# 26 GREATNESS IN SERVANTHOOD

   # 26 GREATNESS IN SERVANTHOOD

THE STORY OF ANNA MEANS HOOD

By

Vernon M. Herron

In the gospel of St. Matthews 20:26, Jesus teaches that greatness is found in servant hood. “…whosoever will be great among you, let him/her be your ‘servant’. “  Recently, while driving through Charlotte’s Lincoln Heights Community, I was struck by an unusual and impressive sight. I noticed a female senior citizen, using a cane pen nail to pick up trash from the sidewalks and streets and placed the same in a bag. She had parked her car nearby and was conducting a ministry of cleanliness and neatness for the common good, rather than to wait on government or any other organization.

The irony of this experience was the recognition of the personhood of this female senior citizen. It was none other than the distinguished Mrs. Anna M. Hood, a life- long community servant, an educator, political adviser, a prominent Presbyterian, a philanthropist and the widow of the late Dr. Calvin A. Hood (ΑφΑ), who was a distinguished and beloved professor at JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY of Charlotte, NC.

Mrs. Anna Means Hood (AKA)

Anna Means Hood was born in Spartanburg, SC to the late Nathaniel Means and Reavie Alexander Means. She attended the public schools of Spartanburg County and is a 1951 graduate of the former Carver High School in Spartanburg. Mrs. Hood is a 1955 Graduate of South Carolina State University with a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

Anna Hood is the first person of color hired by the Social Security Administration in 1963 in Mecklenburg County and the Piedmont area. Her efficiency and noble courage led to the hiring of additional persons of color by the Administration in 1965. She retired from the Agency in 1990.

Active in the community, Mrs. Hood is the co-founder and a past president of the  Charlotte Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club, Inc.  The club emphasizes service to mankind and awards annual scholarships to worthy students. The scholarship program bears her name.

Other involvements of Mrs. Hood include being a former president of the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, an elder in Memorial Presbyterian Church, Oaklawn Park Community Improvement Organization and the AKA Sorority.

Widow Anna Hood has three adult children: Darryl, Rodney and Venita; seven grand children and two great grands.

TODAY

WE SALUTE

MRS. ANNA MEANS HOOD

      

#25 The “GHETTO” Had Culture Too!

THE STORY OF OUR MAY QUEEN AND COURT

By

Vernon M. Herron

Ghetto is defined as a deprived quarter of a city in which members of a minority group are required to live, especially because of social, legal or economic pressure. I was born and reared in the Second Ward community of Charlotte, NC. Other Blacks lived in the First Ward, Third Ward, Cherry, Blue Heaven, Biddleville or the Greenville communities. A startling reality is that I did not know the community of my birth and childhood development was designated as a “ghetto.” I did know that our community consisted of doctors, lawyers, school teachers, administrators, tradesmen, mechanics, painters, designers, ministers, funeral directors, printers, business, food service, etc.

Shot-gun Houses

 700 block of E Boundry Street

I also was imbued with a self-sustaining philosophy which said:

            Hold your head uprightly

Stand straight and tall

Be clean; be somebody

Learn all you can; then no one can take it from you.

Be honest; learn to save; spend wisely

Trust God for all things

And that philosophy never ended.

The point I wish to make is that the “ghetto” in which I lived had “culture” which took many forms. We had accomplished musicians, singers, instrumentalists, athletes, dancers and even queens.

For example, in 1942 Second Ward High School nominated a “May Queen and Coat” which bring pleasant memories. The story is told by the queen herself, which defies “ghetto” if it means negativism. 

Words by Margaret G. A. Alexander

As long as memory lives, I’ll always remember the privilege and honor of being the 1941 and 1942 Second Ward High School May Queen.  Beyond my expectation, the film became a Documentary, “There Was a Colored School*”, in the year 2000. [*Visit http://www.unctv.org/acoloredschool/resources.html for more information].

