Dear friends,

I have to admit, this month has been a little hard on the soul. Right after I sent in my last letter to the congregation, I learned of the passing of Mrs. Georgia Blackmon. It was only a few months before that I stood on the stage and introduced Mrs. Blackmon at UUCP. Even then, though, she seemed to be a little distant. She had recently lost her husband, Johnny Blackmon, and told me that she was still grieving his loss and was very depressed. I was happy to see her again, but sad that she was clearly in emotional pain over this loss.

I know many of you knew her, as she has been to our church several times, and maybe you went to her bookstores. I used to go to her bookstore on “E” Street for years, and also when she moved to the Belmont-Devilliers block. It’s funny because I’d often buy a book, if only just to support her work, but I’d stick around and talk with her for hours. A powerful force in the African American community, Georgia Blackmon was an incredible woman whose loss in incalculable.

The same day as her funeral, however, I had another funeral to attend: that of Ernest Leatherwood. A member of Veterans for Peace, Ernest Leatherwood, was someone most of you probably don’t know. I knew Ernest through Lauren and my work with Movement for Change. He was one of those people who was always around, helping out however he could, and always with a smile. I can still hear his raspy voice when he’d greet us at Movement for Change meetings with a smile. Ernest was a Vietnam veteran who was shot in the hand on Valentine’s Day 1967. I told him that was a terrible Valentine’s Day gift, but he laughed and said: “Well, it got me out of Vietnam! I was ok with that.” Ernest joined Veterans for Peace during a meeting, back when we used to meet at the Center for Social Justice. He said, “If this organization does what it aims to do, there will be no more veterans? Sign me up!” He paid his dues on the spot and had his VFP sticker on the back bumper of his truck, right next to his Purple Heart license plate.

Ernest Leatherwood’s funeral was much smaller that Georgia Blackmon, but that was to be expected. Some people take more of a public role than others. Ernest made a strong impact in different ways. What I appreciated about both Georgia and Ernest was how they impacted the community, even if in a different capacity. Georgia held space for people though her bookstore and was always welcoming people into her world. Ernest, on the other hand, physically made it possible for you to be a part of his space by fixing the steps and ramps at the Center for Social Justice, home of Movement for Change. He also helped behind the scenes with various committees and sitting on the Board of Directors for Movement for Change at various times. A good man whose impact was positive, if a little more low-key.

Today, both Georgia and her late husband Johnny, along with Ernest, are now buried at Barrancas National Cemetery. Their graves are near the late Leroy Boyd, and several of our congregants from UUCP.

Then, out of nowhere, we all heard about our longtime UUCP member Gerry Donnelly’s death. For all of you who knew Gerry, I think you can attest to what a great person he was. Fun to be around, quick to host a party to support the church, and play the part of the characters in the movie’s he’d show at those parties. A well-read and smart man, Gerry was such a kind person and always willing to help wherever needed. He gave to his community—our community—and was simply a good man who will be dearly missed by many of us, especially his wife Marylee, whom I hope you will all hold close in your hearts.

When writing my letter, I wanted to pay tribute to all of these people because of their role in the community. While many of you knew Georgia, probably few of you knew Ernest, but almost all of you knew Gerry. All three, however, held something in common in that they loved the community and were active in their communities. As we grieve for the loss of our friend(s), as well as all of the heartache we see in the Middle East, I think it’s important to make sure we take care of ourselves and check in with one another. Also, I would encourage all of you to find time to focus on our building our community through service to our community. What Georgia, Ernest, and Gerry all had in common was a love for the community, and a willingness to help where needed to the best of their abilities.

This alone does not take away from the pain that is close to all of us in this very sad time, but it does give us a place to center our thoughts and make a difference. You never know whose lives you will touch, and what a wonderful way to pay tribute to our friend(s) by helping where you know you will make a difference.

❤,
Scott
Scott Satterwhite