FIRST CLASS-Llgon High School's first graduating class
is pictured here for the 35th Anniversary Reunion. Along
with the class, two of their former English instructors were
honored guests. Pictured are: (kneeling) George Cameron,
treasurer, Roman Walton, Ann Freeman Mickens, Dorothy
WMams Ward, and Jesse Pope; Row t, Docenia
Hammond, president; Lillian Goode Alston, secretary; Miss
Maye Ligon, Mrs. Gertrude Harris, in wheelchair Laura
Monroe Fuller, social co-chair Joyce McNeil Shaw, Ann
Hunt Smith, Beulah Holden Shaw and Rosa Jones Baldwin.
Row 2, John T. Atkins, Shirley Alston Petteway, Ruby C.
Little Glenn, social cochair Hatie Mitchell Johnson, Muriel
Lucas Dunn, Geraldine Camp Tinsley, Leonard Wilson and
Harry E. Payne, vice president. Back Row: Earl Thorpe and
Sheriff John H. Baker, Jr.
Ligon’s 35th Anniversary Reunion
Honors Educators For Dedication
On Saturday, July 1. the Marriott
Courtyard was the setting for the 35th
anniversary reunion for the Ligon
High School 1954 graduating class.
Two of the English instructors for
the class were honored guests. They
were Ms. Gertrude Harris and Ms.
Maye Ligon. daughter of J.YV. Ligon.
a principal, for whom the high school
was named. Each gave words ol
thanks for being so honored.
Ms. Lillian Goode Alston, secretary
of the class reunion, escorted the
hi.norees to and from the Courtyard
and also presented each of them to
the members assembled. Thirty-live
years have not dented their poise,
graciousness, beauty and words of
eratitude
Class members came Irom far and
near to renew old friendships,
reminisce, and inform of ac
complishments and families from
Waierbury. Conn.: Cincinnati. Ohio;
Washington. DC: New York and the
Kaleigh area.
The next class reunion is scheduled
lor July 1991 Many thanks to all who
participated
Griswold Family Celebrates 11th
Reunion With Love, Unity Theme
The festivities for the llth family
reunion of the Griswold family began
on Friday, June 30. at the home of Mr.
and Mrs. Robert Jeffers. Dudley,
with a spaghetti supper, games and
music.
Members and friends of the family
came from Alabama. Georgia.
Florida, New York. Maryland.
Virginia and Washington, D.C. to join
relatives.
On Saturday, July 1, the younger
set met at Berkeley Park,
Goldsboro, at 10 a m. to participate in
softball, volleyball, horseshoes and
kickball. These activities were
directed by Emma Griswold. Jean
Wallace and Sandra Thompson.
^ Althea Brunswick coordinated a
mini-flea mairket of small items to be
sold to assist the treasury for stamps
and other expenses.
The "Family Affair" began at noon
with Lorenzo Griswold, chairman of
the 1989 reunion, presiding. The
theme of the reunion was “Love and
Unity.”
The program consisted of prayer
by Verna Griswold, responsive
reading by Lucille Griswold Paige,
greetings by Gloria Jeffers, a song.
"Lift Ev’rv Voice and Sing," the oc
casion by Cleopatra G. Collins, -a
memorial by Charlie and Verna
Griswold, family history by Gloria G.
Jeffers and family business by Loren
zo Griswold.
Rev. Frederick Brunswick gave the
blessing and the feast followed.
Austin Griswold, Althea Brunswick,
Fannie Kirksey and others gave
family reflections. A solo was
rendered by Shirley Brunswick and
Rev. Frederick Brunswick introduc
ed the speaker, Rev. David
Brunswick. Music was provided by
the Swinsons, incuding "Stand By
Me," and Cathy Griswold gave a
reading.
Fun time included presentations
anil awards by the Jacksonville
group, Elaine, Cathy, Austin, Loren
zo. Everyone was given a number
when they arrived. Numbers were
drawn at random and about 40 lucky
persons received useful gifts. Thirty
two silver dollars were given to per
sons in the following categories:
youngest child, youngest parents,
oldest person, members 65 and older,
college gradutes, high-school
graduates and honor roll students. A
_ftlL
__
PASSING THE TORCH.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-The
relatives of the three civil rights
workers brutally slain 25 years sko in
Philadelphia, Miss., came to Capitol
Hill on the anniversary of the killing.
