In Memory of Mrs. Essie L. Neely
To have had Miss Essie as a daughter,sister,aunt,mother, grandmother or friend is to know unconditional love! Her love and memory will remain in our hearts and spirits forever--gently urging us to pursue God’s purpose for our lives. It was our unique privilege and blessing to have had her as a member of our community. We praise and thank God for her. Many of you know that Miss Essie was loving, selfless and devoted. Her life of faith, courage and commitment was a resonant sermon to the ages of the purpose and power available to all of us if we work together. Her example of reaching out to others in love and reconciliation, taught us that love is indestructible and only increases by being shared.
May we all walk, as she did, with dignity, courage and confidence in the knowledge that we are all children of The One True God.
Great words of comfort. I am blessed to find out that your pastor will be doing the eulogy at Mrs. Essie's funeral. I know that this had to be her final request because I can't see her family asking him to serve in this manner. Tradition may have kept Mrs. Essie tied to the benches of Tabernacle, but in her soul, she knew that Bishop Burns was her pastor. Truly, we should all walk with that type of dignity and courage, even in death. You will be greatly missed Mrs. Essie.
ReplyDeleteWith all respects God rest her soul. I have recently began reading your blogs which often I do find great. However, just as you point out the truth as you see it, I too must point out what I see as I go through your blog entries. It is frequently in Lumberton that matters tend to come down to the color of your skin whether one believes that to be right or wrong is their opinion. However, I get the feeling that just as you are gently (and sometimes not so gently when that is all that is understood by those who you are attempting to get the message across to)stating people's behaviors, actions, and questioning their motives, I question how do you explain that it is only blacks that you recognize their passing on? How come you mostly post pictures of blacks to your blogs? I read where you fairly address black citizens in the community, but the unspoken message of your race is very clear. I do not know you but would just about bet my life that you are black. Before you can get the speck out of your brother's eye (and I don't require it stating of one's race) you must remove the plank from yours. You very honestly and often state facts, that if it were a man of another race would be answered by screams accusing the author of prejudice. Don't get me wrong. I admire and respect your stand as a black man. It is sad that you are a rarity in the black community. You can't be partial and neutral simultaneously.
ReplyDeleteI almost bit my tongue reading the previous comment because of the last two lines! "It is sad that you are a rarity in the black community. You can't be partial and neutral simultaneously." Hmmm... I guess your plank was in your eye as you typed that comment. You have the unmitigated gall to coat fecal matter with powdered sugar and sell it as sugar cookies.
ReplyDeleteI know you meant well. You felt that you gave JG a compliment calling him a rarity. Too bad that closed minds like yours are not so rare. On matters of politics, JG can be neutral and is neutral when addressing the actions of local leaders. On matters of someone passing he addresses who he knows, Ms Essie, Kewaii Rodgers, or Aunt Shirley. He also notes icons he may have had an affinity for( I presume), Michael Jackson, Steve McNair, E.Lynn Harris, Dorothy Heights, & Lena Horne. He mentions being a fan of Dixie Carter( yay!one Caucasian mentioned!), but the racial tally doesn't matter in the end.
Whoever you are "Anonymous Comment #2" you need to get your own blog. Then you can address issues how you want, and discussing the passage of people who meant something to you.
JG keep telling it like it is about the politics of Lumberton, and everything else tell it like you want. If this world were indeed fair, if America didn't have the history that has, then the honest stating of facts by someone of another race wouldn't be accused as prejudice. If things weren't as they are I wouldn't have taken your conciliatory tone for the sugar coated ignorance it really is.
Now guess what race I am a member of...got it yet?...dont hurt your brain... The HUMAN Race
If you look at statistics they tell the truth about the percentage of the population that is in prison, well fair, unemployment, single parents home where the mother is usually the parent. Then tell me that he is not a rarity. It is also getting to the point that it is a rarity in any race. If you took offense I apologize, but it must be something of your own conscience to strike such a response. And I guess you to need to get your own blog. And what part of "you can't be neutral and partial simultaneously" bothers you? I could care less what color you are ignorance doesn't discriminate. Jonathan does a great job by being neutral in matters of politics, however the other subjects being predominately related to blacks tend to make people of others races as though we are being discriminated against. All I am saying is make the recognition equal so that other races feel equality. And just as you have so criticized my views, Johnathan welcomes comments. If he did not want criticism along with compliments than he would be closed minded as you in receiving those. He is the one who stepped out there to state facts and as it might be the short coming of others than he to must be willing to have his pointed out with the same grace as he points out others. So I am not sure what about my comments made you so upset? Like I said it must be your own conscience.
ReplyDeleteI believe you misunderstand the purpose of this blog. If you haven't yet, go back and read whats written under the "Accountability" link.Its right next to the tab that says "HOME".
ReplyDeleteAs I understand the main focus of this blog is addressing political issues in Lumberton. Anything else is icing on the proverbial cake.My conscience is very clear and my mind is open. However my understanding of your position must not be and so I apologize.
I cannot understand what makes him a "rarity"? His command of the English language? He's not a convicted felon? He knows the difference between "welfare" and "well fair"(because you don't). You failed to explain what you meant by "rarity". We are all "rarities" as God created all of us as unique as snowflakes. We are more than statistics if you'll take the time to look past them. Many conclusions can be drawn from statistics...and?
Statistics from the Census Bureau say 84% of custodial parents are mothers. 16% are fathers(the remaining percentage is a blend of other custodial types). Are the fathers a "rarity"? I beg to differ, they are simply "in the minority". Of those mothers 79.5% are gainfully employed. Just because the remainder(non working moms) is a smaller group are they a "rarity"? No they simply exist "in the minority". Does being in the minority of any population or subject group make them a "rarity"? According to your logic it does and thats sad.
