Dear editor:
With great excitement for the coming year and the Nov. 15 event hosted by The Fun City Chorus at the Historic Visitors Chapel AME Church, we say “thank you” and “Happy Holidays.” The board, staff and volunteers of People Helping Others Excel By Example (P.H.O.E.B.E.) want you and our community to share in the excitement of a successful special event.
One of the reasons that we gathered a second year for an evening of gospel music for the soul was to celebrate the life of Cornelious Leron Hollinshed “Shed,” who died in July 2015 and was a founding member of P.H.O.E.B.E. He gave tirelessly to the youths of the community on every level, in every area of his life; as a pastor and certainly his over 20 years working at Ouachita Children’s Center and finally in the Admissions Office at the Arkansas Career Training Institute (ACTI).
Before we got started, everyone was well fed by culinary delights of the upcoming chefs from the Arkansas Career Training Institute (ACTI) Miss Alyssa Glenn and Ashley Robinson.
There were over 200 people from all walks of life. They came to hear gospel music, the updates on The Historic John Lee Webb House and to meet some of the future tenants for the house, The Uzuri Project Youth Institute Team. Bud Kenny, author, poet and founder of Wednesday Night Poetry, introduced our emcee for the evening, Leron Charles McAdoo aka Ron Mc, who reached down poetically, spiritually and emotionally to help us learn from each other’s cultures through his knowledge of people and history, seamlessly tying our diverse musical program together.
Clyde Adams took us to a new level of soul in country western with his short heartfelt personal stories of life to push the musical message home. The Historic Visitors Chapel AME Church, Haven United Methodist Church, The Garrett Sisters with a bluegrass, country gospel harmony had the folks on their feet, followed by Roanoke Baptist Men’s Choir, Sharon Griffith, soloist from Union Missionary Baptist Church and honoring Shed by singing his favorite song, the Carolyn Hughes Praise Team pulled it all together.
There was time for The Uzuri Project Youth Institute Team members to be heard. Graduate/emerging leader Georgia Grimaud shared the Occasion. Kauri Somanu, TUPYI Track I team member, performed Handel’s Chore and Gymnastics on the piano to the delight of the audience. No doubt by the time Sandra Thompson, Nazarene Baptist Church closed us out with “O Happy Day!” It was just that. We finished off our $15,000 match for the foundation of the Webb House and everyone wanting to come again!
Thank you to everyone from us and the Fun City Chorus. The board and staff are so grateful to you, our friends, new friends, family, volunteers and parents who came out and made it a real “Thanksgiving To the Historic John Lee Webb House!”
Restore the John Lee Webb House Friends
The Fun City Chorus
People Helping Others Excel By Example