NEWBERRY — Five community leaders were recently recognized for their work in their respective communities during the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. Community Legacy Awards.
Before these individuals were recognized, Second Calvary Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Carl R. Wells asked those in attendance to ask themselves “who are you?”
“Who are you when nobody’s looking? Who are you when the light goes out? Who are you when you’re all by yourself? The members of my church call me Pastor Wells, but at home my wife and children, they say ‘hey you’ and ‘go get this and that’,” Wells said. “They call me ‘daddy,’ ‘honey’ or ‘hey you,’ but that’s not who I am. The students at USC call me Dr. Wells, but that is a title — it identifies what I do, but it does not tell you who I am. It tells you that I am a husband or a father, a preacher or a teacher. It does not tell you who I am.”
According to Wells, you are shaped by your environment.
“In some cases, you are determined by your education, by your vocational choices or your personal experiences. You may even be determined by what somebody says you are,” he said.
Wells added that although what we are may change day to day, who we are will never change.
“Last time I checked, God is the same today, tomorrow and forever more. God is the same — I am the same and man can’t change who I am. They might change what I am, but who I am goes a little bit deeper,” he said. “Who you are is deeper. Who you are is stronger. I’m convinced that in this life, it is too easy to confuse who you are with what you are. What we have to discover first is who we are. When you discover who you are, it doesn’t matter what people say you are. Some of us don’t know who we are — we might know what we are.”
From his own experience of working on a college campus, Wells has found that some students attend college for years trying to figure out what they are going to be.
“What you do does not determine who you are,” Wells said. “Right now, all of you are probably thinking ‘what does this have to do with this ceremony?’ We’re here to honor some people tonight who not only know what they are, but who they are. They know who they are because I learned what you are might get you in the door, but you’ve gotta know who you are to stay inside the door.”
According to Wells, when you know who you are, you can have joy on the inside no matter what is happening outside.
“You are somebody. You are the cat’s meow. You are killing it. You are #thebomb. You are ‘smh,’ shaking my head, I am somebody — not ratchet, not ghetto, not a hoodrat, not stupid. I am somebody,” he said.
Moving on to the recognitions for the evening, the following recipients were recognized for their contributions to their communities:
Leila Caldwell, an educator, is a native of Pineville and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in elementary education from Voorhees College and her master’s degree in elementary education and elementary supervision from Clemson University. Caldwell served as an educator for 37 years, 21 years as a teacher and 16 years as an administrator — all of which were in the Newberry County School District. She continues to serve as a substitute teacher and is currently employed as a Behavior Interventionist at Gallman Elementary School.
Caldwell is also a liaison for the elementary schools with the Dufford’s Cultural Diversity Program. She is a member of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church, serving as president of the Episcopal Women, Chairperson of the Alter Guild, choir member and Daughters of the King auxiliary. Caldwell serves on various boards, committees and clubs including the Newberry Opera House Guild, Newberry County NAACP, Newberry County Library Board, Rosettes’ Bridge Club and Card’s Bridge Club. She is also a member of Pi Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She is married to Jerry Caldwell, a mother of three children and grandmother of three grandchildren.
“I want to thank the Omicron Lambda Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. for this gala and also my family and friends,” Caldwell said.
Next up was John Glasgow (social activist). Glasgow was born in Newberry and received his education in the Newberry County School District. He received his degree in business accounting and business administration from Columbia Commercial College and served his country as a member of the United States Army, until he was honorably discharged as a Specialist Fifth Class.
Glasgow has been employed with the Newberry Housing Authority for over 36 years where he served as deputy director. He is presently serving as a consultant to the housing authority. The Housing Authority serve approximately 500 families. Glasgow also served on multiple community and civic organizations, which include co-chair of the Free Medical Clinic, Newberry County Voters Registration and Election Commission, Interfaith Community Services, Newberry Rotary Club and past president of the Newberry County Chamber of Commerce Development Board. He is a member and deacon of New Enoree Baptist Church and serves as chairperson of the Brotherhood Ministry and assistant Sunday School superintendent. Additionally, he serves as the director of the The Living Hope Foundation. Glasgow is married to Gloria Glasgow and is the father of two children and grandfather to three grandchildren.
“It’s really an honor to be recognized by such a distinguished group. These young men have been involved with me through the Housing Authority and other things — hats off to them because they do so many things in the community. Thank you for all that you do — thank you for recognizing me,” Glasgow said.
Following Glasow was Betty R. Boles (Greenwood City Councilwoman). Boles is a native of Newberry and attended Limestone College, where she received her associate’s degree from Piedmont Technical College. She serves on the Greenwood City Council as the elected representative for Ward Three. Among other initiatives, Boles has participated in the creation and implementation of the first Uptown City Center Master Plan, which included plans for the Uptown Farmer’s Market, the restoration of the Federal Building and various streetscapes throughout the city.
As a graduate of the Municipal Association of S.C. Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government, Boles continues to serve in her fourth full term. She also gives her time and service as the chairperson of the Board of GLEAMNS Human Resources Commission, Inc. As the chair, she oversees 21 commissioners and helps set the vision and directions of GLEAMNS services. Boles has served on multiple boards and provided service as a Greenwood Area Habitat for Humanity Volunteer. She resides in Greenwood with her husband Glynn. A member of Morris Chapel Baptist Church, Boles serves as trustee, member of the inspirational choir and Summer Youth Camp Director.
“I just want to take the opportunity to thank the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity for this award. I don’t know how I was able to become one of the recipients with this distinguished group of people, but I am honored and I am humbled and I am so thankful you chose me to receive this award,” Boles said.
F. Ann Childs (educator and businesswoman) was the next recipient to be honored. Childs is a native of Laurens County and graduate of Bell Street High School. She furthered her education at Barber Scotia College and Benedict College, where she earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in education. She continued her education of Tuskegee Institute, the University of South Carolina and later earned her Masters in Education from Clemson University.
Childs retired after 30 years of service as an educator in the Greenville County School District. Upon retirement, Childs joined the family business and is in her 30th year of managing the business. Childs’ service also includes the local NAACP and South Carolina Morticians Association. Childs has four children, 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
“Thank you to the distinguished men of Phi Beta Sigma for honoring me with this award. I always admire the fact that Sigmas remain focused on our community and brotherhood. I feel that it is imperative we continue to help, uplift and love our neighbors and local community. Also remember, the Lord doesn’t just bless you for only you, but he blesses you so that you can be a blessing to others,” Childs said.
Finally, Dr. Ken Mufuka, educator and author, is a native of Zimbabwe and attended high school at Mazoe Secondary School. He received his degree from the University of Rhodesia and returned to Mazoe Secondary School as a history teacher. Mufuka also received his Masters’ of Letters degree from St. Andrews University in Scotland. Mufuka wrote the highly acclaimed Letter from America, for which he received many awards and went on to write a series of books – nine in total. He started a Precious Kids Program at Trinity Methodist Church in Greenwood, is a lay servant of the United Methodist Church and was chairperson of the South Carolina Equitable Compensation Commission which advises the bishop.
Mufuka is a member of the Fellowship of Emaus, a Christian organization dedicated to servant-hood and is a servant of the We Can Make A Different program, for children in South Carolina. He started the Mashura and Ken Mufuka Scholarship, which made it possible for over 50 students from Zimbabwe to study at Lander University. Mufuka currently lives in Ninety Six.
“I just want to thank my family who is with me. I not only know who I am, I know my tribe,” Mufuka said.