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Vol. 6
Edwin Sherrod
Striking Out At Segregated Jail,
Black Deputy Runs For Sheriff
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EDWIN SHERROD
Photo by Frank Bowman
Edwin Sherrod announced
Tuesday that he will run for
sheriff of Richmond County.
Claiming that you have to be
“within” to know what really
goes on at the jail, Sherrod said
the jail cells are still segregated.
The white prisoners are still on
the north side and the Blacks
are on the south side. “No
white prisoner has ever been in
the south side cells,” he said.
There are no Black
secretaries in the sheriffs
office and none in the
investigator’s office. There are
only about 20 Black deputies
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BENJAMIN A. WILLIAMS
'Bennie’ Williams Named
Mortician Os The Year
Benjamin A. (Bennie)
Williams was chosen Mortician
of the Year by tire Eighth
District Georgia Funeral
Service Practioners Association
recently.
He was honored with a
banquet and a beautiful plague.
William’s success as a
mortician is credited to hard
work and continously pressing
forward. His interest has
always been centered in the
field of Mortuary Science. In
197 S he realized the need to
upgrade his profession and
enhance the community by
constructing one of the most
modern structures in the
South. Williams Funeral Home,
Inc. is soon to be dedicated to
Augusta and the C.S.RA.
A native of Allendale, S.C.
he has lived in Augusta most of
his life. He received his
education in the public schools
Woman To Seek
Commission Seat
Sarah Leiden in a news
conference Wednesday
announced her candidacy for a
seat on the Richmond County
Commbssion.
Mrs. Leiden is the wife of
local attorney Terry Leiden.
She is vying for the seat
vacated by Norman Simowitz.
Mrs. Leiden is the first woman
to run for a seat on the county
commission.
P. O. Box 953
on the work force of 182,
Sherrod said.
Sherrod was fired by Sheriff
William Anderson after a
female prisoner escaped from
the jail earlier this year.
Sherrod said that the firing was
racially discriminatory since a
number of prisoners had
escaped while white deputies
were on duty and another
escaped since he was fired, but
no one was fired but him.
He charged that many
Jackie Wilson Hospitalized And Forgotten?
Over the years Jackie Wilson
has become a legend in the
world of music. In addition to
countless fans, he has the love
and respect of his
entertainment peers. Or so it
would seem. But, lately there
has been some question raised
as to the reality of that fact.
A little less than a year ago,
while performing at the Latin
Casino, Jackie Wilson suffered
a serious stroke which has
subsequently hospitalized him.
Although his condition is
improving, the battle for
recovery is a slow, tedious and
here and attended Paine
College. He served two years in
the Armed Forces and received
an honorable discharge.
In 1947 he graduated from
the Atlanta College of
Mortuary Science and earned
his mortuary degree. He also
served in the Pacific Area
the American Graves
Registration, in a Repatriation
Program. Upon returning to
the states, he was employed by
a local funeral home for 21
years. In 1969 he ventured out
into a successful partnership -
Williams & Dotson Funeral
Home. 'The partnership was
later dissolved.
Williams is an active member
of the Florence Street Church
of Christ and is the church
secretary. He participates in
civic and social affairs. He is a
member of the Georgia Funeral
Service Practioner’s
Association, member of the
National Funeral Directors
Association, past chairman of
the Eighth District Funeral
Directors Association and
presently serves as secretary.
He is a member of the
C.S.RA. Business League and
past member of the board of
directors; he is also a member
of the NAACP and Bannaker
Lodge 3.
He is married to the former
Mildred Dawkins from Atlanta,
Ga. They are thb parents of
three daughters, Renata
Charmaine, Mrs. Mignon Davis
and Lisa Pauline.
AN OPEN FORUM FOR PEOPLE WHO CARE
deputies hide behind bars and
in their cars while they drink
on duty. He vowed this would
stop if he is elected.
