Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 4-2-21

Local
Newly Appointed Bishop Will Continue The Legacy Started By His Grandfather
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Bishop Anthony Gilyard was announced last week as the new Pastor of Brown Memorial Church of God in Christ. He will also serve as the Jurisdictional Prelate for the Southwestern Jurisdiction of Florida.
Becoming the Pastor of Brown Memorial is coming full circle for Bishop Gilyard. He will be following in the foot- steps of his grandfather, J. B. Brown, who founded the church and served as its pastor from 1934-1968. His father, Bishop W. W. Gilyard, served as Pastor, 1968-1985.
His first cousin, Bishop Matthew Williams led the congregation as pastor from 1985 until his untimely death in 2020. Bishops Gilyard and Williams are the children of a brother and sister. “We were raised like brothers,” Bishop Gilyard says.
“It’s a dual honor, but very emotional,” Bishop Gilyard said. “I was raised around there all of my life, so I know no other church. To join this line of legacy, becoming the 2nd grandson of Bishop Brown to pastor Brown Memorial, means a lot to me.”
For now, Bishop Gilyard will be serving 2 churches. He has pastored in New Jersey for
24 years. “Everyone at Brown Memorial knows their role, they just need a leader now,” he said. He will deliver his first sermon as their pastor on Res- urrection Sunday (Easter), April 4, 2021.
He’s currently working on a sharing plan for the 2 churches he will pastor and serving 50 other churches in the jurisdic- tion. “I plan to be in Tampa every week, for 2-3 days to navigate getting things done. I’m an hour and a half, non- stop flight away, so it’s not hard. With the technology we have now, good communica- tion and teamwork, the work will get done in multiple sites,” he explained.
A 1984 graduate of Tampa Bay Tech High School, Bishop Gilyard earned a degree in Pastoral Leadership from the New York School of the Bible, a Master’s degree in Theology and he’s a Certified Leadership Coach.
BISHOP ANTHONY GILYARD
COACH Dixon Making An Effort To Help Returning Citizens
At the golden age of 89, as a voting successful “Returning Citizen,” the Reverend Willie G. Dixon is the Founder and CEO of COACH Foundation, Inc., a non-profit with the motto, “Assisting peo- ple to help themselves in the community and inmates be- fore, during, and after their in- carceration.”
As a result of the recent ar- ticle and Sentencing Survey placed in newspapers and through other news outlets, COACH has received numer- ous local and long-distance telephone calls from family members and concerned vot- ers. In addition, several in- mates have completed and mailed their copies of the Sen- tencing Survey for Florida In- mates and Returning Citizens.
All the surveys received said, “Yes” to number 1 and “No” to numbers 2 and 3. Therefore, it appears the judges and their attorneys clearly violated Florida Statute 98.071, Florida Rules of Crim- inal Procedure 3.171 and 3.172. In my opinion, this will allow the defendants to seek an at- torney or Prison Law Clerk to file a Petition to allow the sen- tencing judge the opportunity to correct their Plea Agree- ment under the above law without the fear of having their
REVEREND WILLIE G. DIXON
sentence enhanced because of Rule 3.170 (j), because preju- dice was rendered at their pre- vious plea agreement or colloquy for failure to notify and lack of due process of the law.
A judge is required to advise a defendant of the “Direct Consequences,” of his plea agreement, which affects the enhancement of the defendant’s punish- ment.
Sadly, no one challenged the legality of Florida Statute 98.0751, on appeal before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. This is the statute Governor Ron DeSantis and the Re- publican Party used to over- turn and defeat Amendment 4.
According to NBC News on September 23, 2020, it was stated, “Mayor Mike Bloomberg raised $16 mil-
lion to help Florida ex-felons pay their fines, fees, court costs, and restitution.” On September 23, 2020 under www.miamiherald.com, Florida Attorney Ashley Moody said, “Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis asked her office to look into Bloomberg fundraising plans.”
Recently, COACH received a $10,000 check and dona- tions to assist with its goal to raise millions of dollars to hire attorneys, pay canvassers to reach Returning Citizens, hire an office staff, and media cov- erage to market this miscar- riage of justice by our judicial system.
This article is not intended to give legal advice. It is my
opinion under the 1
ment of our Constitution. Therefore, it will be a pleasure to receive your feedback and let us know if you or your loved ones received an illegal sen- tence. Please see a copy of the Inmate and Returning Citizen Survey on page 10-A.
You may contact us at: COACH Foundation, Inc., P. O. Box 310747, Tampa, FL 33680, wdixon2558@aol.com, (813) 563-3458: Office Visits by Appointment Only @ 3911 N. 34th Street, Suite B, Tampa, FL 33610.
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