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Tf ? CAROLINA INDIAN VOICE
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s5c u blis lied each Thursday by First American Publications, Pembroke, NC
VOIAIH& Cj ? j/ " V \^HURSI)A Y, AVmtST I, 1996 TWENTY-FIVE CENTS
to f-' ' \
? . ^ , .. \
w to Continue the Fight for Federal Recounitioih
Lumbee Recognition Rill
Introduced in the U.S. Congress
The Lumbee Regional Development
Association. Inc Board of Directors
has announced that the Lumbee Recognition
Act (H.R. .1810) has been
introduced by Congressman Charlie
Rose in the United Slates Congress.
The legislation has some similaritios
to the House Bill 334. introduced
in the last Congress which passed the
House of Representatives but tailed in
the Senate. The major change in the
newly introduced bill is that a provides
tor LRDA to serve as the "Interim
Government."
The Bill states: *Sec. 5 (a) Until
the tribe has adopted a constitution
pursuant to the terms oi this Act. the
Board of Directors of the . ,LRD A is
recognized as the sole provisional and
transitional governing body ofthctribe
Until an election of tribal ofHccrs under
the constitution, the LRDA shall
among other things. "(A) liavc full
authority to enter into contracts, grant
agreements, and other arrangements
with any Federal department or
agency: and "(B)
have full authority to administer
or operate any program iwdcnsuch
contracts or agreements ' Js
("b) Until the initial flection of
tribal officers under a new constitution
and bylaws, the LRDA shall-"(!) oversee
and implement thedrafting and
proposal to the tribe of a new constitution
and conduct such meetings or
hearings as it deems necessary"
: The adoption of a constitution u ill
also be overseen by the LRDA
James Hardin, executive director of
LRDA. stated that "This is an oilgoing
effort by LRDA to keep the
recognition bill before the U.S. Congress.
LRDA ltad the bill introduced in
On* y
m
ihe last three sessions of Congress "
According to Mr Hardin. theLRDA
board continues to spearhead the Tribe's
recognition efforts for the enrolled
members of the tribe.
He staled that over the past 25 y cars
LRDA lias spend over a million dollars
researching and documenting the
tribe's history establishing tribal membership
criteria.maintaining a tribal
roll with over 45.1)00 tribal members
recorded, preparing a petition for Federal
Recognition and supporting federal
recognition legislation.
Hardin stated. "H.R. 3810 also addresses
an issue that has caused great
confusion in the Lumbec communities
over the past two years. That issue is.
which entity would be the provisional
or interim tribal governing body, if the
tribe is federally recognised, to transition
tribal government to a written
Constitution based system.
In H.R. 3810 LRDA would be the
entity to spearhead transition of the
tribal government to a constitution
based sy stem of w hich at least 30% of
adult enrolled members would be required
to approve.
Hardin and the Board of Directors
feel that this is appropriate because
the board members are elected by districts
through the democratic process
and a special Tribal referendum in
1984 directed LRDA to "act for the
Lumbec tribe on federal recognition
until a tribal council is formed and
elected Lumbec tribal enrollment members
."
The LRDA board, however, in previous
action, has suspended elections'
to ilx own board of directors, but ha\ c
stated that they will hold elections in
the near future for that body.
Hardin continued. "Over the past
25 years LRDA has brought the Lumbcc
Recognition effort from 110 Congressional
support to being within one
vote of federal recognition and will
continue to lead the effort until justice
is done lor the Lunibec tribe." '
Hardin and the LRDA board expressed
their, sincere appreciation to
Congressman Charlie Rose w ho. since
his election to Congress in 1973. has
been a loyal friend to the Lunibec
Tribe "He lias been critical to oui
success in building support for federal
recognition."
Adolph Blue. Chairman of the
LRDA Board stated that "We hope
that every one in the Lunibec Community
will support this legislation. We
all must w ork together, if the Lumbce
recognition effort is to be successful."
