-4 vt ' ■V-» M* . . FEB. 3, 1999 Page B4 lij e ^Jortlanh ©bseruer In Loving Memory Of Philip “Butch ” Washington Sunrise: July 4, 1945 Sunset: January 16, 1999 Sheila's Poem "To My Loving Husband" Things and people come and go, But the love I have fo r you will continue to grow and grow. I will never fin d a love as strong as the love we had. It was really what you would call the “Greatest Love o f All!" The Lord has taken you home to a much better place. You now have no more hurt and no more pain... Until we meet again. Already missing you, I will always love you, Your Wife, Sheila Obituary Philip “B utch” W ashington w ho was know to m any as “ Butch” was bom on July 4, 1945 in V ancouver, W ashington to Erm a Jean Durst and Philip W ashington Sr. who preceded him in death. Butch w as called to rest January 16, 1999. Butch leaves behind to cherish his m em ories: his beloved w ife, Sheila; his loving mother, Erm a Jean W ashington; m other-in-law , M addie Richmond; his daughters, Shanna W ashington and Q uinice Jenkins; his sons, Davis and D eano Jenkins; his grandchildren, Dam ien Jaquan Jenkins; and a host o f m any nieces, nephew s and other relatives. B utch’s greatest w ish was to see his daughter Shanna give birth to her unborn child, her expected due date is M arch 1999. H er chosen nam e given by Butch is S h i’philla W ashington. The Thomas Whitfield Company Is Honored At 14th Annual Stellar Awards Syndicated Telecast Will Be Broadcast throughout Black History M onth The Thomas WhitfieldCompany. was recently honored with the James Cleve­ land award at the 14 th annual Stellar Awards ceremony in Atlanta, GA. The Stellars are the gospel industry’s big­ gest night o f the. the choir performed a rousing four song medley o f their hits "Precious Jesus,” “Wrapped Up, Tied UP, ""Nothing But theBlood"and"Hold, On” that drew a standing ovation from gospel stare CeCe W mans and Yolanda Adams and the capacity crowd at the AtlantaCivic Center. The two hour show also featured performances by K nk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Dottie Peoples among others. It will be syndi­ cated to television stations around the country in tribute to Black History Month this month. When Thomas "Maestro" Whitfield died in 1992 at the age o f 38, many in the gospel industry smirked that his choir’s chances o f continuing died with him. The choir lost their record deal and no other label would sign them in spite o f their #1 hits such as “Hallelujah Any­ how,” a few members left the group, and many o f Whitfield’s peers whispered that the group was dead too. However, the company known for their sophisti­ cated style o f gospel rallied their faith in Godandpersevered. Ittookfiveyeare for Donna Harris, the group’s president, to find a record deal. Detroit’s fledgling Crystal Rose Records (distributed by EMI Music worldwide) offered the choir a contract after they had been rejected by every major gospel label except one that otiered them a rip-off contract that the choir rejected on principle. Considering the industry’s rejection o f the Whitfield Company, they con­ sider it a true blessing that the Stellar Awards is honoring their late founder’s legacy at this time. This past summer the ch o ir rele ase d its first album , 50th Anniversary Celebration The late Rev. T.A. Sears came to Portland to organize aC.M.E. Church in 1949, the first C M E . Church in the Pacific Northwest. 'Hie Church was organized February 6, 1949 in the home o f Sis. Hattie Spann. It started with twelve charter member and 25 members were added the first week o f organization and these were the origi­ nal members o f the Church (5 are still with us.) Presently, the Pastor o f Allen Temple C.M.E. Church is Rev Dr. LeRoy Haynes Jr. who came to us in November 1996 from Tulsa, Okla­ homa. He was assigned this charge by Bishop E. Lynn Brown at the 1996 Mid-Winter Council. We are blessed and overjoyed to have such a man after G od’s own heart to be the pastor at the Allen Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. For more informa­ tion please call 503-955-1024 « The Whitfield Company Still...W hitfield (Currently #29 on Billboard’s gospel chart), since Thomas Whitfield’s death and recently made their first network television appear­ ance when they performed on NBC’s "TodayShow”Thegroup’scurrentsingle “Hold On” which symbolizes their per­ sonal struggle to survive, is in heavy rotation at gospel radio stations across the country. “Most people love a Phoenix rising from the ashes story and that’s what we have here,” Harris says. “So now that w e’ve had success again, people are calling us again. For a long time, the phone never rang. It was no surprise that industry folks stopped calling, the sur­ prise was that friends stopped calling too.” Tribute to African-American History/In God We Trust! Deuteronomy 31:6 Sunday, February 21, 1999 a t 5:45 p.m . T he N orthw est A frican-A m erican Ballet’ Prospective G en ts Step T roupe th eater, poem s, dance, oratory p resen tatio n s an d m uch more! St. P a u l B aptist Church 8101 N. Fiske Ave. P ortland, O regon C o m e celeb ra te o u r h erita g e!! Sponsored by St. Paul E ducational a n d Evangelical M inistries The NAtionad Bkxck E vausc I ìca I Association is holding it s 36th A nnual Convention in FortUnb, Oregon April 22-25, 1999. Our theme this year is "Redeeming and Restoring the City: We are having a talent show March 6, 1999 Saturday at 6:00 pm at Mallory Avenue Christian Church - 126 NE Alberta Portland, Oregon 97211 - Pastor Aaron Hamlin Stallini’ date Feb 1-13 12:00 pm l eb. 20 Audition at Mallory Avenue Christian Church 126 M; Alberta, Paster Aaron 1 lahm 1 aient show March 6 Sat. at Mallory Av enue Christian Church ll6 NE Alberta Allen Temple CME Church launches it's 50th Anniversary Celebration Beginning Feb. 7, 1999 Revival In The Community Contact person Evangelist Saun Dia J. Thomaston Tjag- Hardy Family is holding a Community-wide Revival at The Bew Free­ dom Assembly Church of God In Christ, 936 NE Beech St., Portland,OR. Nightly at 7:30 pm from January 31 - February 1T, 1999. Salvation of Souls, Prayer for the sick, music and singing ministered by: Mo. Anorvia Hardy, Reverend W. J. Hardy, Ja, Mark, Lamar, thomas and Carmen. Everyone is welcome: no charge TheFreedom Assembly better known as: Mt. Sinae CO J.l.C, - Bishop W.J. Hardy, Sr. pastor.) In Loving Memory o f Robert Edward Ford Sr. Sunrise: May 19,1932 Sunset: January 23,1999 Robert Edw ard F ord Sr was bom M ay ! 9 ,1 9 3 2 in H arell A rkansas to the late Ed and M attie Ford. He departed this life on Januray 23,1999 in Portland Oregon. Robert united with the M t Tatum M ethodist Church at an early age in Jersey, Arkansas. A ftercom ing to Portland O regon he united with V ancouver Avenue 1" Baptist Church. H eserved in the US A rm y from 1952-1955. He worked for Boeing A iiC raft in Seattle Washington, moving back to Portland where he w orked at the Far W est Federal Bank until it closed. Brother R obert Ford was a Past G rand M aster o f Enterprise Lodge #1. He was a m em ber ofW illam ette Consistory 23 and a 32nd. D egree M ason. Robert leaves to cherish his m em ory; his loving wife Debra Ford, 16children, M ichael, Robert Perry, Robert Anthony, Robert Edward Jr., Jamarea, Timothy, Lavell W illiams ofO akland, California, Vickie. Annette, Rhonda, T asha, Mattie, Tracey, Angel, Shacoya and D onna G ivens who preceded him in Death; 3 daughters-in-law w ; Phyllis, Eunice and Bobbie Ford, 24 G randchildren, 7 great grandchildren, 4 sisters; M axine Jones o f K ansas City, M issouri, A lice Perkins, Frances Clinton and W ilmoth Sanders o f Portland, Oregon, 1 Brother, W illiam o f Jersey, Arkansas, Katherine Y ork o f San Francisco, C alifornia, Francine E llison o f K ansas, C ity M issouri, Beatrice N icholas o f Paris Texas, and Rosie Ellison o f Portland Oregon, and 1 U ncle M oses W illiam s o f Jersey Arkansas, A host o f N ieces, N ephews and Friends. W e w ill m iss R obert but we know we will see him again. So w e say sleep on “Bob" as he was som etim es called, W hat is your church/group doing for Black History Month? New ideas and resources for a spiritual celebration Are available at North Portland Bible College Library And the Lillian Jenkins Resource Center, At 4905 N. Vancouver Avenue During office hours and evening class times. At NZNE Portland Own Inter-Church Bible College, Where Biblical Studies and Ministry training Are offered From within a multicultural context. Spring Term Begins March 29 Inquire N O W ! Call 288-2919 take your rest, w e all love you but G od loves you best. c • < l' C- • ................. C o • 4 • •