They came to lobby Congress to pass
a same-day voters (and lifetime)
registration bill, and to "pass the
torch" to a new generation of civil
rights fighters in ceremonies on the
Capitol steps. This after urging Presi
dent Bush at the White House to seek
corrective legislation to offset recent
damaging Supreme Court rulings
that in most cases severely narrow
civil rights laws, shifting the burden
of proof from the accused to the plain
tiff.
They failed to elicit an immediate
response from the president, who is
said to be awaiting a Justice Depart
ment study of the situation to deter
mine whether the administration will
support remedial legislation. Rita
Schwerner-Bender, a lawyer and
mother of slain Mickey Schwerner,
left the White House meeting express
ing disappointment, declaring. "I
believe the president doesn’t want to
commit himself in the way we need a
commitment to work that needs to be
done to ensure the dignity of all
citizens of the United States, and yes,
1 am disappointed.” She said Presi
dent Bush, “I think... believes that a
group of volunteers will solve the pro
blem. 1 don’t.”
Ms. Schwerner-Bender, Ben
Chaney, brother of slain James Earl
Chaney; and Ms. Carolyn Goodman,
mother of slain Andrew Goodman,
participated in commemorative
ceremonies in Philadelphia, Miss.,
Scene of the horrible crimes, on the
itnniversary date of that dreadful
' day. Gov. Ray Mabus attended and so
uia veteran civil rights leader Aaron
Henry, president of the Mississippi
State Conference of NAACP Bran
ches and other civil rights activists
who were involved in the fight with
him for justice in Mississippi in the
'60s. The ceremony was at first Union
Baptist Church, the rallying point for
blacks during the bitter civil rights
struggle, according to Obie Clark, of
Meridian, one of the organizers of the
June20event. A "Freedom Caravan'
of buses then began its pilgrimage to
Washington, ti.C. and later continued
on to New York.
A delegation from the Philadelphia,
Pa. Jewish Community Council
traveled in the caravan. In
Washington, the American-Israel
Committee to Commemorate Marlin
Luther King, Jr., assisted with the
Capitol Hill ceremony. Lawrence
Guyot, a Civil rights stalwart in the
Mississippi '60s, his broad face closed
like a huge clinched fist, declared,
"We are passing the torch to the
younger generation.” Ben Chaney
brought his sisters, Julia and Bar
bara Chaney. The young people wore
white tee-shirts urging support of
voters' rights legislation. Lewis
Carter, Gregg Moore and Ron
Daniels were among the organizers.
That younger generation included
the Children of Selma, Julianne
Marley, Katrina Norris. Robert
Sampson and Pam Martinez, a rain
bow coalition of black, brown, red
and white. They said, "We are the
We' generation, but we must lei peo
ple know we are not selfish.”
Jesse Jackson. Jr., pinch-hitting
for his dad, who is also a stem
winding speechmaker, told the
sweltering audience. "We stand on
the shoulders of those who have given
their very lives for the cause of social
(See ON THE HILL, P. 18>
ij
special gift was presented to Robert
and Gloria Jeffers for their hard work
for the family reunion and a plaque
was presented to Lucille G. Paige.
The members were dismissed by
Rev. Brunswick at 5 p.m.
On Sunday, July 2, family members
worshipped together at St. Matthew
Presbyterian Church in Dudley. Rev.
David Brunswick was the speaker.
He was introduced by his father, Rev.
Frederick Brunswick. His message
was on “Prayer, Patience and
Power.”
After the service, some of the
members visited sick members,
Thomas Smith and Bessie Griswold.
About 18 family members had dinner
at the home of Robert and Gloria Jef
fers.
Black Authors
To Meet For
Autograph Party
CHARLOTTE-The Afro
American Cultural Center will host
an autographing reception Sunday,
July 9, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 401 N.
Myers St.
The honorees will be newly publish
ed titles of two black writers in
Charlotte.
Connie Williams, author of
“Emily's Blues,” is a high school
teacher in the Union County School
System. She is a poetry and prose
writer and holds a degree from the
University of California, Northridge.
In 1989, she received her master’s
degree in education from the Univer
sity of North Carolina at Charlotte
where she lives. "Emily's Blues” is a
book of satire, a tender and tragic
love story
Ruben Lemuel Hines, author of
Reaching Out,” according to Prof.
Hastle Hailey, is doing just that and
more. He is touching. Dr. Rosalyn
Jacobs Jones says, "Ruben L. Hines
is a gifted writer of extraordinary
sensitivity and eloquence, in his
•down-home’ style.”