The Bill itself would make the
Lunibec Tribe eligible for the same
benefits that apply to other federally
recognized tribes This has been one of
the failingsw ith the 1956 Act w hich in
essence recognized the Lunibec but
prev ented any entitled to services that i
other tribes were eligible for I
The Bill docs stale that "The Lunibec
Tribe and its members shall be
eligible for all serv ices and benefits
provided to Indians because.of their
status as federally recognized Indians,
except thai the members of the tribe
shall not be entitled to such services
until the appropriation of funds for
these puiposcs"
AvcortUiig vp Hardin, ev pn ihpugty
the Bill inay iioi be aded oii in this
session. LRDA plans lo be active in
trying to move the bill in both (he
House and Senate in 19X7
Rev. Isaiah Locklear, 96y
will deliver message at
Island Grove August 4
Rev Isaiah Locklcar. ihc oldest
pastor still preaching in the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association, will deliver
the message at Island Grove Baptist
Church on Sundav. August 4. The
church will be celebrating their
Founder's Day . Rev Locklcar was the
founding pastor there He was born
August 6. 1899. He will celebrate his
97th birthday on August 6. 1996."
Rev. Locklcar was licensed to
picach in 1928 and served with the
Lumber River Holiness Methodist
Conference for several vcars
He became an ordained minister
w ith the Burnt Swamp Baptist Church
in 1953. Among those churches he
Eiistofcd in the Association were"
citch Creek. Pleasant View. Galilee.
New Hope inBladcn County. St. James
in Bladen County. South Hoke in Hoke
County, and Island Grose
Island Grove was established in
1954 and Rev Locklcar served as
pastor until 1961 He and his wife, the
late Bothnia Locklcar. were two of the
original 41 charter members The
church began with 41 charter mcm'
' <1
bcrs. three deacons, and K Sunday
School teachers.
Rev. Jim Hammonds led the congregation
after the retirement of
Locklcar Rev C.M. Cunimings followed
Hammonds as the spiritual
leader and served there until 1984
Rev Larry Chavis. the present pastot.
began there in >986 and continues to
serve as full lime pastor. Presently
Island Grove has approximated .100
members and has seven deacons and
six junior deacons
The first song in Island Grove as
"Blest Be The Tic That Binds." and
was sung by the late Rev Elias
Locklcar. father of Rev. Isaiah
Locklcar. The church was named bv
Mrs. Lillie Bollard, and the land for
the construction of Island Grove was
donated by Briscoe and Carrie
Locklcar.
Rev. Larry Locklcar and the Congregation
extend a cordial invitation
to tnc public to attend their Founder's
Day celebration on Sunday. August 4.
1996. They ei/couragc the public to
join them in worship, lunch and fellowship.
Prospect Student
Finishes There
With Several
Academic Honors
C arincii Decsc. daughter of Robert
and Carolyn Dccsc of the Prospect
Community, completed the 8th grade
at Prospect School She has had the
highest GPA (gradc-poi ill-average) in
her gQidc level since >lh grade She
has been on the Superintendent's
Honoi Roll since nth grade Carmen
has made the highest on the California
Achievement Test and the N.C. Endof-Gradc
Tests since the 1st grade
She has won 2 first place ribbons.
1 second place ribbon. I third place
nbbon.and I honorable mention m the
school science fairs
She has participated in the Robeson
County Ali-County-Bandsinccblh
grade as 3 rd chair for two years and 1st
chair this past year and as 3rd chair in
the All-District Concert Band
Shcwasalsoon thcjTospcct School
chccrlcading Championship She has
participated in many other activities in
the past year such as having one of the
main roles in llic school play' Laughin
School"
Carmeiicnjoys reading, ballet, singing
in the youth choir at Prospect
tinned Methodist Church, and has ing
fun. She is looking forward to being a
freshman at Purncll Swell I ligh Sciiool
nest year
Blue Reunion
Blue Reunion August 24. at 3:00
p.m Descendants of Evandcr and
Eupharis Blue. At the home of Etta B
Jones of Pembroke. For more information
contact 521 -471)8.844-3763. 521 4271.369-2512.
