Curry-Gray Newsletter

February 2012 Volume 2, Issue 7

The Currie-Gray

Every Month Should Be Black History Month!

On This Date In Black History Feb. 1, 1865—The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery, was adopted by the 38th Congress.. Feb. 1, 1902—Langston Hughes, a famous poet, was born this day in Joplin, Mo. Feb. 1, 1926—What is now known as Black History Month was first celebrated on this date as Negro History Week by Carter G. Woodson. It became a month long celebration in 1976.

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - I Have A Dream Speech— August 28, 1963

Click here: YouTube - Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech -

August 28, 1963

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY TO ALL BORN IN JANUARY

You are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.

Dear Family:

May the light of truth shine in your heart and mind. May it lead you to peace and certitude in this life and eternal bliss in the hereafter.

AMEEN

Continued on page 2…. Copyright © 2011 HCHAPS2, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


2 Copyright © 2011 HCHAPS2, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Happy Birthday to All Born in February

• February 4—Andre' Sullivan (Great grandson of the late

Eddie L. Currie, Sr.) • February 6—Casanya Lichelle Sims (Granddaughter of

the Willie Ann Gray and the late Eugene Anderson, Sr.) • February 8—Courtney Craig (Great Grandson of the late

Eddie L. Currie, Sr.) • February 13—De'azes Jamerson (Great Grandson of the

late Eddie L. Currie, Sr.) • February 13—Aaron Robinson (Son of Odessa Gray-

Robinson; Grandson of the late Tom Gray) • February 14—Monique Mitchell Greenidge (Great

Granddaughter of the late Jake Gray) • February 15—Sarhara Jefferson (Daughter of Serita

Gray-Jefferson & Chris Jefferson; Granddaughter of Louis F. Gray, Jr.)

• February 16—Hollind Michelle Martin (Great Great

Granddaughter of the late Roberta Currie-Virginia) • February 19th–L.C. Mabon (Child of Elsie Mabon) • February 21—Frank Wilson (Son of the late Retha Gray-

Wilson; Grandson of the late Josh Gray • February 23—Gladys Mae Gray-Allison (Granddaughter

of the late Jake Gray, Sr.; Great Granddaughter of the late Walker Gray)

• February 25—Latryna Scherae Sims (Granddaughter of

the Willie Ann Gray and the late Eugene Anderson, Sr.) • February 26—Jacqueline Anderson (Daughter of the late

Willie Ann Gray-Anderson and the late Eugene Anderson, Sr.)

• February 26—Devon Currie (Great Grandson of the late

Eddie L. Currie, Sr.) • February 26—Rachel Bernice Russell-Preston (Daughter

of the late Jake Russell and Mary Sue Ingram-Russell)

All March Birthdays are due by February 27, 2012

February 7—Rev. Daniel W. Donaldson

(Son of the late Charlie Lou Currie-Donaldson & Luther Donaldson, Jr.)

February 8th—K. Andrew Archer, II (Son of Carmen Archer & Kirk Archer, Sr.; Grandson of Roberta Spann; Great grandson of Lula D.

February 23—Bahaadar Russell (Son of Larry Russell & Paulette Shorter-Russell; Grandson of the late Jake Russell and Mary Sue Ingram-Russell)

February 27—

Carmen Spann-Archer (Daughter of Roberta Spann; Granddaughter of the late Lula D. Anthony-Cole)



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The Stellar Awards is the first Gospel Music Awards show in the country, honoring Gospel Music Artists, writers, and industry professionals for their contributions to the Gospel Music Industry. The Stellar Awards ranks high in status as the only Gospel Music television awards program syndicated in over 140 markets nationwide. Chicago based production company Central City Productions Inc.(CCP) spearheaded by founder, chairman & CEO Don

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Jackson, has produced the show since its conception in 1985. CCP is also responsible for producing Know Your Heritage, Know Your Heritage Black College Quiz Show, Hispanic College Quiz Show,Black Enterprise Business Report, Our World with Black Enterprise and the Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic. The Stellar Awards was first taped in Chicago at the Arie Crown Theater and has been the premier

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gospel event. The show has featured performances by The Clark Sisters, Kirk Franklin, Da' T.R.U.T.H, Tye Tribbett, Mary Mary, Heather Headley, CeCe Winans, Marvin Sapp, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Tamela Mann and many more. The show has been held at various venues across the United States in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville,and New York. The show is normally taped in mid-January and is broadcast on local and national TV stations such as ABC, FOX, and NBC.

