Uplifting the name
of God takes group to high places
? Local gospel group will perform next week
end at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
By CAROLE RAGINS
Community Newt Editor
A tiny church between Win
ston-Salem and Greensboro is
filled with the gospel harmony of
four singers diligently rehearsing.
They have been invited to per
form in Yolanda King's produc
tion, "Tracks," at the Kennedy
Center in Washington, D.C. on
July 23- 25.
The King's Comer Singers are
a part of the King's Corner Holi
ness Church where Bishop Regi
nald Kelly is the pastor.
It all started when renowned
author Dr. Maya Angelou invited
the group to sing at her birthday
celebration when Yolanda King
was a guest at her home in Win
ston-Salem.
"When I first heard them,
their voices sent goose pimples all
over my body. I knew there was
something special about them,"
said Yolanda King, daughter of
slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. "There is such a
wonderful spirit about them."
King added that "Tracks" has
been "a labor of love" and in look
ing for new talent to add to the
show, her producer agreed with
her that the choir would add a spe
cial quality to the production.
The " singers are Chris
McLaughlin, Cynthia Brown,
Brian McLaughlin and Joe
Brown. Joe Brown is the musical
director and composer, as well as
one of the singers in the choir.
The singers say they owe
their success to their mentor,
Angelou, and Kelly, who motivat
ed them to sing relendessly.
"Dr. Maya Angelou has intro
duced us to so many renowned
people such as her mother, Alex
Haley, and Oprah Winfrey, all of
whom we've had the pleasure to
sing for while guests in Dr.
Angelou's home," said Joe Brown.
"We probably would have never
had the opportunity to meet Dr.
Angelou and get to know her on a
personal basis had it not been for
Bishop Kelly."
The singers refer to Dr.
Angelou as "Auntie."
"Whenever we need her, she's
always available to make things
work out for us ? no matter what
the situation is," said Kelly.
"She's a mother to all of us and we
.owe this opportunity to sing in
D.C. to her."
According to soprano Cynthia
Brown, when they first sang for
Dr. Angelou's mother they sang a
capella, yet she asked, "Where's
the microphones?" "I was hum
bled because I didn't think we
were as great as they thought we
were," said Brown.
The choir has been singing as
a group for over ten years and
have been members of the church
since it was formed 18 years ago.
"It is a wonderful ministry and
through our faith in God and his
blessings, we have continued to
grow and move forward with
other programs that the church
offers," said Brian McLaughlin.
King's Corner Holiness
Church is also celebrating its 18th
anniversary, during which Bishop
ICelly has served faithfully. As- it
"?grew, the church formed pro
grams focusing on helping at-risk
youth.
Kelly has delivered guest ser
mons throughout the Piedmont
area and continues to visit other
churches. "My calling has come
natural and my roots are firmly
planted in the ministry," he said. .
Hooper offers funeral
planning program
Hooper Funeral Home is
offering a program called "Fore
thought Funeral Planning" for the
advance planning of funerals in
the Winston-Salem area.
According to Gregory T. Bur
rell, funeral director for Hooper
Funeral Home, pre-arranged, pre
funded funerals are not a new
idea.
"The idea behind funeral
planning is simply that one day, a
great deal of vital information
about you or a loved one will be
needed by your family and any
. one whose responsibility it is to
1 assist them," reported Burrell.
"There's no doubt that those
' who plan ahead are more com
' fortable knowing not only that
? their personal wishes are record
ed, but also that unnecessary dif
ficulties can be avoided."
Forethought funeral plans are
. made before the need arises with
- the help of a professional coun
? selor from a local funeral home. It
takes about an hour and there's no
; cost or obligation. .
While there are many deci
? sions related to the funeral and
I burial, most can be provided for
? O
Gregory T. Burrell
by making a few basic selec
tions. Once personal decisions
are made, the counselor puts the
funeral service wishes in writ
ing.
"All arrangements, all the ser
vices and merchandise and all
your special desires are planned
in advance," said Burrell.
"You fund it all with a Fore
thought Life Insurance Policy too.
It guarantees that the funeral you
plan will be available years later
when needed so it won't be a bur
den on your family."
St. John C.M.E. holds
appreciation banquet
St. John C.M.E. Church hon
ored its pastor and family with an
appreciation banquet at Carl Rus
sell Recreation Center, Saturday,
June 27 at 7 p.m.
Dr. and Mrs. Davis have been
faithful servants for eight years and
the church wanted to thank them
for their service.
The Rev. James Fulwood was
the guest speaker and he was intro
duced by Francis Johnson. The
scripture was read by Nathaniel
Williams, the Rev. Bertha Walker
lead the prayer, Walter Funderburk
presented the welcome and Shanta
Watts sang a solo. Ken Causer
directed the music for the occa
sion.
R.L. Brown paid special trib
ute to Dr. Davis as a spiritual lead
er and Adrienne Speas paid tnbute
to Mrs. Davis with gifts. All the
boards and departments were
directed by Larnce Mack. The pre
senters were Marion Simmons,
Fostina West, Dorothy Williams,
and William Simmons.
Sandra Manning recognized
$ guests and visitors, and James
* Payne paid tribute to the Chestnut
Grove United Methodist Church.
Meredith McRae was mistress
of ceremonies. Lillian Plowden,
the president of the pastor's aid
board was the sponsor. The Rev.
Herman Gilliam gave the benedic
tion.
. ? ? ? ? ? L_ i i ? "3WBL
Pictured (from left to right) are Cynthia Brown, Yolanda King, Bishop Kelly, Martha Baaaett (voice coach), Joe Brown, Brian McLaughlin,
and Chris McLaughlin.
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