I recall the 1941 May Queen election as a competitive contest and school fundraiser.  An official ballot appeared in the school newspaper, “The Herald”.  Students were encouraged to sell “The Herald” and use the ballot to support a contestant of their choice.  A contestants name was written on the ballot and placed in a designated sealed box during the school day.  At a specific time and place votes were counted. 

The contestant with the highest number of votes became the “May Queen”.  The next contestant with the second highest number of votes became the (Maid-of-Honor).  The following six highest numbers of votes were Attendants.

The 1942 “May Queen and Court” were nominated by the student body, voted on and elected in one school day.  They were:  Margaret Alexander (May Queen), Jennie Richardson (Maid-of-Honor), Helen Phillips, Inez Miller, Annie Mae Ivey, Venus Smith, Bobbie Thompson and Ruby Coles.      (See The Court on next page.)

Presently, I am blessed to be 84 years young (Born 9/20/1924).  Unfortunately, I do not know the whereabouts of Jennie Richardson, Venus Smith, Bobbie Thompson or Ruby Coles.  Helen Phillips and Inez Miller are deceased.  Currently, Annie Mae Ivey resides in Charlotte, NC.  She’s well and looks great.

Throughout the years, I’ve frequently heard numerous positive comments regarding “There Was a Colored School”.  It is indeed my privilege to be a 1942 graduate of Second Ward High School.  There were many wonderful experiences at SWHS.  The curriculum consisted of basic courses, as well as, a multiplicity of extracurricular classes and activities.  Upon graduation, we were prepared academically for college or the workforce.  Also, we learned something about social graces, esthetics, the community and the government.

I matriculated at North Carolina College for Negroes (Now NCCU, Durham, NC) graduating June 3, 1946 with a B.S. in Commerce & a minor in Education.  Married Kelly M. Alexander (April 21, 1946).  He died April 2, 1985.  We produced two sons:  Kelly M., Jr. (Born 1948) & Alfred L. (Born 1952) /wife, Helen Anthony; three grandsons:  Nathanael M., Kelly M., III & Desmond Phifer.

Humbly, I am sincerely appreciative and thankful for all the blessings bestowed upon me and mine.  “Cherishing happy moments make a fine cushion for old age.”

May Queen Court

First Row: Annie Mae Ivey, Jennie Richardson (Maid-of-honor), Margaret Alexander (May Queen), and Helen Phillips.

Second Row: Venus Smith, Bobbie Thompson, Ruby Coles, and Inez Miller.

#24 The Medulla Oblongata Overlay

# 24 The Medulla Oblongata Overlay

(The Herron Knowledge Bump)

By

Brother Edward Robinson, Ph.D.

With introduction

By

Vernon M. Herron

Introduction:

When visiting my paternal never-before-seen relatives in Pittsburgh, PA in 1950, a cousin Waddell Herron, Sr. demanded a quick examination of my head to determine whether a “Herron Knowledge Bump” was present at the base of the skull. According to family tradition, this was the “mark” of all true male Herrons. While family members accepted this tradition as a jovial tongue-in-cheek gesture and with some degree of pride, the truth of the matter is that which we called the “Herron Knowledge Bump,” is in fact the “medulla oblongata overlay.” Let us turn to Dr. Edward Robinson of Philadelphia for further enlightenment:

Dr. Edward Robinson

(click below to enlarge and read entire document)

#23 A DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION OF THE HERRON COAT OF ARMS

#23  A DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION

OF THE HERRON COAT OF ARMS

by

Ione  D. Vargus, Ph.D.

and

Vernon M. Herron. D. Min.

A DESCRIPTION AND DEFINITION

OF THE

HERRON COAT OF ARMS

AS FOUND IN

BURKES’S GENERAL ARMORY

AND AS RECORDED IN

ANCIENT HERALDIC ARCHIVEST

The McPherson-Harris-Herron family had a description and definition of the Herron coat of arms as found in Burke’s General Armory and as  recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Taking the crest very seriously, the fifth family reunion in 1992, commissioned African American modification of the Herron coat of arms. They took parts of the white family coats of arms, maintained their motto, but superimposed shields with the continent of America and the continent of Africa. A broken chain shows that they are no longer enslaved. Crossed quills and ink represent a continuing quest for knowledge and the flaming torch is a symbol of enlightenment. Then they added representation of a free farmer which was the family’s occupation after enslavement and roots of the past and a graduate student designating today’s accomplishments in higher education and roots of the future.¹   A thirteen-page booklet contains the description and definition of the Herron Coat of Arms as recorded in Ancient Heraldic Archives and the African American modification as approved by the family.

