Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Nov. 1, 1984, edition 1 / Page 4
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Angeline IJwiggins Dedicates Her Life To Helping Sick People By Teresa Simmons Post Staff Writer The year was around 1926 and a charismatic movement had just emerged upon the city in the form of “Daddy Grace” and the House of Prayer For All People. First the tent and then three months later a building on Third and Caldwell Streets. Angeline Dwig gins, now 109 years of age, was one of the founders of Charlotte's House of Prayer. It was the late "Daddy Grace” who gave her the money to start her own rest home. "God liad given me a vision. I knew that I was to take care of the sick and He prepared me to do this The business began around 1926 and ended in the mid 1970s. Perhaps hundreds, possibly thou sands. have been aided by Mrs. pwiggins over those 50 years Elder Samuel Ford, pastor of Derita's House of Prayer For All People, remembers how she gave her last bed to an elderly or sick person. "She would sit up all night in a chair.” Elder Ford stated. ‘‘She would doze, but anytime someone would call out she would be right there to comfort them.” Elder Ford also remembers that as a child he would follow Mrs. Dwiggins through the rain and snow. "She not*only helped people in the - resthome* but she also went door to door helping sick folk. I was ffifle at the time. In the snow she would wrap her legs up in sacks and I would step •n her footsteps. She also gave Bible classes to children in the neighbor hood. She kept a lot of kids off the 1 streets and out of trouble. I thank God for such a lady as Mrs. Dwiggins. She is one reason why I am what I am today.” NO SICKNESS Born six years after slavery was abolished < 1875), Mrs. Dwiggins still remembers dipping turpentine and tiie men on horses who came with large whips. "I remember the man on the horse with the whip who came to see that everyone in the fields was working.” She also remembers her grand mother, Elsie Toone, who was born iiiio slavery and who raised her. Today Mrs. Dwiggins never takes medicine, she has never been in a hospital and she stated with praise to God that “I don't know what it is to have pain.”1 A SPECIAL STHENGT1I __in__mggt situations we all have piecoticcplions. GtflNjJ W llllll Yiun o> 109 year old lady to me meant talking loud so she could hear and wondering if she would be able to make it outside so that I could take her photo in the sunlight. Finally, I wondered if she would recognize my presence at all. But the moment 1 suggested going outside Mrs. Dwiggins popped out of the seat. I automatically tried to grab her arm. But before I could she had beat me to the door. Of course, going down the steps I wondered why her niece, Cornelius Shaw, wasn t helping her. I found out that Mrs. Dwiggins had her own special strength. A strength from within that could squeeze my hand in a firm handshake; a strength to walk down steps without assistance of any human being; and finally, the strength and knowledge to give, the credit to a powerful Being-God. “I pray for health and strength each night. I pray to God to bless everybody with His blessings and praise Him for sending me my niece, Cornelius, who takes care of me. The Lord has blessed me.”. Mrs. Dwiggins can walk without aid; there is no special diet for her; there are no eye glasses for clear er sight; and no arthritic hands. For all the years she helped the sick and elderly - is this why God has blessed her with perfect health today? 1 didn’t have to yell. So I asked in a normal voice: “Are you glad you —n III II11 il lliin IniiuT" Her answer was immediate and touching: “Yes! I’ve already asked Him if He will keep me here to the end. I only felt His spirit and then I jumped into bed." IN REMEMBERING Mrs. Dwiggins remembers her birthplace of Hallsboro in Colum bus County of North Carolina. Her family has grown from her mother and father. Rebecca and Henry Nov. 6, 1984 Elect WAYNE HEASLEY Democrat County Commission Pull Lever 32-B • Accessible •ResponsiVe# Fair _ "We Need 5 Democrats on The Board of County Commissioners” Endorsements—Susan Green, Charlotte Labor Council, Charlotte News, National Organization for Women, and Fraternal Order of Police,.... Paid For By The Committee To Elect Wayne Hf»lty Chez Marjorie, Ltd* Remodeling Sale Through November 3rd In Stock Bridal Gowns Values to 1,200.00 50% off Formats A Prom Gowns \ Values to '200.00 *20.00 Veils, Bridal Picture Hats y Values to *188.00 [ *20.00 ap-Order able Bridal A Bridesmaids Gowns 20% off No Exchange, or Refund. 