Page 2 - 2021 MAHOGANY REVUE 02 APARIL

2A MAHOGANY REVUE 02 APRIL 2021

by Marcella Spencer
MT TABOR AME singing “Thank You Lord”. Champ. them even have to use credit
CHURCH - REVEREND - Afterwards Sister Charlene cards to make it through the
PASTOR: Hodges gave the Next, Sister Netisha month.
T. PATRICIA NELSON. Invocation simultaneously Thornelant of Central
while the Choir & Conference Member at- More and more Seniors are
Morning Worship Congregation, softly sung Large came forth with the using credit/debit cards so no
Service “Thank You Lord!” before Ice Breaker “Stranded” one will rob them of their
28 March 2021 the Mass Choir sung, “I’m before Workshop II. monthly bills money. Now
The Presider opened the Going To Trust In The Workshop II was they can even have their
service by singing the Lord”. spearheaded by Dr. Paulette monies deposited directly into
Praise Song, “Grateful” Johnson of the Florida their bank account so the
before the Choir & Brother Keronte Davis Department of Health with Senior will not have to chase or
Congregation sung the then read 130th Psalms 121 Facilitator Sister Billie fight to get revenge from steal-
Doxology, “Praise God before the Mass Choir’s Hudson. ing the purse or wallets.
From Whom All Blessing selection, “Silver & Gold”.
Flow” and the Call To After the Wellness Break, Thoughts Running Wild
Worship brought forth. After the Spoken Words the lunch started with
After the Call To Worship, from Exhortress Mamie J. “Missionaries Should Church: As I look at the
the Mass Choir sung, Mann from Judges 7:3, the Know…” Game facilitated church that I joined before I
“Can’t Nobody Do Me Pastor extended a by Sister Netisha married, there are only two
Like Jesus.“ welcoming invitation Thronelant before families left to stand because
through the “Call To Workshop III. Workshop III the rest move to Ocala to the
This was followed by Christian Discipleship”. on Financial Health was Baptist church. However,
Sister Charlene Hodges’ Next, it was time for the spearhead by Sister Sonja when we all leave or transition
Invocation was One-Stop Collection for Shuler of Primerica from this place, we are all to
simultaneously as the Choir Worship Through Giving, Financial Services and hear from our captain, and so
& Congregation softly Benevolent Offering, Facilitator Sister Ivyl we will not lose our way, He
sung, “Thank You Lord!”; Tithes and Offerings, and LeSane. send His only begotten son.
and before the Mass Choir then it was time for Sister
sung, “Just A Simply Song Velvet Fields’ Guest For the Learning Break on Grandchildren: I often won-
Of Praise”. Recognition & Constitution & Bylaws der do the grandchildren ever
Announcements; and the Update, was conducted by think about how it feel to have
This was followed by Pastor’s Remarks and Sister Harriet Brown Birk, their grandmother raise them
Sister Elaine Jones’ Benediction. Esquire who is Chair of the to be teenagers and/or young
Scripture Reading of Constitution & Bylaws adults. Now only to have the
Psalms 91st Chapter; and Online Giving: Committee Connectional same grandparent(s); in their
Sister Billie Hudson’s Mttaborame.org-click WMS. Senior age, be taken to a place especially with the two that
Introduction of Speaker. giving; Cash App- where someone that is of no stays I the house with me. Take for example, Jamestown
However, before Brother $praymttabor. In closing, Sister Leslie kin take care of them. is now Ocala Park Estate with
Charles Everett’s Invitation Hudson Satchwell of Kendrick and shopping close by the
of a Call To Discipleship, Central Conference Central Conference 2nd I would consider myself for- Estate. Only the older ones are
Exhortress Frances Parker Women’s Missionary Vice President; Sister tunate to have my children care I often wonder where the chil- still there living out their life;
spoke on “I Have Made My Society AME Leadership Laurastine Lemon of for me, especially my oldest dren that grew up in the area and the Fruit stand they we use
Choice” based on the Symposium. Episcopal WMS President, one who keeps everything in are! Did they move to Ocala, to have is gone.
scriptures from I Kings 20 March 2021 and Sister Frances Howard order and moving forward, and another city, another state or
18:30-25 & 36. of Central Conference my youngest one who are by out of the country? Are they We, as black people, MUST
The Symposium started WMS President brought her side in helping me. dead or alive? Did they lose support our businesses. When
After the One-Stop with a Greeting from Sister the Remarks before the their property for taxes or was we support our black business-
Collection for Worship Leslie Hudson Satchwell, Missionary Benediction. I raised six girls and we had it stolen from them? I wonder es, we can grow economics in
Through Giving, Benevo- the Coordinator, lots of fun because I always where everybody is. our own communities which
lent Offering, Tithes and Commission on Mission STROLL DOWN took time to be with them. will encourage us to become
Offerings, Sister Velvet Education & Interpretation MEMORY LANE From working in the fields to The more Ocala city limits entrepreneurs as well.
Fields came forth with and Sister Frances Howard fishing to quilting to making spreads north, the more I won- UNTIL NEXT TIME,
Words of Appreciation & the Central Conference With days gone by and time their own clothes. Now I see all der where are everybody, and KEEP RESEARCHING
Announcements followed WMS President. The changing so drastically, it is that I have done is paying off; trusting they will be able to sur-
by the Pastor’s Remarks Inspirational Moment came challenging to keep up with the vive this Ocala spread.
and Benediction. from Reverend Lateria changes; making one wants to
Watson of Mt. Moriah give up and just sit back and
Morning Worship AME Church, Cocoa allow the youth to take over.
Service before Worship I on
21 March 2021 Spiritual Health I wonder where do the gov-
Service began with the spearheaded by Reverend ernment organizer get all this
Choir & Congregation Valarie J. Walker, Presiding money from when we as older
singing the Doxology, Elder, and Outstanding retired Seniors get money from
“Praise God From Whom Orlando District with the every month and we can bare-
All Blessing Flow” before Facilitator Sister Sandra ly make ends meet. Some of

