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5B RELIGION/ttte C^atlottt $ot Thursday, January 12, 2006 Philadelphia church found couple continues adventurous life THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PHILADELPHIA, Miss. - She’s an award-winning artist, a free spirit of sorts. He’s a renowned storyteller with an unimpeachable mem ory Tbgether they have led interesting and ertraordinary lives, helping establish an Episcopal church in Philadel phia and pubhcly opposing racism during the turbulent 1960s. Millie and' Boots Howell have been married for more than 50 years, raising four children who have each excelled in some literary or artistic form. A Meridian native,. one of Millie Howell’s paintings graces the Meridian Museum of Art’s 2006 commemorative T-shirt. It was unveiled at the annual gala in December, much to her family’s delight. She started her painting career 55 years ago at the original Mississippi Art Colony in Canton. Howell, a Neshoba County native and a general contrac tor at McLain Plumbing in Philad^phia, is often asked to share recollections of his torical events for small gath erings of fiiends. He is known for his imper sonation of former Neshoba County Fair Association President Jim Hillman In recent years, he’s enter tained fairgoers as “Mr. Hill man” during Hometown Proud- day as well as at numerous cabin paities. Also at the fail-, Boots How ell and his brother Ray have played the trumpet at what began as an impromptu jazz festival in Happy Hollow. It was during the summer of 1962 that the Howells invited an Episcopal priest, Jim McKeown, and several lay leaders from Meridian here to provide assistance to a small group of people seek ing to establish a church in Philadelphia. The Howells had married in an Episcopal chiux^h in Oxford and ‘just loved every thing about it,” they said. They along with Dr. and Mrs, Pete Rhymes, Lisette Phillips, Harriet DeWeese and Virginia Moore, met with Rev. McKeown in their home and later established St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church on a street which today bears its name. Episcopal services were held in the Benwalt Hotel while the new church was under construction. Millie Howell and Harriet DeWeese designed St. Fran cis’ stain glass windows depicting things of nature that were connected to the church’s namesake. Ihe first service was held in the church on March 29, 1964. A m^or renovation was recently completed and it remains today the only Epis copal church in Philadelphia. It was during that same period in Neshoba County’s history that the Howells took a public stance against the murders of three young civil rights workers who came here to help register' blacks to vote. Seeing the streets of Philadelphia overflowing with worldwide media last sunuuei' during tire trial of the man many believe was the rnaster’rnind behind the murders took the couple back to 1964 when the setting was Helping homeless draws girls of different faiths closer Continued from page 6B never knew about them selves. “Project Provide A Home” was laimched by the Pal isades Emerg^cy Residence Corporation, a 40-bed shelter for single, homeless people. It planned to open a shelter next door for families, and was looking for help. The shelter hosted a group of Jewish volunteers one week, and another group of Muslims shortly afterward. The symbolism—and the pos sibilities—were not lost on the ©cecutive director, Matt Kamin, a Jew, and Amal Abdallah, a Palestinian who helps line up volunteers to serve meals. “We were trying to figure out why our communities didn’t get along,” Kamin said. ‘We started talking and said, 'Why can’t we get these two groups together and do some thing? It was that easy” They put out the word to local synagogues, mosques and religious schools, seeking young girls to work on the family shelter. Added bonus es included meeting people of other faiths, learning about each other, and hdping the less fortunate. The first meeting was somewhat awkward, with all the Jewish girls sitting on one side, and all the Muslim girls sitting on the other, each side eyeing the other curiously if not warily “One of the girls asked me, 'How do you pray? and I was so surprised at the question,” said Aviva Barmerman, a 17- year-old fix)m Montclair. ‘T thou^t everybody knew that Jews pray in groups and we sing our songs aloud, but no one had ever tau^t her that. I asked her how she prayed, and they use a prayer mat and its more subdued and quiet. I go to a Jewish school and I’m surrounded by Jews 24/7, so I was delighted to be able to share about my reli gion and share in theirs.” Noui* Singer, 17, fiom Fort Lee, was just\as surprised at what she found in her Jewish counterparts. “I had expected them to be the type that wore long skirts and hats, but I soon learned that there were different types of Jews,” she wrote in an essay describing