I Got an Award Last Night

Last night was a church experience I will always remember.  A month ago, I received a letter saying that Mount Canaan Baptist Church was going to award me the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Leadership Award. 

Me and my sister, Debbie

That was amazing and very exciting to me.  





So I invited several family members and friends to come and share this celebration with me. Among them were my husband, Don, my sister, Debbie, her husband Ken, Tafta and my daughter and son-in-law, Jacquie and GB and my current school board member friend, Mr. Hooks.

There were 14 awards given with 2 of them being the M.L. King Community Leadership Award.  A little into the service, Pastor Blake, looked out into the sanctuary, packed with familiar church members and 2 small groups of white people and said, "Welcome to all our white friends and put your seat belts on because it is about to get loud."  He was not kidding.  The choir was great.  Never seen such enthusiasm in the Presbyterian, Baptist, or Universal Unitarian churches of which I have been a member.  The service lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes and I don't believe a head nodded off.  You really knew it was a CELEBRATION.

Lola May, Me, Curtis Hooks

My long time friend and former School Board colleague, Lola May was the chair of the selection committee.  She and I both grew-up in Northeast Louisiana, just about 5 miles from each other.  Then many years later we ended up sitting next to each other as members of the School Board in Northwest Louisiana.  So I truly appreciate her input on this award.  She is a good friend whether we agree or disagree on a particular issue.  And that's the kind of friend everyone needs.
 My sister, Debbie, also blogged about this event@ http://debbiesknowledgetrain.blogspot.com/2012/02/mlk-community-service-award-winner.html?spref=fb