(Illustrations Follow)

<sup>1 Document from Vernon Herron, Family Griot. McPherson-Harris-Herron Family. 


Please click each image to see entire image (including text).</sup>

# 22 MEET THE MOTHER OF FAMILY REUNIONS

# 22 MEET THE MOTHER OF FAMILY REUNIONS

DR. IONE D. VARGUS

In June 1990, Claude Lewis editorial writer of The Philadelphia Inquirer Newspaper wrote, “If Alex Haley can be called the Father of Family Reunions, Dr. Ione D. Vargus can be called the Mother of Family Reunions.” In that same year, The Family Reunion Institute emerged because of the many requests for information after two previous African American Family Reunion Conferences. The conference planning committee recognized from the responses and from requests for service and information, that it could begin to work with families outside of traditional family agency structures. However, it would need to have a more organized and permanent existence. Thus, the Institute was formally established at the School of Social Administration at Temple University. Its administrator was Dr. Ione D. Vargus, Professor Emeritus, formally the acting Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education at Temple University, the School of Social Administration for a total of seventeen years.


She was Temple’s first African American as well as the first female academic Dean. Dr. Vargus now serves as a volunteer to the organization.


Dr. Vargus began her research on African American family reunions in 1986. She traveled the east coast, north and south to attend family Reunions for Conferences on African American Reunions. She continues collecting information about families and their reunions.


Dr. Vargus has published a number of different topics and has been profiled and/or quoted in many local and national magazines and newspapers.

Links:
http://www.temple.edu/fri/familyreunion/founder.html
http://www.thehistorymakers.com/biography/biography.asp?bioindex=1413&category=Educationmakers

# 21 A Philosophy Versus A Strategic Plan

# 21 A Philosophy Versus A Strategic Plan

by

Vernon M. Herron


There is a prevailing philosophical notion that the mastery of this world’s operation is a part of man’s dominion. Whether the manifestation comes in form of global warming, outer space exploration, economic condition of our nation and the world, taxes, hunger, unemployment, poverty, diseases, sickness and the like, we tend to forget that man is a steward/trustee of the earth and not the owner. Philosophy says that we don’t inherit the world from our ancestors, we borrow from our children.


For the sake of clarity within the context of this article, I define strategic planning as—the skillful planning and management of anything, including our world. If you are a part of the management of your family, church, school, club, organization, fraternal/sorority group, etc., then strategic planning should be the instrument by which you measure desired outcome.


We can look to the past for advice on the future. The Native American Iroquois used a special method to help make all of their decisions. Before deciding anything, they considered what effect that decision would have on descendants seven generations into the future. Seven generations were assured a share in the benefits of any decision.


Seven generations from now, what will be left of our earth, our government, the tax structure, our educational system, our earning capacity or our quality of life, etc? Will our own poor decisions compound the accumulated mistakes of our ancestors? Will we remember the needs of seven generations after our own? We have the chance to leave our great, great, great, great, great grandchildren a great, great, great, great, great grand world, if only we keep the seventh generation in mind whenever we make a decision.


Our children are lending us the earth; some day, they will want it back! What will be left for them? Will too many children receive too little earth? The planet’s remaining resources may seem like a present waiting to be opened. If we open the present, we close the future. We have been reminded that, “Ours is the first generation faced with decisions which will determine whether the Earth we give our children is habitable.”

# 20 HOW THE HERRON FAMILY AND J.C. SMITH UNIVERSITY ARE RELATED

# 20 HOW THE RICHARD HERRON FAMILY
AND JOHNSON C. SMITH UNIVERSITY
ARE RELATED

BY
VERNON M. HERRON, D. Min.



