In 2011, the gathering known as the Black Alumni Weekend reconvened. It was my 40th anniversary year. In recognition of my return to Amherst for the Black Alumni Weekend and my connection with the activities surrounding the Amherst College black students' response to the death of Gerald Penny in 1973, I took the initiative to hold a memorial service on Memorial Hill. As an homage to the Native Americans who once inhabited the Pioneer Valley and who inhabited the land of Oklahoma where my forefathers lived, I began the service by playing R. Carlos Nakai's "Shaman's Call"
The playing of this song was done because in my belief system death is not the end and because, for me, the spirits of the ancestors -- the spirits of those who have transitioned -- are still near. The following explanation provides the best explanation of what I believe:
Native American cultures perceive time as being circular, rather than linear. There are no definite beginnings or endings, only what is, what always has been, and what always will be. Many Native American tribes do not see death as an absolute, but instead they see life as an infinite journey where death is not the end. Death is appreciated as a passage to the next world: the next step in life. Although there are several hundred different Native American tribes, many of which have different beliefs, almost all tribes hold this perception of time as being circular. Many tribes believe in reincarnation, and that the soul is an eternal presence that moves from body to body without ever leaving the world. Others believe that when a loved one dies, their soul is transported to the next world where they join their ancestors who passed before them.
*****
The 2011 Black Alumni Weekend was my first mass memorial service. Every two years, thereafter, I would perform the service again. And one of the highlights of the service was reading the names of all those who have transitioned. Over time, the list of those who have transitioned grew larger and larger and it expanded beyond the Black Alumni to include first the Amherst Black faculty and staff and later those in the Amherst community who aided and influenced the Amherst Black students and ultimately the family members and friends of Amherst Black Alumni.
The last memorial service I conducted was in 2021 and it was probably my most cherished moment while being associated with Amherst College (see the email below). However, in addition to memorializing 17 new additions to the list, the fact that the list was growing so large, so fast, became an indication that my time conducting memorial services must come to an end
It must come to an end for me, because when the Shaman's Call is given, it is an invitation for the spirits to return for a gathering of the spirits ... and each spirit has their own individual response and expectation regarding their answering the call. May those who follow be able to meet the expectations of the ancestors.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
skipjen2865@aol.com
To:
Fri, Apr 21 at 5:47 AM
Fellow Alums,
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975
-----Original Message-----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com
To:
Sent: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 10:04 am
Subject: I Saw God Yesterday
From: skipjen2865@aol.com
To:
Sent: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 10:04 am
Subject: I Saw God Yesterday
Yesterday. after the conclusion of the Black Alumni Memorial Service, I went directly to bed. After all, I had stayed up all night preparing my comments about the seventeen new names added to the list of the ancestors. I was literally spent. However, about five hours after falling asleep, I awoke and found myself suddenly weeping. (Indeed, I find that I am beginning to tear up again now.) I found myself weeping not because I was sad but because what I had seen and heard earlier in the day made me filled with joy. The joy came with the realization that I saw God yesterday and that, for two hours, I was in the presence of the divine.
I was simply overwhelmed by the attendance. Ten years ago, we only had a half dozen sitting on the cold concrete on Memorial Hill. But yesterday, I am informed that there were over fifty people in attendance. That was amazing to me. But just as amazing were the performances of the participants. Freddie Bryant's leading off with Amazing Grace, was a bit of heaven for me. But so also was Junius Williams' stirring Libation Ceremony. Ase! indeed. And Wayne Wormley's reading of our brother Greg Domingue's prayer, for a moment made it seem as though Greg was with us right then ... and right there. Indeed, after Junius' invocation and Wayne's prayer, it seemed to me that all of the ancestors were with us, right then and right there.
The heavenly feeling continued with Inshirah's reading of the passages from the Qur'an. For too long we have failed to hear the call of our Islamic sisters and brothers. Inshirah's passages begin to pave the path for greater understanding quite fitting for a woman whose name (according to my Qur'an) means "the opening up".
That in itself seems to be a sign of the presence of God.
My feelings that I was in the presence of God were cemented when Tony Jackson recited the verses from Ecclesiates. Growing up, one of my favorite movies was "To Sir With Love" and seeing Tony, Sidney Poitier's doppelganger, read the timeless verses of Ecclesiates just created a greater sense that I was seeing one of the faces of God.
