qlHunt names Manley to boardof Alternative Health Fo da

The Chapel Hill NewsSunda~December17,1995

North Carolina Gov. Jim Hunthas named First Baptist Church ofChapel Hill Pastor John R'_'_'~'-""''''J-to a three-year term on the boarddirectors of the N.C. Foundationfor Alternative Health Programs.Hunt created the private, non-

profit foundation in 1982, duringhis second term as governor, andappoints its 11 board members.The foundation serves as a catalystfor programs working to improveaccess to affordable, quality healthcare for residents and to controlhealth care costs.Projects sponsored by the foun-

dation include Carolina ACCESS, amanaged-care program thatrequires Medicaid recipients toselect a primary-care provider tomanage their health-care needs,and the Rural Health Care Project,which set up three multi-hospitalalliances to enable smaller ruralhospitals to develop more efficientways to provide medical services.Rev. Manley has served as pastor

of the First Baptist Church for 49years, and as the pastor of theHickory Road Baptist Church ofChapel Hill for 45 years. Under hisleadership in the early 1970s, theGeneral Baptist State Conventionbegan a health-care programdesigned to educate and prevent ill-ness and disease in rural areas with-out good access to medical care.He is a former member of the

Chapel. Hill Planning Board, theChapel Hill-Carrboro School Boardand a past president of the ChapelHill-Carrboro Chapter of theNAACP. He earned his theologydegree at Duke University.

NEIG

RELIGION. rCThe Chfpel Hill NewsFriday, November

Manley marks 50 years with First Baptistservice that was once held annually atForest Theatre.He also remembers taking a walk to

CHAPEL HILL - The Rev. John the UNC library and being stopped byR.~fin Manley never expecr-ed to have a woman who wanted to know why he. sucK a long tenure at First Baptist was on campus.Church. He barely made it there. Manley,theHe was named pastor of the North second child of Ruffin and Beulah

Graham Street church in September Manley's six children, almost never got1946. World War II had just ended. to leave the farm.Harry Truman was president, and The elder Manley -, who was "aManley was a first-year undergraduate basic salt of the earth" type - wasn'tstudent at Shaw University. too keen. on the idea of his strappingDespite having no formal ministerial son leaving the family'S tenant farm to

training, the small black congregation pursue an education. And among hiscalled Manley as its new pastor. Hertford County contemporaries, theDuring the first few years he used part younger Manley was certain to becomeof his $50-a-week salary to pay his bus "a misfit" because he chose to use hisfare from Raleigh to Chapel Hill and brain instead of his brawn.back each Sunday. He lived in a rented "You didn't need to develop yourroom as he worked toward his degrees brain," he' said. "This was discour-in philosophy, history and divinity. aged."Later, he earned a masters in theology Manley already had the support of aat Duke University. ~ local minister, who believed he had aThose cccomplishments and many gift for the ministry. But, Ruffin

more will be celebrated on Dec. 8, Manley, while not opposed to his sop'swhen the First Baptist congregation going into the ministry, didn't want 'towill honor Manley with a' special lose my labor," Manley said. "We real-jubilee appreciation service to mark his ly had to work on my daddy." .50 years as pastor. Tipping the scales in Manley'S favorThe adjustments for this young black was a benevolent act on the part of his

man who was born in Murfreesboro, siblings. A family conference wasand who grew up on a farm in called and the five other Manley chil-Hertford County near Como, were dren assured their father that theycomplex to say the least. would pick up the slack after John leftBesides learning how to pastor his for college.

flock, Manley had to find his niche in a With the onset of, the civil rightspredominantly white, Southern acade- movement, Manley had his next majormic community that was still very adjustment. His faith community wasmuch locked into a segregationist suddenly developing a political com-mindset. ponent that soon led First Baptist to theAs a boy growing up, Manley attend- forefront of the local civil rights strug-

ed segregated schools and had little or gle.no interaction with whites. "I. had to broaden my vision as <l"We knew about the whites, but we minister," Manley said.

didn't have much contact with Manley was already somewhat sea-whites," Manley said. soned for the battle. Earlier, he hadDespite the tight grip of segregation, helped fight the local school board,

Manley remembers many whites who because funds were denied to build areached out to him early. Ministers gym at the black high school (now,Charlie Jones and Bob Seymour; civil Lincoln Center). After threatening torights activists and UNC professors file a lawsuit, funds for the gym wereDan Pollitt and Joe Straley, and. play- found.wright Paul Green to name a few. "We were pushing for separate, butPollitt calls Manley "a courageous equal," Manley said. "As soon as we

and creative person. He was a tremen- filed the lawsuit, they caved in."dous pastor of his flock, which extend- While there were some victories."ed far beyond those in his church." early efforts for justice were noisy, butManley was even invited to partici- not enough to make for "a change in

pate in an ecumenical Easter sunrise the structure," Manley said.

