Obituaries
Russell
Funeral Home c
822 Carl Russell Ave.
722-3459
WHmrr
Mr. George Clarence Whitley, formerly of 1701 Peachtree Street,
Winston-Salem, passed away Nov. 15 at Lutheran Home of Winston
Salem.
He was bom Aug. 6, ,1936, in Duplin County to Pearlie Whitley Sav
age and Acie Pickett.
He is survived by: his wife, Eunice D. Whitley of Winston-Salem;
two sons, Joseph (Marion) Davis and Clarence Gregory Miller of Jack
son, N.C.; five grandchildren: two brothers, Raymond (Bettie) Savage
and Donald (Vanessa) Mebane of Winston-Salem; an aunt, Annie Mae
McGee of Boston, Mass.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other
relatives and friends.
The funeral was held Nov. 20 at 1 p.m. at the Chapel of Russell
Funeral Home. Brother Roy Blake officiated. Burial followed at Ever
green Cemetery.
Russell Funeral Home directors were in charge of airangements.
MARUN
Mrs. Alma Nola Luckey Marlin, 1625 Ashley School Circle, Win
ston-Salem, passed away Nov. 18 at Forsyth Medical Center after an
extended period of illness. Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt
and friend has gone to be an angel with her Heavenly Father.
She wavpreceded in death by her husband, Jones Alexander Marlin,
and a brother. Hezekiah Luckey. Mrs. Alma Marlin will be greatly missed
by her family.
Surviving are: her nine children, Isiah (Dorothy) Marlin, John (Mar
ilyn) Marlin, Alma (William) Campbell (all of Winston-Salem), Mary
(John) Turner of Kemersville, Robert (Christine) Martin of Winston
Salem, Larry Marlin of Accokeek, Md? Jerry (Mazie) Marlin of Oxford,
N.C., Rosetta (Ronald) Dennis and Debbie (Kevin) Gary of Winston
Salem; a sister, Christine Marlin of Winston-Salem; a sister-in-law, Ethel
Miller of Cleveland, N.C.; 24 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren;
special friends and caretakers, Bemice Gambrell, Lillie Perry, Dorothy
Allen, Louise Dulin, Willie Basket, Rev. Dr. Hubert S. Williams and Rev.
Lula Williams; and a host of other friends and neighbors.
A graveside service was held Nov. 22 at II :3() a.m. at Piedmont
Memorial Gardens. Bishop Claude C. Turner officiated. Burial followed
at Piedmont Memorial Gardens.
Russell Funeral Home directors were in charge of the arrangements.
BALDWIN
Mr. Elwood Rudolf "Shing" Baldwin. 5803 Brockton Court,
Jamestown. N.C., passed away Nov. 18 at his residence.
He was bom in Springfield. N.J., to the late Ula May and Wade Man
son Baldwin. He graduated from Union High School in Union. N.J., and
Newark School of Engineering (now NJIT).
He served in the armed forces in the Korean conflict. He worked
for Hatfield Wire & Cable Co.. then went on to work for New Jersey Tool
and Die Company for 48 years until his retirement. He later moved to
Jamestown, N.C.
He joined New Bethel Baptist Church in 2004, where he was a mem
ber until his death. He dedicated his life to Christ in 2003.
He loved his hometown of Vauxhall. N.J., where his friends looked
forward to seeing his Dodge van with a "Vauxhall" license plate. He will
be missed by family and friends.
Left to mourn his passing are: his wife of 50 years, Gloria May Bald
win; his daughter, Laurie Allen- Werts of North Carolina; son. John E.
Baldwin of North Carolina; son-in-law. Rev. Caesar C. Werts; grandchil
dren, Alease Nicole Allen, Tara Mart AHen, Britni Michal Allen, Emman
ual O. Werts and Caesar Justin Werts. all of North Carolina. He was the
brother of Wallsworth Wilson Baldwin (Carrie), Robert Baldwin, Charl
ton Emerson Baldwin (deceased). Delores Williams. Charlotte Sinclair
Baldwin (deceased). Wade Manson Baldwin (deceased) (Frances). Carl
Are black pastors wimping out?
Rev. Barbara
Reynolds
Guest
Columnist
Before Rev. Jesse Jackson
preached at a certain African
American church, the pastor made
a disclaimer, separating himself
from the views of this Democratic
cheerleader.
"The pastor was shaking like a
leaf." Jackson said at the Howard
University School of Divinity
shortly after President Bush's" re
election.
This pathetic image presents a
convenient metaphor of what is
happening in black Christendom.
