Latest news with #ThirdBaptistChurch
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why a Black baptist church adopted ‘Come, Come Ye Saints': ‘It's one of our staples'
It's a good thing 'Come, Come Ye Saints' is so familiar to James Davis Jr. and the Third Baptist Church choir in San Francisco. Davis Jr. recently began rehearsals with the cast as the musical director for the upcoming Broadway show 'Purple Rain' after finishing a long stint in the same role on the western tour of 'Hamilton.' But last weekend he left rehearsals in New York City to jet across the country to rehearse the great pioneer anthem of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with the Third Baptist choir. Davis Jr. couldn't miss the opportunity to be the choir's guest director for the Sunday worship service and pastor emeritus designation service honoring the Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, a civil rights activist and Third Baptist's pastor for the past 49 years. Years ago, the Rev. Dr. Brown hired Davis Jr. out of Morehouse College to be Third Baptist's music director. Davis Jr. called the outgoing pastor 'legendary.' 'He's one of the few that's left that marched with Dr. King,' he said. 'He's a walking history book, an almanac.' 'Come, Come Ye Saints' has always been one of the Rev. Dr. Brown's favorites, Davis Jr. said. 'The choir has historically sung 'Come, Come Ye Saints' going back decades,' he said. 'We used to do the other arrangement that is a little more complicated, by Leroy Robertson, but Maestro (Mack) Wilberg's arrangement was just a little more accessible, given the fact that I just got in on Friday and we only had two rehearsals to put it together.' The Rev. Dr. Brown explained in a 2019 Church News video that 'Come, Come Ye Saints' and the iconic Black spiritual 'Lift Every Voice and Sing' are two of his favorites because they tell the stories of people who 'excel, achieve and remain loyal to their God.' Third Baptist's choir has performed both for years. 'Come, Come Ye Saints' resonates with Third Baptist in a special way. Davis Jr. said Third Baptist purposefully kept Latter-day Saint pioneer songwriter William Clayton's original text for the third verse that says, 'We'll find the place which God for us prepared, far away in the West.' 'We keep it because the text fits this congregation as the first Black church on the West Coast,' Davis Jr. said. 'It's one of our staples,' Deacon Anthony Wagner said. 'It speaks to us, just as it did to Latter-day Saints coming across the prairies.' Another Third Baptist church member approached a reporter before the Sunday morning service, as the choir rehearsed the hymn one last time, and reverently repeated his favorite part, 'No toil nor labor fear; But with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, Grace shall be as your day.' The church's new pastor, the Rev. Devon Jerome Crawford, stepped to the pulpit after the choir completed the final lines of the hymn during the morning worship service — 'Oh, how we'll make this chorus swell — All is well! All is well!" 'Praise God,' the Rev. Crawford said. 'All is well.' Elder Matthew S. Holland, a General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Third Baptist service to honor the Rev. Dr. Brown on assignment from the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 'I might have thought I came in a covered wagon when I heard that rendition of 'Come, Come Ye Saints.' I was so moved,' Elder Holland said. 'That's as touched as I've ever been hearing that hymn, and I've heard it all my life.'
