Cypress Center Hosts
Black History Program
Saturday Night

by: Bobby McDonald

Featuring a program that highlighted accomplishments of such national African-American noteables as Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., Jesse Owens, Langston Hughes, Thurgood Marshall, Nat King Cole, and Tiger Woods, the "Vessels of Honor" tribute to local influential African-Americans, was conducted on a rather inclement Saturday night celebration, at the Cypress Center on Como Street. City Manager, Marc Maxwell served as the Master of Ceremonies for the 7:00 p.m. event.

City Manager Marc Maxwell, left, served as the Master of Ceremonies, as he enjoyed the musical
presentations with Dr. M. LaVelle Hendricks.

 

Members of the Praise and Worship Choir at East Caney Missionary Baptist Church, provide a musical tribute.

The Praise and Worship Choir from East Caney Baptist Church opened the program with a lively renditon of Old Gospel Favorites and set the pace for an entertaining program. Deacon Lester Henley welcomed those in attendance.

Deacon Lester Henley extending the Welcome, on Saturday night.

 

Sister Angela Corona presented the Occasion and highlighted her presentation with a tribute to Dr. M. LaVelle Hendricks, Pastor of the East Caney Missionary Baptist Church. She began her tribute with, "He liked Pork Rings as a kid, and made trucks out of cardboard boxes. He was 'grown' before his time and reared by a treasured Uncle and Aunt."

Sister Angela Corona, as she presents the Occasion, during Saturday night's Black History Month
Celebration, when she highlighted many of Rev. Hendricks' accomplishments.

"He's rare, like a $2.00 bill," she continued. "And, he is a Professor of Psychology at Texas A&M University-Commerce, and a community activist. But, most importantly, he's a minister of the Gospel and a Pastor for the Lord at East Caney Missionary Baptist Church."  Rev. Hendricks was one of twenty-four individuals selected for honor at the annual Black History Program.

Rev. Dr. M. LaVelle Hendricks was one of the 24 Most Influential African-American Award recipients, as he
introduces one of his Texas A&M University-Commerce colleagues, as the speaker.

Speaker for the evening was Dr. Frank Ashley, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, at Texas A&M University, a noted African-American Educator and Lecturer. "It's refreshing to know that to be an influential African-American in Hopkins County, you don't have to be a movie star, have millions of dollars, or be a super-star," began Ashley. "The roll call of those honored here tonight are merely teachers, public servants, business-men and women, and devoted church members!"

"Don't go through life merely making an impression," continued Ashley. "Make an impact with whatever you do!"

"Know what you're fighting for, whether it be poverty, the sick, the elderly, or the kids of this community," encouraged Ashley. "And, being an educator, I'm concerned and passionate about the youth of your community, and mine!"

Dr. Frank Ashley, Dean of the College of Education and Human Services, at Texas A&M University-Commerce,
was the featured speaker, as he encouraged the audience to "make an impact, not just an impression."

Ashley sited statistics that revealed that each day in America, four children are killed by abusive parents; five teenagers commit suicide; 366 youth are arrested for drug abuse; and 1166 babies are born to teen mothers. "I'm a statistic that shouldn't have happened," acknowledged Ashley. "Being an African-American male, I had a one in 9,900 chance of earning a PhD."

"In America, you have much, much greater chance (1 in 11) of being killed by a gun, before age 25, if you're an African-American male," reported Ashley. "And, he has a one in 13 chance of going to prison, by age 20!"

Ashley encouraged everyone in the audience to "get passionate about the youth of our communities, and make the greatest impact in the world!"

Missionary Monica Hasley, then presented a power-point program on noteable African-Americans in History, including: Tubman,  Madam C.J. Walker, Fredrick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron, Hughes, Owens, Cole, Medgar Evers, Parks, Marshall, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Woods, and a host of others.

The 24 Most Influential African-Americans in Hopkins County paused to join Dr. Frank Ashley
and City Manager Marc Maxwell, as they received their award certificates.

Recognized as "Vessels of Honor" in Hopkins County were: Rev. Dr. M. LaVelle Hendricks, City Councilwoman Yolanda Porter Williams, Rev. Harold Nash, Missionary Teresa Nelson, Deacon Dwight Clayton, Educator Dorothy Jo Thomas, Rev. Milton Phiefer, Educator Hillary Young, Deacon J.D. Franklin, Mrs. Della Cleveland, City Councilman Freddie Taylor, Missionary and School Trustee Carolyn Malone Thomas, Businessman Billy Petty, Farmer and Agriculturalist Harry Leon Lewis, Deacon Lonnie Ford, Former Sulphur Springs Mayor Aubrey Washington, Educator Sylvester Alexander, Superintendent Nelson Gatlin, Sister Gyeula Watson, Former Sheriff Bill Dirks, Sister Ashley Porter, Minister Valanderous Bell, and Deacon Wilbert Roland.

Deacon Lonnie Ford, foreground, joins hands with Judge Amy Smith, Judge Yvonne King, and Treva
Watson, in a moving benediction to Saturday night's event.

Following the presentation, a lavish reception was conducted in the Fellowship Hall of the Cypress Center, with refreshments prepared by Missionaries Sandra Lindley and Cathy Williams. Award honorees were congratulated by a host of community supporters and given the opportunity to celebrate the many accomplishments of the local African-American Community.

A lavish reception, hosted by Sandra Lindley and Cathy Williams, was enjoyed by all, following the
award ceremonies, where members of the audience could visit and congratulate the recipients.

The ceremonies ended with everyone rushing home to avoid the freezing rains that were predicted for the Hopkins County area for late Saturday night, but the warmth of the evening glowed within the hearts of everyone!

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