DANIEL TYLER GOODEN / L’Observateur / May 30, 2000

LUTCHER – Awarded with an honorary degree of letters, the Rev. AlSharpton, president of the Nation Action Network, New York, was called a “soldier of cross” who had blessed their hearts by Dr. Byron Clay, presidentof the A.P. Clay Christian Theological College in Baton Rouge.Standing before the audience at the college’s commencement at First Community Antioch Baptist Church in Lutcher, Sharpton expressed his thanks for the degree and his hopes for the future.

“People don’t always get recognized for their work before they’re dead. Ourcommunity names a lot of schools and building in memory after we’ve died, but while we’re alive we’ll always spread a rumor or a lie,” said Sharpton.

He called on those assembled to continue the work of men like the late Dr.

A.P. Clay.”We need to go back to Washington,” he said. “There are still problems andcorruption.”Sharpton called all to duty stating that on Aug. 26 they’ll be back inWashington for the “Redeem the Dream March.” Busses all over Louisiana willbe filling up and heading to Washington under the direction of Dr. Byron Clay,he added.

“If our grandparents with no education and no money could do this, we can continue until we can be where we need to be,” said Sharpton. He called tothe religious saying, “The church must be out front. Most of us have reducedchurch to a formality. God will not judge by title but by function. We haveministers with no ministry, missionaries with no mission and trustees that can’t be trusted.”He told the story of a small boy who’s only desire was to get above 100 pounds. He worked and ate and every time he checked the scale it he gotheavier and heavier. Turning around, he saw his big brother with his toe onthe scale helping him.

“Every time I’ve fallen short in my life, I’ve had a big brother in Jesus to get me where I wanted to go,” said Sharpton in closing.

Receiving doctoral degrees from the college of theology were Sam Baker, Cutis Barnes, Joseph Frank, Larry Frank, Gladys Hughes, Roland Morgan, Elouise Neal, Samuel Richardson, Patricia Riley, Al Sharpton, Robert Tyler and Mac H. Wallace. Lionel Anderson and Earnest Peters received graduatespecialist degrees. Receiving master’s degrees were Pansy B. Boyd, CharlesCaston, Valerie Crump, Eugene Edwards, Willie Frazier, Carl Hughes, Carolyn Johnson, Mathern Johnson, Charles McGee and Alton Reed.

Bachelor’s degrees were received by Eula Anderson, Warrenton Bacon, James Banks, Douglas Batiste, Cynthia Broussard, Barbara Buie, John Cooks, Donald Cooper, Herman Daniels, Willie Dewey, Wilma Francis, Nathaniel Gaines, Cleophus Gaines, Helen Grimes, Claudia Gurley, Oscar Hayes, James Jones, Donnie Lee, Minnie Lee, Rosemary Lee, Verta Lewis, Keith Mackey, Peter Mickens, Marvel Mitchell, Althea Neason, Joseph Sparks, Raymond Steward, C.J. Watkins and Lester Weston.Third-year certificates were awarded to Kendra Clay, James Davis, Reginald Landry and Kenneth Matthews. Second-year certificates went to EarnestAugust, Vivian August, James Francis, John Garret, Olivia Gordon, Evelyn Haynes, Soviner Joseph, Fannie Matthews, Corliss Marquardt, David Sampson and Evelyn Smith. First-year certificates were received by Jeanette Brown,William Brown, Shannon Chatman, Crystal Davis, Linda Ferguson, Myshoy Francis, Yvonne Gaines, Lula Gant, Andrew James, Cheryl Johnson, Eula Lewis, Charolette Sherman and Carolyn Wagner.

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