Come and enjoy yourself
$3.00 per person *Rcgistcr at
2.00 p.in.
I
Shown above are members and supporters of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church during the ground
breaking for their new sanctuary. The pastor. Rev. Coolidge Cummings, and the congregation, extend a cordial
invitation to the public to worship with them.
Shown left to right: Mrs. Margie Chavis, Mrs. Sarah Locklear. Mrs. Aliene Jones. Rev. Mike Cummings,
Director of Missions, the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, Mrs. Cassandra Jones, Mr. Bill R. Locklear, Mr.
Harold Hunt, Mrs Venice Cummings, Rev. Coolidge Cummings (the Pastor), Mrs Barbara Deese, Mr. Archie
Oxendine, Mr. Howard Jones, Chaplain Dale C 'havis, Mr. Eric Chavis, Mr. Van Bethea, Mrs. Vietta Chavis. Mrs.
Bonnie Sue Chavis and her three grandchildren. (Photo by Connee Bray hoy)
Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
begins construction of new Sanctuary
Friendship Missionary Baptist
Church held their ground breaking
ceremony for the construction of their
new sanctuary on Tuesday. July 23.
1996 at 8:30 a.m. The pastor. Rev.
CM. Cummings, his wife. Mrs. Vanicc
Cummings. and members of the congregation
rejoiced in song and prayer
; as they began construction. The church
motto is found in Proverbs 17:17. They
have paid for the educational facility
that has served as a sanctuary for the
past ten years and expect to be in their
new sanctuary by Christmastime. Joining
the members of Friendship in the
serv ice was Rev. Mike Cummings. the
director of Missions for the Burnt
Swamp Baptist Association
Rev Cummings has served the
Burnt Swamp Association for many
years. Her served in Kentucky for
eleven years and was licensed in 194 i
and ordained as a pastor in 1947. In
addition to serving as pastor at Friendship.
Rev. Cummings has served as
pastor at the following Associalional
churches: Burnt Swamp. Bethel Hill
(Saddletree area): Cape Fear in Fayetteville:
Ten Mile Center; New Bethel
in Clinton: Pembroke First Baptist,
and for seventeen years as pastor of
Island Grove, prior to beginning a new
.work at Friendship
The following history of Friendship
Missionary Baptist Church was
prov ided by the Church
History of Friendship Missionary
Baptist Church
OnDccember6. 1985.33 Christian
individuals united in Christ to charter
a church. At this first meeting of the
newly formed church. Bro Coolidgc
Cummings read scripture from III John
Rev. Cummings was chosen as the
pastor of the congregation with Bro
Wolfhcally Bullardasassislanl pastor
The name Friendship Missionary Baptist
Church was chosen as the name for
this congregation of Christian believers.
The Lord has blessed Friendship
Missionary Baptist Church both spiritually
and physically A number of
souls have been saved and added to the
church. The present membership is 58
members l
Friendship has been blessed to have |
had the leadership of Pastor Cum- j
tnings as he has been led by the Holy i
Spirit for the past ten y ears. We have ,
also been blessed with the following
assistant pastors Bro. Wolfheally Bullard.
Bro James L. Locklpar and Bro.
Timmie Chavis. We arc thankful that
Bro. Harold Hunt and Bro. Winfrcd
Locklear are with us and that Bro.
Gary Thompson is teaching our Bible
study class on Wednesday nights.
The following men have answered
the call to God s ministry and have
been ordained by Friendship Church:
Bro Dale Chavis who is now Chaplain
at Southeastern Regional Medical
Center in Lumberton: Bro. Kent
Chavis. former pastor of Reedy Branch
Baptist Church. Fairmont: Bro
Timmie Chavis. Pastor of Mt. Bethel
Baptist Church. Hollister. NC: and
Bro. James L. Locklear. pastor ofNcw
Beginning Baptist Church in Hoke
County.
Bro. Howard Jones and Bro Gene
M. Decsc have been ordained as Deacons
at Friendship.