I believe JG mentions people he personally knows when it comes to a death in the community, and those of whom he had some affinity to culturally or personally on the national scene. The little old lady who writes the column in the Lamar Times has NEVER mentioned anyone I knew! Lol. But I would not say shes being racially inequitable or prejudiced in her reporting. Shes just addressing whom she knows. The comment section is an open forum. Thanks JG for opening this and thanks to my debate opponent for responding. We will agree to disagree about being partial and neutral, and about whether or not we should keep score on what he reports outside of the political spectrum. What we will agree (at least I will)is that we will continue reading here and using the information to form our own opinions.Like you do with your statistical reading. Good day.
Everyone has an opinion one way or the other, however I do believe your opinion of who or what the owner of this blog talks about could have been voiced in another manner instead of under a memorial. Mrs. Essie was my Aunt and I decided to read the comments expecting only great things about her instead Im reading why isn't the other race mentioned in the blogs. This is very tasteless and you should have respect for the family if not yourself. Thanks
ReplyDeleteFirst if you don't think that race is a political issue in Lumberton than you need to pull your head out of your ass. And you are definitely correct in your misunderstand and comprehension of my comments. And if JG didn't want other things discussed then don't post them on a blog he created for political news. And since you don't think that I should discuss with him issues that he lets be known by his stand on matters then why the hell are you trying to inform me not to discuss matters with him. Pot calling the kettle black huh! You are also correct regarding welfare I don't know about it because I work for what I get and I pay taxes for people who are too lazy to work. Could one of those be the none other than Mr. Tibbs? Rarity has nothing to do with minority. It appears you need to invest in a webster dictionary as well.And I can't believe that JG knew michael jackson, lena horne, steve mcnair, dorothy heights. Man I wonder how a man from Lumberton met all those celebrities? So you are full of it when you say he brings recognition to people he knows.And it is your stupidity that claims that my logic relates minority to rarity. And I have not seen the Lamar Times lady address any matters in the form that JG has. I couldn't of even told you the author of the lamar times muchless male or female white or black due to their neutral view and neutral material they publicize.And statistics is used to compare things with so that includes statistics of all races.It would take a prejudice hypocrite like yourself to assume that it is a black only thing and that it only classifies blacks into numbers. Well other races are more than numbers as well you idiot. It takes grave stupidity to twist statistics into a black only thing.And yes the majority of prisoners are black, but that doesn't make blacks rare nor is that a racist fact. It is just fact.Let a white man refer to the members of the board as oreos and see what is said. I will tell you "racist" crackers. If JG wants to encourage leadership & change then he needs to start by not insinuating with his recognitions and announcements of only blacks (oh except little dixie carter). He needs to set an example of change in his spoken and unspoken messages. Since you question him being a rarity in the black community then where are all the other black men in the community setting examples of the truth. Where are all the fathers to the mass of kids hanging out on myrick ave. And if he is not a rarity in the black community how did the terminology "my babies daddy" evolve. It is people like you always trying to jump on a prejudice bus that is wrong with Lumberton. If he was neutral I should not have been able to tell whether he was black, white, green, purple etc. I am just shaking my head in amazement that you have the nerve to make an issue out of something it is not by twisting it and tell me that I should not be posting these matters on here because it is for politics. If it is for politics then why did you respond to my comment? And you are the one who said that if things weren't as they are in America that you wouldn't have taken my tone as conciliatory tone. Well america won't every change as long as people like yourself sit in wait of a chance to yell prejudice or descrimination when another race states the truth. No it is never going to change as long as those who scream racism when in all actuality are more racist because they have been raised to think that the world owes them something because of history. So what kind of example is JG setting about racism with his majority black postings? I guess we need a white history month if JG only knows one honky to bring recognition to. He need not condemn others truthfully in matters of politics, but passively send a racist message of blacks only postings. He himself addresses racist matters in politics, along with the other illegal and immoral actions of others in politics regardless of the race.
ReplyDeleteI find it distasteful for you to condemn me of the very thing you are condemning me of by addressing the matter on the posting you say I should not have addressed the matter on. When the matter I address is related to his posting of blacks only. What other place to address the issue than by a prime example and proof of the matter?
ReplyDeleteIm not condemning you for anything thats not my place, I just think that it's not right to have an open debate under a memorial because this was my Aunt and we are still grieving her death. I dont care what you think of Jonathon or his post cause I dont know him personally. I was told of the memorial that was on here and I wanted to read it and was dissappointed that there is an open debate written under it. My point was for you to have respect for the family, but I guess thats not possible. Have a good day and I hope when you lose a loved one that noone will disrespect your family in this manner!
ReplyDeleteWell I do apologize for where I place my views. You are correct. My deepest sympathy. JG would you move the comments made under this post to another place.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Miss Essie when she worked at Dirt Cheap, she was one fine Lady, I often would see her at the grocery store and would always hug her neck,my heart goes out to her family because you have lost a truely wonderful person.
ReplyDeleteLaQuinn Cabe
I'M FREE
Don't grieve for me, for now I'm free
I'm following the path God has chosen for me.
I took His hand when I heard him call;
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day,
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way;
I've now found peace at the end of day.
If my parting has left a void,
Then fill it with remembered joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss;
Oh yes, these things, I too will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow
Look for the sunshine of tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored much;
Good friends, good times, a loved ones touch.
Perhaps my time seems all to brief;
Don't lengthen your pain with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and peace to thee,
God wanted me now-He set me free