Father & Son Football This Saturday

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New Vision Youth Prom This Coming Saturday

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2014 Little Miss Vision Pageant: Applying the "3 A's"

Living by the "3 A's:" Attitude, Ability and Appearance.

For many years, those attributes are taught to the youngest of ladies in the Kingsport community by the Little Miss Vision Pageant.

The annual pageant was held this past Saturday at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. It's the 11th year for the community tradition, that culminates a year of activities, classes and training for young girls.

The pageant is open to girls in the Kingsport community.

"Our committee did a wonderful job and we were able to help these girls with their self-esteem at a critical time in their lives," says pageant director Lillian Leeper. "Their parents also helped us, and with the help of the community, we're able to make a difference in their growth and development."

At Saturday's pageant, Makiyal Blye was crowned the 2014 Little Miss Vision winner. She also took home the Miss Congeniality Award.

1st Runner Up was Alise Farrell... 2nd Runner Up was Saraya Hughes.

In addition to Blye, Jarrell and Hughes... Kaylee Hughes, JaNiah Henderson and Andrea Robinson also competed in this year's pageant. "Throughout the year, all of the young ladies learn a lot about how women are supposed to carry themselves with poise," says Leeper. "It's not always about winning the pageant.. it's the life lessons that you learn from being in the Little Miss Vision program all year long."

"Everybody's a winner."

CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SEE A SLIDESHOW OF THE 2014 LITTLE MISS VISION PAGEANT

Created with flickr slideshow.

2014 DAPS Awards: Recognizing the Distinguished African-American Pastors, Professional and Students in East Tennessee

This past Saturday night, many of East Tennessee's African-American pastors, professionals and students gathered in Johnson City, to attend the 2014 DAPS Awards Banquet.

The banquet was held at the Holiday Inn Convention Center.

The awards are presented every year to "Distinguished African-American Pastors, Professionals and Students," which is what DAPS stands for. The awards recognize individuals, churches and businesses in East Tennessee who have made a difference in the community they serve, work and excel in.

AHERN, Inc. sponsors the yearly DAPS Awards, through its monthly "Fellowship Today" magazine, distributed in African-American communities from Chattanooga to Knoxville to the Tri-Cities and Southwest Virginia.

This year's banquet was dedicated to the memory of AHERN charter member and former Board of Directors Chairman Frederick Gordon of Brevard, NC, who passed away on May 4, 2013. Reverend Gordon's contributions to the organization and his friendships with members and people in the various communities were noted, recognized and remembered by the banquet attendees.

Featured soloist was Ms. Angelia Forby-Rodriguez and family. Ms. Forby-Rodrieguez is a member of the Full Gospel Mission #2 of Greeneville, TN, where she has served as Minister of Music, the church secretary and the church youth director.

The theme of the DAPS Banquet was a call to action for the African-American community.

"Remembering and celebrating Historic Black Colleges and Universities" was the focus of the main address given by Dr. Angelia Forby-Rodriguez, a Morristown, TN native. After a stellar and rewarding career at various colleges including ETSU, Stillman College, Boston University, and other higher education institutions, Dr. Forby-Rodriguez currently serves as Vice-President of Student Affairs at Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC.

"HBCU's (historic black colleges and universities) are the road less traveled in today's society," she told the audience, "but they are wonderfully made, which makes them important in the education of Black America. If HBCU's did not exist, someone would be out there creating them right now. For years, they were the only avenue to education for African-American youth. Our cultural heritage comes from them, and our future rests with them."

Dr. Forby-Rodriguez pointed out how HBCU's have graduated distinguished historians like Oprah Winfrey and Dr. George Washington Carver. "The value of historically black colleges and universities is magnified by the worth of the students who learned from them, and launched professional careers after attending them. HBCU's contribute $15 million dollars annually to the U.S. economy. They build the AFrican-American spirit, itself, a force for the future."

The highlight of the evening was the presenting of yearly AHERN, Inc. President's Awards and the AHERNews Publisher's Awards.

