I N M U AL e t a d Up
Volume 1, Issue 1
Volume 2 No. 4 February 2011
Alumni Update is published by the University Relations Office at Virginia Union University. Dr. Claude G. Perkins President Shena L. Crittendon ‘92 Assistant to President/Director of Public Relations Kristie L. White, ‘98 Director of Alumni Relations Editor Shena L. Crittendon ‘92 Head Copywriter Layout & Design Charmica Epps ‘08 Photography Samuel T. Rhoades
UPCOMING EVENTS Basketball Reunion February 29, 2011 5:30 p.m. Barco-Stevens Gymnasium
A RIDE FOR FREEDOM The year was 1961 when Virginia Union University sophomore Reginald Greene, risked his future to boldly respond to a call from the Nashville group of Freedom Riders who were soliciting for more members.
jail. “I felt it was my call to duty”, says Green. "I wanted to be a participant
students to join the group of civil rights activists. Now, 50 years later Greene
in a movement I saw was going somewhere without really understanding the impact this would have,
remembers June 7, 1961 vividly; the day he was arrested in
and what legacy it would have for history's sake.” After being released from
Jackson, Mississippi. Greene selflessly made the decision to leave VUU, and without
Courtesy: Breach of Peace blog
prison Green received an overwhelming amount of support from the African American community in
telling his parents, decided to be a catalyst for change. Testing the recent law of the land, Green and others rode
Washington, D.C. He was asked to speak at several area churches. The churches also took a collection to assist
on a train to Jackson, Mississippi. They were greeted at the terminal with police harassment, and Green was arrested. He recalls one guard hitting him in the
Green with his tuition since his incarceration prevented him from earning funds.
head when he accidently spilled some milk in his cell.
the teachers made such an impact on his life. Thinking back to his days in class with Professors John Watson and E.D.
The first freedom ride took place May 4, 1961, when a group of blacks and whites left the United States capital on
McCreary, Green recognizes the importance of VUU in his journey of life. “VUU was the best thing that happened to me.
public buses headed south to test the
It was a slower pace than D. C. and that’s
what I needed.” Green went on to finish his Bachelor’s degree at VUU and obtain his Master’s degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology in 1967. He also met the love of his life Olivia Harris Green ’67 while in graduate school. Bravery and courage in hope of change describes the selfless acts of Rev. Reginald Green. Change eventually came. By the fall of 1961, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy required Southern states to enforce the federal law and to ensure the end of segregation at terminals. Green, who is a retired senior pastor, travels telling his story, speaking truth and wisdom to students and people all over the nation. He will be speaking at VUU on February 18, 2011.
Green recalls his years at VUU and how
Courtesy: NVDaily.com
NSF DIRECTOR & ALUMNA VISITS CAMPUS
Ben Wallace Meet & Greet
Dr. Cora B. Marrett, PhD ’65, Acting
2 p.m.
Director for the National Science
March 20, 2011 Atlanta Hawks vs. Detroit Pistons basketball game. Tickets $33. Proceeds benefit Atlanta scholarship fund. Contact Kristie White at 804-342-3938.
Foundation (NSF) visited Virginia
March 29, 2011 6 p.m. -8 p.m. Henderson Center 10-12
Green, a sociology major at Virginia Union at the time, served 24 days in Haynes County
Rev. Reginald Greene ’64, ‘67 was just one of many ambitious
CIAA Tournament February 28—March 5, 2011 Charlotte, NC
The Evelyn Syphax School of Education Round Table with Alumni
ruling in Boynton v. Virginia (1960). The case declared segregation in interstate buses and rail stations unconstitutional.
Union University (VUU) on Wednes-
for more competitive grant submissions.