The main problem in the
department is the lack of
personnel. “You can’t just grab
a man up and put a gun on
him. You have to know how to
treat people.”
“You’re not to judge, beat
or manhandle a man just
because he is a prisoner.”
Asked if he believes
often painful one. Os course,
the initial concern was shown
by friends but it warned
quickly and the calls soon
stopped. However, the hospital
bills had just begun. The days
became weeks and then
months. The Spinners and
Bobby Womack are amongst a
handful friends who have kept
in contact and are proceeding
with plans to raise much
needed funds for Wilson’s
mounting debts.
There’s flother side of this
story which is almost equally
as important It is now an
accepted medical fact that
Newsome Announces
Candidacy
J. Lester Newsome, clerk of
the Board of Commissioners,
has announced his candidacy
for the office of Clerk of
Superior Court of Richmond
County in the August 10
Democratic Primary.
Newsome says he intends to
work closely with the judiciary
Rev. Hamilton Celebrates
Twentieth Anniversary
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DR. C.S. HAMILTON Photo by Mike
(See related photos page 2)
by Tracy Williams ID
In June, 1956, Rev. Charles
S. Hamilton left Thomasville,
Ga., to accept the pastorship of
Tabernacle Baptist Church here
in Augusta. Twenty years later,
Rev. Hamilton, still active as
ever, feels that he has not yet
led his church as far as he had
envisioned. He is only in the
midst of an uncompleted task.
“I would like to see a
Christian church where people
are alive spiritually.” said Dr.
Hamilton, after Tabernacle had
recognized his 20th anniversary
Sunday. “I would like to see
people involved in church work
as far as mission, education,
outreach, and community
participation are concerned.”
The 49-year-old graduate of
Morehouse College most
recently prepared himself to
captain the campaign for more
Augusta, Georgia
Richmond County is ready ror
a Black sheriff, Sherrod said he
doesn’t believe the voters want
Black or white. “They want
someone qualified who will be
a sheriff and have efficient
administrative abilities.
Sherrod has been with the
Richmond County Sheriff s
Department for 13 years. He
has served in the U.S. Army for
30 years and has received
medals or commendations
from Presidents Johnson,
patients who have strong
positive support on a continuous
basis from family and friends,
show a much speedier
recovery. The Spinners
recently visited with Jackie in
New Jersey where he has been
hospitalized since he was
stricken at the Latin Casino.
Afterward, Buddy Allen, the
Spinner’s manager, stated,
“Jackie has contributed so
much to the advancement and
well-being of all entertainers. It
sure would be nice if his fans
and friends would rally to his
psychological aid by sending
cards or letters to the Cherry
in an effort to “espedite the
business of the courts,
especially in the area of cases
on appeal. It is also my plan to
create a spirit of harmony, not
only within the office, but
between this office and other
offices of the courthouse and
the public in general”, he
added.
active church involvement by
earning his doctor of ministry
degree last year at the Colgate
Rochester Divinity School in
Rochester, N.Y. He also holds
a B.D. degree from Morehouse
and a masters of sacred
theology degree from Florida
A&M. Dr. Hamilton lias
previously held the post of
dean of the Morehouse School
of Religion from 1969 until
this year, when he resigned the
position to devote more time
in Augusta.
The first step in increasing
church involvement, Dr.
Hamilton points out, is to
arouse church members, who
are an extreme importance in
the effectiveness of his
leadership. “We need to get our
members and our people to
fullfill a more effective role,
showing love and concern,” Dr.
Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman
and Roosevelt, Prime Minister
Winston Churchill and the
Queen of England.
He earned the B.A. degree at
West Virginia State College. He
is a graduate of the law
enforcement training program
at Northwestern University,
the University of Heidelburg,
Heidelburg, Germany; Oxford
University, England; and South
Carolina State College.
Hill Medical Center
let him know that
they are pulling for him. He
needs to know that people still
care about him and want to see
him well again.”
