A thanksgiving witness by Linda Jackson for November 10, 2024.
Influencer definition: One who exerts influence. A person who guides or inspires the action of others.
SsAM member/influencer definition: A member of this faith community who guides and inspires others to live the commandments, Love the Lord, and Love your neighbor.
A few days ago, I was watching a TV movie. At the end, the main character gave a beautiful speech to his family and friends that included similar words:
- Thank you for making me a better person .
- Thank you for giving me strength to face anything the world throws at me .
- Thank you for unconditional love .
- Thank you for a place to call home.
I asked myself, if this is my life, who am I thanking? Who influenced my life?
Of course, the Lord, my husband, my parents and family. But who else? To use a term frequently used today, who are the influencers that were examples of, and taught me to Love the Lord and Live the commandments? The answer is…. they were and are found within our Saint Matthew’s / Saint Andrew’s community. Let me introduce you to a few of them.
When did the influencing start?
In my earliest years, my family relocated to Wilmington, and moved doors from first influencer, Mrs. Ventie Williams, St Matthew’s Episcopal Church organist and her daughter Ventie, who is my age. We were introduced to and started attending St. Matthew’s with Mrs. Williams and Ventie, and soon after I was enrolled in St. Michael’s Day Nursey, then located on French St., managed by the late Lennie Lewis, mother of parishioner Marita Lewis.
A little later I started taking piano lessons from Mrs. Williams, and still play occasionally during the 8 AM service. Mrs. Williams did not drive, so on Sundays we were picked up and transported to and from church by the late Mrs. Helen Marshall, a longtime St. Matthew’s parishioner and sister-in-law of the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. In fact, Mrs. Marshall not only transported us to and from church, she would also occasionally arrange day trips to New York where Judge Marshall resided, for us to meet and visit with him.
At Saint Matthew’s Church, I attended Church School, led by the late Constance Gantt, and was confirmed by the late rector, Father Donald Wilson, who inspired me to attend and help integrate Camp Arrowhead.
I later attended Bayard Jr. High school where William Young, St. Matthew’s parishioner, neighbor, and father of Bill and Bob Young, was vice principal.
During my teenage years, I participated in St. Matthews Young Peoples Fellowship (YPF), led by Pat Hampton.
Later I was employed at Old Swedes, by the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware, as a Summer camp counselor. Lloyd Casson was Camp Director.
During my college years and through my twenties I stepped away to ‘find myself’ 😊 and eventually found myself and my way back to Saint Matthews.
A few years later Ron Jackson and I married and started attending the St. Matthew’s 8am service. I became an Eucharistic Minister, and played the piano during the service, while Ron served as an Acolyte, learning the ministry from the late Leroy Ames.
At this point, I would like to believe that Ron and I became the definition of SsAM influencers, with an ability live the commandments to introduce others to SsAM and our community.
During these years, I was employed by Verizon, and my last years before an early retirement, parishioner and influencer Joshua Martin was CEO.
A few years later, SsAM was formed.
In this new community, Ron and I started the SsAM Men’s Chorus, which was directed by the late Bertram Bynoe and Larry Unthank. The chorus sang at SsAM, sang in different churches, hosted retreats at Oberod, even fried fish in the SsAM parking lot 😊 and provided a support system for each other. Bob Richmond and Tom Roberts encouraged men from both parishes to come together and participate in the ministry.
Later, Dr. Sheila Dorsey, daughter of Dot Dorsey, and I became directors of SsAM Youth Ministry and I served as Youth Catechist. Together, we ensured that youth were exposed to SsAM ministries: the Acolytes lead by Al Brock and the late Les Roberts Sr., the Altar Guild led by Dot Dorsey, introduced to our Liturgy and Sacristy by Father Peter Huiner, attended presentations by historian Dr. Jeanne Nutter, which included documentaries celebrating among others, Canon Lloyd Casson, and longtime parishioner and civil rights advocate, the late Dr. Eugene McGowan.
The SsAM Youth Ministry aka SsAM Soul became SsAM influencers when, after Hurricane Katrina, we traveled New Orleans for a Mission Trip, participated in the National Cathedral Acolyte Festival, the 30-hour Famine Weekends, helped with SsAM’s Annual Pancake Dinners, and coordinated and hosted the Annual SsAM Family/Youth Fashion Shows.
During these years Ron and I were introduced to Friendship House and formed a lasting bond with friend and former Friendship House Director, Bill Perkins. For thirty years, Ron and I served dinner to the men residing in the shelter located in the SsAM undercroft. We also volunteered at Faith Center; a local non-profit organization serving the community and founded by Retha Fisher, and support the Lutheran Service Center, led by Rob Gurnee.
With the support and mentoring of SsAM priest, the late Rod Welles, I found time to pursue a master’s degree in counseling.
After a conversation with the late Chris White — friend, former SsAM Senior Warden, and Legal Aid Executive Director, for which the gallery next door is named after — I returned to work for a second career at Legal Aid, lasting almost twenty years.
Last year, our faith community welcomed Father Patrick Burke and his family to SsAM. Father Patrick is truly a man of God that is and will lead and guide our congregation and is already a resounding voice and presence in this community. At his invitation, I am co-leading the lectionary discussion and waiting for the next opportunity to serve.
I would be remiss if I did not include SsAM parishioner/influencers and good friends, Yvonne Gordon, Patricia Saunders, Anita Young, and the Literary Ladies Book Group, including the spirit of the late Peggy Shane. They talk and walk their faith and remind me to do the same.
As far as I can remember this faith community has been my home and home to a beautiful, bountiful, meaningful community of faithful SsAM influencers.
Please do everything you can, through offering your time, talent, and treasure, to ensure SsAM will continue to influence our church family and wider community. This is a reminder that through our actions, we are all SsAM influencers. It is more important now than ever to actively support our faith community.
The legacy of SsAM influencers must continue to live on.
LINKS