By PATRICK O'NEILLCorrespondent

Staff photo by David Alford

The Rev. John R. Manley will be the subject of a special jubilee appreci-ation celebration honoring his 50 years at First Baptist Church.

vide decent, affordable housing forlow-paid university employees.The civil rights movement was fuel-

ing hopes of a better tomorrow forblacks, and Manley emerged as one of .its early leaders.Manley became president of the local

NAACP chapter, and he became thefirst black elected to the local school

With a congregation primarily madeup of service workers who filleddozens of jobs as maids and janitors ata growing university, Manley's flockwas expanding. (Today, First Baptisthas 700 members).Many church members lived in the

Pine Knolls neighborhood off MerrittMill Road, a community of small,wooden homes that Frank PorterGraham helped push through to pro- See MANLEY, pa~

~l

"

ManleyContinued from Page 88

board.In the wake of the 1954 Supreme

Court decision outlawing racialsegregation, local civil rights sup-porters encouraged Manley to rep-resent the interests of blacks in the"new thrust" toward integration,Manley said.During his tenure on the school

board, Manley said he negotiatedseveral land purchases by theboard from a First Baptist mem-ber, including the purchase of theland now occupied by Chapel HillHigh.

First Baptist was often the placewhere national civil rights leaderswould speak on visits to ChapelHill.

While he didn't come to FirstBaptist, Manley did meet withMartin Luther King Jr. duringKing's only visit to Chapel Hill.

King's impact on the civil rightsmovement was like a new cre-ation, Manley said."He was the voice of the new

faith, of the new South" Manleysaid. "He was just somethingalive; a new creation." .

While he marched for civilrights, Manley was never arrestedfor civil disobedience.

"My emphasis was in myschooling and in my church,"Manley said.

Even as he reflects on thoseevents today, there's a hint ofresentment in Manley's tone.As a black pastor, Manley was a

de facto leader."They pushed you out there," he

said.Once someone suggested that

Manley should get arrested for thecause because he was a preacher."Then you better start preaching

and get yourself arrested," Manleysaid he told the person.Manley said he. was a primary

player in helping Howard Lee getelected as Chapel Hill's first blackmayor.When he speaks proudly of his

accomplishments, there's no sensethat Manley'S calling in his chips,just stating" the facts. Speakingfrankly is one of Manley's trade-marks.

Honesty and integrity are cen-tral to his being, Manley said. Hisdrive comes from the word ofGod. The resurrection story isabout Jesus' meeting evil and con-quering it, Manley said.

"Rev. Manley, why are you sohard to agree with?" Manley saidhe is sometimes asked. "A lot ofpeople have disagreed with me,but they respected me."

After 50 years in the pulpit,Manley finds himself at a cross-roads. In 1950,he agreed to co-pas-tor Hickory Grove Baptist Church.Various health problems in 1996- he was hospitalized twice thisyear - recently led Manley toanno¥nce his retirement, as of theend of the year, from HickoryGrove.

Manley said he realized he was"burning his candle at both ends,"trying to do too much. Exhaustionand respiratory problems con-vinced Manley he needed to slowthings down. This week, Manley

811 ~

Pastor's Aid ClubThe Pastor's Aid Club atFirst Baptist Cf'lurch willhold Its annual choralfund-raiser celebration onSunday night beginningwith a devotion at 6.Young adult choirs fromOrange CrossroadsBaptist Church InHillsborough and ParrishChapel Baptist Church InGraham will join RrstBaptist choirs for MACelebration of the 50States," an annual fund-raiser for the Pastor's AidClub.Club president ElizabethDavis and vice presidentNaomi Watson are coordi-nating Sunday's program,which Includes a proces-sion. Watson said shehoped the fundralserwould bring In about$2,000 to support theclub.

