In Touch With The Elders Jubilee
By Betty Miller Buttram
FWIS Contributing Writer
“The youth walk faster but the elders know the road.” Betty Jean Owens
The Elders Jubilee kicked off the beginning of the weeklong hallelujah of the 2022 Juneteenth Celebration in Fort Wayne on Sunday, June 12, 2022, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church, pastored by Rev. Kenneth C. Christmon.
All the guests, families, and friends gathered under a huge white top tent and enjoyed the tasty food and the music played by Ashton Morris and Los Galaxy. The Mistress of Ceremony was Terra Brantley; Rev. Christmon gave the Invocation; Zynette Paige performed the Libation, and Brunch was served.
The Art Leadership Center and its students mesmerized the audience with their dance stepping routines and their Spoken Word recitations. Mr. Adrian Curry, Founder and Director of the Art Leadership Center, is also the CEO of the Macknificent Freedom Fest formerly the Juneteenth Collaborative. Chief Condra Ridley read a poem by Roy Croft honoring the elderly for their love, wisdom and their teachings about life.
There were nineteen elder honorees recognized; however, eleven were present and the remaining eight were not and their certificates were given to a family member or friend. The honorees were:
Henry Bolton (Guthrie, OK); Channie Bray (Mobile, AL); Synovia Brown (Scipio, AL); Glynder Brownlee (Houston, MS); Ancie Davis (Selma, AL); Mary Davis (Garrett, IN); Dorothy Grimes (Richmond, TX); Archie Grimes ( Wichita Falls, TX); Gladys Haglar (Uniontown, AL); Bessie Lapsley (Uniontown, AL); Ivey Lowe (Halifax County, NC); Betty Jean Owens (Chicago, IL); Mary Simpson (New York, NY); Myrtle Spruell (Forest City, AK); Gertrude Timberlake (Uniontown, AL); Martha Thomas (Marion, AL); Mary Roberts (Marion, AL); Lula Mae Walker (Dublin, GA); and Doris Yerger (Hope, AK).
It is noted here that Archie and Dorothy Grimes have been married for 70 years; Gertrude Timberlake is 100 years old, and Martha Thomas and Mary Roberts are twins.
Heavy rainfall pounded the ground around the tent but inside the tent not a drop of water disturbed the fellowship.
The mood remained festive and honorable for the Elders.