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Rev. General Lee Avery honored at Gala Celebration for achievements, constant care for the community
A native of Wilkes County, Rev. Avery is the third of five children born to the late Roy and Eula King Avery. He is married to the former Margaret Martin of Washington and they are the parents of a son, Curtis M. Avery, and four daughters, Marie Avery Hall, Joyce Avery Graves, Deborah Avery Norman, and Cassandra Avery Hall. He received his early education in the Wilkes County public schools and furthered his study at Clark College and the Universal School of Divinity of Atlanta and the Leadership Development Institute of New York. His accomplishments, far too numerous to list, include honors on both the county and state levels. He is a two-time recipient of the prestigious Walter White Award, the Secretary of State's Award, Outstanding Citizenship Award, The Civil Liberties Award, the NOBLE-National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, the Selective Service Medal for 20 years service. He received an honorary appointment as Admiral of the Georgia Navy by Governor Joe Frank Harris. He was organizer and adviser of the Wilkes County Youth Council and a member of the Governor's Commission on Human Relations under Gov. Jimmy Carter. Presently he serves as coordinator of the 1st District of the Georgia State NAACP, member of the State NAACP Executive Board, president of the Wilkes County Branch NAACP, moderator of the Third Shiloh Missionary Baptist Association, Wilkes County with 14 churches and the Fourth Shiloh Missionary Baptist Association, Warren, McDuffie, Hancock and Columbia counties with 10 churches. In addition he is vice-moderator of Third Shiloh Ministers and Deacons General meeting, senior advisor CSRA Ministerial Alliance, coordinator of Moderators Division of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Member of Christian Athletics Association, a Mason, Worthy Patron Shiloh Academy Chapter #50, District Patron Athens Masonic District #6, grand chaplain Prince Hall Masons Jurisdiction of Georgia. Rev. Avery is a City of Washington Councilman, member of the Ethics Committee, the CSRA Health Care, on the grief counselor's team with the Wilkes County School System, member of the Wills Memorial Hospital Chaplains staff, a charter member of the Wilkes County Family Connection and member of the Board of Directors of Wilkes County Community Partnership. He serves as pastor of the Union Spring Missionary Baptist Church in Norwood and White Rock Missionary Baptist Church in Rayle. For the celebration, the mall area at the school was transformed with white draping and ferns. A fall theme was used in decorating.The head table, covered in Burgundy and overlaid in white, featured a central fall arrangement with matching arrangements at each end. Colorful leaves were scattered down the table. A raised backdrop of ferns finished the setting. Guests' tables were covered in white with alternating toppers of Burgundy or gold. Fall flowers were also used on these tables. Deacon and Mrs. Ervin Smith of New Springhill Baptist Church in Philomath served as master and mistress of ceremony. A prelude was presented by Grady Allen and Friends of Augusta and Rev. and Mrs. Avery led the processional. Rev. Ben K. Willis, pastor of Billups Grove Baptist Church, Athens, offered the prayer. Mayor and Mrs. Willie Burns and Rev. Melvin Adams, president, 10th District General Missionary Baptist Convention, extended greetings. Evangelist Amethyst Daffodil Wynn, founder, Transforming Life Ministries of Washington gave a brief account of the celebration. Following the blessing by Rev. L. T. Crawford, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Sparta and Little Valley Baptist Church, Center, a bountiful dinner was enjoyed. Festivities after dinner began with an instrumental solo by Grady Allen followed by tributes by friend, Rev. Lamar Davenport, given by his daughter, Gwendolyn Davenport of Washington; church, Mrs. Betty Reese of Union Springs Baptist Church and Samuel Sims of White Rock Baptist Church; community by Eddie Finnell, retired educator; and City Council, Michael P. Eskew, City Administrator, Washington. Floyd Hall of Washington and Mrs. Diane Walton of Oxford, vocalists, presented "May the Work I've Done Speak for Me". Other tributes were given in honor of his contribution to education by Mrs. Joyce Williams, Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools; the local NAACP by Mrs. Hermacender Walton of Washington; the GMBC of Georgia by Rev. H. L. Dotson, 2nd vice-coordinator, and the Masons by Davis Ramsey Jr. of Perry, Most Worshipful Grand Master Jurisdiction of Georgia. A praise dance by granddaughter, Jessica Avery of Lithia Springs, followed. "The Prayer" was sung by Mrs. V. Elaine Norman Sturkey, Antioch Baptist Church, San Antonio, Tex., and Dr. Silas Norman, Jr., Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Detroit, Mich. Rev. Melvin Adams of Harlem, president, 10th District GMBC of Georgia, was keynote speaker in place of Dr. Cameron M. Alexander of Atlanta, President Emeritus, GMBC of Georgia, who had a medical emergency. Rev. Adams was introduced by Rev. Charles Belton of Mt. Carmel, Washington. The Gala committee, family and guests made presentations including a proclamation by City of Washington Mayor Burns, a plaque from the NAACP by Rev. Hollis and a portrait of Rev. Avery drawn and presented by granddaughter, Jessica. Following remarks by Rev. Avery, the evening closed with a benediction by Rev. Matthew Hardin, New Tabernacle Baptist Church, Lincolnton. Special guests at the event were wife Margaret Martin Avery and their children and families, Curtis and Sheila Avery, Jessica and Curtis Jr., of Lithia Springs; John and Marie Avery Hall of Washington and children, Don and Kela McKay, Decardara and Don Avery, of Panama City, Fla.; and Lydeeko Hall of Athens, Lewis and Joyce Avery Graves and Joycelyn of Austell; Larry and Deborah Avery Norman and LyDesmond of Lincolnton; and Calvin and Cassandra Avery Hall of Lithonia. Grandchildren, Candice and Cedric Hall were unable to attend. Also present were his brother and sister-in-law, James and Ruby Avery of Washington, many cousins, nieces and nephews, including Norman siblings of the renowned Jesse Norman.
The Gala Committee was composed of Deborah Ann Bates, Rev. Charles Belton, Charles Daniels, Gwendoly Davenport, Pete Gartrell, Marie Hall, Rev. Regionald Hunter, Olivia Jackson, Reginald Jones, Emma Roberts and Rev. Dante' Smith.
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