Nominated for Board of Directors Director of the Year were Dr. Angela Radford Lewis of Johnson City, TN... Rev. Cecil C. Mills, Jr. of Greeneville, TN...and Ms. Angelia Forby Rodriquez, also of Greeneville, TN. The 2014 winner was Rev. Mills.

Nominated for AHERNews Salesperson of the Year were Rev. James Billings of Morristown, TN... Elder J.W. Dukes of Knoxville, TN... and Rev. Pamela L. Hoard of Church Hill, TN. The 2014 winner is Rev. Billings.

AHERN, Inc. Student of the Year candidates were Deja Chapman of Greeneville, TN, a 2014 Greeneville High School graduate, and Dontae Johnson of Knoxville, a 2014 Austin-East High School graduate. Ms. Chapman is the 2014 Student of the Year, with Mr. Johnson, the runner-up.

Corporate Division Candidates were the Community National Bank of Morristown, TN, and the Farrar Funeral Home of Jefferson City, TN. The 2014 winner is the Community National Bank.

Reporter of the Year candidates were Mrs. Jacqueline Collins-Hudson, Cocke County, TN Reporter... Ms. M. Elizabeth Johnson, Jefferson County Reporter... and Calvin Sneed, Sullivan County Reporter. The 2014 winner is Mr. Sneed.

Individual Division Candidates were Ms. Billie Anderson of Bristol, VA and Mr & Mrs. Emanuel Courtland of Strongsville, OH. The 2014 winner is Ms. Anderson.

The Church Division candidates were the Lee Street Baptist Church of Bristol, VA... the Friendship Baptist Church of Greeneville, TN... the Friendship Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN... and the Full Gospel Mission #2 of Greeneville, TN. The 2014 winner is the Lee Street Baptist Church.

The Group Subscriber of the Year Candidates were the Friendship Baptist Church of Johnson City, TN... the Phillippi Baptist Church of Elizabethton, TN... and the Toney's Chapel Baptist Church of Morristown, TN. The 2014 winner is the Friendship Baptist Church.

The Advertiser of the Year candidates were the Allstate Insurance Company operated by agents Lonnie & Nicholas Jones of Knoxville, TN... Birchette Mortuary of Johnson City, TN... Dockery Funeral Home of Morristown, TN... and Jarnigan & Son Mortuary of Knoxville, TN. The 2014 winner is the Birchette Mortuary.

As AHERN, Inc. founder-president and publisher of the company's "Fellowship Magazine," Rev. H. Roger Mills, Jr. was also presented with a special gift from the organization's Board of Directors, for his tireless efforts to keep the organization and the magazine in the forefront of community ministry in East Tennessee and 15 states.

As stated in his message to those attending the banquet, Rev. Mills said "how well we support and embrace our African-American leaders and youth will determine the fure of our communities and our nation. The enlightenment of our African-American students, professionals and clergy will help ensure better lives and higher morals, ethics and values. Those who serve in various capacities by offering thousands of hours of their time and talents, deserve the praise, thanks and cooperation of our people."

"We embrace the proposition that 'Education paves the path to Leadership.'"

PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW TO SEE A SLIDESHOW OF THE 2014 DAPS BANQUET

Created with flickr slideshow.

Riverview's Impact: "Officials recommend building four ball fields"

THIS STORY COURTESY THE KINGSPORT TIMES-NEWS... PICTURES FROM THE DOUGLASS WEBSITE

BY MATTHEW LANE
mlane@timesnews.net

KINGSPORT — City officials are recommending Kingsport’s new ball field complex have four fields, rather than five, but have the contractor grade enough of the property to add a fifth field at a future date.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen received this recommendation during a work session last week where city officials provided an update on the overall ball field project.

Kingsport plans to build a new softball/baseball complex on a portion of the old General Shale property along Industry Drive to replace Eastman Chemical Co.’s ball fields on Wilcox Drive. When Eastman announced its $1.6 billion “Project Inspire” reinvestment plan last year, the plan called for a new corporate office building to be built on the site of the company’s ball fields.

Eastman demolished the old field house and construction has started on its $74 million office building. The building is scheduled to be completed next year.