My feelings that I was in the presence of God were cemented when Tony Jackson recited the verses from Ecclesiates. Growing up, one of my favorite movies was "To Sir With Love" and seeing Tony, Sidney Poitier's doppelganger, read the timeless verses of Ecclesiates just created a greater sense that I was seeing one of the faces of God.
However, it was after I woke up that I realized I was seeing the face of God in all of the faces that participated and attended yesterday's service.
Certainly, Hugh Price had the face of God as he gave the Memorial Message which reminded us of our history and of our struggles but also of our success when we act as a cohesive community with higher expectations. And when Ellis Moss sang, especially Precious Lord, Take My Hand, my heart almost broke. Wasn't that divine?
Certainly, Carol Allman Morton and Traci Wolfe had the face of God as they assisted me with staying on line and with the photo graphic presentation of the new ancestors. Lord knows, I would have been lost without them. And certainly, Jewel Younge and Alexandra Morgan Welch had the face of God as they so beautifully read the list of all the ancestors. Frankly, even though Jewel began reading my page, I really did not want her to stop. I really did not.
And to have Bernie Barbour present to lead us in prayer was certainly providential and sorely needed. Wasn't that too the hand of God?
And to then have Sidney ... I mean Tony ... read the Sermon on the Mount and to have Freddie play once again to lead us home, ... well it was just too much.
And to then have Sidney ... I mean Tony ... read the Sermon on the Mount and to have Freddie play once again to lead us home, ... well it was just too much.
But there was more, there were so many faces in the audience that made this virtual reunion feel as though it was not so virtual at all. Faces would appear, like Bob Bellinger, or Bill Parker, or Rich Ammons, or Tom Wattley. or Randy Williams and suddenly I would be transported to the time eternal when we looked like the people in the photos of the ancestors.
As I laid in my bed contemplating what had occurred, I came to realize that the two hours of the Memorial Service had been the best two hours I had ever experienced at Amherst ... and I was not even at Amherst. It was seeing people from all the decades from the 60s onward working to produce a truly spiritual moment that will never be forgotten that struck me so hard that I had to cry. Indeed, I am crying again now. All I can say is that I Saw God Yesterday and that the God I saw was in each and every one of you.
Thank you ... thank you ....thank you.
Ase!
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975
-----Original Message-----
From: skipjen2865@aol.com
To: blackalumni-l <blackalumni-l@amherst.edu>
Sent: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 2:26 am
Subject: Amherst College Black Alumni Week: Black Alumni Memorial Service, Sunday, April 18, 2021: The Record
From: skipjen2865@aol.com
To: blackalumni-l <blackalumni-l@amherst.edu>
Sent: Mon, Apr 19, 2021 2:26 am
Subject: Amherst College Black Alumni Week: Black Alumni Memorial Service, Sunday, April 18, 2021: The Record
My Blessed Sisters and Brothers,
In a separate email, I plan on providing my reflections on the historic Black Alumni Memorial Service which was held yesterday. Preliminarily, I was overwhelmed by the performances of all of the participants. However, before I do that, I need your assistance in making the record for posterity as to what happened yesterday. More specifically, I was informed that some 46 people were present during the service. I did not have a full screen shot of all who were there and I certainly did not have time to record who responded to the call for introductions. For my history, I would greatly appreciate all those who attended sending me an email telling me that they were there and providing the class affiliation (or other affiliation) with Amherst College along with the location (the city) from where they viewed the services. For me, it was astounding that through this virtual format we were able to have coordinated presentations from clear across the country, and having 46 attendees may be a harbinger of the future in itself.
Also, during the service, Wayne Wormley requested that Mr. Morton be added to the list. Do we have Mr. Morton's full name? Are there other names that need to be added or researched for addition to the list? If so, please send that information to me, so that I can begin the process.
Additionally, for the presenters, please do identify the city that you broadcast from and Inshirah, please provide the Sura citations for the verses you recited on Sunday. They were beautiful, I would like to read them for myself.