Is the threat of losing government
funds, or political capital that
might include a trip to the White
House, turning the tradition of
prophetic, cutting edge black
church leaders into irrelevant little
wimps?
Why are most of oiy fancy
mega-mouthed cHUrches with
magnificent edifices, huge congre
gations an<J entourages offering lit
tle leadership during one of the
most crucial political dramas of
this century? Thousands of our
young men and women could die
in oil wars in foreign lands. Bil
lions of dollars are being drained
from our treasury for good schools,
safe streets, better hospitals in Iraq
rather than at home. And when
Bush finishes packing the
Supreme Court and federal judge
ships with right-wingers, blacks
and women could be hindered for
generations.
With so much at stake, we
need prophetic voices like Esther
and Amos, the risk takers and the
in-your-face troublemakers. What
we have are too many disciples
like those who slept as Christ ago
nized in the garden of Gethsemane.
From both sides of the political
spectrum there is an absence of
challenge, critique and criticism
from so-called black spiritual lead
ers.
"Too many preachers are
beholden to Republi
cans or Democrats
and can't take inde
pendent moral posi
tions," says Rev.
Clarence James, a for
mer dean at the More
house School of Reli
gion. "Historically the
black church placed
morality above legali
ty and righteousness
above politics, but
today we have tlocks
of black spiritual leaders helping
black America go nowhere."
Rev. James, author of "Lost
Generation? Or Left Generation!
Confronting the Youth Crisis in
Black America." says, "Black min
isters must take the lead on moral
issues. In the past whites followed
radical black spiritual leadership
because blacks were on the cutting
edge of major social issues, from
slavery, segregation to anti-war
movements."
If democracy is to flourish in
America, black Christians can't
allow the spiritual mantle to be
hogged by the wacky Rev. Fal
wells of the world who are pro
moting a White-led evangelical
movement.
Increasing numbers of black
Christians v.oted Republican, fear
ing a moral 'meltdown from gay
marriages, which affects less than
1 percent of the population. I can't
argue with their faith walk but I can
Jackson
ask: Isn't Vie abominable killing of
innocents in Iraq a moral issue?
The same Bible that says adultery
and homosexuality are sins says,
"Thou shall not kill."
Conversely, progressive black
church leaders cannot ignore the
sentiments of their parishioners
over the perceived cultural rot sur
rounding homosexuality, pornog
raphy and lewdness that
the Democrats seem to
embrace. Studies found
that blacks are more
hard-line on the gay
rights issues than
whites. "Forty-six per
cent of African Ameri
cans oppose any legal
recognition of homo
sexual relationships
compared with 37 per
cent of whites."
I was born in
Columbus, Ohio, the slate that
probably gave the recent election
to Bush. I have friends who were
life-long Democrats until recently.
For example, Ella Coleman, pub
lisher of Puipose Magazine, is a
smart, progressive woman, but her
understanding of immorality and
conscience is changing her politics.
"Homosexuality and same-sex
marriages are abominations. You
can't straddle the fence on that.
That's the kind of thing that the
Bible says will bring down the
wrath of God on us. Morality is
number one for me, not unemploy
ment, not ware because there have
always been wars. 1 am not a right
winger. If Kerry would have
addressed morality. 1 would have
voted for him."
With so little leadership, right
wing conservatives were able to
establish a narrow definition of
morality.
"It is a critical error to allow the
Calendar
from page B5
Church of God in Christ, 601
Franklin Blvd. The community is
invited to attend. The concert is
sponsored by the Elders and Min
isters Wives Auxiliary. Admission
is free.
Dec. 9-12
Mount Carmel
Mount Carmel Missionary
Baptist Church. 3230 Heitman,
Drive, will hold its third annual
women's conference Dec. 9-12.
Here's the schedule: Dec. 9 at 7
p.m., "When I Fall in Love," Min
ister Margaret Hill. Mt. Carmel
Baptist Church; Dec. 10 at 7 p.m..
"Falling in Love with Jesus." Pas
tor Essie McCollugh. New Direc
tion Movement Cathedral; Dec.
1 1 at 9 a.m.. First Love: Evange
list Cynthia Dixon. Looking for
love in all the wrong places. First
Waughtown Baptist Church; also
on Dec. 1 1 , Wilderness Love:
First Lady Billie Mason Johnson.
You Can't Hurry Love, Macedo
nia Worship Center; Dec. 12 at
8:57 a.m.. Invincible Love. Minis
ter Marlene Pitts. Mt. Carmel
Baptist Church, and Our Love Is
Here to Stay. 10:30 a.m.. Evange
list Cynthia Plummer. Macedonia
Baptist Church, Slidell. La.
