| The Carolina Indian Voice |
Pembroke, NC
/
"Building communicative bridges in a trifacial setting"
Robeson County
Ronnie Sutton To Chair
Democratic Party
Attorney Ronnie Sutton mi elected u the Chairmen of
the Robeaon County Democratic Party at the County
Courthouse April ft, 1991 at the Robeson County
Courthouse.
Other officers in the Robeson County Democratic Party
an Jo Ann Loddear, Lumberton, First Vice Chairman;
Wade Seaiey, Fairmont, Second Vice Chairman; Jennifer
G. Middee, Lumberton, Third Vice Chairman; Francis M.
Cummings, Lumberton, Secretary; Marion Thompson.
Lumberton, Treasurer; Rose Marie Lowry, Pembroke.
Assistant Treasurer, and Cliff Sampson, Jr., Pembroke,
Chaplain.
Elected to the State Executive Committee were Thomas
Jooee, Jr., Chalmers Biggs, Johnny Hunt, Rev. Joy
Johnson, Mrs. Janie Silvers and Cliff Sampson, Jr.
Chairman Sutton is a partner in the law firm of Locklear
Jacobs and Sutton in Pembroke. His primary area of law
practice is personal injury litigation. Sutton also the
town attorney for the Town of Pembroke.
Prior to returning to Robe eon County, Sutton retired in
1982 from the U.S. Navy after completing his career as a
naval aviator. Retiring as a commander, Sutton is a
graduate of the UNC Chapel Hfll School of Law, Central
Michigan University, the Naval War College and the
University of West Florida. In addition, he did
undergraduate work at Pembroke State prior to joining
Navy Flight Program in 1984.
Sutton resides with his wife and daughter, Fonda, in
the Philadelphus precinct His oldest daughter Ronette, a
1989 graduate of PSU, is in graduate school at UNC
Chapel Hill.
Chairman Sutton indicates that he is looking forward to
strengthening the Democratic Party in Robeson County
and expects to have a good working relationship with all
county citizens and voters.
County Area-Wide Crusade
Te Be Held May 5-9
American vouth >n? in bwihu Ri-ir helDine vouth todav to stav on track.
determined to do something about it Rick knows that the
tmgglna young people face today are mind boggling. He
i> aware that in the next 60 minutes...58 young people
ages 12-18 will attempt suicide; 28 teenage girls under 19
will have an abortion; 1,370 young people will take some
form of a drag; 376 teenagers will drink an alcoholic
beverage; 570 will become victims of broken homes; and
114 will ran away bom home.
The only way to meet this crisis is head-on, and this is
what Rick Gage does best He knows how to communicate
with young people. His dynamic and direct style wins
their confidence and keeps them listening. Rick doesn't
deal in theory, but in fact His message is practical, and
rooted in reality.
As an educator, Rick Gage built his philosophy on the
firm foundation of truth and integrity. It comes through
clearly whenever he speaks.
As an athlete, Rick Gage learned the priority of
discipline- - ph ysically, mentally, and spiritually.
As a college coach, Rick Gage infused his players with a
drive for excellence, regardless of the game's outcome.
But Rick hasn't always been a glowing success. Like so
many of this generation, he has experienced the trauma of
drags and alcohol. And he knows first hand the deep hurt
of a troubled adolescent That's why Rick is committed to
Through his On Track high school assembly program
and other speaking engagements. Rick Gage has
communicated to hundres of thousands ot teenagers
from Anchorage. Alaska to Miami, Florida. Whether
speaking to an entire student body or to a group of
athletes. Rick always gets his message across. He
captivates young audiences with honest views on timely
yet controversial subjects. Ride's primary concern is that
American young peopel stay On Track by avoiding the
pitfalls of drugs, alcohol, and teenage suicide. And when
he talks, they do listen.
Rick Gage will be the guest speaker at the Robeson
County Area-Wide Crusade to be held at the Lumberton
High School Stadium May 5-9, 1991 beginning at 7:80
p.m. The public is cordially invited to attend these
services.
During his week in Robeson County, Rick Gage will also
speak to most of the high school students in the county.
This effort is being coordinated by the Community
Schools Program of the Public Schools (Wyatt Johnson
Director).
The County Wide Crusade is a non-denomination event
that is being sponsored by local churches and church
groups in the county.
Whatever Happened to...
Eva Chavis Jones
by Barbara Braveboy-Lockiear
Special to IS* Carolina Indian Voice
Once upon a time 83 years ago a baby was born to a
minister and his wife who lived in the SL Anna
Community outside Pembroke. Hie female child was
named Evalina by her grandparents. Two aunts of the
newborn cast two sets of eyes upon the child and decided
such a name was insufficient for such a beautiful Indian
baby.
So it ems, through collaboration of the aunts, the child
was called Evalina Rosebud Tadpole Follywad Toebiter
Chavis.
"It became a mouthful of a name." laughs Mrs. Eva
Chavis Jones as She recounts early childhood years
answering the call of the name. She says though she loved
her aunts dearly, the name they gave her was less
endearing.
And now though she uses only the first of her given
names, she can still troll the other four as though it were
eight decades yonder.
