Page B10-The Chronicle, Thursday, November 2
Focus On Religion
^Easter committt
By SUSAN HUNT '
Chronicle Staff Writer
When Mrs. Velma Hopkins' mother died 27 years
ago, Mrs. Hopkins and her friend, Mrs. Frances
Gilmore, searched for a special way to pay tribute
to loved one who were no longer alive.
"When 1 lost my mother," Mrs. Hopkins said,
"it was close to Easter. 1 visited her gravesite. The
cemetery seemed to be such a forgotten place for
forgotten people. 1 jiiottght that something should
be done as a memorial to these dead, because they
were from whence we came. 1 went to Mrs. Frances
Gilmore and we came up with the idea of an Easter
Sunrise Service."
Easter Sunrise Services previously had been held
by Winston-Salem's Moravian congregations, but
none were had been held for blacks before, so these
two women were the originators of the first black
Easter Sunrise Service. "The Moravians were not in
favor of the blacks holding such a service," said
Mrs. Hopkins," but knowing me, they finally lefty
us alone."
The first service was held at Evergreen Cemetery
27 years ago and was preached by the late Dr. R.M.
Pitts. "And we really had a crowd," said Mrs.
Gilmore. "It was a beautiful sight to behold."
Many of the older ministers were there along with
choirs. "Since that time, other churches have begun
to hold their own Easter Sunrise Services," Mrs.
Gilmore said with pride.
After the first service was held. Mrs. HoDkins
wanted to make the services a traditional observance.
That tradition was reinforced when the two
women formed the Easter Sunrise Committee.
The second year, the services were conducted by
the late Bishop W.M. Johnson.
"We continued to hold Easter sunrise services at
Evergreeen cemetery, until they ran us out," said
Mrs. Gilmore. "They said we were walking on the
graves.''
7 ~
Mrs. Frances Gilmore and Mrs. Velma Hopkin:
prepare Thanksgiving boxes of food for need]
Parker).
CHURCH
CALENDA
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 23
Regular worship services will be held in the City
.J gttaftajBfe Z2SBtt MLEt jtttd Si ^ ^
?^ ^thf 6igh guiid^rifeit^^
attend. * .v-V
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
P
The Prayer Band of Zion Hill Baptist Church w
fifth anniversary in the church at 2920 Oreenway The
guest minister will be the Rev. O.B. Pate, assoc
the church. The public is invited to attend. The pas
O.B. Cook.
:?/!f . * v ? ' :v:
' r?. \ . " . . C* > &
The Rev. Peay and the Missionary Society of Re
CME Church, located at the corner of 30th and G1
vites the public to see the play,44Behold, I Stand At'
p.m.
The Shanta-Malia and Men's Chorus from Hane
will be in concert at 4 p.m. in the Goier Memor
Church at 7th Street and Patterson Ave. The conce
by the Home Mission and Don't Be Idle Societies. T
vited to an evening of sacred and inspirational mus
The Chronicle welcomes Churc\ Calem
Announcements should be concise and typed or t
They should include the day, time, place and sponsoi
plus a number to call for additional information. A
should be addressed to the Winston-Salem Chr<
Calendar, P.O. Box 3134, Winston-Salem, N.C
deadline for announcements is Monday at 5:30 p.m
2, 1984
Relis
Church Calendar, Focus On R?
;e is all seasonal
Later services were held across the street from the
cemetery until inclement weather forced the services
to be moved inside. Now, the services are held at a
different black church each year.
At 5 a.m. on Easter morning, the services begin.
"We used to hold services about all night," said
Mrs. Gilmore, "but we had to cut that out. After
we oegan to get older, we couldn't stay up all
night."
The services are broadcast on WAAA-AM radio
about 6 a.m. "WAAA has been very cooperative
over the years," said Mrs. Hopkins. "But we have
gone to all the television stations in the city, and we
have not received any coverage from any of them."
The Easter Sunrise Committee is active not only
"We continued to hold Easter Sunrise
Service at Evergreen Cemetery, until they
ran us out...they said we were walking on
the graves."