University should continue to engage
Dr. Marrett noted that it is a highly com-
in dialogue and strengthen its ability
petitive environment for NSF grant pro-
to form collaborations within the campus community
day, January 19, 2011 to
and outside part-
engage in dialogue
nerships.
with the university President Dr. Perkins. Dr. Marrett later spoke at a luncheon, sponsored by the Title III/ Sponsored Programs office, and attended by
Alumni 101 March 31, 2011 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Wall Auditorium
faculty and administra-
Entrepreneurial Conference April 6, 2011 6 p.m.— 8 p.m. Henderson Large Conference Room and Panther Grille
of NSF’s mission for
Criminal Justice Round Table with Young Alumni Society April 7, 2011 Criminal Justice Building
mining its own unique
Spring Choir Concert April 10, 2011 Honors’ Convocation April 21, 2011
tors. She gave an overview the 21st century, STEM grant opportunities, and talked about the importance of VUU deter-
Dr. Perkins, VUU President and Dr. Marrett, Acting Director for the National Science Foundation
niche.
curement; however, she believes that
She strongly recommended that fac-
Virginia Union University has gained
ulty and administrators get involved
traction for the challenging road ahead.
in the process by becoming grant pro-
Dr. Marrett expressed a sincere
posal reviewers. Further, Dr. Marrett
interest in providing VUU with support
stressed that VUU commit to sustain-
and assistance with the procurement of
ability; strengthen intellectual merit
NSF grants. She stated that the
and make broader impact statements
ALUMNI UPDATE ALUMNI 1500 NorthUPDATE Lombardy Street 1500 North VA Lombardy Richmond, 23220 Street Richmond,CHANGE VA 23220 REQUEST ADDRESS ADDRESS CHANGE REQUEST
ADDRESS SERVICE RE-
PANTHER PRIDE SOARS The Panther 1000 campaign for the 2011 fiscal year is making outstanding progress. Alumni giving to the campaign continues to reach significant numbers. As of January 18, 2011 the following persons have added their names to the list of contributors. Dr. G. S. Adebisi Adegbile, ‘66 Ms. Deborah C. Allen, ‘91 Mrs. Jacqueline W. Ashford, ‘77 Mrs. Elizabeth L. Bates-Turner, ‘54 Mr. Randolph and Mrs. Lumaria Blakeney, ’66, ‘68 Dr. James H. Bowles, Sr., ‘48 Mr. Ronald Bradford, Sr., ‘71 Mrs. Evelyn F. Brooks, ‘48 Rev. James I. Brooks, ‘65 Rev. Dr. Eugene S. Brown II, ‘86 Dr. Lucille M. Brown, ‘50 Ms. Mary B. Brown, ‘71 Mr. John T. Bullock, ‘66 Mrs. Joyce Bullock, ‘66 Mrs. Doris K. Bullock, ‘60 Mr. Steve D. Bullock, ‘59 Dr. Russell M. Busch, ‘62 Dr. Johnnie L. Cameron, ‘66 Mrs. Virginia C. Cameron, ‘67 Mrs. Viviene Cheek, ‘62 Mr. Wilfred Chrichlow, ‘71
Mr. Leonard M. Davis, Jr., ‘67 Mrs. Mary L. DePillars, ‘74 Mrs. Lillie S. Edwards, ‘58 Sheryl Ellison-Blue, Esq. ‘76 Dr. Ruth Williams Epps, ‘67 Dr. Thomas H. Epps, Jr., ‘68 Dr. Anderson J. Franklin, ‘61 Mrs. Willie Harris Gillenwater, ‘60 Reverend Mary W. Goodwyn, ‘10 Mr. Charles Martin Greene, ‘62 Reverend Browlee Hailstock, Jr., ‘77 Mrs. Cheryl P. Hawkins, ‘71 Captain Christine L. Hedgley-Johnson, ‘58 Mrs. Redina J. Hembree, ‘86 Ms. Veronica B. Henderson, ‘67 Mr. Jeffrey L. Humber, Jr., '68 Reverend Arthur Jackson III, ‘10 Ms. Carolyn C. Johnson, ‘87 Mrs. Geraldine W. Johnson, ‘64
Mr. Jerome J. & Mrs. Roslyn A. Johnson, ‘67 Mr. Howard L. Jones, ‘55 Mrs. Mabel M. Joynes, ‘55 Dr. James C. Kelly, 64 Dr. John W. Kinney, ‘72 Dr. Mercile Johnson Lee, ‘52 Dr. Pamela Leigh-Mack, ‘80 Reverend James A. Lewis, ‘53 Ms. Edna L. Lindsay, ‘62 Mrs. Catherine S. Mankin, ‘52 Drs. Edward and Clara McCreary, ’40, ‘41 Mr. Cornell L. Moore, ‘61 Dr. Carolyn L. Mosby, ‘58 Mr. Ira A. Oliver, ‘56 Mr. Albert O. Pettis, ‘50 Mrs. Thelma Y. Pettis, ‘48 Mr. Lloyd W. Pettus, ‘78 Dr. Angela T. Powell, ‘85 Mrs. Elaine M. Ragland, ‘48 Dr. Joyce Reese-Peagler, ‘57 Dr. & Mrs. W. Franklyn Richardson, ‘79
