About The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 2, 2011)
Museums Open Doors * No Admission Fees GEORGIA HISTORY FESTIVAL UPER MUSEUM SUNDAY, FEBRUARY For a complete listing go to www.georgiahistory.com (see page S) . PRSRT STD U.S POSTAGE PAID Savannah. GA Permit No. 923 “GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY’ ADDRESS SERVICE REQ ®he ^>abannah tribune :rvice requested ^ February 2,2011-February 8,2011* VoL 38 No. 49 * www.savannahtribune.com • 912-233-6128 *Fax: 912-233-6140 Vince Dooley and Sen. Sam Nunn Named 2011 Georgia Trustees Senator Sam Nunn John Lee Hooker, Jr. Vince Dooley Georgia Historical Society (GHS) has named the new Georgia Trustees selected to be added to the distin guished list of legendary Georgians: Vince Dooley and Senator Sam Nunn. The two will be inducted at the Trustees Gala held in their honor in Savannah on the evening of Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency. In 2009, the Office of the Governor of the State of Georgia reconstituted the Georgia Trustees, an honor bestowed upon leaders in Georgia that dates back to the founding of the original colony. The Governor signed an executive order to establish the appointment of two to three new Trustees annually whose history-making accomplish ments and service - across all fields, demographics, and geo graphic areas reflect the origi nal Trustees' ideals. GHS is responsible for oversight of the program and selection process. "We feel these individu als' service to our state and nation embodies the highest ideals of the original Trustees and merits inclusion in this dis tinguished group of Georgians. The Georgia Trustees reflect the founding principle of the original colony, 'not for self but for others." Dr. Todd Groce, President and CEO of GHS, said. "Coach Dooley and Senator Nunn have exuded selflessness, leadership and honor in their life's work for all Georgians." This year, GHS’s two- week commemoration of Georgia history culminates in a lavish banquet with the theme “Georgia Blues Juke Joint.” Guests will enter through a festively decorated juke joint atmosphere to an elegantly appointed ballroom for a sublime evening of din ing and entertainment, featur ing the live music of John Lee Hooker, Jr. GHS will honor the 2011 Trustees with an elegant evening of dinner, dance and conversation on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah. Visit geor- giahistory.com for complete festival events. For more information, please call 912.651-2125, ext. 20. Playwright, Novelist to Give Black Heritage Festival Lecture Atlanta-based author Pearl Cleage will make two appearances Feb. 4 in con junction with the 22nd annual Savannah Black Heritage Festival (SBHF). Cleage, whose work has won commercial acceptance and critical praise in several genres, will conduct a student forum at Savannah State University in the King-Frazier Student Center ballroom beginning at 11 a.m., fol lowed by a book-signing ses sion. Her campus appearance is presented in part by the SSU Center for Leadership Lecture Series. At 7 p.m., Cleage will deliver the festival’s annual W.W. Law Lecture at the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences, located at 121 Barnard St. The lecture, and book-signing that will follow, is presented in part by the Telfair Museums and the Pearl Cleage Savannah Book Festival. A multi-faceted talent, Cleage is widely regarded for her dramatic works, including "Flyin’ West" and "Blues for an Alabama Sky." Her first novel, "What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day," was an Oprah Book Club selection in 1998, a New York Times bestseller for nine weeks and a Black Caucus of the American Library Association Literary Award winner. Cleage speaks with hon esty and creativity, blending truth and humor to fully charm audiences. The annual W.W. Law Lecture is part of the festival’s ongoing commitment to honor Law’s legacy as a civil rights activist and his diligent dedication to improving and preserving the Savannah com munity and its history. Law passed away on July 29,2002. “Our Culture is Our Journey” is the theme of the 2011 festi val, which is presented by Savannah State University and the City of Savannah. All festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.savannahblackher- itagefestival.com. i§>atmnnal) tribune Remembers Rev. Bennie Mitchell, Jr. Rev. Bennie Mitchell, Jr. Rev. Dr. Bennie R. Mitchell, Jr. of Savannah, Georgia, husband of Mrs. Betty Tompkins Mitchell, died Tuesday morning, February 1, 2011 at his home. He was born in Edgefield, South Carolina. He is the eldest son of Sis. Mattie Mitchell and the late Deacon Bennie R. Mitchell, Sr. He attended the Public Schools of South Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina, Master of Divinity Degree from Interdenominational Theological Center (Morehouse School of Religion,) Atlanta, Georgia, an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from the Mississippi Baptist Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi, and Honorary Doctor of Divinity, B. F. Lee Seminary, under the auspices of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville, Florida. In 1971 he was called to pastor the Rockhill Baptist Church in Saluda, South Carolina. In 1974 he was called to pastor the Connor’s Temple Baptist Church where he was responsible for bringing this congregation to the forefront of community involvement in the Savannah area. Under his leadership many accom plishments were realized by the church including paying off the church’s mortgage in 1976 and a double mort gage burning of the future educational-cultural build ing (Old YMCA Building) and the parsonage in 1984. In addition, three lots with houses were purchased in 1992, and the McKelvey Powell Building (old West Broad Street Y.M.C.A) was fully restored and rehabili tated into a Family/Community Resource Center. Dr. Mitchell served as Manager of New York City Housing Authority, taught school in the public schools of Georgia and South Carolina; member of Board of Directors, West Broad Street YMCA, Savannah, Georgia; Savannah Mayor’s Council Youth Program; Advisory Council Youth Program; Advisory to the Superintendent of Education, Savannah- Chatham County Board of Public Education; President of the Ministers Group of O.I.C; Past President of the Savannah Baptist Ministerial Union. Consumer Member, Georgia State Board of Chiropractic Examiners; Board Member, Savannah Technical College and Chairman of the Chatham- Savannah Metropolitan See Mitchell, pg. 4 arver Othia Sausw 7110&tdjum
