The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1962-03-24
by RUBY WILLIAMS

uOllOltu Wy PSOPiS wiz offiN~A
ate you tor what you are, and
Tor the service you render to
luinanily, Out wncn the nonOr
comes as a special surprise -
vel, one mas " do double
take. Inns was the position OF
M. EDWARD Merchant, faithful
worker and member OF ST. Step
ncn lAsiE Cnurcn, VINO was non
vrcu sunday, Marcn nth In "lhls
is Your Lie IN the church To-
catcd on Stanford Avenue, 4-6
pan, as presented Dy the Cultural
society and Lounge Committee
Ui the church.
MIR. Merchant was completely
surprised 10 learn that II was
ne VINO would be recipient Of
TINS honor instead of Mr.. Curtis
Davis. former director of the
Gospel Choru, as he had been
informed. Mr.. Henri Thompson
Was instrumental In helping TO
make the surprise emphatic.
Many important Things occurred
on TINS program, and many people
who had made deep impressions
IN The honorec S life were pre-
sent to participate. His mother,
Mrs. ErnestIne Culpepper, came
from West Palm Beach, Fla, at
the expense of the sponsoring
committee, his brother, George
and nephew Willie j. Merchant
were also present.
Mrs Nora Charleston, wife of
the late Rev. Charleston, pastor
Of ST. Paul AME Church, spoke
ON tho honorcc's early life and
activities at ST. Paul's AME
Church; Ronald Boulware, who
portrayed Mr.. Merchant at age
of 5 years, Robert Salisbury,
who sang as Mr.. Merchant sang
al age OF 7 or 8 years, and was
accompanied by his sister Melon
csc SALISBURY, and the Crlter-
ION Singers.
Other present and contributing
to his life story were Richard
Anderson, Mitchell Shelton, Leon
lie Mcumcr, Gilbert Spears, DR..
Clarence Greer, Laura Brassficld,
theresa StrIngcr, Ernest Davis,
C. Davis, the honorcc's son, Lynn
Merchant, Maymc Taylor, Odcll
Galllard and the Cathedral Choir
OF lnkstcr. Mr. Oscar Caliman
was master Of ceremonies.
All Of the st. Paul AME Church,
located on Hunt Street, and the
Cathedral Choir of Smith Chap.
cl, lnkster Mich, of which Mr..
Merchant is director and ST.
Stephens AME Gospel Chorus
turned out in response to this
program.
The honorcc's mother was pre-
scented with an orchid and a
beautiful bouquet of flowers. The
hOnorcc gifts included a brown
leather bound book with his name
and other appropriate inscrip-
ton in gold letters, to contain
a script of expressions and re-
marks by the various participants
and patrons, baton and leather
case from the Cathedral Choir,
a token from the Loyal Hearts
Club of the Church, other gifts
and telephone calls from rcla.
tives in Florida, and Chicago,
Illinois.
Color scheme was carried out
in the Cultural Society Club Col
OrS Of yellow and green.
HoStcsscs were Olivia Thomp-
son, Ruth knight, Claudia False.
and Geneva Roland.
Senior h0StcSScS we're Sarah
Lewis, Albertinc Downs, Lucille
House, Essie dickson. Lille
Sloan. Odell GaiIlard, Marguerite
Mason. Junior hostcsscs were:
Patricia Feggans, Cynthia Phelps.
Barbara Pitts. Joyce Thompson.
Betty Wrightfork, Richie Camp.
bell. Yvonne Collins, Juanita Alb
bolt, Saundra Taylor and Camille
Cox.
Committee members were May.
ola G.. Lee, chairman; Geraldine
Tcamer. cochran; Elizabeth
Benson. president of Ladies
Lounge Committee; Elizabeth
Benson, program chrmn.: Erma
Starks. Effic WATSON, Beatrice
Jones. Ethel Williams, Ann Bend.
er, Mary Fitzpatrick. Naomi Alb.
bot. Juanita Coffee, Edna Wiley
Albcrtccn Downs. the Rev. Harold
c. Higgins. assistant minister
and the Rev. Martin Luther Sim.
mons. pastor.
A delicious repast was served.