STEUBENVILLE — Quinn Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church, 515 North St., Steubenville, is observing Black History Month every Sunday in February.
“Our theme for Black History Month will be ‘Gearing Up to Move Forward,’” explained Terry L. Jennings, committee member.
“On the first and second Sunday, (Feb. 7 and Feb. 14) we will celebrate our spiritual heritage by remembering Richard Allen, the founder and first elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church,” she noted.
Speakers will be local businessman Jonathan Littlejohn, Little Snack Shack; Jacqueline Gibson of Quinn; Karla Martin, senior vice president of Diversity, Aspire and Workforce of Eastern Gateway Community College; and Brenda Ware, owner and operator of Miss Brenda’s Restaurant in the Trinity Medical Pavilion.
Committee members, in addition to Jennings, are Patricia Fletcher and Gibson.
“The month of February promises to be an exciting and busy month to help broaden and educate others about the accomplishments of African Americans who contributed to the civil rights movement,” Jennings added.
On Feb. 14, Delores Wiggins, minister of music, will present musical selections emphasizing the struggle of African Americans throughout the years. Steubenville Mayor Jerry Barilla has been invited to give a proclamation for Black History Month. The sermons for the morning worship services will be given by the Rev. Buena Dudley Paschall, the church’s pastor.
Quinn Memorial A.M.E. Church also will recognize four artistic representations of the accomplishments of African Americans in Steubenville.
On Fourth and Washington streets, a mural hails the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen of the U.S. Air Force, featuring Lt. Col. John Ellis Edwards and 2nd Lt. Jerome Edwards, former residents of Steubenville. The Tuskegee Airmen adopted six guiding principles, which are: (1) Aim High, (2) Believe in Yourself, (3) Use Your Brain, (4) Be Ready to Go, (5) Never Quit and (6) Expect to Win.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center on Market Street shows Supervisor Dennis “Denny” Palmer Sr. with his Pennies a Day Program, which helped to provide services and activities.
The mural of Moses Fleetwood, the first African American who played Major League Baseball, is located on Third Street. A statue of football player Calvin Jones, a graduate of Steubenville High School, is erected at the Harding Middle School Stadium. Jones was a three-year All American at the University of Iowa before playing for the Canadian Football League and being named to the All-Star Team. Jones is the first African American to be featured on the cover of “Sports Illustrated.”
Quinn Memorial A.M.E. also will hold a Virtual Valentine’s Day Extravaganza that welcomes public participation.
It will be held Feb. 13 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. For a $20 donation, dinners featuring African American cuisine will be delivered or available for pick-up along with Valentine gift bags. Then, join the virtual festivities, including music, poetry and a monologue, through Zoom: Dial (312) 626-6799 — Meeting ID: 173831518 — Password: 515 or Facebook: Quinn African Methodist Episcopal Church. To order dinners, call (740) 424-8148.
The order date deadline is Feb. 10.
The menu includes chicken, macaroni and cheese, greens, green beans, potato salad, cake and cookies.
Elioise Curenton is chair of the extravaganza, and Herbert and Gloria Crossland are emcees.
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