The Spinners who are
presently touring the country
with their new show are
scheduled to host and perform
an October 3 benefit show in
conjunction with Charles
Gerson at his Latin Casino in
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, for
Jackie. Other top entertainers
will be joing the Spinners for
the Jackie Wilson tribute.
W -
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J. Lester Newsome
Hamilton commented.
“Church should be more than a
one-day-a-week affair.”
Over the past two decades in
Augusta, Dr. Hamilton has
participated extensively in civic
affairs, and he claims that this
is merely an extension of his
religious duty, more so a “cry
of people in need.” The
religious responsibility of a
minister today carries over
naturally into the activities of
the community. “The same
people I preach to on Sunday
are the same ones in need on
Monday.”
From 1966-1971, Dr.
Hamilton served on the
Augusta City Council and has
been president of the Augusta
Chapter of the NAACP. He
also was president of the
Georgia Human Relations
Commission. Presently, he is
president of the Advisory
Committee to the Civil Service
Commission on Civil Rights.
Dr. Hamilton readily admits
the vast influence that the
Black Church has had on Black
people, and he maintains that
this influence is becoming even
more important today.
“Twenty years ago,” he
reflected, “the Black Church
was about all we had. Such
groups like the NAACP were
most effective with church
support. Today there is a call
for more intense involvement
by the Black Church. It is the
only real force in the
community.”
Therefore, the Black Church
today serves its people best by
taking part in the leadership
over community affairs, Dr.
Hamilton inferred. “We need
to work closer with
authorities;” Some specific
examples of involvement
would be crime fighting,
strengthening of the family
unit to avoid broken homes,
and increasing emphasis on
June 10, 1976 No. 10
15-Year-Old Charged With Murder
A 51-year-old man was
choked to death early Sunday
morning by a 15-year-old
youth.
Sammie D. Cooper, 51, got
into an argument with Mrs.
Bandits Hit Bar For
More Than $3,000 Cash
Four bandits entered Hank’s
Bar and Grill on Highway 88
and Church Street in Blythe,
Ga., Friday night and left with
over $3,000 in cash.
Henry Etterle said a man
pulled a .38 pistol on him and
told the rest of the customers
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Dr. Christopher Edley
Every Bit
$
Helps UNCF
By George Wright
Dr. Christopher Edley,
executive director of the
United Negro College Fund
(UNCF), was the keynote
speaker at a luncheon that
officially kicked-off the annual
drive for funds in the Central
Savannah River Area Monday.
Speaking to a small
gathering of businessmen,
students, educators and UNCF
volunteers, Dr. Edley set a
local goal of $15,000 for this
year.
Pointing out that this
amount may seem small. Dr.
Edley explained that a school
may become defunct if it can
not find funds for just 20 per
cent of its budget. Last year’s
goal in Augusta was SIO,OOO.
The national goal for this year
is sls million.
UNCF funds go to 41 Black
private colleges. “I still get
frustrated explaining what
Black schools are all about,”
Dr. Edley said. A Black college
is one that is historically and
predominantly Black, he
explained. The difference
between a public and private
school is the spiritualistic
awareness of tire students.
“Last June 65 per cent of
the Blacks graduating from
college came from Black
schools,” Dr. Edley said, even
though the majority of Black
students attended
predominantly white colleges.
Dr. Julius S. Scott Jr.,
president of Paine College,
pointed out that the majority
of the distinguished guests
attending the banquet
graduated from UNCF schools.
“Education is that great
education.
Presently, he and Tabernacle
are engaged with a massive
renovation program to preserve
the 50-year-old building. The
Tabernacle sanctuary has been
widely familiar as a cradle for
civil rights movements, and Dr.
Hamilton hopes to keep it so.
He is married to the former
Miss Lillie Mitchell and is the
father of Ronald, 21, Gale, 16,
and Rachel, 4.
