Drayton
from pott A J
of the Interraciat Forsyth
Ministers Fellowship, the
Winston-Salem Interracial
Urban League Board of
Directors and the North
Carolina Interracial
Fellowship, and the first
African American chairman
of the North Carolina
Humans Relations Council.
Drayton's commitment
to community service was
evident as a parade of resolu
tions from various groups
and agencies were presented.
Rev. Artis Smith read a reso
lution from the Ministers
Conference of Winston
Salem and Vicinity.
"We were impressed by
his leadership at New Bethel
Baptist Church and in the
broader community, where
he served with distinction,"
Smith said. "He was one of
the city's foremost African
American bona fide
Christian scholars."
New Bethel
Deacon Carolyn
Crosby spoke
about the attrib
utes of Drayton's
personality, from
his penchant for
punctuality and
attention to detail
to the wisdom of
his extensive
world experience.
"He displayed a
uniuue combina
tion of old fashioned values,
contemporary understanding
and progressive ideas,"
Crosby commented. "...He
enjoyed talking to people,
and you could learn a lot of
history if you sat down with
him."
Mayor Allen Joines
called Drayton a friend and
mentor. He credited the long
time pastor with quietly
pushing for positive changes
within the city and helping
to integrate many important
departments and organiza
tions.
"He was a giant among
giants, he was a leader
among leaders, and he was,
most importantly, a
Christian among
Christians," the mayor said.
File Photo
Dr. Jerry Drayton with the love of his life, his
wife, Susie.
"...The city is a much better
place for all of us, be it
black or white, because of
Dr. Jerry Drayton. We will
miss him, but we will never
forget him."
Rev. Dr. Kendall Jones,
New Bethel's current pastor,
said Drayton left behind big
shoes to fill. He told the
. L
congregation ne
was proud to be a
part of the legacy
that Drayton
helped to create at
New Bethel.
"I am blessed
because I stand
now on his shoul
ders," Jones said.
"I am thankful
that Dr. Drayton
took time with
Joints
me, to encourage me."
In a resounding eulogy
that brought the audience to
their feet, Rev. Dr. J. Donald
Ballard, pastor emeritus of
United Metropolitan
Missionary Baptist Church,
drew on his personal experi
ences with Drayton to illus
trate his longtime friend's
many admirable qualities.
Ballard based his remarks on
Mark 8:34, where Jesus pro
claims, "If anyone would
come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross
and follow me."
The passage has special
meaning for him, Ballard
said.
"I have chosen a
Scripture that is central to
the ministry of Jesus
Christ," he intoned, "...and
it is central to the relation
ship that I had with the
deceased for almost 54
years."
The two men first met in
August 1958, when Drayton
preached what Ballard
remembers as "one of of the
most powerful sermons I've
ever heard" during Ballard's
ordination service.
"Dr. Drayton challenged
us would-be pastors ... to
take our calling seriously
and to fulfill our ministry
faithfully," Ballard recalled.
"His text that night was the
same as my text today."
That was the beginning
of a lifetime of respect and
admiration that Ballard held
for Drayton, whom he char
acterized as a "phenomenal
preacher," a "passionate pas
tor" and a "prodigious per
son.
"Jerry Drayton's feet were
firmly planted on Earth, but
his head and heart were fixed
on Heaven," Ballard said.
"He spent 84 years preach
ing, teaching and telling
men and women about
Christ. All of those 84
years, Jerry Drayton stood
firm, held fast and boldly put
forth the Gospel of Jesus
Christ."
Dr. Drayton is survived
by his longtime wife, Susie
Jones Drayton, son, Jerry A.
(Wilma) Drayton Jr. of
Atlanta, and a host of other
relatives and friends.
In With the New
St. Stephen starting new Boy Scouts troop less than a
year after terminating charter of old unit
BY LAYLAGARMS
THE CHRONICLE
Less than a year after an
unceremonious parting of
the ways with Boy Scout
Troop and Cub Scout Pack
815, St. Stephen Missionary
Baptist Church is recruiting
young men for its new Troop
and Pack 912.
'They wanted to reorgan
ize the pack and troop,
despite all the difficulties
that happened there,"
explained Joe Knight, dis
trict executive for the Boy
Scouts of America's
Piedmont District, which
boasts the largest member
ship of the Old Hickory
Council's districts. "They
have some new people com
ing on board that wanted to
get involved. We're trying to
get youth involved in that
part of town, and people
have been real receptive to
them."
Troop and Pack 815 has
been in limbo since St.
Stephen's embattled pastor,
Rev. James Cook, refused to
renew its charter with the
Boy Scouts of America last
summer. The unit was once
an active organization, home
to more than 70 scouts.
Tensions between Troop
Leaders Emmanuel and Anna
Mickens and Cook were
reportedly behind the pas
tor's decision to unload the
scouts. The Mickenses are
among a group of former St.
Stephen members who have
been involved in a very pub
lic spat with Cook and his
supporters at the church.