Finally, below for everyone's review is the service program. It is provided to you so that you can learn more about the new ancestors for yourselves. ... Now that you have time
As Salaam Alaikum,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Order of Service
A Glorious Welcome - Everett Jenkins, Class of 1975
Musical Selection (Live Version) - Amazing Grace - Freddie Bryant, Class of 1987
Introductions
The Libation Ceremony, Junius Williams, Class of 1965
A Prayer by Gregory Domingue, Class of 1972 - Wayne Wormley, Class of 1972
A Reading from the Qur'an - Inshirah Overton, Class of 2002
Scripture Reading: Ecclesiates 3:1-22 - Antonio Jackson, Class of 1978E
A Memorial Message - Hugh Price, Class of 1963
Musical Selection (Recorded Version) - Ellis Moss, Class of 1979
A Time for Remembrances of Those Who Have Joined the List of Ancestors Since the Last Reading of the Names
Albert Nathaniel Whiting, Class of 1938
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article243405206.html
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1938/albertwhiting
Ulric St. Claire Haynes, Class of 1952
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1952/ulrichaynes
Theodore Charles Reid Jones, Class of 1961
https://www.affordablefunerals.net/memorials/theodore-jones/4304103/
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1961/theodorejones
Leon Buster Gibbs, Class of 1963
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1963/lgibbs/obituary
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1963/lgibbs/amherstinmemory
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1963/lgibbs/memoriesbyclassmates
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1963/lgibbs/special
Daniel Chester Cochran, Class of 1968
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nytimes/obituary.aspx?pid=194628525
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1968/danielcochran
John Howard Nesbitt, Class of 1972
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1972/johnnesbitt
George Robert Johnson, Jr., Class of 1973
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/greensboro/name/george-johnson-obituary?pid=197135411
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/issues/fall-2020/special-feature-the-prize-of-the-high-calling/a-tribute-to-george-r.-johnson-73
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1973/georgejohnson
Hector Lloyd Armando Scott, Class of 1974
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/hartfordcourant/obituary.aspx?n=hector-lloyd-armando-scott&pid=195581582&fhid=4124&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ObitShare_PowerInbox_Neustar&utm_content=ViewObituary&sfmc_id=161633776&env=81f7673d19379eb05e5a59047b78c427d8ab7403
Thomas Harrison Hooper III, Class of 1975
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/winstonsalem/name/thomas-hooper-obituary?pid=197316204
Michael Paul Whittingham, Class of 1977
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stamfordadvocate/obituary.aspx?n=michael-p-whittingham&pid=196935442&fhid=7958
Lawrence Edward Baugh, Class of 1978E
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1978/lawrencebaugh
John David Williams, Jr., Class of 1978 (not to be confused with Life Time Trustee John Irving Williams, Jr., Class of 1975)
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1978/johndwilliams
Charles Homer Riley, Jr., Class of 1981
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1981/charlesriley
Paul Kwesi Bilson, Class of 1990
https://www.amherst.edu/amherst-story/magazine/in_memory/1990/paulbilson
Robert F. Gooden III, Class of 2014
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/atlanta/obituary.aspx?n=robert-gooden&pid=197637898&fhid=5381&utm_source=MarketingCloud&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ObitMessenger_Results_PowerInbox_Neustar_081320&utm_content=ObituaryURL&sfmc_id=10047643&env=4700ddee62c220f04cd415ab6df10fd3b62a45db
Mavis Christine Campbell, Faculty
https://www.librarything.com/author/campbellmavischristi
James Quincy Denton, Faculty
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/gazettenet/obituary.aspx?pid=193945960
A Reading of the Names of All of the Ancestors - Jewel Younge, Class of 1999; Alexandra Morgan Welch, Class of 2014; and Everett Jenkins, Class of 1975
A Time for Naming Those Not Listed
Musical Selection (Recorded Version) - Ellis Moss, Class of 1979
A Prayer for Those in Need of Prayer - Bernard Barbour, Class of 1972
Concluding Remarks - Everett Jenkins, Class of 1975
The Calling Scripture, Matthew 5:1-16 - Antonio Jackson, Class of 1978E
Musical Selection (Live Version) - Freddie Bryant, Class of 1987
As Salaam Alaikum,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975
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