THURSDAY, December 25, 2008
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Ministers
elect new
president
Eversley has been
one of group's most
outspoken members
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
The Rev. Dr. Carlton
Eversley, pastor of
Dellabrook Presbyterian
Church, has been elected
president of the Ministers
Conference of Winston
Salem and
Vicinity,
the oldest
and largest
predomi
n a n t 1 y
black ecu
menical
clergy
organiza
1 1 ? tion in
EvmU> Forsyth
County.
He will take office Jan. 13.
Eversley, a native of
Brooklyn, N.Y., has been an
active member of the
Conference since he moved
to Winston-Salem more than
two decades ago. The
Conference is one of the pre
miere organizations in the
local landscape, he believes.
"I think the Ministers
Conference, reflective of the
role of the black church in
any black community, is a
central organization," he
said. >jWe are one of the few
voices that's not beholden to
white institutions; we can
feel free to criticize whoev
er."
Eversley will succeed Dr.
Linda Beal, who made histo
ry in 2007, when she became
the first female president of
the Ministers Conference in
its more than 70-year history.
"I think it's wonderful,"
Beal said of his election.
"He can take the Conference
to another level."
Eversley previously
served under Beal as first
vice president of the organi
zation. Beal believes he is
well prepared for the job.
f'Carlton has been on the
forefront of education... he
promotes a lot of justice and
equality not just for our
(African American) students,
See Eversley on A4
Photos by Garrett Garms/WSSU
An excited graduate celebrates during last week's ceremony at the Joel Coliseum.
Grads get early gifts: Their Degrees
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
More than 5,000 people
were in attendance for
WSSU's Fall Commencement
at the Lawerence Joel
Coliseum Friday afternoon, to
witness a moment those on the
floor will look back on for a
long time to come. ,
"It's people like you who
are going to leave this institu
tion and go out into the world
and make a difference,"
keynote speaker Vivian Burke
sagely advised the graduates.
"Think about your character,
think about how courageous
you can be," added the mayor
pro tempore. "You have to be
in charge of your own des
tiny."
Like any graduating class,
those who marched across the
stage last week represented
myriad stories; stories of
determination, of strength, of
sheer will and, finally, of tri
Mayor Pro Tempore Dr.
Vivian Burke speaks.
umph.
Magna Cum Laude
Graduate Juanita Penn
described herself as "over
joyed, overwhelmed, excited
and thanking God!"
Penn, manager of the Red
Room dining facility, which
serves WSSU faculty and staff
members, said she had long
desired to enroll in college,
but her own insecurities held
her back.
"It was just a dream from
years back (but) ...I didn't
think I was what they call,
'college material,"' she
admitted. Thanks to the sup
port of many of the professors
she worked with, Penn finally
found the strength to pursue
her dream and enrolled in col
lege at age 57.
"I think being a nontradi
tional student, you will0 be
more focused and more disci
p 1 i n e d
See WSSU on A12
Photos by Layla Finner
Joel Cruz Cartegena stands by as a student hits a pinata.
jFeliz Navidad!
Children celebrate Christinas, Mexican style
BY LAYLA FARMER
THE CHRONICLE
The pinata burst and pandemonium broke out in Tia Cain's
second grade classroom at Ashley Magnet Elementary School
Friday. The children dove to the floor, eagerly scooping up
every morsel they could find.
The pinata that now lay in pieces on the floor was carefully
crafted by the children, with the help of a few dedicated parents,
earlier that week, as part of a special class project centered
around Christmas in Mexico.
"We wanted to integrate another culture (into our holiday
celebration)," Cain explained. "I have two Hispanic children,
and every time a holiday comes up. it's about how we do things
in (America); so I invited our Hispanic parents in to tell us how
See Christmas on All
Tia Cain
Elf on
the
Run
Photo by Kevin Walker
Janet Moss is
spending many of
her pre-Christmas
days dressed as one
of Santa's elves. It is
all in the spirit of
fun as she visits day
care centers and
senior citizens facil
ities to spread some
holiday joy. Here
she is at a toy give
J away last week at
the Sims Rec
Center. Read more
about the program
on B8.
Tree-For-All
Program provides Christmas staple to local families
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE k
Hundreds of free
Christmas trees arrived in the
homes of oveijoyed families
last Saturday as part of
Operation Christmas Tree.
For 20 years, the
Christmas tree giveaway has
spread holiday joy. Every
year, volunteers gather trees,
wreathes and garland from
Christmas tree lots across the
county on the Saturday before
Christmas. In past years, the
trees and accessories have
been taken to the parking lot
of Ernie Shore Field. This
year, the giveaway moved to
its new location in the nearby
parking lot of Lawrence Joel
Photo by Todd Lock
Bettie Wardlow with members of her family.
Memorial Coliseum Annex.
Those needing a tree simply
come by and volunteers help
them pick out one, carry it to
their vehicle and secure it for
the ride home.
Ted Freshwater started
Operation Christmas Tree.
He's had tree lots offer him
more trees than he could
transport this year. He said it
was a win- win for the lots,
since trees that would normal
ly be discarded end up in peo
ple's homes. He said the joy
he sees in the recipients
makes it worth it.
"The best reward we can
get is the wide eyes of the
children to see these (trees)
See TVces on All
In Memory of
Charlene
Russell Brown
" Growing and Still Dedicated to Serve You Better"
Hiiggelt Jfutterai fffotw
Wishes to Thank Everyone For Their Support
822 Carl Russell Ave.
Cat IVfartin Luther Kins
Winston-SHlem, NC 27101
(336)
Fax (336)
rusfhome <sm> bellsou th -net
6*9 07^S243??7
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