Page 2 - Florida Sentinel 7-23-19

Features
Book On Abe Brown, ‘It’s Your Move,’ Is About Faith And Power
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
For many years, as a student and then as an adult, Fred Hearns was an admirer and mentee of the Reverend Abraham Robert Brown. He was so much of an admirer, until during the summer of 2010, Hearns sat down with Rev. Brown to interview him. Brown recounted his childhood and his experiences as a high school and college athlete and coach.
From those conversations in 2010 and so many others prior, Fred Hearns, as he is better known, has edited a book that will be published in a few days.
It’s Your Move! is the amazing autobiogra- phy of Rev. Brown, the founder of Florida’s first state-wide prison ministry. Hearns took the book title from one of Rev. Brown’s fa- vorite sayings.
Young Abe Brown loved to play checkers with his friends in Tampa. He often compared life’s journey to a checker board and told those he ministered to that they should, “stop wait- ing around for God to do something good for you, because ‘it’s your move’.”
Rev. Brown was pastor of Tampa’s First Baptist Church of College Hill. He was a suc- cessful football coach in the Hillsborough County School System, and Administrator be- fore he retired. Coach Brown took his un- derdog team to a football championship in 1969.
He was a young man who worked his way up from a childhood spent in a segregated cor- ner of the Deep South. He went on to play football for the legendary Coach A. S. “Jake” Gaither and was inducted in the FAMU Sports Hall of Fame.
He acted on television with stars of a pop- ular television series, shook hands with the Queen of England on her visit to Tampa; and led a Super Bowl winning coach on prayer missions in Florida prisons.
The amazing turnaround in Brown’s life
came in the 1970s, when he put all his faith to work and launched a prison ministry. His story is one that perhaps even Hollywood would be hard pressed to tell.
Rev. Brown died peacefully in Tampa on September 11, 2010, just months after his final prison visit. It was his wish that his story might inspire people to have more faith in God and to live their lives for the Lord.
Fred Hearns will talk about the book and it will be for sale on three upcoming dates: Sunday, August 4th, 1:45 p. m., Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, 1006 W. Cypress St.; Monday, August 5th, 6 p. m., Robert W. Saun- ders Public Library, 1505 Nebraska Ave.; and Tuesday, August 13th, 6 p. m., C. Blythe An- drews, Jr. Public Library, 2607 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Robert Blount, Rev. Brown’s son-in-law who fol- lowed him at the ministry, provided significant support with Hearns to the book project. Half of the proceeds from the sale of “It’s Your Move!” will be donated to Abe Brown Ministries.
“Abe loved prison ministry and prayed that his work con- tinue. When you purchase a book, you are supporting Abe Brown Ministries, Hearns said.
For more information on “It’s Your Move!,” contact Hearns at fhearns@net- zero.net or call (813) 545- 3183.
FRED HEARNS ...Editor, “It’s Your Move!”
Long Term Care Center Receives Governor’s Award
MS. TAMMY HUNT and MS. CORLISSA JACOBS
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For several years, a facil- ity dedicated to caring for the elderly or disabled has ex- isted in East Tampa. And, since its inception, the facility has undergone several name changes.
For the past five years, it has been known as Whisper- ing Oaks, 1514 E. Chelsea Av- enue. Recently, the 240 bed not-for-profit facility was chosen as the recipient of the Governor’s Gold Seal Award for Excellence. The award was given for long term care over a sustained period of time. It also recognized the employees for promoting sta- bility of the profession and facilitating the physical, so- cial, and emotional well being of its nursing home residents.
In May 2015, Ms. Tammy Hunt, a registered nurse, left the hospital envi- ronment to become the Di- rector of Nursing at Whispering Oaks. She se- lected Ms. Corlissa Jacobs as her Assistant Director of Nursing.
The two professionals used their experience in the field to provide an atmos- phere conducive to are and
services for its residents. The ladies used commu- nication with not only the residents, but with their fam- ilies. Additionally, they adopted the attitude that every resident is to be treated
with dignity and respect. Their attitude became contagious as it spread among the employees. And, through education, hard work, and team work, the fa- cility has been transformed into a home away from home
for its residents.
“The Whispering Oaks
team is like a family and we have labored tirelessly and now we are seeing the fruits of our labors and our labor- ing was not in vain,” Ms. Ja- cobs said.
“It may not have private rooms with all the bells and whistles, but it does have a big heart full of love that truly cares about our residents and their families.”
On July 26th, the residents and employees will celebrate becoming the recipients of the prestigious award.
“We are very proud and grateful to be 1 of 18 long term facilities in the state to ever receive this award. It’s been a long journey, but we did it,” the ladies said.
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