-- Frances Gilmore
during the Easter season, but also performs other
community services, such as responding to the immediate
needs of families and providing Easter,
Christmas and Thanksgiving basket^ to the city's
needy and elderly.
This Thanksgiving, the committee prepared
baskets to distribute to 12 needy families, as well as
baskets for the Good Samaritan's Soup Kitchen and
the Battered Women's Shelter. "The food baskets
will contain a complete meal," said Mrs. Gilmore.
"We are including such items as potatoes, peas,
beans, ingredients for dressing, rolls and a hen or a
turkey or turkey legs. This year we're also taking
about 50 pounds of pinto beans to the Soup Kitchen."
Needy families are chosen by members of the
group who know of someone in need. "We simply
ask people, 'Who needs help?'" said Mrs. Hopkins.
"We don't go and ask, 'Whete do you work?' or
fttt't," 'rTfertlP
HHHmII Wf^ m
* f. H ;
w ^ ' v.
id
a ?
i ~~
s, members of the Easter Sunrise Committee,
/ families in Winston-Salem (photo by James
Deborah S. Pattersc
Miss Deborah S. Patterson will
appear in concert on Sunday,
RNov. 25, at 7:30 p.m. in the Ambassador
Cathedral at 1500
English St.
Miss Patterson has sung professionally
with noted gospel artists
James Cleveland, Myrna
of God Prayer Summers, Keith Pringle and Mateslhe
public to hhbhhhhhhhhi
Area Dm
Johnnie Hines Little
f '
ill celebrate its
Ave. at 4 p.m. w t
iate minister at Johnnie Hines Little, <
{tor is the Rev.' Thursday, Nov. 15, at the N.C. 1
Mr. Little is survived by his wi
one daughter, Mrs. Rebecca Scott
ynolds Temple two great-grandchildren and man
Bim tttfftl in- Funeral services were held on 1
rhe Door" at 5 Memorial Chapel. Gilmore Funer
funeral arrangements.
sCME Church
ial AME Zion Daisy M. Foster
rt is sponsored
he public is inic.
iat notices ^rs* Daisy M. F?ster? 2633
teatly printed Nov. 12, at the N.C. Baptist H
rs of the event ingham County and was a mei
nnouncements Church.
Mrs* Fostcr is survived by her
r 27102. The the home^two daughters, Mrs. Mi
* ' r and Mrs. Dorothy Spencer, of thi
great-grandchildren; two sisters, P
n
lion
jligion, Church Notes, Obituaries
NT
Pastor Sarah C. Rowdy, far left, and Mrs. Frances (
Sunrise Committee, present a Thanksgiving basket
Parker).
c
'How much money do you make?1 If someone tells
us that this family needs it, we give them a basket. I
was raised in the f30s and I know how it is to be in
need. I don't like making people crawl for <
something."
The Easter Sunrise Committee purchases the
food from money raised at Easter Sunrise Services
and at the Seven Last Words, a service held on the
Friday before Easter.
1
i ne committee is non-profit and nondenominational
and all churches_are invitecLtopar-?\
ticipate.
Church Notes
.. King tospeuk-ati
The Rev. Derek B. King, Young American.'
grandson of the late Dr. Martin he was selected bj
Luther King Sr., will speak dur- Americans, Inc.,
ing 11 a.m. worship services at ding Young Man Ii
First Baptist Church at 700 N. King has servec
Highland Ave. pastor of Ebem
Church in Atlanta,
King was educated in the Pleasant Grove Bar
public schools of Birmingham,
Ala.; Louisville, Ky; and Atlan- F*
ta, Ga. He is a graduate of
Morehouse College and the Col- JM
gate Rochester Divinity School. fl
He is the recipient of numerous
awards, including his selection by
People magazine as a "Promising
>n to present concert
"New Life," "Eternal Life,"
and "Count Your Blessings." ^^5
She sings with the David L. Allen
ri
She is the daughter of Bishop
and Mrs. F.D. Patterson. I
Bishop Patterson and the
members of Ambassador
Cathedral invite the public to this BBBBBBUBBI
__ -scraicc., , nsx,rStemS>8,fo:
ths and Funerals
Pa., and Mrs. \
Mr. Mose Hop!