Family News The 27th Annual Stellar Gospel Music

Awards Show was hosted this year by gospel legends Dorinda Clark-Cole and Dr. Marvin Sapp and taped before a live audience on

Saturday, January 14, 2012. The telecast is scheduled to air in national syndication from

January 21, 2012 to February 26, 2012 on the GMC cable network and local markets

around the country. Viewers may check local listings for programming information in their

area or the Stellar Awards website for an Bobbi J. Jefferson-Chatman & Homer F. Chatman, Jr.

Saturday, January 14th, 2012

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Don Jackson is the founder, chairman, and CEO of 32 year-old CENTRAL CITY PRODUCTIONS, Inc., a national television production, sales, and syndication company based in Chicago, IL.

Mr. Jackson is a Chicago native who graduated from Marshall High School, where he played on championship basketball team. He attended Northwestern University on a basketball scholarship and was captain of the University's basketball team. Mr. Jackson earned his B.S. in Radio, TV, and Film from Northwestern in 1965.

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After graduating from Northwestern, Mr. Jackson worked in the media and broadcast industries as an advertising sales manager for several top radio stations in the Chicago market.

In 1970, Mr. Jackson founded CENTRAL CITY MARKETING, INC. For nearly three decades the company has specialized in marketing, promotion, sales, and the production of media and television programs for Black Americans.

Today, CENTRAL CITY PRODUCTIONS, INC., is the full-service arm of CENTRAL CITY

Don Jackson



Family News (Don Jackson)…continued

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Erma Davis is the new President and COO of Central City Productions, a 32-year-old television production, sales, and syndication company based in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Davis joined Central City Productions after an 11-year career in management at the McDonald's Corporation. Her primary role at McDonalds was International Technology Strategist for Asia Pacific and Latin America. Erma was also the International Year 2000 Strategist for all countries except the United States. Her international strategies were adopted by the McDonalds Corporation's Auditors. While performing the direct duties assigned to her, she also developed and implemented a school-to-work program for an inner-city high school that was designed to keep at-risk students in school. The McDonalds National Youth Apprenticeship Program was modeled after this program.

The majority of Ms. Davis career has been spent in the information

Erma Davis

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MARKETING that produces, syndicates, and manages advertising sales for all of the company's local and national television programs.

Under his guidance and vision, CCP has launched many new and unique television programs to Black Americans nationwide. Many of these programs have more than 15 years of consecutive airing over local and national television, including:

• The "Bud Billiken Back-to-School Parade" - Now in its 22nd consecutive year on television. This 70-year-old event is the first and only Black parade on television.

• "MBR: The Minority Business

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Report" - Entering its 17th consecutive year on television, "MBR" is the first nationally syndicated business show geared to the minority business community.

• The "Stellar Gospel Music Awards" - In the year 2002, this annual special will celebrate its 17th consecutive year of showcasing the greatest gospel music performers.

• "Know Your Heritage" - Now in its 22nd year as the first African-American quiz show on television.

Mr. Jackson also gives back to the community as a member of several organizations. He is chairman of the board of the DuSable Museum of African American History and serves on the boards of Northwestern

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University, the Chicago Transit Authority, Columbia College, Gateway Foundation, and Junior Achievement of Chicago. In addition, Mr. Jackson is the founder and a member of A.B.L.E. (Alliance of Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs), as well as a member of Chicago United, Urban League, Rainbow/P.U.S.H. Coalition, and "N" Men's Club of Northwestern University.

Mr. Jackson is married to Rosemary Jackson. The couple has two adult children and one grandson, Donovan. Their daughter Rhonda is a graduate of Syracuse University, and their son Dane graduated from the University of Minnesota.