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According to the conceptual plan, the sports complex will have four ball fields, in a wagon-wheel design with a centrally located two-story building for scoring, concessions and restrooms. Two of the fields will be 325 feet, one 350-foot championship field with terrace seating and a fourth field at 300 feet.

Grading work began in April (at an estimated cost of $1.2 million) and last week, Chris McCartt, assistant to the city manager, gave the city officials an update on the project and the path moving forward. Kingsport aims to have the complex finished by spring 2015.

Additional work has taken place since grading began, including the relocation of some AEP transmission lines, water and sewer line installations to accommodate future development and building up a retention/detention pond found on the lowest spot on the property (about three-quarters of an acre in size).

The BMA allocated an additional $72,000 toward the project to cover the cost of the pond work and McCartt said the water, sewer and transmission line work was identified in the design process and has already been earmarked in the original budget.

Earlier this month, Kingsport went out to bid on the construction of the actual fields and two-story building with three alternates — a fifth field, a maintenance area and brick accent on the building.

Denark Construction (the company that built the Kingsport Aquatic Center) submitted the low bid of $3.63 million.

McCartt said his recommendation would be for the BMA to accept the base bid, plus two of the alternates — the maintenance area and brick accents. In addition, McCartt recommends Thomas Construction grade enough of the property to accommodate a fifth field, but not build it yet.

A fifth field would add $600,000 to the cost of the project.

The additional grading work would cost approximately $250,000, but would likely cost 25 percent more if Kingsport were to come back in five years to do the work, McCartt said.

Kingsport bonded $2.9 million last year for the project, the KEDB has committed $1.3 million and to date the city has spent $375,000 on design work.

If the BMA accepts McCartt’s recommendation, the city would have to come up with an additional $2.8 million for the project.

As it stands, the project is estimated to cost about $6.85 million, not including the $380,000 for the land.

The BMA is expected to consider the recommendation at its July 1 regular meeting.

COMING UP... AN UPDATE ON THE BALLFIELD CONSTRUCTION ON RIVERVIEW: TURNS OUT NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS ARE STILL USING CLAY HILL AS AN UNOFFICIAL PLAYGROUND

Father's Day 2014: Central Women Returning the Favor

Back on Mother's Day, we wrote about how fathers in the Riverview Community stepped up at the Central Baptist Church, and treated the mothers of the neighborhood to music and dinner on their special day.

On Father's Day, the mothers in the church returned the gesture, providing the men folk a day to be remembered. 

Fathers were treated to a special program for the 11 o'clock service, followed by dinner in the church Fellowship Hall.

Church member Donna Morrisette, who is studying for the seminary, gave the main address at the morning worship service.   Her studies for the ministry are being done at Graham Bible College is Bristol.   Her talk on Father's Day focused on Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, and how men should model themselves after him. (For reference, see Ephesians 6, 10-19).

"The message is, our men need to stand in the 'Joseph' position," says Morrisette.  "In my opinion, Joseph was one of the most important fathers, because he chose to be a father to whom, he knew, was not his child.  He had the option of staying or leaving, and he chose to stay and stand in God's Will.  The Lord said 'this is My Will.. I have chosen you to raise the Son of God," and instead of leaving or shrinking away, Joseph chose to stay and follow that will."

"I feel that all of our fathers are earthly fathers of the children that God sends to be raised," she says.

Many of the fathers in the neighborhood were more than happy to join in a celebration of "their" day.  The afternoon dinner was made by, and delivered to them, by the women of the church, who, themselves were the recipients of Mother's Day gifts a month ago.

"We all need to be led by God," Morrisette told the group.  "We should understand that when God leads us somewhere, whether it's good or bad, we need to all stand in the Will of God, and let the Holy Spirit handle our troubles and our questions.  Whatever storm is brewing, or whatever good we are getting, we all, men and women, need to stand fast, and let God have His Way."

CLICK BELOW TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF THE CENTRAL FATHER'S DAY CELEBRATION, COURTESY OF THELMA WATTERSON:

Created with flickr slideshow.

