1/24/08

Black River hands out awards for community leadership
By Jerriod Grizzle

JERRIOD GRIZZLE/Manning Times

Black River Missionary Baptist Association President Andrew Dorch (left) presents a special award to Gunter Sweat (right). Sweat coached basketball at Manning High School and Scott’s Branch High School for 30 years.

“We are honoring the older men who work in Clarendon, Sumter and Williamsburg counties to make the community a better place,” said President of the Black River Missionary Baptist Association, Andrew Dorch.

The theme of the night was, “Brother don’t leave me, just show me the way!” as the Black River Missionary Baptist Association met Jan.12 at Manning Junior High School to recognize community leaders in its own ranks.

Dorch said the mission of the BRMBA is to help others and to help educate young people to be citizens, to develop good citizen role modes for themselves and the communities.

“An example is that we take young men to some professional games with the funds we have. This is something they might not get to do otherwise,” he said.

The speaker of the night was former South Carolina State Coach Willie Jefferies.

“We chose Jefferies because we are honoring the older generation and since he is an older man, he can relate and communicate better to some of the older generation,” said Dorch.

Jefferies spoke to the 200-plus crowd about community leadership and how the older generations must still step up to lead the younger generation.

“Every today is a gift from God, that is why we call it the present,” he said, starting off his speech.

Jefferies praised the organization for their work with young people. He said that every person that the association helped was a blessing.

“To the ministry, thank you for showing the way and being your brother’s keeper. You are a builder in Christ,” he said.

Jefferies got a standing ovation.

He called on the older generation to lead by example.

“The young people say how long do I have to adhere to your advice and not your example,” he said. “I’d rather see someone than hear them.”

Jefferies said that as he looked around he was proud to see teamwork and he said he was honored to be in the midst of such an organization.

He praised Dr. Rose Wilder, superintendent of Clarendon School District One for her role in education of the children in Clarendon County.

“Everyone can learn; all can fly. Some just need a longer runway,” he said jokingly.

Jefferies talked about what younger audiences needed to learn to become better citizens.

“There are accusers, excusers and choosers. You must emphasize that one failure will not set you in a grave,” he said.

He stressed the importance of influence by peers and how he had seen it affect all his players.

“In 42 years of coaching, the success of young men and woman has been the people that are around them,” he said. “Birds of a feather flock together.”

After the speech, Dorch had all honorees stand at one time as he passed out their Certificates of Leadership.

Dorch then had all the honorees tell what they were doing in their lives.

One of the answers, given by honoree Henry King, brought ovations and a number of tears.

“It is an honor and my dream to be in a group of honorees of black men who have helped our children,” he said.

The association gave out a second award to Gunter Sweat for his leadership in the field of athletics and the betterment of people he came in contact with.

Sweat coached basketball at Manning High School and Scott’s Branch High School for 30 years.

“A lot of people came through and became productive workers. Those people went on become active in their community,” he said.

Dorch mentioned that Sweat coached him when he was in high school.

At the end of the ceremony, City of Manning Mayor Kevin Johnson and Superintendent Wilder spoke of how proud they both were to be at the awards ceremony.

Johnson praised the association on the banquet and their mission in the community.

“Every year is better than the last. Hard work leads to success,” he said.

Johnson remarked that he was glad Jefferies spoke to the audience, calling his speech, “inspirational.”

“When we work together we can show young people the way,” he said.

Wilder said she was proud to be sitting with the association and that she was impressed with the theme of the event.

“This is beautiful because of the positive role models and the theme of the night. It is going to take all of us,” she said.