IN AND AROUND
ROCKY MOUNT
By R. D. Armstrong
WRITERS FQJMJM
By Gscrge B. ftiss ;
1- R. Kelly Bryant, Jr., assistant secretary, North Carolina
Mutual Life Insurance Company of Durham and a native of
Rocky Mount, was the principal speaker at the first annual ob
servance of Black Business Awareness Week held here last week.
: The observance was sponsored by the Business and Pro
fessional Womens Club of Rocky Mount, an affiliate of the
National Association of Negro Business and Professional
Vpjrnen's Club, Inc.
The theme of the week-long program was "New Dimensions
Jr) Community Service",
' Bryant told the banquet audience that one time his late
father, R. Kelly Bryant. Sr., operated five grocery stores and'
a restaurant in Rocky Mount, The depression in. the late, 1920V
and early 1930's dealt a i severe blow to him. 2' ' ! ) 1
i "If today's services had been available to him then, that wef
have now, that man's future might have been quite different",
he declared. His father was an early black business man having
opened his first store in 191 1.
s Bryant added that this type of loss has happened to many
mjpority businesses and is still happening today, he asserted.
The speaker addressed himself to the topic, "There Is Dark
ness at the top of the stairs." He gave an analogy of darkness at
the top of the stairs by relating a story of a rural church where a
deacon of the church voted against the installation of a chan
dejier in the sanctuary. The reasons the deacon gave were we do
npt have anywhere to put it, we don't have anyone to play it,
anJ if we are going to do anything, we ought to put more lights
in the church.
To him, there was some darkness at the top of the stairs.
Bryant then posed the question, "how many of us have, or have
had. darkness at the top of our stairs?" These are times when we
ar$ frustated, he continued, we are discouraged and our future
rnpves are uncertain.
He described at length the success the Durham Business
Chain had achieved by working together. He said the Chain had
promoted and encouraged minority businesses along with
educating them and serving as a stimulation to carry on.
Bryant warned against being misled or fooled by the old
adage that blacks should buy from blacks because of ethnic
ties. The majority business community has long since made a
pay and an appeal for the minority ethnic dollar.
Continuing, Bryant stated, ,"it is useless to go into what is
being done in window dressing employment, sale pitches and ad
vertising in this direction. Our appeal to you is to take our
extended black hands and work together and together get on
with the business of making money."
In concluding his message to the Business and Professional
Women's Club", Bryant said, "we in America, and especially in
this community, must move together in building racial strength
and unity. We must consult with one another, and help one
another more closely than ever before." Every ethnic group
does this, he added.
Six awards were made at the banquet to local businesses
for their contribution1! to the Black Business Awareness Pro
gram. The top award went to A. H. Bryant, representing his
rrtother, Mrs. Nannie Bryant Parker, for operating the oldest
black bjjjtfaissjlfl M&ky Mount. Tbusin Wright'js
Click's Shack, was opened in Rocky Mount as" 2 grocery-store
in 1909.
Other awards were made to Soul Clinic Men and Ladies
Bputlque, Alston's Grocery, Your Church Supply House,
jjrown's Chicken & Barbecue Restaurant and Taylor's Discount
Sjhoes.
Certificates were awarded to all participating firms that had
listed with the organizations directory.
Mayor Fred Turnage commended the Business and Pro
fessional Women's Club for improving the exposure of black
businesses and the part they played in bringing the community
to where it is today.
The oldest Black Business award was made by Mayor Pro
Tern George W. Dudley, pastor of the Mt. Zion First Baptist
Church and the first member of his race to sit on the Rocky
Mount City Council.
Mrs. Vivian Tillman, coordinator of the week's observance,
.presided at the banquet session. Mrs. Eula Gray is president of
the organization.
1 V
When a young child attends school for 1,260 days without
missing a day, that is really news.
Young Cynthia Denise Lancaster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
William Lancaster of Henry Street here, completed the sixth
grade at the Annie W. Holland Elementary School last w$ek
She had previously spent one year in a local kindergarter. Cfel
hinino the time in kindergarten and six grades at Hollands
Srhnnl fvnthia had completed seveh vears in school without a Way 9
17" . ' i- Miss
Mips.
