Giving
props to
the late
Mr. White
- See Page Bl
Popular
dinner
parties
to restart
- See Page A9
Local
artists
fuse
talents
- See Pane A3
Local
rapper
making
noise
-See Page CS
I
45
NG.-<ih CAROL j. fyi RCU
. FORSYTH CTY PUBLIC _J.HRA.-<i
ot^) W b.ri ST
" WiNS'iuii SAi^cii NC 2710^-2705
For Reference
Not to be taken
.E
75 cents
la , , trom this library
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF COMMl \IT1 J o i k\\l Vol. XXXI No. 18
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2
JAG
finds
success
in unity
Group of black
investors trying to
help the community
BY T. KEVIN WALKER
mi CHRONK I E
The first time Robert Norris
led a financial management les
son during Sunday School at his
church, about a dozen of his fel
low congregants showed up to
'Ms. Zura' counts 100 years of blessings
Despite age, local woman still does for herself
BY T. KEVIN WALKER
fHl CHRONICLE
Zura Miles McFarlin. says
she doesn't know the secret to
long life. There is no home
made elixir that she concocts
and no good-luck charms that
she wears around her neck or
keeps underneath her pillow.
One hundred years of life
have taught McFarlin to live
each day to the fullest and to
thank God for each breath,
because, as she says, the next
breath is not promised to any
one.
"When I look back over all
these years, I see just how good
God has been to me." McFarlin
said Monday with a big smile.
The love of a big, support
ive family has been one of the
blessings that the Almighty has
bestowed on MtFarlin. Yester
day her family and dozens of
her friends celebrated McFar
lin's 100th birthday at a party at
St. Stephen Missionary Baptist
Church, where McFarlin still
attends.
"Seeing her gives me hope.
If I live a good, clean life, then
I can reach her age one day,"
said William Fulton, McFar
lin's nephew.
Her family is a hardworking
clan that has done \Vell in the
world of business. Members of
her family learned their traits of
1 hard work and dedication from
their matriarch. McFarlin was
born in Kernersville on Dec.
29, 1904. Teddy Roosevelt had
just defeated Alton Brooks
Parker to win a second term in
Sec McFarlin on A9
Photo by Kevin Walker
Zura Miles McFarlin is surrounded by some of the pillows she made.
Norris
learn
about
debt
reduc
tion and
wealth
build
ing.
" I
think by
the sec
o n d
Sunday,
we had
like 30 people who came, and
by the third Sunday, we just
went out of the sky with peo
ple," Norris said.
That was in the summer of
2003. Interest in those Sunday
School lessons has grown into
the Joint Association for
Growth, or JAG, which is made
up of about 20 African-Ameri
cans who have invested their
time and money into an innova
tive economic development
venture. Although members
envision a day when JAG Is
multifaceted, for now the organ
ization focuses on purchasing
old homes, refurbishing them
and renting them for what JAG
members say are reasonable
rates.
"You should not have to
have Oprah's salary to have a
decent place to live," said Jack
ie Williams, who co-chairs JAG
with Norris.
Barely a year old, JAG has
hit milestones as of late. Its first
house, off of Old Hollow Road,
will soon have tenants. The
house cost about $32,000 just to
renovate. The new tenants, a
married couple, will pay $600 a
month in rent.
Norris is proud of the fact
that all of the money in JAG's
kitty, more than $130,000 and
See JAG on A9
Kwanzaa is in the Air
Photo by Kevin Walker
Little Kamal Muham
mad was among the
dozens of people who
enjoyed festivities
Sunday for the first
night of Kwanzaa.
Here Kamal moves to
the beat of African
drums as the kinara
burns behind him.
First-night activities
were held at the Win
ston-Salem Urban
League and featured a
variety of arts and
cultural performances.
To read more about
the event, see page
CI.
Ptnrto by Courtney Ciaillard
Capt. Christo
pher . Pulliam
poses with fat
Sitting's third
grade class at
North Hills Ele
ment a r y
School.
School welcomes
home local soldier
Capt. Christopher Pulliam has served
one tour of duty in Iraq
BY COURTNEY GAILLARD
THE CHRONICLE
North Hills Elementary
School was one of Capt.
Christopher Pulliam's first
stops upon returning home to
Winston-Salem last Wednes
day after an eight-month tour
of duty in Iraq. Students in Pat
Bitting's third-grade class
made a poster for him several
months ago to let him know
how grateful they are to him
for his service to their coun
try. He dropped by class to
meet the students and thank
them in person for their sup
port.
"It's so much fun to put
the faces with the names. I'm
fortunate because I have a
family. Ms. Bitting's class and
friends who care about me.
See Soldier an A10
In Grateful Memory of Our
Founders,
Florrie S. Russell and
Carl H. Russell , Sr.
"Growing and Still Dedicated to Serve You Better "
Wishes to Thank Everyone For Their Support
S22 Carl Russt-ll Ave.
(at Martin l.nthor King Dr.)
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 722-3459
Fax (33ft) 631-8268
rusfhome Cq hcllsonth.net
The Only Choice for African-American and Community News