6th Annual DAPS Awards Announcement

Saturday, June 21, 2014
5:00 PM


Holiday Inn Convention Center
101 Springbrook Drive
Johnson City, TN


Speaker: Dr. Jacqueline Wilson Gray
Vice-President of Student Affairs
Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC


Feature Solist: Ms. Angelia Forby-Rodriguez
Member, Full Gospel Mission #2
Greeneville, TN


This year awards ceremony in memory of Rev. Frederick L. Gordon

The memorial service will conduct by Rev. C. H. Charlton, Moderator of Bethel Disrtict and Rev. C. C. Mills, Jr., who served as Vice-President of Bethel District when Rev. Gordon was Moderator.

Douglass Alumni Board Meeting

The Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Board will meet this Saturday, June 14, 2014 at 1:00 p.m., in the Eastman Board Room, 2nd Floor of the V. O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex Tower, located at 301 Louis Street in Kingsport.

Anyone with business in front of the board, please attend and be heard.

Douglas S. Releford
Board President

Names of Douglass Alumni Scholarship Winners Needed

We are compiling the names of all the graduating high school seniors, who have ever been awarded scholarships from the Douglass Alumni Association/Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Association through the years.

Their names will be enshrined on a newly found plaque, discovered at Dobyns-Bennett High School, in which the scholarships were named in honor of our beloved Douglass principal, V.O. Dobbins, Sr.

From this point forward, the future scholarship will now be known as the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Sons and Daughters of Douglass Scholarship Memorial Award.

We need for all the recipients, or parents and relatives of recipients of any of the Douglass Alumni Scholarhips, to please furnish the name(s) of said recipient(s), and the year they were award the scholarships, so their names can go on this plaque to be displayed in the V.O. Dobbins Sr. Complex.

Please send their names and the years they received their scholarship to:

douglassriverview@gmail.com

Congratulations, Graduating DB Seniors!

Dobyns-Bennett High School has just graduated more African-American seniors than at any other time in its history!

38 black seniors walked down the aisle to pick up their diplomas, including TWO sets of twins.

On May 17, 2014, a "Reception of Honor" was held for all of the graduating seniors in the Riverview Community Room of the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex. The event, sponsored by the New Vision Youth, South Central Kingsport Community Development, the Riverview Residents Association, the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Association, and the Kingsport Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

The gathering featured speakers Mrs. Jill Ellis, retired educator from Douglass Elementary-High, and Dobyns-Bennett High School; Devaun Swafford, former DB student-athlete and current football player with the University of Tennessee; Johnnie Mae Swagerty from South Central Kingsport Community Development; Jaquetta Hale from New Vision Youth; Doug Releford, president of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Alumni Association, and Dr. Chris Hampton, principal of Dobyns-Bennett High School.

The graduating seniors are:

Emmanuel Amoako

Ayran Anderson

Antwan Baines

Summer Baines

Marquetta Bishop

Aashieauna Blye

Alysia Bright

Alyssa Bright

Erica Brower

Cason Byrd

Justin Cradic
Krystal Derr

Paul Gadson

Lauren Hainegardner
Haleigh Hankins

Sabrina Huckaby

Jessica Jackson

Summer Jeffries

Daniel Johnson

Denise Johnson

Tamya Jones

Kiara Kincaid

Trey Kincaid

Chelsey Lee

Kaitlin Long

Kelsey Long

Ty'Leke Love

Jasmine Lyons

Avondre McCrary

Quindalyn Perry

Isaiah Reeves

Nicholas Sensabaugh

Michelle Stacy

D'metrius Ta'bon

Phillip Trammell, III

Kia Watterson

Christopher Watts

Michael White

Congratulations to all the DB graduates as they leave high school, to make their marks on society!

Created with flickr slideshow.

"Steps to Glory:" With Good Gospel Music, Anything is Possible!

It's no secret that gospel music often provides the glue that holds a spiritual house together.

That's the case in Kingsport, where several gospel groups came together to perform at the first "Steps to Glory" gospel fest, held at the Kingsport Renaissance Center. The event was held on Saturday, May 10th.

