Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 10-27-15 Edition

Local
Master And Mistress Of Ceremonies Chosen For Freedom Fund Banquet
Musician, Pastor Comes To Tampa To Spearhead Appreciation For Fellow Musician
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Herbert Jacobs came to Tampa in 1971 as a student at the University of South Florida. For most of the past 40 years, he has called Tampa home.
Jacobs has involved him- self in all levels of gospel music in the Tampa Bay community and beyond. Currently, he is the Minister of Music at Springhill Missionary Baptist Church, where he has served since 2002.
“Because he has served this community so well, I thought it befitting that we should rec- ognize him,” the Reverend Milton R. Biggham, pastor, promoter, Grammy Award Winner and gospel musician, said of Jacobs.
Rev. Biggham and sev- eral other gospel artists are planning “A Celebration and Appreciation for Minister Herbert Jacobs.” The event is planned for Saturday, Novem- ber 14, 2015, 6 p. m. at Bible- Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace, 8718 N. 46th St. Rev. Dr. Earl B. Mason, Sr. is the pastor.
Biggham was in town a few days ago to finalize plans for the program. He said the program will feature Evan- gelist Punch Baldwin of the Georgia Mass Choir, the H. C. Jacobs Celebration Mass Choir, and Music Director Reverend David Mobley, among others.
Jacobs graduated from
HERBERT JACOBS ...Appreciation Honoree
the University of South Florida in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of So- cial and Behavioral Sciences, but his musical background began in 1960.
His talents as ‘Minister of Music’ and Musician have been utilized throughout the City of Tampa in various churches and other venues: Tampa Mass Choir of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, Florida Mass Choir, New Mt. Zion M. B. Church, Beulah Baptist Institutional Church, Greater Mt. Carmel AME Church, Mt. Hermon AME Church, and Tampa Chapter Gospel Music Work- shop of America.
Jacobs has made several contributions to the music in- dustry and been the co-pro- ducer on some albums. He is an instructor for the National Gospel Music Workshop of America for Choir Decorum and Choir Administration (De- partment Head).
REV. MILTON R. BIGGHAM ...Spearheading the Appreciation Celebration
Biggham’s talents are known throughout the world. He is credited with discovering Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin. The Vietnam vet- eran has more than 500 com- positions to his credit.
In addition to his work in the gospel music industry, Rev. Biggham is also the pastor of Mt. Vernon Mission- ary Baptist Church, Newark, NJ, where he has served 22 years.
“I have known nothing ex- cept gospel music and preach- ing the Word of God all my life. It is God’s gift to me and my gift to the world,” Rev. Big- gham stated.
“I am humbled and so thankful that a few of God's chosen vessels thought of me and my sojourn with the Lord through gospel music. I give God praise, glory and thanks- giving in all things. To God be the glory for the things He has done,” Jacobs said of the ap- preciation to honor his works.
MS. DORIS CANNON
... Mistress of Ceremonies
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Members of the community will gather at the Embassy Suites Hotel, on Spectrum Blvd., on October 30th. This year, the event will take place on Friday, October 30th, for the Annual Hillsborough County Branch of the NAACP. The pur- pose of the gathering is the An- nual Freedom Fund Banquet, its largest fundraiser for the year.
The banquet will begin at 7 p.m., and the theme is “Pur- suing Liberty in the Face of Injustice.”
Dr. Bennie Small, Presi- dent of the organization is serv- ing as the Banquet Chairman. Simeon Terry, of Dallas, Texas, will deliver the keynote address.
Ms. Doris Cannon will serve as the Mistress of Cere- monies and Otis Anthony will serve as the Master of Cer- emonies.
Ms. Cannon said, “Sixteen years ago, I was the Chairper- son of the Freedom Fund Ban- quet. It seems like history is repeating itself.
“I also remember that at that time, several attorneys were in town for Law Week and several members of the NAACP took pictures of Attorney Johnny Cochran. Ms. Ann Porter was the President then, and some of the same people, Ms. Carolyn Collins, Mau- rice Jackson, and others were involved in the banquet.
“It’s an honor to be a part of this event. Someone has to be an example for the kids coming along today and I am pleased to serve in any way that I can,”
OTIS ANTHONY
... Master of Ceremonies
she said.
Otis Anthony said, “I am
deeply honored and feel privi- leged to have been selected as the Master of Ceremonies. I am hoping that I can bring joy, en- ergy, and enthusiasm to the event.”
Anthony further stated that he is well known in the community for his poetry and plans to recite a few verses dur- ing the banquet.
The Honorary Co-Chairper- sons for the banquet are Ms. Machelle Maner, Vice Presi- dent, Community Develop- ment for Wells Fargo Bank, and Jerome Ryans, Presi- dent and CEO of the Tampa Housing Authority.
This year, the organization will honor the following indi- viduals: Living Legend Award recipient: Attorney Jeraldine Williams Smith. The Unsung Hero Award recipients are: Mrs. Renee Panko, Hillsborough County Public Defender Julianne Holt, and Tampa Fire Chief Tom Forward.
Ms. Lou Ann Washing- ton and Robert Cole, Sr., were chosen as recipients of the Living Bridges Awards.
The 2015 Freedom Fund Dinner Committee members are: Dr. Bennie Small, Chairperson; Natasha Good- ley, Joseph Robinson, Pat Spencer, Maurice Jackson, Ella Coffee, Yvette Lewis, Norene Miller, James Cole, and Darrell Richard- son.
For more information con- tact the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP at (813) 234- 8683 or visit the website at www.hillsboroughnaacp.org.
City Of Tampa To
Host Job Fair For
Veterans And
Persons With
Disabilities
On Thursday, November 12, 2015, the City of Tampa’s Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Dis- abilities will host a job fair for veterans and per- sons with disabilities. Employers are invited to register online for the event at www.tampagov.net/JobFairPrivate .
The job fair runs from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m., and will be held at Port Tampa Bay, Terminal 2, 651 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL.
Employers interested in participating in the job fair may reserve space, which will include a participation table.
The January job fair drew over 500 job seek- ers. Employers with any questions about the job fair should call Cate Baierlein with Change of Course, a nonprofit facilitating the event, at (813) 786-2033.
The Tampa Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities was founded in 1986, making Tampa the first city in Florida to organize such a group. The Mayor’s Alliance is an advisory and advocacy group that represents the interests of citizens with disabilities.
Governor Appoints Two To Diabetes Advisory Council
DR. LESLENE GORDON
On Friday, Governor Rick Scott announced one appointment and one reappointment to the Diabetes Advisory Council.
Dr. Mark Kummer, 57, of Pensacola, is a physician and community health center division chief at Nemours Children’s Clinic. He fills a va- cant seat and his term will end on July 1, 2016.
Dr. Leslene Gordon, 57, of Lutz, is the Community Health Director for the Florida De- partment of Health in Hillsborough. She was reappointed and her term will end July 1, 2019.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9