By LORETTA FULTON The Rev. Andrew Penns, pastor at Valley View Missionary Baptist Church, grew up in Abilene and was in the last graduating class at Woodson High School. After graduating from Woodson, Penns served in the Army, including time in Vietnam. When he returned to Abilene, he didn’t like the racial environment he saw. So he moved to Austin
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By LORETTA FULTON A determined, handsome face peers from the canvas, caring eyes gazing into the future. The face is that of Dr. William H. Butler, Abilene’s first black physician, who was born Dec. 9, 1875, in Anderson County. He died Sept. 8, 1947, and is buried in the Abilene City Cemetery alongside his wife, Beatrice, who died Jan. 17,
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By LORETTA FULTON The 32 years of ministry by the Rev. Andrew Penns as pastor of Valley View Missionary Baptist Church will be celebrated at the church, 3564 Clinton St., at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19.Theme will be, “Counting the Cost of Leadership,” based on Isaiah 55:4. The Rev. J.W. Webbs, pastor of New Fellowship Baptist Church, will be guest
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By LORETTA FULTON The 116th edition of the annual Original West Texas Baptist District Assocation got off to a rousing start Monday night, with praise and worship music, scripture reading and words of welcome from representatives of several Abilene institutions. The opening musical program held at New Fellowship Baptist Church set the tone, literally and figuratively, for the coming five
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By LORETTA FULTON Standing at the site of the 1922 murder of a black man at the hands of “masked and robed” men, Andrew Penns let it be known that despite the evil that took place there, God was in charge. At the beginning of the ceremony commemorating the death of Grover C. Everett, Penns, pastor of Valley View Missionary
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By LORETTA FULTON No greater tribute could have been paid to the Civil Rights giant Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the anniverary of his assassination than the “sermon” delivered April 4 by Dr. Jerry Taylor. King was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 4, 1968. Exactly 51 years later, Taylor, a religion
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By LORETTA FULTON A disturbing but significant piece of local history will be commemorated in a public ceremony April 13 when soil is collected to add to a national project marking the sites of lynchings in America. The event will begin at 10 a.m. at 341 Ash. St., where Grover C. Everett of Sulphur Springs was shot to death at the
Read moreBy LORETTA FULTON Open Michael Hurd’s book, “Thursday Night Lights,” turn to page 108 and you will be looking at a familiar face, although in an unfamiliar pose. That’s the Rev. Andrew Penns as a student at the old Carter G. Woodson High School in Abilene, when he weighed 150 pounds and was considered “large for my class” and
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Spirit Of Abilene 