Funeral servic
? _ Memorial Chap
of 3042 Patterson Ave., died Funera, Djrecto
3antist Hn^nital
, f ?
fe, Mrs. Rosa Little, of this city;
, of this city; three grandchildren, Otto Howarc
y other relatives and friends.
"uesday, Nov. 20, at the Gilmore Mr. otto He
al Directors was in charge of the NOV# 13, at the I
the P.H. Hines
Marines.
Mr^ Gill is sui
three daughters
Asheboro and 1
sons, Otto Gill,
this city; five grs
N. Cherry St., died Monday, her father, Mr.
ospital. She was born in Rock- Mrs. Thressa R
nber of the Red Rock Baptist city; two brotl
Texas, and Garl
husband, Mr. Roland Foster, of Funeral servic
icie Jackson of Bay Shore, N.Y., Gilmore Memor
s city; eight grandchildren; three Garden. Gilmor
4rs. Betty Taylor of Harrisburg, arrangements.
2^, >
. ,|fXy-A '" /?' '
wjjrU M |i
3ilmore, far right, both members of the Easter
to Lloyd and Louise Hawkins (photo by James
This year, the committee will begin its Thanksgiv-'
ino hu m0Atinn n? fc^/%?/4?.. -? ?u" ^ 1 ? '
?"?j liivviiiig uii iviuuuoy ai iiic vjuuu Damanian
Soup Kitchen and the Battered Women's Shelter to
deliver the food. The committee met at the
Reynolds Health Center cafeteria on Tuesday to ,
box up the food and deliver the baskets to the needy
homes. On Wednesday, the committee members
and their families had dinner together at the
Reynolds Health Center cafeteria. After dinner, the
group traveled to St. Matthews Apostolic Church at
3640 Apostolic Square, off U.S. 311, for its annual
pre-Thanksgiving^ervicey-where^the pastor^- Elder
Joseph Lowery, was the speaker.
o * ?? ?
$kst Baptist
' In addition, Rome, Ga., and pastor of New
f Outstanding Life Baptist Church of Christ,
an "Outstan- also in Rome, Ga.
n America." Currently, he is a staff member ?
1 as assistant of the Task Force on the
lezer Baptist Homeless in Atlanta, Ga.
Ga., pastor of The public is invited to hear
)tist Church in Rev. King's address.
Cooper plans
mm Shiloh revival
w
The annual fall revival of
Shiloh Baptist Church will be
held nightly from Nov. 26
through Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
The Rev. Dr. Roscoe D.
Cooper, pastor of Fifth Street
Baptist Church -in Richmond, v
Va., and executive editor of the
I National Baptist Voice (a Baptist
newspaper), will be the revival
IPPH -evwngeHst. The public is invited ^ _
Cooper Jr. " to atteruT ~~ ^
1acie Hopkins of New York City; and one brother,
cins of Harrisburg, Pa.
:es were held on Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Gilmore
el. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery. Gilmore
rs was in charge of the funeral arrangements.
f Gill
n;n rtf 1c11 r.?r:~ij j:-j -t
>"uiu urn, wit uji, vjdiiiciu 01., uicu iuesaay,
-orsyth Memorial Hospital. He was an employee of
? Knitting Company and a veteran of the U.S.
rvived by his wife, Mrs. Geneva Gill of Asheboro;
;, Sandra Gill of Charlotte, Paula G. Gill of
Beverly Gill, U.S. Army, Fort Gordon, Ga.; two
Jr., U.S. Army, California, and James Lewis, of
indchildren; her mother, Mrs. Elmonia L. Gill, and
Charlie Gill, both of Winston-Salem; two sisters,
owls of Charlotte and Mrs. Vasse Taylor of this
ters, Cedric Gill, U.S. Air Force, Wichita Falls,
land Gill of Winston-Salem.
:es were held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, at the
ial Chapel. Burial followed in Piedmont Memorial
e Funeral Directors was in charge of the funeral