Dec. 10-12
"In the Audience of His Excel
lency"
Dec. 10-12, Mount Sinai Full
Gospel Deliverance Center will
hold "In the Audience of His
Excellency," a coronation of the
fivefold ministry gifts. Partici
pants in this celebration will
include Bishop Harry Cohen,
Burlington: Bishop Liston Pager"
Paterson. N.J.; host Pastor Yvonne
H. Hines; Dr. Mark Chironna.
Orlando, Fla.; Charrisse Mcintosh
of the Richard Smallwood
Singers; and Madame Mary L.
Haynie. The gala, an evening of
elegance, will be held at the
Southeastern Center for Contem
porary Arts. For more informa
tion. call the church office at 722
2624.
Other
Shopping trip
The Inspirational Choir of St.
Mark Baptist Church will sponsor
4 trip on Dec. 1 1 to one of the
largest flea markets in Anderson.
5 C.. and Gaffney. S.C.. Mall (one
of the largest malls in that area).
We will leave early that morning
for a one-day trip. Come prepared
to see a lot and spend a lot. For
more information, contact First
Lady Hattie Fulwood at 784-0502
or Odessa Harris at 784-6860.
Come join us and let's shop till
you drop for a very small price.
Shopping trip
Mt. Carmel Missionary Bap
tist Church is sponsoring "Shop
Till You Drop" Dec. 3-4 to Com
merce and Atlanta area malls,
with overnight lodging in Atlanta.
"Thc tnrat cosrfir SJB per person
(due by Nov. 28 in full). Depart at
7 a.m. Friday from Mt. Carmel
and return at 9 p.m. Saturday. (No
children under the age of 5,
please). Drop off or mail money to
Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist
Church, 3230 Heitman Drive,
Winston-Salem. NC 271Q7. For
more information, call Natasha
Young at 767-0007. You can leave
a message.
Trip
The Traveling Committee of
Judah Praise and Worship Center
is sponsoring a four-day, threes
night beach vacation. The vaca
tion is scheduled for Sept. 2-5,
2005. A raffle will be held Dec.
3 1 . For a very small donation you
may be our chosen guest. C ontact
Stephanie Golden at 788-268 1 for
more information.
religious right to define morality in
terms of persona] salvation alone,
says Rev. Michael Battle, the
newly installed president of
Atlanta's Interdenominational
Theological Center. "The state of
the poor, the hungry, the homeless,
and the war in Iraq are all moral
issues. Yet, there was no massive
outcry from the religious left and
when black leaden, spoke out on
this the media generally ignored
us."
Battle is working on a plan to
help the black church redeem its
position in the vanguard of social
and political change through build
ing a public policy and media
infrastructure at ITC. which is
composed of seven seminaries rep
resenting 20 million Christians.
That is exactly what is needed.
Polls found that 7 1 percent of vot
ers had heard from the religious
right while only 38 percent heard
from the religious left. With
preachers within SCLC more
involved in fighting each other
than the system and some conser
vative preachers just happy to be in
the big house, the black church
must regain its voice, even if it may
seem for a season to only be crying
out in a political wilderness.
Rev. Barbara Reynolds, the
religion columnist for NNPA, is
an author of four books, includ
ing "Out of Hell & Living Well:
Healing from the Inside Out. "
She is a graduate of the Howard
University School of Divinity
and the United Theological
Seminary, where she earned a
doctorate in ministry. She can
be reached at www.reynold
snews.com.
Carver
students to
perform "The
Church Fight"
SPg M Id mt.nmoMciE
Students in the Theatre
Arts classes and Drama Club
of Carver High School will
pr*^ns?t a church t-wnedy
written in 1925 called "The
Church Fight" by Ruth
Gaines-Shelton on Saturday,
Dec. 4, in the Carver Audito
rium at 6 p.m. The perform
ance is an adaptation of the
play written for a contest in
Crisis Magazine. Gaines
Shelton won $40.00 as sec
ond prize for the play. The
Carver High School Gospel
Choir will also perform.
In addition, students will
open the show with poetry
from Langston Hughes.
B.L.'s Kentucky Barbecue
will sell barbecue chicken
and ribs as well as fish plates
for dinner.
Admission is $3.00. This
is family entertainment, for
more information, contact Dr.
Felecia P. McMillan at 727
2987.
ton Baldwin (deceased), Maryann Rolland (Ruben) and Preston Von
Baldwin (Itsy). Also a dear lifelong friend of over 60 years, "Nick," and
a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.