1531 Fa*t Blvd. Mon., Tuts., Wtd. A Thurt. 10-9 ,332-7589_Fri. A Sat. 10-6 Pierce, and two sisters (still living) to four generations of nephews and nieces - about 170 in alL Her thoughts are still fluent on the House of Prayer’s beginnings. The floors were covered with saw dust so the congregation, while shouting and speaking in tongue, would not fall on slippery floors. The growth of the church and the misunderstanding about the congregation worshipping a man is part of her life as well. She nods as she listens to Elder Ford explain that the “Daddy” in Daddy Grace refers to the Spirit of God within the man. Mrs. Dwiggins speaks up when the mention of a clean life is ap proached. “It’s important to live a clean life - to treat everyone right, to have someone to teach you how to live and to preach to you what is right,” she stated. “Sin kills people. Stay clean and treat others right.” She then remembers her late husband, Stacey Dwiggins, who attended Friendship Baptist Church. She remembers all the little children 1P1 UK! TWtgtobwheeA- ■wihn would come into her home. At age 109 even President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan sent Mrs. Dwiggins a birthday card on Octo ber 16. ltanen Women Meet The new brganlulion Women Business Owners will meet again at Central Piedmont Community College on Tuesday, November 13. The 7:30 a.m. meeting at Pease Auditorium will be the third for the group, which attracted about SO Charlotte area women at Its' organizational meeting last month. For more information about the group, contact Emma Quinn at CPCC’s Small Business Center at 373-0900 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. YWCA Tours v Two tours are in the offing for the “Charlotte as a Second Home” YWCA group. Discovery Place will be visited from 10-1 p.m., November 6, for a special puppet program. The group will take the Tinsel Trail Christmas Home Tour, 10-2 p.m., December 7. Cost for both is $10. Transporta tion is provided from Park Road YW Center. The public is invited. Reservations are required and can be obtained by calling Donna Arrington, 525-5770, to 5 weekdays. This Is Your Paper Use It! Think- Then Vote / 21212121212121212MM1^1^ ; ■ | .. ... on a select group of beautiful furs Shop early and lay-a-way for Christmas at a 25% savings! V v * hUHS CUSTOM MADE FURS BF MODELING A STORAGE ijHutflill'HilHil'Ian' Charlotte 9:00-5:30 Moo.-Fri. 10:00-3 :M Sat. Evenings By Appointment "PASSAGE OF THESE BONDS WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY." Dear Citizen, On November 6 the citizens of Charlotte will be asked to vote on four bond referenda and as a fellow citizen and your Mayor I want to share my feelings on these issues with you. •The new coliseum is needed and is an investment in our future. The water _S€^/er bonds will help encourage balanced growth through residential and commercial development on the west side. The road improvements will help with the pressing transportation problems in south and southwest Charlotte. There is no question that there are a lot of needs facing Council and this community. And we are constantly in the process of considering all these issues. But we are never going to solve all the problems facing us at one time. If I thought we were ignoring the needs of this community I would not be urging you to support these bonds on November 6. Through City Council’s process of setting priorities, I feel we strike a good balance on meeting this community’s needs. Charlotte is considered a leading and progressive city in the southeastern United States. One reason for this fine image is our abil- — ny to act witn vision ana connaence. In 1954 this city— a third of its present size—built a coliseum founded on belief in our growth. That coliseum has justified itself ever the past 30 years. And today we are no less chal lenged by the future than were our predecessors. I think the city needs a new facility today. Charlotte is a large city and we’re growing. We can support a new coliseum. We owe it to out children and this community. We must step forward and build for the future. It’s something we need to do. Please join me and vote yes November 6. h WIN WITH CHARLOTTE AND BUILD FOR THEFUTURE. VOTE YES TO BONDS NOV.6. Wn With Charlotte Campaiyi • 1900 East Mor fchead Street- 333-7515 - _,_
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 1, 1984, edition 1
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