President/COO Erma Gray-Davis at 27th Annual Stellar

Awards Nomination announcement & concert at

NorthStar Studios on October 29, 2011 in

Nashville, Tennessee.

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technology field (I/T) working for well-known companies such as Bell Laboratories, the Veterans Administration, CNA Insurance, and McDonalds Corporation. She has had broad exposure to the major functional areas in the I/T organization and has had direct responsibility for many of them.

Ms. Davis is a native of Chicago who graduated from Marshall High School. She earned her bachelors degree in Computer Science from Roosevelt University. She also earned her masters degree in Management from National College of Education (now known as National-Louis University). Ms. Davis was also a certified Diversity Facilitator for the McDonalds Corporation and has a certificate from the Center for Creative Leadership.

Ms. Davis has been in Who's Who in the World of Women, Who's Who in American Women, and Who's Who in



Erma Davis…continued

Odell Gray Currie-Gray Family

Reunion Oldest and Youngest Male Family Member

July 1990 Jackson, TN

Calvin Gray and Family

Chicago, IL The Currie Family Home

10th & Main Street Humboldt, Tennessee

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International Women. She is affiliated with Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Women in Management (WIM), the American Management Association, the Society for Information Management (SIM), Youth Motivation Programs, and Leadership Illinois.

Ms. Davis is married to Dan Davis, a Professor at Malcolm X College.

(1) Becky Gray - The Matriarch (2) William (Bill) Gray (b. 1832) Caswell Co., NC (3) Walker Gray (b. June 1858) in Haywood Co., TN He had the following children: (i.) Belle Gray-Currie (b. 12 Aug. 1887) (ii.) George Gray (b. Sept. 1888) (iii.) Jake Gray

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(iv.) Josie Gray-Springfield (v.) Emmaline Gray-Day (vi.) Arthur Gray (vii.) Julia Currie (4) George Gray married Cornelia Burton-Gray They had the following children: (i.) Odell Gray (b. 15 July 1910) (ii.) Olivia Gray-Taylor (b. 15 July 1910) (iii.) Louis (Brown) Gray (b. 31 Oct. 1915) (d. Jan. 1968) Odell Gray married Rosalee Gray They had the following children: (i.) Carrie (ii.) Rosemary married Don Jackson (iii.) Erma J. married Dan Davis (iv.) Calvin



2012 Currie-Gray 36th Annual Family Reunion

Philadelphia, PA

“City of Brotherly Love”



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Scholarship Requirements

In order to apply for the 2012 Currie-Gray scholarship, please submit a two page double spaced essay detailing what the family reunion means to you. Please include how often you have attended and your most memorable

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event at the reunion. Include any suggestions that may help make the reunion better or to encourage others to attend. What would you like to see at the reunion (i.e. more activates for the younger crowd, etc.). Please include your name, address, link to the family, college you are attending, and what your major is. A registration receipt should be included with your essay.



Reservation Sheet

Name: ______________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________

City/state/zip: _________________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________________________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________________________

Dinner Dance

Adult: $45.00 Child: $22.00

How many: ___________ __________

Total due: $___________ $__________

Picnic

Adult: $45.00 Child: $22.00

How many: ___________ __________

Total due: $___________ $__________

T-shirts: Purple with gold logo (Sunday Picnic)

Child

Small _______ Medium ______ Large _______ X Large ________

How Many____________@ $9.00 each

Adult

Small _______ Medium _____ Large _______ X Large ________

2 XL _________ 3 XL ________ 4 XL _________

Adult: $12 (S-X Large) $13 (2 XL) $14 (3 XL) $15 (4 XL)



FOR COMMITTEE USE ONLY:

Amount received: ______________ Check #: _______________

Dated: __________________ Received by: ________________

T-shirts: Purple with gold logo (Saturday)