There are no records available, but we believe that this h an
attendance record for any child in North Carolina
The annual "Baby of The Year" program was held at 4he
tyt. Zion First Baptist Church recently. The annual .everjf
sponsored by the Deaconess Board of the Church, which; alsjo
featured a mini-fashion and talent program.
The winner of the "Baby of the Year" was STephania
Hunter, whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hunter. The first
runner up was Samuel Russell, Jr., the second runner up was
The Recreation Depart
ment of Union Baptist
Church has become of age.
Gone are the uncertainities of
existing as a church oriented
department; small talk about
the lack of cooperation on 1
the part of the church leaders
of parents; or, of the instab
ility of its own departmental
heads. When a meeting is
called for the Recreation De
partment's leadership, these
persons rally to the call and
thrash out whatever business
is needing attention. They say
and do; The Recreation De
partment has become an in-
tegral part of the church's
program, 1 and is widely
accepted by all; sports en
thusiast or the nonchalant by
stander. A Board of Directors,
made up of UBC persons,
govern the affairs of the De
partment: president, Abner
Mason, Sr., secretary, Mrs.
Sylvia Parker, social
committee chairman, Miss
Shelia Mason, Abner Mason,
Jr., Charles Parker and Pat
Holeman; advisors; Rev. N. B.
Sanders, deacon McDuffie
Holman; treasurers, Mrs.
Elaine Pratt, Mrs. Mary Hol
man. 1975 seems to have been
the year for forging ahead in
the area of expansion of the
UBC Bowling League. During
the month of September,
members of the UBC Mixed
Adult League organized a
Bantam Mixed League;
involving the total Bantam
community in wholesome re
creation. And recreation
being our goal, steps were
taken to involve area
churches; letters were mailed
to Mt. Gilead, Mt. Level and
parents of interested boys
and girls. A fair response
developed from our letters.
Active Bantams are: Burley
Jones, Floyd Parker, Freddie
Womack, Frank Pratt, Versall
Mason, Jerome Mason, Cecily
Phillips, Sophie Hawkins, An
gela Bowling, Anthony
.Hestej. , M Taylor Clyde
Penny, Jr.,. Patrice Penny,
Joyce Overby, Pam Overby,
Douglas Burt, STevie Parker,
Sterling Herndon.
The 5 and 6 year olds
of the Bantam League are
called "Peanuts." The Pea
nuts are Veronica Mason,
Sean Parker, Douglas Burt,
Kendrick Bledsoe, Michille
Huey, Nicole Malachi.
The Bantam ideal has
proven to be a favorable
annexation to the Recrea
tional Program. Five mem
bers of this league were
represented in the Junior City
Tournament April 10-11,
held in the Fair Lanes Bowl
ing Center of Durham: Burley
Jones, Frank Pratt, Cecily
Bowling, Sophie Hawkins,
achieved first place in the
Mm
DR. AND MRS. GRADY D. DAVIS
singles. May 22 awards time,
for these better than
average bowlers: handsome
trophies and a party from the
Brunswick Village Lanes
management.
Many thanks have been
showered upon parents,
coaches and aids, especially,
Mrs. Nancy Mason, Mrs.
Martha Lee, Mrs. Rosalyn
Parker, Mrs. Velmar Malachi,
Burnell Phillips, Ms. Pearlie
Bledsoe, Ms. Pat Best and
Clifton Parker.
While a great deal of
interest is manifested in the
Bantams, other phases of the
league have shown great
progress. On the women's
team, "The Five Squares",
Marth Lee, captain, Sylvia
Parker, Roslyn Parker,
Bonnie Edwards, Nancy
Mason gave outstanding per
formance during the Durham
Orange City Tournament.
On February 21-22, five
members of the UBC Mixed
Bowling League participated
in the Durham-Orange
Women's City Tournament,
at Brunswich Village Lanes.
Representing the league
in doubles, Sylva Parker and
Nancy Mason won 3rd place
in class B doubles. Mrs.