Gospel playwright Helen Howard organized the gathering of well-known gospel groups.

"Every gospel song has a message in it," she says. "If you get the message and the Holy Spirit gets you, then you know what to do with your life, and what to live for. We want people to jump on their feet, we want them to shout, we want them to do whatever they can to praise the Lord."

She went on.. "The music has always been an extention of church.. it's the work of the Lord. People need to know that Jesus is coming back one day, and we need to be ready. We need to be prepared. Gospel music is a ministry, just like preaching. Today's ministry is getting the gospel out there, through music and plays."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR THE SPECIAL VIDEO WELCOME FROM REV. DONNIE WADE


http://youtu.be/22CqZviNPOE

The gospel fest at the Renaissance Center was packed. Both New Beginnings pastor Billy Pearson and Rev. Donnie Wade of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Rotherwood welcomed the faithful.

"People here just like good, ole-fashioned gospel music," says Mrs. Howard. "It's one step closer to God. Anything we can do to bring Glory to God, and show who He is, and that He's Ruler over our lives, that's what we should do."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CHOIR


http://youtu.be/7opF7urWKk8


The groups that sang the praises of God were the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Choir, from the New Beginnings Church in Kingsport... the New Vision Youth Dancers... the Devoted Gospel Group... the Mabry Singers... and Uncle Jesse Battle and the Sands of Time, the group that Mrs. Howard manages.

"The New Beginnings Church.. that's my home church," Mrs. Howard says. "What makes them special is that anybody who knows New Beginnings, they know it's loaded with love."

"When you come there, you're right at home, and you're loved."

Praise dancing was done by members of the New Vision Youth, headed by director Johnnie Mae Swagerty. The main group of more than 50 elementary, middle and high school students focuses on well-rounded, Christian fellowship, with an emphasis on friendship and community involvement. The praise dancers have performed all over the Tri-Cities in churches, schools, and community gatherings.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE NEW VISION YOUTH


http://youtu.be/_nzmGczdQj8

"Johnnie Mae does a wonderful job with these young people," Mrs. Howard says, whose 2 granddaughters are in the New Vision Youth group. "This group has got a message.. that you don't have to bow to peer pressure and do the wrong thing. They've got great attitudes and positive minds. When they dance, they put themselves into the struggles that all young people face."

Mrs. Howard says, soon, she'll be working with Swagerty and the group in performing plays that raise peoples' spirits and continue the blessings of the Lord.

She was particularly impressed by the talents of one New Vision Youth member.

"Javonte Lyons has an awesome voice," says Mrs. Howard. "Every time I see that gifted young man, he's singing the Lord's praises. He's not shy, and if you call on him, he's ready to give it his all."

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP OF JAVONTE SINGING

http://youtu.be/zpkykp9HlWw

"He's a good example of what happens when you encourage young people.. give them the opportunity to shine.. give them the chance to use the talents that God has given them. Giving them that chance, lets them shine."

Devoted is a gospel group that's familiar to audiences in upper East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. They're from Russell's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Rogersville, TN.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM DEVOTED

http://youtu.be/yXklUZ2d6A8

"We did a program at the Lee Street Baptist Church in Bristol," says Mrs. Howard, "and that's where I met this talented group. I liked their voices and the way they blend together. What makes them unique is that the church pastor, Rev. Pamela Hoard, is a member of the singing group. That is always a plus when it comes to church singing.. when the pastor can sing, and puts their voice together with other great voices in the choir.. that's a special thing."

The Mabry Singers are a family of excellent voices. Literally.

This talented group from Hansonville, VA is composed of father, mother, and their two daughters.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM THE MABRY FAMILY

http://youtu.be/ntWnYZNk1Rw

"I met them not long ago," says Mrs. Howard.' I went to their church and listened to them sing, and they were awesome, awesome, awesome. The father is a songwriter, and they've been around for a long, long time.. everybody knows them and the messages they spread in their music."

"Their familiar blend of gospel music is well-known, and that's a good thing. Sometimes, you need the familiar to understand the Word."