Twenty years of service in
the Augusta area to Dr.
Hamilton simply means that
there are 20 more to go.
Mary Lou Griffin in her home
at 1035 Brayton St. Cooper
allegedly got a butcher knife
and started after the woman
when her 15-year-old son
intervened. The youth choked
at the bar to get down on the
floor.
The man struck Etterle and
shot him across the back when
the bartender tried to get his
own gun.
Three other bandits came in
and ordered everybody to get
EDITORIAL
Officials Disrespect
Law?
We are appalled that Police Chief James G. Beck is
being allowed to run for sheriff in light of a city
ordinance specifically forbidding such a candidacy.
The Augusta Police Department Policies and
Procedures Manual states:
A. No employe of the Augusta Police Department
shall seek nomination, election, or appointment to any
elective office or as an officer of a political party, club
or organization. No such employe may take an active
part in, or solicit contributions or donations for, or
distribute badges, pamphlets, or handbills of any kind
favoring or opposing any candidate for nomination or
election to elective office; nor use any departmental
supplies or equipment for such purposes. However,
nothing in this provision shall be construed to prevent
any employe from becoming or continuing to be a
member of a political party, or from attendance at any
public political meeting not interfering with job
performance, or from enjoying entire freedom from
interference in expressing his or her opinion as a private
citizen or casting his or her vote.
B. No employe of the Augusta Police Department
shall command or solicit direct or indirect participation
of another departmental employe in any political
activity or enforce contributions for any political party,
organization, or candidate.
C. Any employe who engages in such activity is
subject to disciplinary action including dismissal subject
to application of Provision IX. Employe Relations Rules
for Conduct and Provision XL Grievance Procedure.
The regulation is very clear. And we feel that
violation of the law by those entrusted with interpreting
and enforcing, only serves to further erode respect for
the law.
How can we expect citizens to obey and respect the
law when officials throw the law away whenever they
get ready?
We would hope that our position on this matter will
in no way be interpreted as support or as opposition to
any candidate. Our concern here is that we do not allow
ourselves to encourage lawlessness by allowing our
government officials to lead in breaking the law.
equalizer,” Dr. Edley said, “it
is important because it is the
one thing we have that is
accessible. If a Black can
obtain a college education that
is his passport to the middle
class,” he added.
Dr. Edley referred to the
Bicentennial noting that Blacks
celebrated the second 100
years not only because of
emancipation but also because
it was when Black schools were
founded.
“We have educated a race of
people”, Dr. Edley said. But at
Dr. Bond A.C.
Commencement Speaker
Dr. James George Bond,
president of California State
University at Sacramento, has
been named Commencement
speaker for Augusta College’s
June graduation 3 p.m.
Sunday, June 13.
More than 360 candidates
have filed for graduation and
will receive their degrees during
ceremonies scheduled for Bell
Auditorium. Associate,
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Cooper until he passed out.
The youth and his mother then
called the police who found
Cooper lying face-down with
the butcher knife in liis hand.
The youth was charged with
murder.
face-down on the floor or be
killed. They went through the
customer's pockets and took a
total of $3,372 in cash. They
also took watches, wallets and
credit cards.
One of the four men had a
pistol-grip double-barrel sawed
off shotgun.
the same time, he stressed the
distance Blacks still had to go.
“Only 8 per cent of Blacks
above the age of 25 are college
educated,” he said, “compared
to 23 per cent for whites. Last
year we turned away 18,000
students because of lack of
money.”
Ending the luncheon on a
high note,’ Mayor Lewis A.
Newman officially proclaimed
June UNCF month. The UNCF
drive will last from June 7 to
July 15.
baccalaureate, and master’s
degrees are to be conferred.
Dr. Bond received the B.A.
degree in Psychology from
Baldwin Wallace College, the
M.A. degree in Psychology
from Bowling Green State
University and the Ph.D.
degree in Psychology in
Psychology from New York
University.
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