Parker was placed 8th in
singles.
. ., In the areaof State re
presentation, the five member
team; Mrs. Roslyn Parker,
Mrs. Nancy Mason, Ms. Marth
Lee and Ms. Patricia Best,
captain; Mrs. Carolyn Bethea
was drafted as an extra to
serve as substitute player, en
tered the North Carolina
State women's bowling
tournament in Charlotte,
March 27-28. "Our team
chose at its name, 'Bo-Jangles.'
" The uniforms were
green shirts and black pants,
with black lettering on the
shirts.
Saturday night, March 27
was the night for our team's
event. All things considered,
the strange city and strange
bowling lanes, coupled with
overwhelming excitement,
our team stacked up well
tijan 5,Ut)U graduates trom tne university or rsortn uaronna ai
ChaDel Hill durine the commencement exercises held there on
r Miss Hines received her Bachelor oi Science degree in
nursing from A&T State University in Greensboro. She was
awarded the Master of Science degree in Public Health Nursing
S from UNC CH.
i i Since August, 1975, she has held the position of Director of
a home health agency (visiting nurses) based in Carrboro, serving
J five county area in the Chapel Hill-Durham region. "
' She is the daughter of Mr. and ,Mrs. James H. Hine? of 889
Ellison Drive here. '
Joe Walston, a popular singer along the Eastern Seaboard,
Marcia Edge and third runner up was the child of Mr. and Mrs. appeared, in, concert here Sunday afternoon, June 6. The concert
r was sponsored oy upporiunmes lnuusinaiuauuii wmci v,-Mw-
Harold Gray.
' Mrs. Nancy G. Joyner, a member of the Deaconess Board,
Was honored with the Deaconess Award and those featured in
(he mini-fashion and talent prdgram were Bryan C. Andrews,
Jennifer Farmer, Vanessa Penrty, Chonita Melvin Riddick,
ponald Rogers, Kim Michelle Tillman, Lusandra D. Whitfield,
Barbara Williams and Grace Wilson .
i
Terry Knight, a rising senior at Rocky Mount Senior Hig
Hjgh School, has been selected to attend a one-week, all-expense
paid Minority Introduction Program (MITE) at North
Carolina State University in Raleigh, June 14-17.
A full week has been planned for the orientation of pros
pectives to the program in engineering at North Carolina State.
Young Knight has shown his interest in engineering and higher
mathematics during his high school work.
; In addition to his high scholastic record at Senior High
gchool, he also plays in the concert and jazz bands at the
school.
; '' His sister, Natalie, is a sophomore at Hampton Institute
Where she is majoring in Textile apparel which will lead to a
Career in fashion buying. She is also an accomplished pianist
pnd an organ specialist. .
ii'i .
Terry and Natalie's parents are Mr. and Mrs. John Knight
of 918 Shepard Drjve. Knight is a counselor at Nash Technical
Institute and Mrs. Knight teaches in the Rocky Mount School
System.
. .
Miss Lorna Jean Hines of Rocky Mount was one of more
iuate of Carver High School in Pinetops and
n is a
A-. :. ' ; v. t r i i .1 . li nior
ed M a nunw.er oi snows aiong me cai i-uasi. i
has appeared With the "Buddy Rich Band and at Brandi'sWhaff
and Club rr)and in New Jersey.
Walston is married to the former Floros Fox of Rocky
Mount and they have two children, Darvin and Karen. Her
mother, Mrs. Lugenia Fox resides here now.
The cloud of conflict we have referred to several times con
cerning the Edgecombe County School System and one of its
veteran administrators, James Tyson, is finally heading for a
peaceful settlement, it was learned here last week-end.
It appears that the two lawyers, representing Tyson and
those from the School Board, came to an agreement in Tar
boro last Thursday afternoon. What the arrangement was, we
have rtot officially learned. The lawyers and the Board of
Education met in an executive session, which did not allow
the admittance of the news media.
We did learn, however, from a very reliable source, that an
agreement had been reached at the stamp of approval would
be made at the regular meeting of the Board of Education in
Tarboro on Monday, June 7.