BEING BLACK IN POLK COUNTY

MEANS CONSISTENT STRUGGLE WITH

RACISM

ments all the time toward
Black people.”

She remembers her
mom trying to leave him
once and he shouted at
her to “take your n----r
with you!”

The abuse and addiction
issue at her home became
so intense that Werbinski
left for good when she
was just 14 years old.

Kenneth Stephens is pictured at New Hope Missionary “It wasn’t a good envi-
Baptist Church in Gordonville, where he serves as a pastor. ronment for me, so I
Mercedes Werbinsky and tor for an historically Black couch surfed for a little
Kenneth Stephens have church in Gordonville, bit,” she said. “They just
faced some ugly moments near Bartow. weren’t good role models
and succeeded despite oth- for me.”
ers’ hatred. Both say they deal with
discrimination and She would sneak into a
LAKELAND — Young or Stephens says he and his girlfriend’s home after her
older, male or female, they wife worry about their friend’s father fell asleep
have similar experiences as three sons, even though so she would have a safe
they live the lives of Black they are grown men and place to stay.
people in Polk County, fac- working professionals.
ing down racism on a
sometimes weekly basis, 'It wasn’t a good environ- “Speak positivity into
but also enjoying the ment' your life because your
respect of a community thoughts become your
that knows them. Werbinski was born in actions. As long as you
North Port, near the keep a positive mindset,
Mercedes Werbinski, 20, Myakka River, but moved you can accomplish any-
is an event organizer with to Lakeland with her moth- thing as long as you trust
Black Lives Matter Polk, er when she was 3 years in the universe.” the group over the National dent of Black Lives Matter and having to be ashamed
while 57-year-old Kenneth old. She has almost no rela- Mercedes Werbinsky Association for the Restoration Polk, speaks of a side of myself that I
Stephens — a retired U.S. tionship with her biological Advancement of Colored during a town hall on race was born into ... Once I
Army first sergeant and father, who is Black. Her Werbinski eventually People (NAACP) because relations in Lakeland at appreciated myself … for
mom, who is moved into a hotel room BLMRP invited her. Cannon Funeral Home on who I was — it’s just the
white, took and was struggling to get June 8. first-hand experience that
up with a back and forth to Lake Jarvis Washington, presi- I’ve had that attracted me
m a n Gibson High School, dent of Black Lives Matter to join Black Lives
Werbinski where she was enrolled in Restoration Polk, speaks Matter.”
said has tat- the medical academy. At during a town hall on race
toos that state 16, she dropped out relations in Lakeland at She helped organize the
“White “before I flunked out” and Cannon Funeral Home on peaceful protest in Munn
Power ,” enrolled in Penn Foster June 8. Park on May 31, but then
“KKK,” and High School, an online watched helplessly as three
two lightning diploma program that “I didn’t have any option young men got marchers to
bolts, repre- allows students to study at to join (the NAACP). walk to the nearby police
senting the their own pace and earn a (BLMRP) asked me if I station and then up to
N a z i high school degree. wanted to be a part of their Memorial Boulevard,
Schutzstaffel. team,” she said. “Before where things dissolved into
This year, Jarvis the protest happened, I did- a moment of violence
“My stepdad Washington invited her to n’t join anything. The daily when protesters destroyed
is a racist, join Black Lives Matter pressure that I went CONTINUES NEXT ISSUE
CONTINUES NEXT ISSUE
very abusive Restoration Polk, which Jarvis Washington, presi- through with my stepdad
mentally and works to help heal the rift
Mercedes Werbinski, the event coordina- physically,” between the Black commu- SUBSCRIBE T O
tor of Black Lives Matter Polk. she said. “For nity and law enforcement. MAHOGANY REVUE
a really long They organize neighbor-
professor at Southeastern time, he would deny I’m hood clean-ups and spon- NEWSP APER T O D A Y
University with a Ph.D. in half Black. And he would sor a scholarship program. ONLINE OR OFFLINE
human services — is a pas- make, like, racist com- Werbinski said she joined