In 1945, the explosion of the atomic bomb changed our thinking about social behavior. But as far back as 1865, when the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified which ended enslavement in all parts of the United States, that highlighted an human explosion in hearts of the masses “yearning to breathe”…“freedom.”

Let me set the stage for you. This is a true story about three principals: The Richard Herron Family, The Rev. Samuel Corruthers Alexander and Johnson C. Smith University. The uniqueness in this story is that there is a common thread running through a historic tapestry which binds us.

Richard Herron and his wife Minerva constituted the first known structured African American Herron family in the Piedmont region of the Tar Heel State of North Carolina in 1870. My great-great grandfather, Richard Herron was born c.1810 in Mecklenburg County, NC. He and his wife were parents of 11 children. Born in enslavement, lived in servitude for forty six years, ancestor Richard’s new world was just thirty-five years from the twentieth-first century. He and his family were chattel property of Isaac W. Herron, M.D. of the Steel Creek- Dixie community. The “good doctor” and his family were dedicated members of the Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, where the enslaved whom they mastered, worshiped from the balcony each week.

The Rev. Samuel Corrruthers Alexander served as Pastor of The Steele Creek Presbyterian Church from 1861 to 1866. During his first pastoral year, he purchased a farm between Pleasant Hill and Steel Creek. This purchase proved to be prophetic and purpose driven. .

His five years of pastoral ministry, pricked the social consciousness of a powerful congregation. It is reported that Steele Creek Presbyterian Church was the second largest church in the Synod of North Carolina at the time of Alexander’s call. According to Leon Robert Anderson, the 1860 records of the General Assembly show that Steele Creek Presbyterian Church had 110 Black members.

There were several incidents which disrupted the harmony of a good pastor-people relationship, including problems with the elders regarding salary reduction, swearing false witnesses, taking oath to avoid conscription, the time/attention Rev. Alexander spent on Christian Education and literary training for the enslaved in the church.

Noting a sudden and continuous absence of Black members from worship, on November 17, 1866, the Steele Creek Session adopted the following motion:

Whereas the Session of the Steele Creek Church having reliable information
that many of our coloured members have withdrawn from us, and joined
other denominations, without applying for letters of dismission, and that
others continue to remain among us, who refuse to receive the ordinances
with us. Now that order may be preserve and the rules of the church duly
enforced, it is moved that the names of all coloured members who have thus
“gone from us” be stricken and that those who wish their membership to
remain with us or in case of this failure to do so, then their names shall also
be stricken from the roll of church members. (Steele Creek Minutes: 107))

At the inception of the new found freedom, Blacks left the balcony of The Steele Creek Presbyterian Church in droves, leaving only three Blacks behind and Richard Herron was not one of them. Pastor Alexander resigned as pastor and left with the former enslaved including my great-great grandfather. He began a ministry of basic education (reading , writing) and Christian Education on his recently acquired farm.

He later sold a portion of that land to the “new frontiers” for $1.00 which later became the home of the McClintock Presbyterian Church. In addition to McClintock Church, Mr. Alexander was a principal in the founding of Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church, Murkland Presbyterian Church, the Woodlawn Presbyterian Church, the Colored Presbyterian Church (later called Seventh Street Presbyterian Church,) now is called First United Presbyterian Church, a parochial school (McClintock Church-School) and a college (formerly Biddle Memorial Institute) now Johnson C. Smith University.

So you ask me how the Richard Herron Family and Johnson C. Smith University are related? Our kinship runs through SAMUEL CARRUTHERS ALEXANDER who gave to both entities an educational birth which led to liberation and freedom through a structured process.

Following Emancipation, one planter said to a former enslaved person:

Charles, you is a free man they say, but Ah tells you now,
you is still a slave and if you live to be a hundred, you’ll
still be a slave, cause you got no education, and education
is what makes a man free. (Litwick: 473)

Thank God for the birth of freedom through the labor pains of God’s anointed

SAMUEL CORRUTHERS ALEXANDER