Mrs. Thelma E. Robinson, ‘41 Mrs. Pamela C. & Dr. Frank S. Royal, ’65, ‘61 Mrs. Geraldine B. Story, ‘45 Mrs. Winnie P. Sugg, ‘39 Dr. Leroy S. Vaughn, ‘55 Mrs. Shirley W. Vaughn, ‘56 Col. Wally G. & Mrs. Geraldine H. Vaughn, ’76, ‘75 Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, ‘50 Dr. Beverly Whitaker-Braxton, ‘63 Dr. Frank L. Williams, ‘56 Reverend Sidney W. Williams, Jr., ‘57 Ms. Ann Wilson, ‘73 Mr. Wistar M. Withers, ‘68 Mr. Alexander B. Wood, ‘53 Mr. Harvey Woodson & Attorney Dorthula Powell-Woodson, ‘85 Mr. Larry D. Woodson, ‘74 Mrs. Barbara B. Wright, ‘63 Mr. Carrol E. Zanders, ‘74 Mrs. Shirley M. Dillard In memory of Dr. Clyde R. Dillard, ‘40
CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT John H. Cross Metro-Atlanta Alumni Chapter The John H. Cross Metro-Atlanta Alumni Chapter was founded in 1986. Active members work diligently in the Atlanta area to bring awareness of Virginia Union University. Led by President Pat Harris, the alumni chapter attends the annual Black College Expo and has been invited by Mayor Shirley Franklin to participate in initiatives to help make college bound students more aware of the educational availability of HBCUs. The chapter is named after Dr. John H. Cross, who was a pastor of the bombed 16th Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL during the civil rights era and who helped navigate the community through the racial unrest caused by the murders of the four little girls. This year, the Metro-Chapter has launched an initiative to bring every Panther home. The chapter is currently planning to host several citywide events geared towards stimulating awareness and interest from Atlanta residents. Please email the chapter at VUUAtlantaAlumni@hotmail.com for more information.
V
U U
Sweethearts Sweethearts
Did you find your true love at VUU? The University salutes all VUU Sweethearts. Happy Valentines Day!
Richard & Dorothy Reginald & Olivia
Reginald Green ‘64 ’67 and Olivia Harris‘67, met at VUU in 1961, right after Reginald returned to campus after taking part in the Freedom Rider’s movement. Reginald is from Washington, DC and Olivia is from Charles City, VA. The two jumped the broom at Good Sheppard Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia’s Churchill in 1964. They have been married for 47 years. They currently reside in Washington, DC and have two children.
Rodney & Alethea
Richard Norwood ‘69 and Dorothy Mitchell‘72 met at VUU in Pickford Hall during keyboarding class in 1969. Their first date was February 14,1969 at a basketball game in the Barco-Stevens Hall. The two cheered and ate popcorn from the same bag. During their time at VUU they spent hours studying together in the library; strolling up to the Whitetower restaurant where they would order a large milkshake and two straws; and of course practicing typing in Pickford Hall. In May of 1969, Richard graduated and left campus for a brief job and then off to Vietnam. He returned on May 26, 1971 and the two were married three days later in Petersburg, Virginia on May 29, 1971.
Rodney Wair and Alethea McNair ’95 met at VUU in 1992. Rodney is from Fort Washington, MD and Alethea is from Washington, DC. In July of 1994 the two decided to become an item. Rodney attended VUU from 1992 to 1994 and later enlisted into the Army. On December 22, 1994 the two exchanged vows and became a union, four days after Alethea’s last final exam at Union! The two now live in Bowie, MD. They have two children.