Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 3-12-21

FLORIDA SENTINEL
OVER 75 YEARS SERVING TAMPA
SECTION FRIDAY, MARCH 12, 2021
B
Tampa Native Using Chaplain Skills To Assist At Capitol
BYGWENHAYES Sentinel Editor
When the insurrection occurred at the Capitol in Washington, DC on Jan- uary 6, 2021, Lt. Col. Countess Clarke Cooper was not there, but it was not long before her services would be needed.
The award-winning artist, musi- cian, minister and chaplain, is a Tampa native. With so many officers and National Guardsmen around the Capitol these days, she spends time with the men and women trying to keep their morale up. But it’s not just the Guardsmen, civilians, too, anyone who she comes in contact with, she’ll strike up a conversation.
“Spiritual and mental readiness are important. Sometimes they’ve (Guardsmen) been on the job for sev- eral days, for long hours and don’t know when they’ll get a day off. They need a little ‘pick-me-up’ to keep going,” she said.
Serving as the ‘eyes and ears’ of her
LT. COLONEL COUNTESS COOPER
Commander, Lt. Col. Cooper says it’s a blessing to be able to serve in the Capitol.
For the past 28 years, Lt. Col. Cooper has been employed with the United States Department of Educa- tion in Washington, DC, serving in various capacities.
She was ordained by the United
Lt. Col. Cooper and Congress- woman Stacey E. Plaskett (US VI) elbow-bump in the halls of the Capi- tol. The photo appeared on the front page of the New York Times last month. Congresswoman Plas- kett thanked the Lt. Col. for her service to the country.
Church of Christ in 2000. She served as a Team Pastor at the historic Faith Temple Church of Washington, DC, one of the first multi-cultural, multi- racial churches in the nation to wel-
come LGBTQ-identified Christians, especially African American and Lat- inx. Currently, she serves as a Protes- tant Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel at the Joint Force Headquarters, DC Na- tional Guard.
Educated in the public schools of Hillsborough County, she matricu- lated at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC, with a double major in Business Administration and Accounting, re- ceiving both degrees in 1990. She is also an alumna of Howard University, twice, receiving the Master of Business Administration in 1992 and Master of Divinity degree in 1997. As “Miss Shaw University,” she appeared in the April 1990 edition of Ebony magazine, featuring college campus queens.
Lt. Col Cooper, Air Force Mili- tary Chaplain, is the daughter of the late Mary Alice Dorsett, and sister of former Tampa native, Retired Lieutenant Colonel Dwayne (“Oz”) Hill, of Atlanta, GA. She lives in Mitchellville, MD, with her son and her partner.
Vaccines Administered At Revealing Truth Ministries
An effort is being made to get more African Americans to take the COVID-19 vaccines. Several churches in the area are opening their doors to serve the elderly. More persons were able to receive their first dosage of the Coronavirus vaccine recently at Revealing Truth Ministries. (Photos by Julia Jackson)
Albert Coleman, Jr. as- sisted Helen Young as she re- ceived her vaccine.
Dr. Kevin Sneed of the USF College of Pharmacy, and Bishop Michelle B. Patty. She gives thumbs up after getting vaccinated.
Dr. Deborah Austin, of REACH-UP, a COVID team member at Revealing Truth.
Rev. R. and Vonda Jacobs are all smiles after getting their vaccinations.
Joyce Hines showing off the paperwork she received after getting vaccinated.