOl
1AW DAY" and a->k the citizens c
the Town of Pembroke to join with tfc
Optimists in carrying the message of
respect for law to other citizens, and
jy example, exercise responsible
ritizenship.
IN WITNESS whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and caused the
corporate seal of the Town of
Pembroke to be affixed, this the 25th
day of May, 1988.
Milton R. Hunt, Mayor
LCPI, Ronald Eric Locklear, son of
Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Lock!ear of
Maxton, NC, is home on leave from
Kaneobe Bay, Hawaii.
Locklear is the grandson of Mrs.
Louise S. Locklear of Pembroke, NC,
and Mr. Claudie locklear of Maxton,
NC, and Mr. and Mrs. James R.
Jacobs of Maxton, NC.
locklear is an Aviation Specialist in
the United States Marines stationed
in Hawaii for 3 years. He enlishted in
the Marines in July 1986. He is a
graduate of West Robeson Senior
High.
Flora Mac Donald Academy has
announced Miss Ninn Nicole locklear
as valedictorian of the academy's
graduating class of 1988. Miss
Locklear resides with her parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Harold locklear, in
Pembroke. She is the Valedictorian of
this year's senior class, was a
marshal! in her junior year. Miss
KM A and May Queen for 1988.
She has been a member of the
basketball, softball and volleyball
teams and was co-captain of the
cheerleaders. '
Nina has attended FM A three yeaflr
and this year she is vice president of
the senior class. She also was a
JMorehead Scholarship nominee. Her
Iclub memberships include the BETA
Club (secretary). Annual Staff, Sci
ence Club, and FYench Club.
She is a member of the Bear ?
Swamp Baptist Chureh where she is
the secretary.
Benny R. and Helen Sampson enjoy a rest on their backyard patio.
Church work consumes much of
their time. He is a serious student of
the Bible and many hours are spent
weekly in preparing for the Bible
study group he teaches at Berea
Baptist Church. And since retiring as
long time Sunday School superinten
dent, he often is called on to teach
Sunday Sehool lessons.
Mr. Sampson is not a new Bible
student As a young college student
he'd cany his Bible to his father's
tobacco barn. There he'd read as he
fired Uie furnace during tobacco
curing seaaun.
"A person needs to form two
relationships in life a vertical and
horizontal relations. The vertical is
with the Lord. The horizontal is with
man," he comments.
His students would agree with their
beloved former teacher on that
formula. For it was during their
formative years at Pembroke High
School he told them, "Strive for
excellence, for you an the NaCl (salt)
of your community and of the earth."
| r. New Gospel Music
Program To Feature
I ndlan Singers
? %
Beginning June 4. 1968 a new
gospel muete program will he heard
over WT9C -680 on your a.m. dial,
Lamberton. The new program will be
aired every Saturday, beginning June
4, at 1 p.m. and lasting until 8 p.m.
The new program will be called the
Native American Gospel Hour. The
program will play gospel musk by
Native American slogan. Any Native
American group with aa album,
cassette or 8-track should call Rev.
Grover 0sen dine at 521-9678. All
Native American Gospel aingere wfil
be promoted on the program bee of
charge. Any church announcements
and a pedal singings, etc. wfll also be
mads on the program bee el charge.
MISS INDIAN
NIC PAGEANT
FLAMMED
United Tribes of North Carolina ia
pleased to announce plans to crown a
1988-89 "Mitt Indian North Caro
lina ''In September, during Indian
heritage Week. Applications art now
being accepted. Those interested in
competing for the title of "Alias
Indian North Carolina" should eon
tact:
Mrs. Patricia Maynor
Cumberland County Association
for Indian People
108 Indian Drive
Fayette villa, NC 88801
919-488-8442
To qualify for this title, you rem* be
between the ages at 18-85 yean old,
be a student and^an^enrolled member
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