Child $5.00 Each

Small _______ Medium ______ Large _______ X Large ________

Adult $7.00 Each

Small _______ Medium _____ Large _______ X Large ________

2 XL _________ 3 XL ________ 4 XL _________

Total number of T-shirts: ________ Total Payment: $ ________

Zippered Tote bags: $6 each

How many: ___________ Total payment: $ ________________

Scholarship donation $

Grand total due: $_______________

Special Recognitions

Weddings: -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graduations: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Deaths: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Births: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Nashville, Tennessee Holiday Family Gathering



Dr. Maulana Karenga of the US Organization created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African- American holiday. Karenga said his goal was to "give Blacks an alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." The name Kwanzaa derives from the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruits of the harvest. The choice of Swahili, an East African language, reflects its status as a symbol of Pan-Africanism, especially in the 1960s. Kwanzaa is a celebration that has its roots in the black nationalist movement of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage by uniting in meditation and study of African traditions and Nguzu Saba, the "seven principles of African Heritage" which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy". During the early years of Kwanzaa, Karenga said that it was meant to be an alternative to Christmas, that Jesus was psychotic, and that Christianity was a white religion that black people should shun. However, as Kwanzaa gained mainstream adherents, Karenga altered his

position so that practicing Christians would not be alienated, then stating in the 1997 Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, and Culture, "Kwanzaa was not created to give people an alternative to their own religion or religious holiday." Many Christian African Americans who celebrate Kwanzaa do so in addition to observing Christmas. In 2009, Maya Angelou narrated the award-winning documentary The Black Candle, the first film about Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa celebrates what its founder called the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba (originally Nguzu Saba—the seven principles of African Heritage), which Karenga said "is a communitarian African philosophy," consisting of what Karenga called "the best of African thought and practice in constant exchange with the world." These seven principles comprise *Kawaida, a Swahili term for tradition and reason. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows: Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up. Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Kwanzaa symbols include a decorative mat on which other symbols are placed, corn and other crops, a candle holder with seven candles, called a kinara, a communal cup for pouring libations, gifts, a poster of the seven principles, and a black, red, and green flag. The symbols were designed to convey the seven principles.



Click here: YouTube - Tony! Toni! Tone! (HQ) - Anniversary

"HAPPY BELATED ANNIVERSARY TO ALL IN JANUARY"

Serita Gray ~married~ Chris Jefferson (February 11th, 1997) (Daughter of Louis F. Gray, Jr. and the late Marie Fisher-Gray)

"HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ALL IN FEBRUARY"



IN LOVING MEMORY

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Henrietta Gray-Gottor (b. February 1886) in Brownsville, TN

(Daughter of the late Henry Eugene Gray (b. 1855) in Brownsville, TN)

Homer F. Chatman, Sr. (d. February 14th, 1995)

(Father of Dwayne Chatman & Homer F. Chatman, Jr.) (Ex-Husband of Laverne Currie-Chatman)

Rubin James Virginia (d. Tuesday, February 21, 1984)

(Husband of the late Roberta Currie-Virginia)

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Julius Wilson (d. February 1st, 1936) in Brownsville, TN

(Husband of the late Retha Gray-Wilson)

Theresa Gray (d. February 2nd, 1986) in New York, NY

Sandra E. Donaldson-Haynes (d. February 2nd, 1996)

(Daughter of the Late Charlie Lou Currie-Donaldson & Luther Donaldson, Jr.)

Vincent Currie (b. February 16th, 1963

(Son of Harlee & Ira J. Currie) (Grandson of the late Roberta Currie-Virginia)

In loving memories of our dear deceased ancestors. A million times we've needed you. A million times we've cried. If we could have one lifetime wish, one dream, that could

come true, we pray to Almighty God with all our hearts for a yesterday with you.



Health Tidbit

February is National Heart Month!

The White House Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release January 31, 2011

Presidential Proclamation--American

Heart Month, 2011



John 14:6 (King James Version)

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Family Ties are the ties that bind us together!

Wishing You a Year Filled with Peace & Happiness...

--Ivy I. Anderson - 1993 Chicago, IL

Published by: Homer F. Chatman, Jr., Nashville, TN Send comments, inquiries and requests to: [email protected]

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