her expe rience in the program, adding she learned that Muslims and Jews share many of the same practices, includii^ eat ing religiously prepared food. The girls quickly found themselves focusing on simi larities, not differences like the centuries-old dispute between the two peoples over land in the Middle East. The one and only rule for the pro gram: No talking pofitics. “That was a rule we agreed on coming into this project, and I’m glad it exists,” wrote Liliane Winc^ad, a 17-year- old West Orange resident. “As much as I am interested in seeing the Palestinian- Israeh conflict fix)m another perspective, I like that we are able to talk comfortably with out the possibility of an aigu- ment breaking out.” Or as Rebecca Heller, 16, of Cranford added, “We could all just sit together, eating pizza and laughing, without a thought to our feuding ances tors or .political tensions.” They got down to work, foiining committees: one to cook food, one to raise money, another to help publicize the fundraising dinner. So far, the gii’ls have raised about $12,000 for the family shelter that’s set to open next door to the existing facility next . spring. The dinner itself extended the intermingling to the girls’ parents and guests. “The tables were completely integrated soon after every one got there, and that hap pened totally on its own,” said Annie Rose London, 16, fiom Hoboken. “Everyone was talking to each other, these people who had never been encouraged to talk to each other before and the parents were saying how proud they were of their kids. It was so cool to see aU these new con nections being made.” There’s already a waiting list of volunteers to serve on the next interfaith project at a homeless shelter in En^e- wood starting in February Kamin said. “I made new friends and was able to interact with other people and do some thing good for society,” said 14-year-old Rana Abdallah of Lyndhurst, whose mother helps run the program. '.'It’s easier for iis to do this because we’re younger and listen to each other more.’ Dr, Anthony I., and Harriet R jtnwright We know how important it is to keep funeral costs within the budget of every' family. Certainly quality, comfortable facilities and professional, personal services are important, but so is price. A.L. Jinwright Funeral Service has consistently provided families with dignified funeral services at the be.st possible price. The best doesn’t have to cost you more. In fact, it may cost you less. Call A.L. Jinwright Funeral Service today for more information. Funeral pacleages to suit every budget. 4300 Statesville Rd • Charlotte • (704) 599-5994 * www.aljinwrightfuncralservice.com ••DMMUlMWtnM J LiMonEM* Daybreak of Freedd Dr. Marlin Intlier King. Jr. Memnrial tnncerl anil incUing a iriDule In Dnsa Parks MOIH JAN ] 6 * 7 pm Blnmentlial Performing Arts Denier One DiCliailone'ssigiiMe ling Oil eelelialiiins. ll3itreiolfreeilm\% an insgiiaiianil MEen tiigMiglniig Ihe ciiil riglilasiriiggle anil tie life alOi. Mann Intiei ling. Jr. 'll was a gin inn eerf piotiaiiied ItsClisiMeUseim. 'foitliose ni III will were innile enmiglilgbetieieiiiilitiearliswic linginniieiisfaiiiiitig ine.' LifeShare of The (^oilnas Da^eiliil Freedom Cncen ipiisor I Tickets startino at iust S5 SUident Rush 50*!'o off f=»l=IIDE pCJtNC-L 704-972-2000 •oRORDCRONLiNEWWw.charlotlesymphony.org ffhedturlotlcgDbsmvr -— Bishop criticizes all birth control as evil Continued from page 8B ods are virtually nonexistent. She said arguments that the pill use can induce aborticais and inhibit pregnancy long after the u^ has been discontinued are faulty The American Academy of Family Physicians has said that when couples are diligent, natural family planning is 90 percent to 98 percent effective, a rate comparable to the pill. It added, however, that it appears to be less effective in actual practice. When it’s news to yon, read it in Charlotte The voice of The black community ’kingdonT AGENDA 2006 Making the Connection ':2AJF=iJKL January 30 - February 2, 2006 4 Power Packed Days of Worship 7:00pm \iglitly Kveiiliig WTri'Niilp Spe^akers: Or. Rita Twiggs Jatt. 30th Dr. Frank Thomas Jan. 31st Dr. Claybon Lea Feb. IsT Conference Host Poster Claude R. Alexander, Jr. Pre«eiilln« S|Mmsor: 12:45piii Daily Mid-day Woi*slilp Speakers: Bishop Fddie Long Feb. 2nd Youth Worship AUDIO ETHICS Dr. Chartes Adams Jon. 31$f Bishop Arthur Brazier Feb.1st Rev. William Wotley Feb. 2nd Rev. Matthew Wdriey 7;00pm Jan. 30th &31st Conference Workshops will be Tnestlay - Tininsdny fhr Refiistration Information Call 704-392-1681 or register online at wvvw.theparkministries.org Pastor Claude K. .Alexander, Jr. University Park Baptist Church • 6029 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, NC 28216 • 704-392-1681
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 12, 2006, edition 1
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