Bom one of 11 children to the Reverend George Chavis
and Lucy Barton Chavis. Mrs. Jones spent her early
childhood yean moving from one (arming community to
another as bar minister/ sharecropper lather took various
farm assignments in Robeson County. Among schools she
attended as a young child were Pembroke, Joe Branch,
Green Grove and Harper's Ferry. Mrs. Jones says there
were no school grade levels as such.
"I knew when I completed my seventh year Reader I
was ready for Indian Normal High School."
After completing the Reader she enrolled in the high
aehoiol where she made daily treks to study. By now her
parents had moved to a 20 acre farm inherited from her
maternal grandparents, near what is now U.R Highway
74. It was at the farm a few mOes southeast of Pembroke,
in 1988. disaster struck.
"It was high water time that year in Robeson County
when the Lambee River reached crest and spilled over
onto low-lying land surrounding it," Mrs. Jones
comments of the flooding of area farm crops. The swelling
of the river shattered any hope of crop recovery.
Packing up their belongings, the Chavis family moved
to a Cum in the Red Springs area. Like ashes in the wind,
the inherited farm stood rain and debt^ soaked.
"Mama, if you will help me get through school, I
promise I will work to get the debt off your farm, " Ev&lina
says aha cried to her mother.
t" You reckon you'll stay single long enough to do that?"
"I don't techon anything," came the young daughter's
response. "I know It"
So as to continue school Mrs. Jones remained behind
with her grandmother when the family moved to Red
Springs. And while she adored her, she sorely missed her
mother. So it was that every two weeks the teenager
would walk round trip from the farm on Highway 74 to
Rad Springs to visit her relocated family.
By 1982 Mis. Jooes had satisfied requirements for s
high school diploma and earned her "B" teaching
oartlfhato from kxhan Normal School in fanbroke.
The task beiote bar became ooe of satisfying a promise
she'd earlier made to her mother.
hi 1982 the young graduate took her first teaching
petition at Cape ft* Indian Sehoot near Fayette villc.
Teaching gradaa one through seven, she earned forty-five
doOars per month. Fh? that salary she paid her boarding
easts plus monthly train fares to Red Springs to visit her
lie teaching assignment ended a year later when Mrs.
Jsoes went to teach Indian children in Little Philadelphia,
a oae-room school located near Red Springs.
A tow yean earlier while in college, Mr*. Jones
ettsadirt a ainging convention at 8L Anna Church and
"eyed" the most handsome youag Indian man ahe'd ever
seen. They were introduced the same day. A courtship
developed between them and a few months later he
pished up enough nerve to blurt out, "I love you." The
nnahaslrn was too mush too soon for the doubter who
bad premised her mother she'd stay (ingle and help pay
off the fomfly form before marrying.
Mm. Jenaa says she stood etaadfsst in her promiee and
1st the handsome young man aBdefosm her Mfo. After a
yearn taCT'ta* 1MB. after settling fotT's'lMshlng
prsfoarien, Bveiins Chnvfo mstried Blahsy Jones In a
sosMHny at the hams of the Reverend Lawtenss Msyner.
IteeMffo did net begin nmiriad Mfo tegather because
she was committed to working on the family (arm which
she'd worked to save, and he was engaged in fanning
near Red Springs. Neither one owned an automobile at
marriage and the groom would visit bis bride on Sunday
and Wednesday nights for an entire year before
circumstance would allow the couple to begin living
together on a rented farm in the Hopewell community.
Later on the couple moved to the Union Chapel
Community where they remained.
Mrs. Jones continued teaching school in assignments at
McDonald, Green Grove, Rennert and Union Chapel.
After 19 yean in the classroom she chose to retire rather
than return to college to upgrade her teaching certificate,
"ft would have meant going full time and my commitment
to working on the farm with my husband would not allow
it," she explains.
After leaving the classroom, Mrs. Jones supplemented
the family income through direct sales ot home products,
cosmetics, and arts and crafts. Mr. Jones, in addition to
being s farmer; was s part time barber.
Mrs. Jones says she had always wanted a large family,
ft was a desire unfulfilled when she and her husband
suffered the loss of their first bora child, s still born son.
A second son died at age two months. They were to see
their third and last biological child, a daughter grow into
adulthoood. Knowing there would be no more natural
children bom to them, the couple adopted a daughter in
1954. In 1960 the Joneses became foster parents; opening
their home to 35 footer children for 12 yean to follow.
In 1964, on the forty-ninth anniversary of the couple's
wedding. Mr. Jones fell suddenly ill and died.
Mr*. Ek>a Ckavit Jontt
With an unfa]taring spiritual faith, hi* widow has
praased on, staying active in liar beloved Union Chapel
Methodist Church where aha has held membership for
mora than SO years. She belongs to her community's
senior dtiaeos club which meets weekly at her church.
There on Thuradays they hand paint and aew
commissioned quilts of exclusive Mian themes and
Hm ipunlqr graat-grandmothor. togatbar with Mo of
har aiatera two yaara ago, raturnad aa ait atudante to their
alma mater, now ftmbroha Slate Univanhy. Mm. Jone*
aaya of the oaparianca, "It waa an honor for ua to ratum
and late aa art oouraa in painting and jawaby making."