Some of the disagreements
between the two sides have
made their way all the way
into the courtroom.
Left without a home,
Troop 815 was salted to
begin meeting at American
Legion Post 220 on Liberty
Street. Anna Mickens said
Joe Knight
last year that she had hoped
that the Post would become
the unit's new sponsor, but a
partnership never material
ized.
The Mickenses declined
to comment about the
church's effort to launch a
new Troop. Last year, Anna
Mickens told the Chronicle
that disagreements between
adults should not be taken
out on children.
"We love them and we're
devoted to (the Scouts)," she
said. "Whatever you do, do it
to us, but leave the boys
alone. They have not done
anything."
St. Stephen leaders could
not be reached for comment,
but Knight, who moved to
the Twin City last year after
the cfcspute was well under
way, said the church is well
within its rights to instate a
new unit at any time, and
can even charter several units
with the proper support.
Pastor Cook
'The church charter has
the right to remove the lead
ers if they see fit," Knight
stated. "The church actually
owns that unit."
Knight said he has avoid
ed getting involved in the
dispute itself, but has main
tained a singular focus on the
boys who are impacted by it.
"My job was not to nec
essarily be the mediator, but
to figure out a solution,"
said the Detroit native.
"...My biggest concern at
the end of the day was mak
ing sure that this program
was available to those boys
who needed it and who want
ed to be a part of the pro
gram."
St. Stephen is currently
recruiting boys ages 6-18 to
join the unit, which will be
led by Scoutmaster Handy
Douglas, former assistant
scoutmaster of Troop 815,
according to the church's
Web site.
The Chronicle (USPS 067-910) was established by Ernest H.
Pitt and Ndubisi Egemonye in 1974 and is published every
Thursday by Winston-Salem Chronicle Publishing Co. Inc.,
617 N. Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101.
Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, N.C. Annual sub
scription price is $30.72.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to:
The Chronicle, P.O. Box 1636
Winston-Salen), NC 27}02r1636
.. i i i ,
Wa list
| Start Summer Rmmdinp Off Wjth A Rousing... I
Summer Reading Kick-Off
Friday, June 8th ? 6:30pm-8:30pm
Central Library (5th Street Entrance)
You know them, you love them and your kids just can't get enough of
them. We're speaking of the headliner for our big summer reading kick-off,
Big, Bang, Boom! Bring the family for a high-energy performance that
will leave you swaying to the sounds of the liveliest music around. Arrive ^
early to watch your favorite book characters walk the red carpet.
i H?y kid*...
i Dream Bit
l Readl
In addition to storytellers, magicians, and animals this year's
system-wide entertainment will be Bright Star Touring Theatre
who will perform 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. "And don't miss
children's authors Lynn Salsi and her reading of Appalachian
Jack Tales and John Claude Bemis author of The Nine Pound
Hammer.
Hmy TmmnM
Vv.
Nlgntl i
Try a few of these programs on for size. Monster Make-Up
* Artist (Learn how to apply your own monstrous make-up.) Teen
* Murder Mystery (Try to find out whodunnit?) Vampires vs.
* Werewolves Party (Need we say more?) What App is That?
* (Get the latest on the coolest new apps for your phone.)
Forth* Grown Uj^iJ
Mystery sxdtifiWTt ind thrills await whin you 90...
2jSScSwn" j
? Programming for adults includes events such as a workshop for
? recording personal memoirs, downloading e-books, and many visits
? by local authors. And what better time than summer to join one of our
? many book clubs - check wwMifenytfilfbrary.org for the one that
? suits you best.
?
Visit www.forsythllbrary.org for a complete list of summer reading events and activities.
B Summer Reading Prima*
.?* Sign up to win one of three $25 Barnes & Noble gift cards to be given away at each library branch for kids, teens and adults
-?y. * during Summer Reading. When you do, you will automatically be eligible to win a $100 Barnes & Noble gift card.
?
j . * .
* Sign up for our free monthly e-newsletter at wwufonythHbruy.org I AllUbrv/ Programs sn Free and Open to the Public
^^^oV^ ^^oJ^o703-29'0 f F?^?" \
WlMlW ??!??, worm UUWMU I ??L]I(,Iu.| I Children s Outreach 703 29SO Karnarwlll* 703 2930 ??d I
mrwJbm(hllbrirv.oril I c'u'4ryl I Sp.nish ip?aking Services 703-2907 Lawisvilla 703-2940 FACIBOOK I
" I 1^^ . ' I MaMoy/lordan East Winston Hnrjtaga Centar: 703-2950 Reynold.: 703-2960 ^ I ^^HilM|i9]UUi|l]n
I it-T.Hnilf CuVI / YOUTH MINI LIBRARIES Rural Hall: 703-2970 lrj KB I
L U>* * ? yrj.tr lf>__ r B"' Chcfca Cafr? Southslda: 703-2900 . U ? J
Salvation Army lor and Okh Club ; Walkartown: 703-2990 ???
'
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