New Sardis honors ‘Memphis Living Legends’

The 2019 Memphis Living Legends. (Photos by Wiley Henry)

On Sunday morning, Feb. 24, New Sardis Baptist Church invoked the spirit of African-American ancestry coupled with Afro-centric music and the unadulterated Word of God. This was the culmination of African-American History Month and the presentation of the church’s annual Memphis Living Legends program.

The morning worship service was devoted to the men and women whom the church honored and celebrated for blazing a path in their respective fields and making significant contributions in Memphis and beyond.

“We honor men and women who have made our society better,” said the Rev. Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr., New Sardis’ pastor emeritus and worship leader for the morning celebration.

The Rev. Darell Harrington, pastor of New Sardis Baptist
Church, delivers an impactful message to honor and
celebrate Memphis Living Legends.

Donning African attire, the church’s leadership team – headed by its pastor, the Rev. Darell Harrington – welcomed the 2019 Living Legends: State Rep. Karen Camper, Captain Albert T. Glenn, Dr. Howard Glenn, Bishop William Graves Sr., Estella Mayhue-Greer, Henry Hooper, Bobby O’Jay Jones, Clarence Jones, Jerry C. Johnson, John McFerren, Tajuan Stout-Mitchell, the Rev. Dr. Rosalyn R. Nichols, Rosetta Hicks Peterson, Dr. Larry Robinson, Mark Russell, Dr. Theresa James Shotwell, Madeleine C. Taylor and Fayth Hill Washington.

Jimmy Ogle, Shelby County’s historian and past chairman of the Shelby County Historical Commission, was presented The Frances Wright Award. Wright was a 19th century Scottish-born abolitionist, social reformer, lecturer, freethinker and writer.

Honoring “living legends” was the brainchild of Dr. Erma L. Clanton, a playwright, lyricist, former teacher and member of New Sardis. The inaugural salute to living legends began in 2003 after Clanton, now 96, pitched the idea to Gray.

Celebrating black achievement in the U.S. first began in 1926 as Negro History Week – the precursor of Black History Month – founded by Carter G. Woodson, an historian, author, journalist and founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Of course, James Weldon Johnson’s “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” known as the “Black National Anthem,” was integral to the program – as it is each year – and key to setting the tone for the morning.

“Everybody here today – black, white, blue or green – that’s your native land,” said Gray, referring to the continent of Africa. “Native land should be replaced with Africa because we all came from the continent.”

Harrington posed the question: “How does our history impact the relevance of our present?” and composed his message, “The Transformative Power of Truth,” from John 8:31-36.

Recognizing the history of black contributions throughout his sermon, Harrington referred to the passage in John when Jesus said to the Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.” Then he added: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

“What does it mean in the 21st century to be free?” Harrington asked the congregation. He followed up with an answer to the question: “It should mean you ought to serve God.”

He said Black people have offered the world the best that the world has to offer and added, “It’s easy to forget one’s history. It’s easy to forget because we’ve become comfortable.”

Using as an example, he said, “It was illegal to write, but God made a way.”

Harrington continued to espouse the relevance and cultural significance of black pioneers and trailblazers, and undergirded the message with the importance of keeping God first.

“We celebrate black history,” he said. “But we have to celebrate a risen Savior.”

'History makers' to be honored during New Sardis' African American history program

      Memphis is distinguished for its eclectic music, succulent barbeque and, of course, the “Ol’ Man River,” a familiar refrain put to music about the comings and goings of the Mississippi River.

      But Dr. Erma Clanton, a playwright, lyricist and former teacher, envisions Memphis as more than an attraction that beckons tourists; she sees the city as a hotbed of talented and creative individuals who often go unsung.

      “I feel that there are people in Memphis who’ve done some outstanding things and should be honored on the local level,” said Dr. Clanton, 92, who, for several decades now, brought to fruition many of the ideas that she’d envisioned while helping people to realize their potential.

      So after a 2003 interview with The History Makers, purportedly “the nation’s largest African American video oral history collection,” the idea of honoring Memphians prompted Dr. Clanton that year to create “The Living Legends Award” under the auspices of New Sardis Baptist Church at 7739 E. Holmes Rd.

The Memphis 13, part of an effort by the NAACP to desegregate
four all-white elementary schools in Memphis, were honored.

      “I got the idea from The History Makers after they honored me in Chicago,” said Dr. Clanton, a member of the church and director of its drama ministry.

      On Sunday, Feb. 22, the 2015 honorees will be fêted and bestowed the Memphis Living Legends award for their outstanding contributions during the church’s 11 a.m. African-American History Month program.

      “We will have trailblazers as well as living legends this year,” said Dr. Clanton. “There are outstanding young people who are trailblazers and not so much as living legends. I want to recognize the unsung heroes, people in the neighborhood, for example, who help other people.”

      Some of those trailblazers will be among the honorees, including The Memphis 13, a group of African-American first-graders mired in racial upheaval while integrating four all-white Memphis City Schools on Oct. 5, 1961 – Rozelle, Gordon, Bruce and Springdale elementary.

      Dwania Kyles, the daughter of the Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles, attended Bruce. So did Michael Willis, the son of the late civil rights attorney A.W. Willis. Willis, who was 5 years old then, now goes by the name Menelik Fombi.

      In 1961, there were 51,815 African-American students in MCS; and only 13 African Americans in desegregated schools, according to a documentary on the 13 that was executive-produced and co-written by Daniel Kiel. Kyles and Willis are perhaps two of the most familiar “history makers” among the group.

      Dr. L. LaSimba M. Gray Jr., New Sardis’ senior pastor and president of Memphis Rainbow PUSH Coalition, understands the significance of paying homage to the Memphis 13 and others who’ve blazed trails throughout history.

      “It’s tremendously important that we not allow our soldiers and trailblazers to even feel like they’re forgotten,” said Dr. Gray. “For the contributions they’ve made, we want to celebrate them.”

      Dr. Gray has extended an invitation to any of the antagonists who were hostile to the first-graders more than 50 years ago to come to the African-American history celebration for “a moment of reconciliation.”

      “This is a healing process,” he said. “Many of these people were psychologically injured, particularly these 13 students.”

      (For more information, call New Sardis Baptist Church at 901-754-3979.)