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C^jarlotte ^oat Thursday, March 9,1989 LIFESTYLES Section B Page One Paulings Recognized By Family Task Force By LORA VANDERHALL Lifestyle* Editor Building on the Strengths of the Family task force aims to recognize the achievements and poslUve aspects of black family life. Nominations for outstanding families are being accepted throu^ March 15. The task force will sponsor a one day seminar on April 22 for adults and children on various aspects of the family unit. The committee Is looking for families that can serve as role models. Nominations can be based on outstanding community service, overcoming hardships as a fam- Ity unit, fostering education and values or families who have suc cessfully reared and educated the most children. The Pauling family of 229 Jones Street, has been nomi nated as a role model family. They have a fairly ordinary family life but they have also overcome some of the barriers of poverty. Clifford Pauling Is a native of Orangeburg, S. C. and he was faced with many challenges as a bey. "My mother died when I was six years old and my grandmoth er raised me and my eight broth ers and sisters. She raised 15 children altogether," said Clif ford. He left home at age 18 and moved to Columbia and then to Charlotte In 1945. He was also In the Army for two years. Luclna Pauling is a native of Bamburg , S. C. and she comes from a family of six. She and Clifford got married In 1953. "When we first got married we lived in a shotgun house," said Clifford. The Paulings raised their sev en children In Falrvlew Homes, a public housing project , and th^ were able to keep them out of trouble. The children are: Curley Nlm- mons, Lula Pauling Sherrill, Brenda Pauling Palmer, Clifford, Christopher, Phyllis and Tracy Pauling. ’We really never had a lot of problems with the children," said Clifford. 'We always knew where they were and when night came 1 made them come In the house." X Members of the Pauling funily pictured O-r back row): Lula Sherrill. Curley Nimmons, Catherine Nlmmons, Clifford Pauling, Jr., Phyllla Pauling, Tracy Pauling, (front row) Clifford and Luclna Pauling. James Pauling, Brenda Pauling Palmer, (Inset) Christopher and Wyvonnle Pauling, Marian FauU:^ and Sheffa neming. Luclna didn't work when the children were small and she was able to give them a lot of at tention. "When they were small I didn't go very much besides going to church," she said. "But when they were older I worked...at one time 1 was working two jobs." Luclna worked for Wesely's Nursing Home for 16 years. Clifford worked for the Char- lotte-Mecklenburg School Sys tem as a janitor for 23 years. "1 would also work a lot of odd jobs," said Clifford. "I would clean peoples houses and yards to help make ends meet." All of the Pauling children worked part-time jobs to con tribute to the family's Income. They did anything from throw - ing newspapers to caddying on the golf course. In 1973, the family moved out of Falrvlew Homes Into a new home. "When we moved out of Fair- view Homes It was just starting to get rough," said Clifford. "We bought our land and had Jim Walter's Home Builders put INTERVIEW up the frame to the house and me and my brothers finished It" Today, the Paulings are enter ing retirement. Luclna PauUng has kidney disease and she's been on nightly dialysis for the past four years. The Pauling household Is still very active with some of the 16 grandchildren. Including two sets of twins, darting In and out "My father was a twin," Clifford add^. The oldest son, Curley, 39, and his wife Catherine have three children: Christina, II, Chevon- na 9, and Clrsten, 5. Curley Is employed by the Air National Guard and Catherine is employed by Presbyterian Hospital. Clifford, 34, and his wife, Mari an have four children: Tonya 5, Tarlan 3, Courtney,!, Corliss, 1. Clifford Is employed at South ern Aluminum Finishing. Brenda, 33, and her husband Benjamin, of Hemingway, S. C., have three children: Beverly, 6, Dena, 4, LaToya, 2. Brenda works for Georgetown Nurse McLurkin Speaks On Health Issues By LORA VANDERHALL lifestyle* Editor Pauline McLurkin was recently named Mecklenburg County Employee of the Year by the Charlotte Chamber of Com merce. McLurkin has been a nurse with Mecklenburg County for the past 31 years. She also worked for the N. C. State Divi sion of Venereal Disease Con trol for three years In the late l940rs. McLwktn has a keen knowl edge of the health problems which face black Americans. For the past eight years she has been a county field nurse, visit ing the homes of low income families. In this exclusive interview with The Charlotte Post, McLur kin speaks on some of the prob lems that are prevalent In the black community. C. P. : Whst are some of the health myths and misconcep tions that exist In the black community? MCLURKIN: In some of my home visits to expecting moth ers there Is still a lot of misin formation. They think that they can do without prenatal care and that's just not true. I try to educate them on the proper way to take care of themselves and their babies. Proper nutrition Is also a problem. Sometime the moth ers try to put their babies on solid food too soon. They believe that a fat baby Is a healthy baby. Another misconception con cerns high blood pressure. Some people believe that once they feel better they can stop taking the medication...and that is simply not true. Once you start the medication It should be taken as prescribed. Some of us still try to use hcxne remedies such as epsom salt, garlic or vinegar Instead of the pre scribed medication and these things usually have a high con- McLurkin tent of salt In them. We should always watch what we eat so that we db not con sume too much red meat, pork and saturated fats. Changing our eating habits is not that hard to do. We also do not have regular physicals... and we should. Physicals should be done on a regular basis whether or not we are feeling bad or not. The majority of the patients I see are on medicaid or medicare and they can get physicals for free or practically free but they Just won’t go and have them done. Some of the mothers who have nutritional deficiencies are put on the WlC (Women Infants and Children) program to help sup plement their dietary needs. C. P. : What can be done to combat these myths? MCLURKIN: We have to learn to utilize our health department services. We have nutritionists, doctors, nurses and health edu cators available to seiwe the community. There are a lOt of handouts and pamphlet availa ble. C. P. : Is there adequate can cer awareness In the black com munity? MCLURKIN: We need to be much more aware of the prob lem. At the first sign of some