Our congregation first met in a
building located at the home place of
Bro Joe and Sis. Alice Chavis This
building was used by the Chavis' for
family gatherings. We arc thankful
that Bro. Joe and Sis Alice allowed
friendship to share their special gathering
place.
Aficrorgani/.ing the church. Friendship
then moved to a store on Highway
710 w hich was owned by Bro. Roscoc
and Sis Eltna Lee Locklear. The store
was converted somewhat to meet the
needs of the church. We were able to
rent lhis building until the Lord blessed
us with our present location.
On April IV. 1986 we had our first
meeting at l)ie new church site. On
June 29, 1986 ground breaking ceremony
was held for our new church
site. On August 7.1986 the foundation
was poured for our new building On
Thanksgiving. November 27. 1986 we
met at the new building to give thanks
o God for his many blessings Alhough
we were either scaled on lumber
or standing, wc'were thankful for
Ihe privilege of being able to give
thanks on this special day in our building
under construction
The Church established the follow - .
ing scripture as its motto on March 19.
19X7 " A friend lovcth at all limes,
and a .brother is born for adversity.''
Proverbs 17:17.
On April 25. 1987 the Church selected
Sis. Eudcll Lloyd as the Spiritual
Mother of the Church. Sis. Lloyd
was the first member to go to be with
the Lord and her funeral was held at
Friendship on April 29. 1987
On April 13.1989 Friendship voted
tojoimthe Burnt Swamp Baptist Association
On August 10.1991 Pastor Coolidgc
Cummings celebrated 50 years in
God's ministry We arc thankful for
the leadership thai God has allowed
Pastor Cummings and Sis Vnnicc to
serve Friendship Church.
In April 1986 Friendship Church
purchased an acre ofland front Or and
Mrs. Frank Woriax for the construction
of the present church building. In
August 1988 an additional 71 acre
tract ofland was purchased from Dr
and Mrs. Frank Woriax. In November
of 1990 Friendship purchased approximately
one- acre from Mr. and Mrs
Alex Locklcar Jr. to be used as a future
cemetery site.
The members of Friendship Missionary
Baptist Church w ish to thank
everyone who has shared a part of our
history. We cannot mention every
name. bu t we arc thailkfu 1 to al I Among
the many who gave (heir time and
skills in ihe construction of our building.
we wish to acknowledge Mr
Herman Mavnor. general superintendent
of construction, and Bro. Willie
Scott, foreman of the construction.
On June 12. 1995 the loan with
First Union National Bank was paid in
full
The pastor and congregation solicit
your prayers that they w ill continue to
follow the leadership of He the Holy
Spirit.
, . , . . . , .
Cape Fear Valley
Nurse Among Great
100 of North Carolina
A l'apc f ear Vallc> Medical Center
nurse has been named one of the lot)
outstanding nurses in North Caroliitiis.
Virginia A Lucas. Clinical Nurse
Instructor for 7 South, was selected In
The Great HH). Inc.. in Raleigh this
spring.
The excellence award is given annually
to KM) nurses who have been
nominated by their peers Nurses arc
yalcd on their excellence in nursing,
compassion, leadership abilities and
community and professional commitment
Between $00 and 4oo nominations
arc received each vcai
Winners of this year's awards will
be honored at a formal gala on Sept 2X
in Research Triangle Park
1
John Hunyan l.ocklear of the Inlon Chape/ Community, anil his
( ram/son, Jeffrey l.ocklear, are shown *vith the huge watermelon anil
cantaloupe grimn in Jeffrey's part/en. Jeffrey said he used the seeds
that his grandfather had from years part. The watermelon weighed 55
Ihs and the cantaloupe weighed in at 20 and I /dibs. Hoth the l.ocklears
enjoy working in the garden and have really enjoyed a personal
closeness, Jeffrey said, "since I got saved hvo years ago!" Jeffrey also
lives in the I 'nion ('hapei ('ommunity. His grandfather is approaching
his 75tli birthday and Jeffrey said he was trying to learn from the elder
and had an appreciation for his wisdom anil knowledge, (Photo by
t ounce Itruyhoy)
\ . . . .