An aariter art elaaa aponaoiad by Rohaaon Communit)
Collaga had aauaad tha art hug to bite bar, aha aaya.
Roturaiag to aa art aladte U not la tba pletum right now.
"Tao many atbor Uula thlaga Tm doing prohibit It"
Hor lava tarflowara baa hrpt bar baay of lata. Andihi*
aprtng, Inrthafbattima fat mora than Bo yaara, aba didn't
plant a Mgatahli gardaa,
"1 annate boou up bote a vagotabta gardaa nad auaad
la my yard. My flowara mate bava attention or tkoy won' I
bo pratty."
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION /
An Earth Day Celebration and Clean Up program will
held at the North Carolina Indian Cultural Center on
Saturday, April 20, according to Bruce Swett, site
manager for the Indian Cultural Center. The event will
start with volunteer efforts to clean up selected areas and
wend with an afternoon program of entertainment and
educational presentations about efforts to protect the
" YehtEtees* *r* urged to join us in oar efforts to clean
up selected roadways aeer the Indian Cultural Center and
to keep Robeson County clean and green," said Mr.
Swett. He noted that volunteers who wish to assist with
the clean up activities should come to the security office at
die Cultural Center at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Mr. Swett said the Earth Day Celebration will include
an afternoon of family entertainment and presentations
on ways to protect the environment The program will be
held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the picnic area at the
Cultural Center. Other activities will include boating on
the lake, walking tours of the site, and children s games.
Admission for the Earth Day Celebration is free. There
will be sales of food and drinks.
Mr. Swett said, "We can make a big difference in
appearance of our community by making small changes in
the ways we handle trash." He said people should follow
the Robeson County Clean Community Flan. People
should quit litering, use a liter bag, and adopt a highway,
he said.
Mr. SweU said we can reduce the amount of trash by
recyclying. "At least 25 percent of our trash is a valuable
resource and can be recycled." he said. People should
recycle paper, aluminum, plastic and glass, he said.
There are recycling centers in the area that will accept
these items and will pay you cash for them, be said.
For more information, contact the Indian Cultural Center
at (919) 521-2433.
Groundbreaking ceremonies were hold at the new site
for the futon Mount Olive Pentecoetal Holme st Church of
Pembroke an Easter Sunday, March Slot Parhcrpattng m
the event were (Iter) Mr. Aehford LocMear, Elder; Rev.
Musis Poind, former Pastor; Mr. John Allen Smith,
Afar, Deacon, teed Raiding Committee Chairman, Larry
LocUear. Deacon: Rev John Parker Eurovecm Suvervi
mmm^mi^^mee | jiiw v, emrawen a nee iw a , m^vee a w
eorof P. H- Missions who was guest speaker for the day.
Rev. Timothy 0. Creel, Pastor of Mt Obve Church;
McDeffie Cummings, Pembroke Town Manager; Hon.
Miton Hunt, Mayor of Pembroke; David Lousy, Deacon;
Chariie LockUar, Deacon.; Eksha LockUar, Deacon. [Afe<
pictured: Randolph Oxendine, Elder BurBa Maynor,
Bder and AM Graham, EUar, who could not attend
because of mcAmm.) The now church and educational
plant which it expected to coot over $600,000 wdl
hopefully be completed within 18 month*. Special singing
at the old ML Olive Church juot prior to the
groundbreaking wot furnished by the "Bam Believers"
of Pembroke along with an Easter mesoage by Bsv. John
Parker of Dunn, NC. ?
[Photo by Sgt Wm. P. Revels)
The vegetarian's love for fresh green vegetables won't
go unfed because her daughter end son-in-lew's one-acre
garden will jMd ample supplies of collards. turnips and
beans. And these will go just great along with the
corn breed she has so much enjoyed since very early
childhood meals.
Mm. Jonas says she enjoys good health and has
guarded it over the years with proper diet, exercise sad
All the credit for her good health end s long life she
dose not claim. "Tve tried to work for the Master since I
was 18 years old...to do His will is to try hard to take cars -
of my body and serve Him," she says softly.
"I knew if I did that. He'd do the mat"
PSU Retirees To Be Honored
A receptioo-and-dinner for all of thoee who h?ve.
wllwd bwa tho PBU faculty plua active faculty membere
wMi at laaat 15 yuan of aorvfea la being planned Friday.
April It. Their pawnee ara aloo Invited. The reception
will be at MO n.aa., fallowed by the dinner. In the
Chancellor'? Room.
The idea lor Ihla event la that of PBU Chancellor Jeeeph
Owfk uafag special funds allocated to NU by
IViildint C.D. Spanglar, Jr., of tho UNC ojotom.
Chairing tbo committoo planning tho ovoat la haw
Short, rotlrod PSU bioiofy profooaor. Othor nommlttoo
moraboro aro AJ Dunavan, Dr. Oibooo Ormy and Dr. Joooo
Early roporta hj 41 (aanlty nmkm hart mpiaiif
tummy.
Say Yor Head It In ita11^n
TUB CAROLINA INDIAN VOWB