Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 12-9-16 Online Edition

FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2016
East Tampa Street Renamed In Honor Of Longtime Bishop
Recently members of St. John Cathedral gathered for a very special occasion. The memory of Bishop Eddie Newkirk, Jr., was preserved with the naming of a por- tion of the street in his honor.
Bishop Newkirk passed on February 14, 2015, at the age of 86.
A native of Jessup, Georgia, Bishop Newkirk was the son of the late Deacon Eddie and Sister Bessie Newkirk. The family later relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he graduated from Gibbs High School.
He continued his education at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Bible Institute Grace Baptist Church, Beacon’s College, and Florida Seminary. Bishop Newkirk earned his Doctorate Degree from Brevard Christian University.
A member of the U. S. Navy, Bishop Newkirk served in WWII.
He was married to the late First Lady Audrey McCray Newkirk and the fa- ther of 5 children.
When he became the pastor of St. John, the church had a membership of 50. Dur- ing his tenure as pastor, Bishop Newkirk grew the membership to more than 200 members.
He is also credited with being the founder of The Noah Community Out- reach, Inc., in 1987; the purchase of the Old Orange Blossom building, which was transformed into the Eddie Newkirk Life Center. The building houses the Open Café and the All-N-One Be Beautiful Beauty Shop.
He also founded the E & A Concrete, Inc., a multi-million dollar business lo- cated in St. Petersburg.
BISHOP EDDIE NEWKIRK, JR. Feb. 29, 1928 — Feb. 14, 2015
Members of the Newkirk Family gathered for the renaming of a portion of East 25th Avenue to Bishop Eddie Newkirk Way.
Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Deacon J. D. HiSmith attended the event.
Among those present for the renaming of Bishop Eddie Newkirk Way were: Pastor and First Lady Dwight Newkirk, Elder Florence Gainer, Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Mrs. Kaye Morgan, Carl Newkirk, and Mrs. Autre’ Morgan.
Gadson Sisters Host 5th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon
The Gadson Sisters hosted their 5th Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon for Seniors on Wednesday, November 16th. The siblings, Henrietta Walton, Yvonne Douglas, Bobby Gadson, Betty Broadway and Johnnie Mae Harris sponsored the invitation-only event to give back to the community. Food, gospel enter- tainment and poetry was enjoyed by all. The event was held at the Temple Crest Community Center. (Photos by BRUNSON)
Assisting with serving the guests were: Beverly Troupe, Felecia Walton, Yvonne Douglas, Bobby Gadson Williams, Julia Frazier and Twila
Pre-Thanksgiving
Pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon guests: Rosie Peterson, Orella Oliver and Annie Scott.
Bryant Everett and Willis Everett waiting to be served.
Marva Gay, Darlene Brooks, Shirley A. Wilson, and Carolyn P. Watkins.
HostsofthePre-ThanksgivingLuncheonwere the Gadson Sisters. From left to right: Henrietta
Luncheon Ralph Mullins.
guest
(brother), Betty Broadway and Johnnie Harris. Wright.
Irene Johnson, Alice Y. Wade and Ermie Harris at the Pre-Thanksgiving Luncheon hosted by the Gadson Sisters.
Ocie Butler and Rogena Meeks were Gerald Campbell
among the invited guests. were among those at the luncheon.
Twila Murray and
B