Uncle Jesse Battle and the Sands of Time brought the crowd to its feet.

And that's a good thing.

CLICK HERE TO SEE AND HEAR A VIDEO CLIP FROM UNCLE JESSE BATTLE & THE SANDS OF TIME

http://youtu.be/rC7YP_t7AeM

"Jesse Battle is indeed a man of God," Mrs. Howard says of the man from Atlanta that she also serves as manager. "He's a man that believes that whatever talent the Lord has given you, you need to use it. Use it or lose it. He knows how to sing to an audience of the faithful. He brings life to his songs, and every song has a message in it. Jesse's singing is easy to write plays to, because he just motivates the people.

This was the first in Mrs. Howard's Steps to Glory Production, which specializes in Christian plays and musical concerts.

"Not only do I write plays that God gives me, I also take Uncle Jesse Battle's music and turn the songs into plays. We have a play coming up here at the Renaissance Center at the end of July. We're also planning a Fun in the Sun day, when we'll sell food, finger painting for the kids. We'll also have something for the seniors, plenty of gospel music, just a little bit of everything.

"We plan on giving back to the community and working with the youth, especially the New Vision Youth, and we also plan on working with the seniors in the area. Anything and everything we can do, to bring Glory to God.. that's what it's all about."

The money raised from the admission is going for that good cause.

"The $5.00 admission will help produce our next play," Mrs. Howard says. "Our plays inspire people to go out and do the Lord's Work. We want them to know that you can have a good time in the Lord, just like you can in the clubs. The difference is, when you leave this earth, we want to spent eternity with Jesus Christ."

"That's our main goal with the plays, and the music."


CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW TO HEAR MORE FROM THE GROUPS AT THE GOSPEL FEST:

http://youtu.be/_RX0hMye1ac  Uncle Jesse Battle & the Sands of Time

http://youtu.be/dhgjFEDSM8E  New Vision Youth

http://youtu.be/4ISXS1zVjK4   Devoted

http://youtu.be/Dmp1stgwMkA  Mabry Singers

http://youtu.be/NxMlB62D7m8  New Beginnings

http://youtu.be/IYGP73q46R0  Uncle Jesse Battle & the Sands of Time


CLICK BELOW TO SEE A SLIDE SHOW OF THE STEPS TO GLORY GOSPEL FEST

Created with flickr slideshow.

Mother's Day Dinner 2014: A "Central" Event

PHOTOS BY VICKI SMITH

"It was just a good day for the church."

The men of Central Baptist Church in Riverview stepped up, to show the women of Central how much they are appreciated.

On Mother's Day, May 11th, the women were first treated to a morning worship service put together and anchored by the men folk.

After that, the women were treated to a feast prepared by the men of the church.

On the menu was a huge Mother's Day cake honoring all the moms, and before that, beef brisket, 3 kinds of chicken (fried, lemon, and rotisserie), macaroni & cheese, vegetable trays with green and yellow peppers, onions, cucumbers, tomatoes.. green beans, glazed sweet potatoes, toss salad, rolls and iced tea and water.

"John Hardy was the chief chef," recalls deacon John Harrison, "and 12 to 15 other men of the church were involved in cooking the food in the Fellowship Hall kitchen and coordinating the event itself. Some of them ushered during the morning worship service, others cleaned up the dining area after the dinner."

"The men just stepped up that day."

Harrison says, the Mother's Day dinner was a way to pamper the women, whether they were moms or not, especially with the keepsake of the event -- a huge heartshaped box filled with Dove chocolates.

"We celebrated between 50 and 60 women on that day," he says. "There are moms whose children couldn't get back home, and there are those of us whose moms have passed away. As you know, there are moms who are moms to everybody in the community, not just their own children. They seemed to enjoy the attention."

"Moms are special, you know," Harrison says. "Here was a way that we as a church, could show the women how special they are, and how much we love them."

A special moment that Harrison noted, was the way the men who served the meal were dressed.