thing wrong we should have It "..statistics are alarm ing in the black com munity and it is re ported that blacks are exposed to the virus through drug use more so than whites." checked out. There are several clinics available for cancer screenings. Early detection Is vital. C. P. : What are some of the reasons for the shortage of nurses throughout the country? MCLURKIN: Long hours, not enough pay, stress, not enough adequate day care and some times the location of the hospi tal Is a problem. The shortage of nurses Is not only In the hos pitals, but its In the clinics and schools as well. I’m a charter member of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, an International nonprofit ser vice organization of registered nurses, whose purpose Is to re cruit more nurses. We also sponsor health fairs and clin ics. C. P.: IhaIlafyour34yearBas a muse, have you ever seen any thing like the AIDS virus/ disease? MCLURKIN: I have never seen anything like It. The statistics are alarming In the black com munity and It Is reported that blacks are exposed to the virus through drug use more so than whites. A lot of research Is be ing done...but 1 just don't know. I feel that they will probably find a treatment for It within the next few years, but I can't really say. C. P, : Have you seen an In crease in those with the AIDS virus over the past year? MCLURKIN: I've seen an In crease within the past six months. I believe a major cause for the Increase Is poor man agement of sexual urges. We tell our teenagers to say no to sex and drugs but we sometimes forget to tell them why they should say no. Protection, the threat of disease and unwanted pregnancy should be discussed as major reasons. C. P. : What can be done to combat the problem of teenage pregnancies? MCLURKIN: Sex education should be taught In the home because It cannot be properly taught In the schools. Children need special attention from their parents because the deci sions they make can shape the rest of their lives. Raising a child Is an enormous responsi bility. There are a lot of grand mothers raising their grand children but a child needs the love and attention of Its parents. Love Is no good unless you give It away. Children need to be stimulated so that they will be encouraged to strive. C. P. : Are there adequate re- souroes for the elderly? MCLURKIN: There Is a lack In communications about what is available. Some of the younger people in a family should take an active interest In the well be ing of an elderly family member and find sources that will help them. Sometimes we find out too late. C. P. : What can be done to strengthen the black family? MCLURKIN: We don't spend enough quality time with out families. We have to start doing more constructive things to gether...If Its nothing but having a family picnic. Its Important to talk with family members and set realistic goals so that we will have something construc tive to think about and work to ward. If we work toward having a stronger family unit, I believe that will combat a lot of the problems that exist In our soci ety. Memorial Hospital and her hus band Benjamin Is employed by R B. Pond Construction. Lula. 31, and her husband Fred have three children: James, 15. Charlene, 5, and Roshannona, 3. Lula Is a fast food manager. Christopher, 28 and his wife, Wyvonnle have three children: Tiffany, 2, Christopher and Christian, 5 months. Christopher Is employed by Eartha Grain Bakery and Wy vonnle Is employed by Grey hound. Phyllis, 27, Is employed by Wa chovia National Bank. The youngest child, TVacy. 26. lives In Durham and she Is em ployed by the Durham Housing Authority. The Pauling's also have a God child, Sheila Fleming. The majority of the family members are members of Sec ond Calvary Baptist Church, where they participate in a va riety of auxiliaries. If you know of and outstanding family call the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Urban League at 376-9834 for nomination forms or coordinator Queen Thomp son at 563-7360. Nominate An Outstanding Black Family The task force on "Building the Strengths of the Family" is now accepting nominations for out standing families In Charlotte- Mecklenburg. The committee is looking for families who can serve as role models. The selec tions will be based on the fol lowing criteria: families that have successfully reared and ed ucated the most children, couples who have been niariied the longest, families that have weathered severe adversities and have remained committed to each other, the families that have contributed to not only promote Individuals within Iheir own families, but have contrib uted to the success of other fam ilies as well. For further information about the seminar or the Outstanding Families Awards Program, con tact Queen Thompson, task force coordinator, 563-7360. ATOS Researcher To Speak CHARLOTTE - One of Ameri ca's leading researchers on the psychological implications of AIDS will be the featured speak er for The Faces of AIDS," a one-day conference to be held here on March 20. Walter F. Batchelor, currently a Health Policy Fellow at Boston Univer sity, will make the keynote speech to the conference which targets mental health profes sionals, clergy and others pro viding psychological support to people Impacted by AIDS. The conference Is being sponsored by UNC-Charlotte and the Met- rollna AIDS Project. In addition to Mr. Batchelor's address, the conference will of fer concurrent workshops that Include such topics as dealing with grief, AIDS and adoles cence, pastoral care, and addic tions and AIDS. Conference hours are 9 a.m. - to 5 p.m. on March 20. All sessions will be held at the Cone Center on the UNCe campus. Beginning his work In the ear ly days of the AIDS epidemic, Mr. Batchelor has been a pio neer researcher Into the psy chological aspects of AIDS; he recently edited a special issue of "American Psychologist" en tirely devoted to the subject of AIDS. Dr. Bob Barrett, a psy chologist, member of the UNCC Human Services Department and conference organizer, says, "Because relatively little medi cal treatment for AIDS Is avalla ble, the p^chological impact of the disease Is severe. Predic tions for AIDS infection rates indicate that within the next two years, we will need a significant Increase In the number of men tal health professionals who are trained to provide services to people affected by AIDS. The nature of the work requires the counselor to become involved In a much more active way In the client’s life. For more information, contact the Metrollna AIDS Project, 333- AIDS.'
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 9, 1989, edition 1
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