- .

,..I ..

started coming back to his FirstBaptist Church basement office forthe first time since June.

.~"1 feel I was really overextend- ~

ed," Manley said. "I had to limit :A~myself." ~Integration became the law of ~

the land more than 30 years ago, Jbut racism is not eradicated, :~Manley said. ~

,~~~~

"We are desegregated," Manleysaid, "but, we're not integrated.We are still separated."

The Chapel Hill NewsVVednesda~December11, 1996tJ~)

MINGS AND,DINGS

Man ey's courage hasmade life better for allThe familiar adage: "God's gift is the gift

of life; our gift to God is wha~ we make of .it rr was celebrated Sunday WIth the recogru-ti~n of the Manley-given gifts to God. The% years of work by the Rev. John R.Manley: 50 years at the First Baptist Church(from 1946), and 46 years at Hickory GroveBaptist Church (from 1950), does not take .into account the other parallel years of addi-tional humane activities, including making~~~~~~~~ his church a sanctu-;: ary in which was

defined "civil" dur-ing the Civil Rightsmovement.The Rev. Manley

has been bold in hisbeliefs. He was thefirst African-American on theChapel Hill-CarrboroSchool Board, servedon numerous com-missions for numer-ous governors, was a

CHN Columnist leader in the area's_______ NAACP, and wassaid to be the person who made possiblethe election in the late 1960s of state Sen.-elect Howard Lee as the first African-American mayor of Chape~ Hill ..Manl~yhas made life better, more mcluslve; hiscourage has made us better, more inclusive.And Sunday, Orange County, Chapel

Hill Carrboro and the towns' school boardsurPrised Manley by officially declaring theday, Dec. 8, "Reverend John R.Manley.Day," in grateful acknowledgt_nent of hiscommUl,1ity-building leadership. At the twochurches at which he serves as pastor, threeservices of recognition, in the morning,afternoon and in the evening, spoke andrespoke and echoed his enormous contribu-tions to the betterment of life for all.Speakers included Dr. c.c. Craig and Dr.

Clifford Jones, president of the General.I Baptist State ~nvention ~f North C~rohna.Organizers ol the celebrations honoringGloria and John Manley were RufusMinor and Naomi Watts, Gloria Brooks,Jean and David Parrish,. and Marie Smit?Also assisting were David Barnette, CameBynum, Belinda Caldwell, Elizabeth andKenneth Davis, Dorothy Farrington,Josephine and Carroll Harris, John ManleyII, the Rev. Marie and Kenneth Mann,and,jMa.riEt~Riggins:, jjfPfJ_;jlt.U 1· I~t. Ii "l!l

fn')'''''; r f rn :. .','rbJ'ori ·';1f\l,·, ..1 .~·dI··!'J;.',. .'If." :

..yes! And how could anyone havesuch chutzpah as to ask with an elec-tronic score board flashing, "Shesaid, she said - YES!"Very cool! Staytuned.

I ComingsContinued from Page A5 .

as she read a letter from Gary declar-ing his love for her, the announcerasked, "Brandi, do you know GaryManton?" She nodded her head.The announcer added, "Brandi,Gary would like to know if you willmarry him, please tum around."Gary had sneaked onto the ice andwas on bended knee with engage-ment ring in hand. Yes, they're get-ting married. November '97 - nat-urally. How could anyone not say .

Anotheri surprise happened: toFrances Gravely and husband, HaigKhachatoorian. Over Thanksgiving,they were handed a very specialcare package: Frances' sister, Susan,and her mother headed up an effortto gather up a harvest of Christmastree decorations as a gift to the cou-ple whose home, with all their pos-sessions and mementos, was razedby fire in September.

EMILIEFANCHONCONDON

****Michael Savino's 40th birthday

surprise party was a surprise tosponsor Pat Detitta: Michael trippedinto the plot and decided to make iteven better by beefing up the sur-

Today's the day: Moreton Neal and herbeau Drake Maynard are tying the knot!May love be around you.