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Coletta Josephine Womack White, Youngstown, Ohio
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes) – At the age of 98, God has called our beloved Coletta Josephine Womack White, who read her bible daily and kneeled in prayer nightly as her health permitted. She transitioned peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, in Apple Valley, California. 'Co' was born November 8, 1926, to her parents, the late Reverend Ernest P. Womack and the late Mrs. Josephine Rankin Womack in Youngstown, Ohio. Find obituaries from your high school Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Ernest Goler and Roosevelt (aka 'Ro' and 'Whitey') White; one son, Ernest Goler, Jr.; five sisters, Uzzeia Womack, Juanita Womack Johnson, Bernice Womack Colpetro, Gertrude Womack Copeland, Pearline Womack Dukes and two brothers, Ernest Womack, Jr. and Joe Louis Womack. 'Little Mother,' as she was lovingly called by her daughter, was a faithful member of Third Baptist Church for 34 years. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. As a young lady in Youngstown, Ohio, Coletta was a gospel songstress (she loved to sing) in her father's church (which he built and was a pastor, The Early Holy Church of God and Christ) with her siblings, known as The Womack Sisters. Her favorite gospel lyric was 'Lord Jesus, Can I Have This Talk With You.' Coletta attended Chaney High School and even as a teenager, was a workaholic and a fashion diva. 'Co' held various employment positions, which included occupation at Bill Robinson's BBQ, housekeeping, Strauss, Livingston's and at a steel mill, Truscon Steel Company, where, believe it or not, she held her favorite job, Welder. During this period, she married (1948) Ernest Goler (Dublin, Georgia) and to this union, two children were born, son, Ernest Goler, Jr. (stillborn) and daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Goler. After her divorce to Ernest, she later joined in matrimony in 1954, with Roosevelt White and their union spanned 50 years and nine months. In 1957, 'Ro' and 'Co' packed up with Nancy; Mrs. Beatrice White (Roosevelt's Mother); friends, Rudy and Barbara Liggins and their son, Ricky and headed west to Los Angeles, California, which Coletta loved. Her favorite place – Beverly Hills, California…where she loved to go with her grandsons and friends for lunch and shopping. While residing in Los Angeles, her places of employment were I. Magnin, Bullocks Wilshire, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, manager of an apartment complex and Fedco, where she retired, after 10 years-plus and received numerous excellent customer service awards. Coletta, a strict, straightforward and forgiving woman, was very involved socially in various clubs and organizations. Along with Roosevelt, she was the backbone of our family, provided as needed, and was honest. She fancied cars, especially convertibles/drop tops and her hobbies consisted of music, gardening, golfing, horseback riding, bowling, playing cards, checkers, gift wrapping, dancing and listening to music, A Cottage for Sale, was one of her favorites, as well as, Christmas songs (she loved Christmas), 'Children Would You Like to Go Up To Santa's Lane.' She thoroughly enjoyed traveling throughout the United States (her favorite 'spot' was Hawaii) and internationally, which included the Bahamas, Hong Kong, Haiti, Italy, London and South Korea. It did not matter…by car, bus, train, plane or ship, she was ready to go. In 1992, her husband 'Whitey' decided to pack it up again and return to Youngstown, Ohio, to live a relaxing life. While in Y-town, Coletta worked for the Youngstown City School System as a crossing guard and at Jefferson and Harding Elementary schools. She obtained certificates for her years of volunteer service with Seniors Teaching And Reaching Students (STARS), Ohio Reads, as well as, numerous diverse Certificate of Excellence awards. Co was also an associate of the Red Hatters, involved with the Ice Breakers, and the Texas Hold 'Em card group. Her pets, Ginger and Lizzie, were a huge part of her life, as well as, various animals and birds (she would leave food in her front yard, stating to her daughter, 'they need to eat too' (smile). During her later years, after the death of her beloved Roosevelt, staying home, starting her day by reading her Bible, then the newspaper, watching games and judge shows on television and social card playing, were forms of spiritualism and entertainment that she enjoyed. Back to California Coletta went in 2024, with her daughter and son-in-law, where she resigned in Victorville and Apple Valley. Coletta had a bright and energetic personality. She touched many lives with her generosity and passion for life. With God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ leading her path, she took charge of her life and lived it. To cherish her memory and morn 'big-time' the loss of 'my Little Mother, is her daughter, Mrs. Nancy Elizabeth Goler Freeman; son-in-law, Mr. Frank Daryl Freeman; three grandsons, Mr. 'Tri', Lee Allen Massey, III, Mr. Kasimu Saburi Massey and Mr. Jelani Shakir Freeman; daughter-in-law, Jamie Cha; two great-grandsons, Mr. Daniel Cha and Mr. Leo Nance Massey; two great-granddaughters, Miss Akimi R' Marie Guerra and Miss Elyahna Love Nancy Massey; as well as, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 14, 2025, at 12:00 Noon at the Third Baptist Church, 1177 Parkhill Drive, Youngstown, OH 44502, with calling hours from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. Burial will take place at Tod Homestead Cemetery. Arrangements of comfort were handled by the Sterling-McCullough Williams Youngstown Funeral Home. To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Coletta Josephine Womack White, please click here to visit our Sympathy 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
