Psalms 24:1, 1 Chronicles 16:25, Deuteronomy 10:17 and Exodus 15:18 let God’s people know that he has power and he is in complete control at all times.

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. Great is the Lord, and he is most worthy of praise. He is to be feared above all gods. The Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God is mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. The Lord will reign forever and ever.”

Many have honored Dr. Martin L. King Jr. Day in different ways. Damascus M. B. Church young missionaries participated in a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest in honor of his birthday observance that was celebrated on Jan. 18. This contest’s main purpose was to teach the young people about what Dr. King stood for and how he taught mankind that thing can be worked out and solved in a peaceful manner. Damascus Church is pastored by Rev. Robert Daniels Sr. and the associated ministers are: Evangelist Willie Faye Webb, Rev. Eddie Johnson, Minister Ruby Adams and Rev. Michael Harvey I.

The young missionaries meet every Wednesday for Bible class under the teachings of Sister Norma Daniels and Sister Gwen Smith. Sister Daniels and Sister Smith allowed these students to express what they have learned about Dr. King by doing an assay about him. The finalist were: KaMarien King, ZaMarien King, Dalevyun Dixon, Grace Daniels and the winner was Rosetta Daniels. On Feb. 14, these young people were honored with tokens of appreciation to recognize their participation. Rosetta Daniels was presented with a monetary gift for her participation as the winner, and she was allowed to read her essay to the awaiting congregation. All of these young missionaries did a great job in expressing his or her views of Dr. King. Thanks to each of them for their participation and congratulations to Rosetta Daniels for her views as the winner of this essay contest. All young people throughout the different communities are encouraged to study and view the black achievers in history: locally, statewide and nationally, to make yourselves aware of your heritage.

As we continue to observe Black achievers who made their contributions in history, we will reflect on Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder is a rock musician, a writer, a singer and a composer. He was born blind, but he did not use this disability as a handicap for reaching his goals. He learned to play the harmonica, the drums and the piano by the time he was 10 years old. He sang the first of his number one hits when he was 12 years old. Then he began to write his own music. Stevie Wonder’s music has been enjoyed by many people for years and years, and for this reason he has won many music awards and recognitions. He also, worked hard to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a holiday. Today, we salute Stevie Wonder, one who is well known and very successful in the music realm.

Muhammad Ali was born in 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, as Cassius Clay but changed his name when he joined the Nation of Islam. He showed his winning style inside and outside the ring. Often he predicted the round in which he would win, and he was right most of the time. He first became heavyweight champion of the world in 1964 when he defeated Sonny Liston. Muhammad refused to go into the army in 1967 during the Vietnam War because he did not believe in it. Because of this, his boxing title was taken away from him. He was not allowed to box again for nearly four years. Muhammad gained the respect of many people for standing up for his beliefs. In 1970, he returned to the ring. He defeated George Foreman in 1974 to regain the heavyweight title. He lost, and then he won the title again, becoming the first fighter to hold the crown three times. Some of his most famous sayings are: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!” “I’m the greatest, I‘m the greatest!” Muhammad retired in 1980, and he is respected around the world as a champion and as a humanitarian. Today, we salute Muhammad Ali for his contributions as the first heavy weight champion in boxing.

Guion S. Buford was born in 1942 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and by the time he was in his early teens he knew that he wanted to be an engineer like his father. He wanted to specialize in the field of space exploration. After high school he attended colleges and universities to learn all that he could, so he could reach his goals. Guion loved airplanes, and he loved to fly, and he earned his wings in 1965. He served in the United States Air Force for 13 years and was a pilot in Vietnam, where he flew 144 combat missions. He also, taught flying for five years at an Air Force Base in Texas. In 1978 Buford was accepted into the NASA astronaut program, where he was trained for his first mission. In August 1983, he became the first African American astronaut in space when he flew aboard the space shuttle Challenger on its night launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Two years later he traveled into space again. Today, we salute Guion Buford, an engineer and the first African American astronaut in space.

Allison Kenneth Dixon Sr. was born April 9, 1949, to the union of Alve Lee and Lucille Dixon in Brookhaven. He was the eldest of 13 children. He attended Fannie L. Mullins and Alexander High School in Brookhaven. He graduated from Alexander in 1967. He joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve Forces, and shortly thereafter he quickly escalated up the ranks to staff sergeant. He served his country in the Vietnam War from 1967 to 1969, where he received the following commendations for his service: two Purple Hearts, four Vietnam Service Medals, Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Civil Action, Color First Class Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He met and later married Mary while stationed at the Treasure Island Naval Base. They were married in May 1973 and to this union four beautiful children were born: Kenneth Jr. (Kenny), Leticia (Tish), Mary (Lil) and Shaylla.

Kenneth rededicated his life to Christ in 1978 at the Ascension Baptist Church in California; and this day changed his life forever. A few years later he became a deacon in training and was ordained on June 21, 1985. He held various positioned at the Ascension Baptist Church, such as: finance chairman, president of the brotherhood group, and he was serving as chairman of the deacon ministry and teacher of the men Sunday school class before his death. He also, served as a leader on the local, state and national levels in the Mount Zion District and the National Baptist Convention in California. In 1975, Kenneth started working for the San Francisco Municipal Railway in the Security Department at the Presidio Avenue Facility. He also, drove busses for the MUNI buses, and he considered himself a professional driver, and he loved it. In 1986, he took the dispatcher test and soared in the top seven, passing highly. Even though Dixon worked other jobs including being a senior inspector until he became ill in 2008. In 2009, he retired from the city and the county of San Francisco after 34 years of loyal and dedicated services. He received numerous awards, pins, plaques and certificates honoring him and the service that he brought to others. During his time with MUNI, Dixon helped numerous men and women secure employment with the city and the county of San Francisco, California. Today, we salute the late Allison Kenneth Dixon Sr. for the many contributions that he made to help people, also, for being a loyal citizen and for his many contributions as a solider in military affairs and for his work and his leadership in the religious realm.

Damascus M. B. Church will have their annual Black History program on the Feb. 28 at 11 a.m. You are cordially invited to attend and tell a friend.

I will leave you with a thought for today: “Wishing with planning become goals. Goals with persistence become achievements. Wish yourself to success. Work on your goals, and you will achieve, and with these achievements you shall succeed.”

 

If you have any Loyd Star Area News to Report, please call Carolyn Beard Humphries at 601-833-5753.