Wednesday night the Holiday of Lightsbegan here with a surprise for ~n?ther long-time beacon of light, Karl P. Wllhams, 91-year old dean of Julian'S College Shop, whofor "forty years has been lighting upFranklin Street," serving Julian customerssince Missy was four years old. Mic~aeland Missy Julian Fox donated a hohdaysnowflake light in honor of Mr. Williams.They closed Julian's a few minutes early

Wednesday night and as they walked to the5 o'clock gathering at Top of the Hill to cele-brate with the other sponsors of the newdecorations along Franklin Street, theypaused to show Mr. Williams the pla':!u:engraved with his name on the electric lightpost to which his snowflake is attached.Upon entering Top of the Hill, Mr.

Williams smiled broadly and as the dapperfigure doffed his characteristic red fedora,commented: "It's a wonderful thing-totally fooled me, a complete surprise. I'min high cotton!"Another surprise that evening was

Downtown Commission Director RobertHumphreys' discovery in the oyster he waseating of a pearl the size of a 'Com kernel.Pearls happen!Honoree/sponsors of the new decora-

tions included Donald Boulton, Josie andDouglas Breeden, Irene and AlanBriggaman, Marjorie Cowan and LallieGodschalk, Tony Hall, Charles House,Ken Jackson, Owen Kenan, Carolyn Leithand Sarah McIntee, E.J. and Steve Manton,Johnny Morris, Jim Protzman, Zora andMel Rashkis, Alexander Sessoms, andMildred Stone.Another jewel of a surprise was created

by one of the snowflake sponsors: the Steveand E.J. Manton family. Steve's son, Gary,gave ice on the ice at Dorton.Arena at arecent hockey game played in Novemberbetween the Raleigh IceCaps and a WestVirginia team.In front of 4,500 fans and the viewers of

Channel 17 during the first period intermis-sion, as is custom, a fan was invited outonto the ice for three attempts to shoot thepuck into the net for a prize. Customarilythe fan is chosen by holding a game pro-gram "autographed" by a player prior tothe game and mixed into programs distrib-uted at the door. Well, this night it wasfixed by the handiwork of one GaryManton; a friend of Gary's, BrandiGoertemiller, was rigged to be the recipientof THE program.However, puck into net she did not get.

Fret not. Over the public address system theannouncer reassured Brandi there was a con-solation-prize and was asked to look up atthe remote controlled balloon overhead. Itreleased an envelope which she opened and

See COMINGS, Page ~

prises with a few of his own - kid'splay!Michael got the inner child of

baby boomers to come out and playas they bounced through recreation-al games including clothes pinswap, a hoola hoop contest, an applerelay, human knot (not easy to twistand not shout), musical plates (easi-er than having lots of chairs). So,THIS is 4O?How can you tell!Feeling fine at 40 folk included

Michael's wife Mary, MaryCaldwell, . Laura Case, KarenCasey, Connie Ebel, Diane Fuller,Pat and Irv Korbic, Mary and PacoMarshall, Anhie Rising, Cindy andJohn Soehner, Aileen and JenniferSavino.

****This year's holiday season first

took hold after sunset the last nightof November with a double featureof glitter and dreams: SomerhillGallery's 19th annual Christmas forCollectors, with the CollectorsChampagne Preview going to bene-fit the AIDS Service Agency ofOrange County, and then was theopening of PlayMakers' holidayoffering, "The Nutcracker."Feeling festive at one or both of

these annual delights were MillyBarranger, Eunice. Brock, MaudGatewood, Anita and' SterlingHertnis, Jean' Holcomb, Moyra and 'Brian Kileff, Harriet and KimballKing, Anne Cone Liptzin, D.G.Martin, Nancy Tuttle May, AnnStewart and Randall Roden,Shirley and Sidney Siegel.

The Chap~ Hill News NEIGHBORS;J~9--#Z-~++--2;~or-r-e-c____:_el-·v-e-s-S-e-r-t-o-m-a-M-an-o-f-t-h-e-Yt-ea-r-a-w-a-r-d----;~;:--~ ~7;All I can say is, the Rev. John R.