"The men in the choir, of course had on dark suits, but they also had red neckties," he said.  "When the women went into the Fellowship Hall to eat, there were all the men lined up ready to serve them, with maroon aprons on.  To see them lined up like that ready and waiting to serve the dinner to the women was a sight to behold.  It was very impressive and professional."

Sunday's dinner was actually revived from an old tradition at the Central Baptist Church, that sort of went away for a while.

"We got away from it around 2010," says Harrison, "but we sit down to do the church calendar for next year, this event will probably be something that we'll consider, because it was so well received. The women are already planning for how they'll take charge of even the upcoming Father's Day."

"Two days later, they were still talking about their Mother's Day."

Celebrating the Women of Bethel for Mother's Day

Sometimes, we just cannot thank the women in our lives enough.

One local church showed its appreciation, the way women might show their appreciation to others.

By making them breakfast.

At the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church in Kingsport, the men of the church did all the cooking to honor the women of the church.

The event was held on Saturday, May 10, 2014, the day before Mother's Day.

"It's our Mother's Day present to the special women in our lives, in our church and in our community," says Reverend Charles Hawkins. "The women are invited to come out and eat a delicious breakfast, prepared by some of the best-cooking men around."

In fact, the cooks for this event are the brotherhood of Bethel.. more than 12 men and counting, led by Dale Arnett.

"The men who cooked the breakfast are Tim Kyle, Richard Hicks, Dale Arnett, Doug Releford, and other men, doing other needed things besides cooking," says Reverend Hawkins. "Frank Shepherd is out of town today, but he's a valuable member of the brotherhood.

Among the foods the men prepared were scrambled eggs, potatos, bacon, sausage, and bread with various jellies, along with orange juice and coffee.

The breakfast was free of charge, and is not a fundraiser, says Reverend Hawkins. The event has been held for several years.

"It's just an expression of love to the ladies of the church," he says. "They deserve it.. they are instrumental in the life of the church, and in every family, mothers are often the backbone of the family unit itself. They're the ones who oftentimes, are helping their children with things. Unfortunately, we have a lot of homes headed by single mothers. This is an opportunity for the men of the church to say 'thank you' to all these wonderful women in the Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church."


A SLIDESHOW OF THE BREAKFAST AT BETHEL FOR THE WOMEN OF THE CHURCH ON MOTHER'S DAY

Created with flickr slideshow.

Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board Meeting Scheduled

Please don't forget our regular scheduled meeting of the Sons and Daughters of Douglass Board, this Saturday, May 10th, at 1 PM.

The meeting will be in the Eastman Board Room, 2nd Floor, in the V.O. Dobbins, Sr. Complex tower.


Pres. Douglas S. Releford

Passings in Riverview

We are saddened to report two passings in the Riverview Community.

Mrs. Marie Thompson passed away in Kingsport on Sunday, May 4, 2014.

Also, Reverend Frederick Gordon, former pastor of the Central Baptist Church, passed away also on Sunday, May 4, 2014, at his home in Brevard, North Carolina.

Their funeral arrangements are posted on the PASSINGS AND OBITUARIES page.

Please pray for the families.

Congratulations to Douglass Descendant Michael Releford!

2013-14 Lynchburg College Athletic Awards Banquet Major Award Winners

Soccer standout Michael Releford, son of Andre Releford, took home top honors as the Lynchburg College athletic department honored its top-student-athletes at the annual athletic banquet.

Michael Releford earned the Male Senior Award.

He had a storied career in goal for the LC men's soccer team.

As a freshman in 2010, he led the Hornets all the way to the NCAA Division III Tournament's title game, and earned the tournament's Defensive Most Valuable Player for his efforts.

In six games against the best opponents in the nation, he allowed just five goals.

An All-ODAC and All-State first-team honoree in each of his three seasons, Releford was named the ODAC Player of the Year in 2012.

He also garnered first-team All-Atlantic Region accolades as a junior.

Quilting for a Cause

This is from Regina Bond Gray -- felt it important to our history in Riverview, to see a Civil Rights link

Quilters of Gee's Bend


Click here to read the history of Gee's Bend, Alabama (also known as Boykin, Alabama)