The whole thing centered around the replacement for an
assistant superintendent who died last summer, who had also
been serving as the Director of the ESEA Title One program in
Edgecombe County.
With the differences settled, and the hatchets buried,
schools in the county will close on a much "sweeter note"
next week.
Sunday night, March 28
our team was represented by
Mrs. Sylvia Parker, and Ms.
Patricia Best, in the doubles
singles events. This duo came
off poorly. Tensions, fumbles
and big time bowling went
against them.
In the men's division,
bowling was not left to idle.
The five man team represent
ing;; the UNB bowling league
participated in the annual
Men's Durham-Orange
Association City Tourna
ment Saturday, April 3
!; and Sunday',' April 4. . ' -V
- - .-"UNC Deacons", the
. team's name. The names of
the players are Captain,
. Charles Parkef, EDis Davis,
Willie Holman, James Petty
and Clarence Parker.
Team events were held at
Fairlanes Bowling Center,
on Saturday while doubles
and singles were, held at
Brunswick Village Bowling
Lanes, on Sunday, Th$ ."UBC
Deacons" came out nicely. s
The ff Union Baptist
Church's Mixed Bowling
League works hard, but their
efforts are rewarded. The
annual banquet held at the
dose of the season is one of
the league's fringe benefits.
This year's convivial occasion
was' held on Saturday, May
22,. : at the Downtowner
Motor in Durham at 8 pjn.
The threefold affair consisted
of well planned social hour,
buffet supper and presenta
tion of trophies. The latter t
was presided over by pretty
Ms. Patricia Best, newly
elected president. Gilbert
Johnson, further cheered the
bowlers with an inspirational
talk. Others following John
son : pastor, Dr. Grady D.
Davis and Willie Holman, out
going president.
Presentation of awards:
Males - Individual Achieve
ments - High Series, High
Game, ScratchHandicap;
Clarence Parker, High Aver
age; Henry Walker, Jr.
Females: Sylvia Parker
f 4T.,J'j:
12, 1373
I'r'i " Ctwcl Pf-ct Im
proved Eowiers: Male-Clifton
Parker. Female: Dee LeaweH.,
First Place Team, Champions:
"Ebonies" Charles Parker,
Captain, : Bonnie Edwards,
Nancy Mason, EDis Davis,
Second place team,
"Wrecking Crew", Marie
Council, Captain; Roslyn
Parker, Day Reed, and Gil
bert Johnson. Third place
team "Four Tops" Henry
Walker, Captain; Lee Walker,
Japhine : Reed, Lee Walker,
and Mac Jones. Recipients
of participation trophies:
Charles Parker, Bonnie
Edwards, Nancy Mason.
The first place ! team's
church trophy was pre
sented to Dr. Davis by Ellis
Dee.
The 1975 president Key
Chain given by Brunswick
Village Lane was bestowed
upon the out going president
Willie Holman. The presenta
tion was made by Mac, Jones.
Marie Council, the re
cipient of a Master's; degree
in education, May 23, at
North Carolina Central Univ
ersity, was given special re
cognition. Special recognition was
given James Pretty for his
159 Triplicate games. A vote
by the organization decided
that Roslyn Parker and
Walter Garrison are winners
of the Sportsmanship Award
and the ice-breaker technique
award goes to "the modest,
shy" Mrs. Mary Holman.
f
JESSIE WRIGHT
$ C. YOUTH PICKED
TO TAKE PAST CI
HEALTH PROGRAM
DENMARK - Jessie
Wright, sophomore biology
major has been selected to par
ticipate in the Summer Health
Careers Program for under
graduate students at the Medi
cal Uni"ersiry of South Caro
lina, Charleston, South Caro
lina.
The Program Committee
selected 18 students on the
strength of their academic per
formance and all-round
excellence. Jessie is the only
participant from Voorhees.
Participants were also drawn
from Benedict, Clafiin and
South Carolina State Colleges.
now s fhe time to tell him
he's extra-special !
4
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