Curtis Moses Chisholm, author of
"Roses and Raindrops," has publish
ed three books. Unlike the previous
books, which sought to relate a
thought. “Roses and Raindrops”
seeks only to only share feelings. “At
(See AUTHORS, P. 18)
N. C. Small Business Owners Say
Place Lid On Campaign Spending
.\early lour out of every five small
business owners in the slate think
campaign spending in congressional
races should be limited, according to
survey results announced recently by
the National Federation of Indepen
dent Husines.->/North Carolina
iff the 2,:i:il North Carolina small
business owne. s responding to the
survey. 79 percent favored legislation
that would place a lid on federal cam
paign spending. Only 16 percent op
posed spending clips, while six per
cent were undecided
Hie majority lavoring spending
limits was slightly below the national
average. Of the 96,568 respondents
throughout the nation, 88 percent
wanted campaign spending reined in.
Susan Valauri, state director of
NFIH/North Carolina, said the
survey results show widespread con
union* siudii-busmess owners
about (he vasi sums of money being
spent on political races. Since 1976,
spending on Senate races, for exam
ple. has risen Irom $38 million per
election cycle to $179 million.
Though North Carolina had no
Senate elections last year, it was the
site of three of the 20 most expensive
congressional contests in the nation.
The Fourth District race between
C.S. Itep. David Price and Tom
Fetzer cost $1.7 million. Spending in
the Fifth District Neal-Gray battle
lopped $14 million, while the Sixth
District Coble-Gilmore race carried a
$1.3 million pricetag.
“Congressional candidates are
starting to view million-dollar races
as the norm, but most small-business
people are appalled to see that kind of
monev thrown around in a district.”
Valauri said. "Eighty-two percent of
<ur members don’t even gross that
much in a year.
"Small-business owners are con
cerned that the high cost of cam
paigns forces candidates into nonstop
fundraising. Money, rather than
issues, becomes the focus of the race.
“Most of our members feel a spen
ding limit would place challengers
and incumbents on a more equal
footing and free candidates from fun
draising. It would allow them to
spend less time talking with PAC
managers and more time talking with
voters about the issues,” Valauri
said.
With more than 15,100 members,
NFIB/North Carolina is the largest
small-business advocacy group in the
state. Nationally, NFIB has more
than 570,000 members and offices in
all 50 states.
HOST CONCLAVE-The Raleigh Chapter of
uencaoos Inc., recently hosted the national conclave at the
North Raleigh Hilton. Participants include from left to right:
Fidi Estes, Theodoshia Vines, Margaret Lindsey, Sarah
Atkins, Claudia Graham, Ruby Boyd, Frances Whitaker,
member)
Gwendolyn Banks, Louise Johnson, Lilar Barnes, Priscilla
Cunningham, ERzabeth Chance, and Enid Patterson. Not
pictured: Queen Walker, Dorothy Housen and Cardella
Matties.
Delicados Host
National Event
At Meadowbrook
The Raleigh Chapter of Delicados,
Inc. hosted the national conclave at
the North Raleigh Hilton. The theme
lor the conclave was "Fantasia,”
which began on Friday evening with
"Fantasy Time" and music by Pee
Wee Moore and the Pied Pipers of
Harmony.
Saturday's events began with a
Continental breakfast for the
Delicados and the Del-Gents boarded
buses for their all-day stag, which
was held at Meadowbrook Country
Club.
The business meeting began at 9
a.in. with the national president, Bar
bara Bess, in charge. At the close of
the business session, all Delicados en
joyed a Buffet Caprice, and the
Whims, which were accessories,
nails, scarves and jewelry.
Le Bat Masque was held from 9
p.m. to 1 a m. with dining and danc
ing to the music by the Monitors.
On Sunday morning, all Delicados
and Del-Gents enjoyed the Farewell
to Fantasy Brunch. During the
brunch, national president Barabara
Bess presented the following: the
Delicado Scholarship Award to
DeAngelis Harris; National Project
Award to Del-Gent Ray Chance,
which was a donation to the Sickle
Cell Anemia Foundation; and a dona
tion was given to the United Negro
College Fund.
The Del Teen Award was presented
to l.aMark Chance by the local presi
dent, Sarah Atkins.
Cliflornia Wimberley, honorary
member of the Raleigh Chapter, in
stalled the national officers for
1989-90. The chapter's own Sarah
Atkins is the newly elected national
president. The conclave chairpersons
were Queen Walker, Dorothy Housen.