Manley just doesn't know how totake it easy.This is, of course, no news flash

for anyone who has ever met theman - for the past 53 years he'sbeen pastor of the First BaptistChurch of Chapel Hill_and for 47years has served as pastor ofHickory Grove Baptist Church,·on top of ~~~~=~~~giving his,...talents tomany civicendeavors.The

MeridianSertomaClub ofChapel HillandCar r b 0 r 0 '--_-"-_......c'-- _ _J

recognized VALARIE SCHWARTZM a nl e y 's CHN Columnistcontribu- - _tions last Wednesday, presentinghim with its Man of the Yearaward at a luncheon at theChapel Hill Country Club."We knew Reverend Manley

was a great contributor to thecommunity, but we didn't feelhe'd received the recognition hedeserved," said Ray Dubose, co-chair of the Service to MankindCommittee along with CeliaHooper. "We were especiallyimpressed with the work he hasdone to bring Manley Estates toChapel Hill."Manley Estates is new afford-

able housing that is set forground-breaking in July. It willprovide 41 units in a complex offMerritt Mill Road. The mostimpressive part of it is that it hasnot quite been two years sinceManley first started work on it."Reverend Manley recognized

the real need for affordablehousing, particularly in westChapel Hill in the African-American community," saidLane Sarver, a planning andhousing consultant who helpedManley coordinate the pieces, atthe ncheon,S v...er W]S 1m,pressed with~ifSily Ii. rote s has gorle

and that H D approved the $3.8-

A7

mi~lion grant upon the first appli-cation,"It was highly competiti,,:e and

seemed like an almost msur-mountable challenge," he said.Not for Manley.But ~anley didn't do .i~ all

alone. FIrst Baptist Church JOInedforces with the Inter-FaithCouncil for Social Services andUnited Church of Christ to movealong the building of the three-story structure that will houseresidents 62 and older who earnless than half the region's medianincome.The Rev. Richard Edens of

United Church also spoke onWednesday."Working with Reverend

Manley is one of those opportu-nities to see boundaries brokenand redefined" Edens said. "Weare partners 'in this endeavor,but most of the drive and leader-ship came from ReverendManley."Former state Sen. Chauncey

Edwards spoke of Manley as along-time friend. Manley is anative of Murfreesboro, N.C, andhe and Edwards were in schooltogether at Shaw University inRaleigh."He came to Shaw in the raw,"

Edwards said.Those who have seen Manley

on more than one occasion, knowthat he always looks dapper."John came to Shaw looking pros-perous," said Edwards, whoadded that when Manley walkedacross campus he held his headerect and his Shoulders squared."He has always had a lot of selfesteem - and a pretty good ego,too."The Lord blessed him early in

his life. He carne to Chapel Hilland look what God has done,"said Edwards.When Manley spoke to the 30

or so SertoItl.a members andguests, his ego was in check. Hewas grateful - to the town ofChapel Hill."They really made a difference

in this situation and showed ustheir confidence, contributing$35,000, and Orange County,

~

vide extras, like a garden spotand a gazebo. We want this to bea home," Manley said. "So manypeople have come together andmerged their efforts to make thishappen. The people involvedhave been Godsends.Godsends."Before adjourning, Stewart

shared what he had learned whileworking with Manley. "There aretwo things you don't tell DoctorManley - no, and I'll do ittomorrow."Manley would like you to

know that if you would like tomake a donation to the newestaffordable housing coming toChapel Hill, make out a check toFirst Baptist Church/ManleyEstates.The Meridian Sertoma Club

meets every Wednesday at 1p.m.at the Chapel Hill Country Club.The emphasis of this civic club ispeople with hearing and speechimpairments. The club runs aconcession stand at Durham Bullsgames and will be selling pizzaand Cokes a t Apple Chill onApril 30. With the funds it raisesa $1,000 scholarship is given eachyear to a studen.t at the Universityof North Carohna in the speechand hearing department, wherethey also provide equipment eachyear. The group also sends twokids to. Camp Sertoma inHanging Rock, a Summer camfor kids with speech and hearinPproblems. gIf you are interested in being

part of this club call To~Osborne a.t 967-7355 or just showup. Your first lunch is free.

The Rev. John R. Manley accepts the Man of the Year Award fromthe Meridian Sertoma Club.

which provided $10,000 - so wecould give Mr. Sarver somethingmore than a thank you."He was grateful to members of

the Sertoma Club for their efforts,especially John Stewart, whoserved as the attorney through

the process.Manley was grateful to Bill and

Ida Friday, who contributed$5,000, and UniversityPresbyterian Church for a $15 0001 lcontribution. • '"These gifts willlleip us pro-