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Vol. XXXIV No. 14
thursdA
13, 2007
Jeralds
taking
flight
in college
-See Page Bl
wssu
students ,
take on
project
- See Page A3
Retail
manager
excells
on the job
-See Page A12
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27101
James
Johnson
to speak
at Goler
21 -year-old black man
at heart of racially -
tinged murder case
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
A young black man who is
literally in a Tight for his life will
worship at Goler Memorial
AME Zion Sunday.
James Johnson, '21, was
released from prison in
September, where he had lan
guished for two years waiting to
be tried for the murder of 17
year-old
Brittany
Willis.
The mur
der of the
young
white
honor
student
has
strained
WRAL Image r3Ce rela"
Joknton t'ons in
Wilson ,
N . C . .
which is aboul 50 miles east of
Raleigh. One young black man,
Kenneth Meeks, who was just 16
at the time, has already been con
victed of abducting, raping and
killing Willis and is serving a life
sentence. Meeks initially named
Johnson as an accomplice, but
later admitted to lying about
Johnson's involvement.
Johnson's arrest and impris
onment stirred outrage among
blacks in Wilson and civil rights
organizations. Johnson has
admitted that Meeks came to his
house after Meeks killed Willis
and confessed to Johnson about
the crime. Johnson said he went
with Meeks to the crime scene
and then helped Meeks wash his
car because he feared that Meeks
might harm him as well.
There is no physical evi
dence linking Johnson to the
crime and two witnesses who
claim to have seen Willis with
two black men have been called
"unreliable" by Johnson's many
supporters.
Johnson has been using his
See Johnson on All
Photos by Jaeson Pin
Students at
Triad Barber
School watch
as owner and
instructor
Mary Kyles
cuts the hair of
a customer.
Kyles has been
in the beauty
business for
several
decades.
There's Something About Mary
Barber trainer has embraced her blessings and passes them on to others
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
Mary Kyles knows a thing or two
about weathering a storm.
The Triad Barber School owner was
walking across Liberty Street near her
shop in the spring of 2001 when she was
struck by an oncoming car - changing her
life forever.
The injuries Kyles sustained warrant
ed a two-month hospital stay, followed by
a month of grueling rehabilitation. It was
touch and go at first, she says.
"They thought maybe I wasn't going
to make it," she remarked.
Admittedly, the effects of such an
experience are far-reaching, but Kyles
refused to let her suffering deter her from
the path she feels she was destined to
travel.
"I always say that God had something
else for me to do," she says.
A self described "people person,"
Kyles, the mother of four adult sons, says
she was drawn to barbering because of its
ample opportunities for social interaction.
"I like people; I think everyone is
interesting," she commented. "They all
have a different story to tell."
She obtained her barber's license
from Winston-Salem Barber School in
1979 and wasted no time in stepping out
on her own. She opened Mary's Barber
Shop on Liberty Street the following year.
Though she says she has always
enjoyed barbering, Kyles. a Winston
Salem native, says she's had her share of
challenges.
"Being in business can be a headache
if you let it," she commented. "I've had
my problems, but I've always tried to be
strong enough to overcome them."
By the time she traded in her clippers
for a teaching career in 1991, Kyles had
two Mary's Barber Shop locations in
See Kyles on A12
Mary Kyles
Passionate, imperfect life of AIDS warrior celebrated
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE ?
The late Silette Ideanna Settle
marched to the beat of her very own
drum.
Nearly every member of the modest
group that gathered at her home church.
Dellabrook Presbyterian, to honor her
memory last Friday afternoon could
attest to that. A spirited and passionate
soul. Settle was known to approach life
with youthful abandon.
"Deanna was somebody to be reck
oned with. You always knew where
Deanna stood on anything," quipped
Pastor Ron McRae, a longtime friend of
Settle's and pastor of Little Salem
Christian Church of Reidsviile.
Ueanna was always a
character," he added. "I
thank God for having had the
opportunity to have known
her."
It is no secret that Settle's
life was far from perfect. She
made, perhaps, more than her
share of mistakes, but those
who knew her say she was
stunning in her valor during
the twilight of her years. She
boldly owned up to her posi
tive HIV/AIDS status, inspiring many
as she vehemently fought against the
Eversley
disease.
"When I think of her, I think of that
nope mat Keeps us all going,
the Rev. Otto Gaither, an
associate Dellabrook pastor,
commented. "... though I
tackle my obstacles differ
ently than you tackle your
obstacles, hope is hope."
Settle first attended
Dellabrook in 2003, an ex
offender looking to embark
upon a new chapter in her
life.
"She came to the church
looking for, she said, 'a new playground
with new playmates,'" recounted Dr.
Carlton Eversley, Dellabrook's pastor.
She immediately stood out at the
church, requesting to serve as an
acolyte. Eversley agreed, allowing her
to carry the candle during services.
"She wanted to be an acolyte, which
is almost always a child's job, but
because she was so small, she could, in
fact, fit into the acolyte's robe and at
times, she did in fact serve as an
acolyte, which is entirely unique," he
revealed. "I've been a pastor for 23
years and I've never heard of any other
grown person being an acolyte.'sj
Settle was active in Bible study and
took several college-level courses under
See Settle on A12
'Super' Honor
Phot" by Fetecia Long
Schools Superintendent Dr. Don Martin, with his wife,
Rita, holds the Administrator of the Year Award he
received from the Urban League recently. See who else
won on page B7.
Students create multi-ethnic cookbook
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Hill Middle School's racial and ethnic diversity is
evident in the pages of a new cookbook produced by
students.
Dining on the Hill was a
project in the keyboarding and
business computer technology
classes. More than 70 6th, 7th
and 8th grade Students helped
create the cookbook at the arts
magnet school, which is locat
ed on Tryon Street.
Teacher Juanita Ramsey
initiated the project as a way
Ramsry lo leach students how to type
and format using a word pro
cessing program.
"I wanted them to bring in two recipes from
home," said Ramsey.
Many students brought in recipes that are tradi
See Hill on A13
Photo* by Todd l uck
Khadejah McMullen, from left, Jennifer Miranda, Kiera Roper and Jennifer
Daye all contributed to the cookbook.
In Grateful Memory of Our
Founders,
Florrie S. Russell and
Carl H.Russell, Sr.
"Growing and Still Dedicated to Serve You Better"
^Russell ffltmgral ffibme
Wishes to Thank Everyone For Their Support
822 Carl Russell Ave.
(at Martin Luther Kind Dr.)
Winston-Salem , NC 27101
(33?) 722-3459
Fax (336) 631-8268
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