North Charlotte District Observes Anna L. Anderson Day

The Life Members Council of the Women’s Home and Overseas Missionary Society led in the celebration at the second mass meeting on October 26, 2024, at Rockwell A.M.E. Zion Church, Charlotte, N.C. Rev. Jordan Boyd is the pastor, and Mrs. Audrey Jowers is the local chairman of the Life Members.

After the praise and worship, Ms. Gloria Joyner Johnson, the District Life Members Chairman, led those assembled in the worship service. The theme was the Society’s Quadrennial Theme with emphasis on “Equity and Justice.”

Local Life Members Chairmen participating in the Liturgy were Ms. Cindy Saunders, who led the “Litany for Justice,” Ms. Sandra Y. Pickens, who read the scripture; Ms. Vivian D. Conner, who prayed for Equity; and Ms. Jackie Stinson, who prayed for Justice.

The Honorable Charlotte Brown was the speaker of the morning. She is a judge who has served in many offices in the judicial system. Currently an Immigration Judge in Charlotte, she has served as a District Court Judge in Mecklenburg County, NC, was a solo law practitioner, and is an ordained elder in The A.M.E. Zion Church. She received her Master's in Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary and her juris doctor from St. Johns University School of Law.

Judge Brown stated that Equity and Justice are ideals and principles that need to be put into practice. They also require forgiveness. Action is necessary for these principles. Voting and running elections from the precinct levels are good places to start. She gave a history of the law from the earliest known civilizations in Africa and Southern Iraq through the Ten Commandments, Common England, and the Constitution of the United States. Equity and justice in today’s world are indeed goals that can only be fully achieved through actions by the people, and one of the most significant acts is voting.

After the Invitation to Christian Discipleship by Rev. Clarence Jones, the memorial moment for Anna L. Anderson and deceased members was led by Ms. Jennifer Mitchell, who lit a candle, followed by a moment of silence.

The Stoling Ritual followed with the names of those being stoled were called by Ms. Joyner Johnson. They included four Life Members, one Honorary Life Member, Four Matrons and one Heart for Overseas Missions.

The service was well-attended. Ms. Castella Conner, District WH&OM Society President, awarded attendance banners to churches with the most members in attendance in each of four categories as follows: Group I-Little Rock, Group II-Bethesda, Group III-Torrence Grove, and Group-IV-Hopewell.

Following glowing remarks by Mrs. Myrtle Henderson, Presiding Elder Henderson gave words of encouragement, and the service closed with the Missionary Benediction.