Ruby Boyd and Enid Patterson
Black Writers Face
Publishing Problem
t'llAKLOTTK (A?)—Black writer*. bec«u*e they repretent a
distinct part of American culture, face distinct problem* In getting
their work published, said C. Uric Lincoln, a Duke University pro
fessor of religion, at the l»th International Black Writers Conference
In Charlotte last Sunday.
“There’s not a single black commercial publisher. What this
means is that :I5 million to 37 million black people In this country are
severely limited In accessibility," Lincoln said.
Lincoln, the author of IH nonfiction works, was honored at the con
ference for his first fiction book. "The Avenue-Clayton City."
••Who knows, but If there were more of an access, we might see a
real flowering of black literature," he said.
Three thousand writers attended the three-day conference, which
ended last Sunday. "Tribute to Literacy" was the theme of the con
ference. the Greensboro News and Record reported.
Frankie Johnson, the Charlotte chapter president, says the con
ference is held to help aspiring writers come to light and share their
heritage so it can’t be lost.
It also promotes self-publication for its members by helping them
find typesetters and editors to speed up the ,»ublishlng process.
This week, Americans have celebrated the Fourth of July in various,
ways. There have been festivals, fireworks, fun and some frivolity in
celebrating the 213th year of freedom from the Mother Country. The word
“freedom” is elusive since it means different things to different people
As African-Americans celebrated, surely the occasion had a specific and
different focus. “Freedom is not Free” is the slogan of those of us who are
NAACPers. “We Have Come a Long Way But Still Have a Long Way to Goi. ”
In fact, we have regressed, and unless there is some serious strategizing, we
are in for more setbacks and disappointments. First, in order to map out a
strategy for our well-being, we have to work together as a unit with mutual
respect and confidence.
Approximately 20 or more members of the NAACP branches of the
Raleigh-Wake County area will be traveling by plane, cars, or train to Detroit
on Friday and Saturday, July 7-8, to attend the national convention of the
NAACP. Many of the speakers' names have been released. Dr. Louis
Sullivan, secretary of Health and Human Services, Washington, D C., is
among them. Other notables in attendance will be Eleanor Holmes Norton,
Mary H. Futrell. president of the NEA; and Oprah Winfrey of Chicago.
In fact, one of the visiting delegates from Raleigh informed me that she
and her husband would be at the same hotel that Oprah would be staying in.
Eta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity closed out the year with
a picnic at Meadowbrook Country Club on Saturday, June 17, from 2-6 p.m.
Sigmas and their guests played games and enjoyed a delightful talent show.
There were approximately 40 persons present.
In their final meeting, held in May, plans were made for attendance at
Phi Beta Sigma's 75th conclave which is scheduled for the t ilton Towers in
Washington, D C Aug. 8-13. Dr. Dudley Flood, president, will be attending,
and others known to be attending will be Dr. Charles Alston, Dr. James
Clarke, Dr. Wiley Davis, Dr. Clinton Downing, Dr. Marion Phillips, W.L.
Rose, and J.E. Wilson.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity was founded in 1914 on the campus of Howard
University.
Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Hines, Jr. on the birth of their baby
girl, born in June. The parents reside on Suffolk Boulevard in Raleigh, and
the happy grandparents reside on Hadley Road.
J.W. Ligon graduates of the class of 1964 and 1969 really held a celebra
tion last weekend at the North Raleigh Hilton. For the class of 1964,1 heard
the George Gartrell put it all together. He had one hardworking committee,
according to my informer.
Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Perry, Jr., known to us as Buster and Elsie, spent a
few days in Atlantic City. They were back in Raleigh for the Fourth, however.
I believe that Gertrude Pope has left the city again. This time, she is
heading for Pittsburgh, but she will not be there long. Her next stop will be the
“Motor City.” Angela Grimes will also end up in Detroit. She took a break
from the lab in NCSU’s Vet School and made a trek to Chicago first. Well, I
guess that I will look for them when the convention is shown next week on
television.
Gertrude Pope and Lizzie Ritter have recently returned from a bus trip to
(See SOCIAL SCENE, P. 18)
BRAKE REPAIR .
DRUMS & ROTORS TURNED
TUNE UPS
BATTERIES
• TIRES COMPUTER BALANCED
OFFICIAL
Licensed
Inspection
Station!
Credlt Cards Honored
TEXACO - EXXON - MASTERCARD - VISA
AMERICAN EXPRESS-DISCOVERY
DUNN'S T1X ACC
SMtVICfeNTIR
“See Us For Compete Car Cere!"
•OSS.