The funeral was held Monday, Nov. 22, at I p.m. at New Bethel Bap
tist Church in High Point, with Rev. John Mason officiating. A memori
al service was held Tuesday, Nov. 23, at 6 p.m. at Macedonia Christian
Church. Vauxhall, NJ. Burial followed at Graceland Cemetery, Kenil
worth, NJ.
Russell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
YOUNG
Mr. Jacob Ervin Young, 1629 E. 3rd Street, Apartment 208B, Win
ston-Salem, passed away Nov. 20 at Wake Forest University Baptist
Medical Center.
He was bom Feb. 8, 1921, in St. Matthews, S.C., the son of Rosa
and Charles Young. He received his early education in the Winston
Salem/Forsyth County Schools and graduated from Far Rockaway High
School, Far Rockaway, N.Y. "Jake" was a veteran of the U.S. Army, hav
ing served in World War II. He was a retired truck driver for the Gar
ment District in New York. He was a member of American Legion Post
55 and was a 32nd degree Mason.
He was preceded in death by: his parents; two wives, Thelma and
Alberta.
He is survived by: a devoted cousin, Frances A. Williams of Far
Rockaway, N. Y. : a devoted godson, Donald Truesdale of Houston,
Texas; a devoted friend and caregiver, Mitchellyne Y. Stewart; a host of
other relatives and friends.
The funeral was held Nov. 23 at noon at the Chapel of Russell Funer
al Home. Rev. L.S. Werts officiated. Burial followed at Salisbury Nation
al Cemetery in Salisbury, N.C.
Russell Funeral Home directors were in chatge of arrangements.
JOHNSON
Mrs. Betty Watts Johnson, 1736 E. Sprague Street, Winston-Salem,
passed away Nov. 19 at her residence unexpectedly.
She was a native of Winston-Salem, was bom to the late John Watts
Sr. and Adeline Wans, and was an alumnus of Winston-Salem State Uni
versity. She taught tor more than 40 years in the Forsyth County and
Randolph County school systems. She loved the Lord and has shared that
love through her undying sacrifice and dedication to Bethlehem Mis
sionary Baptist Church, her church home.
She was predeceased by a sister, Velma Roseboro.
Betty is survived by: her loving husband of 42 years, Willie J. John
son Sr.; a devoted son, Willie J. (Deborah) Johnson Jr.; two grand
daughters, Michelle and Naomi; seven sisters, Margaret Ross, Blondelia
(Nathaniel) Tucker, Barbara Macon, Annie R. Jones, Ernestine Shelton,
Jacqueline (Richard) Adams and Cynthia (David) Timmons; a brother,
John Watts Jr.; two adopted daughters, Shameka Thompson and Pamela
Elder, and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was scheduled for Wednesday. Nov. 24, at 1 p.m. at
Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, with Rev. Dwight L. Hash offici
ating. Burial was scheduled to follow at Eveigreen Cemetery.
Russell Funeral Home directors were in charge of arrangements.
VIOXX
ATTENTION ? IV7A/V" USHRS !!!
Merck withdraws Vioxx from market!!
Severe medical problems have been associated with this drug.
If you, or someone you know, have experienced:
* heart attack or stroke
* kidney problems
* death
Call Lewis & Roberts, 1 305 Navaho Dr., Raleigh, NC 27609, at
(888) 981-0939 for a free consultation or visit our website at
www.rx-attorneys.com
Faith Christian Outreach Center
37S0-B BfTHAMA Station Rd, W-S, NC 27106
invites you to
Harvest Celebration 2004
"Showers of' Blessing "
November 24th <3> 7 p.m. & November 25th # S p.m.
Cues t Speaker. Pastor Arthur A Brown, jr.
Grace & Mercy Apostolic Church, Parkersburg, WV
For men info/Van Ministry: (336) 9Z3-22SS
MERIDIAN
I he Merid ian Realty Group
Takes Pleasure in Announcing
Tlie Association of
Jack Steel man
former Downtown Development Director
City of Winston- Salem
with our firm
Cindy C. Christopher
Charlie H. Full*
Mark E. Full*
Michael I). Gwyn
Robert H. Hoffman
Fred W I -ondon, Jr.
Richard W. Redding
John L. Ruffin
Commercial Real Estate Services
The Meridian Realty Group
3 1 B indera Mills Court
Winston-Salem, NC 271 ?!
336.722. 1 9B6
WWW.MERIDIANREALTY.COM