by The Rev. Dr. Terrence A. Walker
The
annual Feast of the Venerable Doctor James Solomon Russell was observed
on Sunday, March 25, 2018 at New Hope Baptist Church, the Rev. Dan
Jarrell, pastor. Keynote speaker for the event was the Rev. Charles
"Monty" Raney, Jr., pastor of Lake Gaston Christian Life Centre in
Ebony. Raney, who grew up in Brunswick County, offered a frank
assessment of the legal and societal barriers that Russell faced in his
attempt to establish a comprehensive educational and training facility
for African Americans in the Lawrenceville area and extolled the
benefits to the local and world communities. What began as a basic
education facility would grow from a junior college to a fully
accredited four-year college (Saint Paul's College, 1888-2013) with
students from across the United States and around the world.
Musical
selections for the celebration were provided by the voices of the
Lighthouse Singers of Lake Gaston Christian Life Center, under the
direction of Mrs. Sheryl Baird and Mr. David Blount, and by guest
soloist Ms. Megan Henry of First Baptist Church, South Boston, Virginia.
Each
year the James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee adopts a project
that highlights the far-reaching nature of James Solomon Russell's
service in Southern Virginia. This year the Committee chose to encourage
the renovation of 139-year-old Ascension Episcopal Church in Palmer
Springs, Virginia, the first of twenty churches founded by Russell.
Per the instructions in the original deed to the Ascension property,
when the land was no longer used for religious or educational purposes,
ownership reverted to the James Solomon Russell family. Several members
of the Russell family were present to receive the document from the Rev.
Dr. Terrence Walker who served as the celebrant for the service.
