Davidson County Civitan Club Again Honors Local Clergy
The Davidson County Civitan Club honored seven local pastors and two spouses during the club’s 23rd Clergy Appreciation Observance. The event was held in the fellowship hall of Hedrick’s Grove Reformed United Church of Christ on February 24.
The featured speaker was Lt. Alison Hamilton of the Salvation Army of Davidson County. Civitan President-elect David Bovender arranged for the speaker and introduced her. Lt. Hamilton was also honored for her service.
Among the others in attendance were Rev. Ed Armfield and his wife Cindy of Burnett’s Chapel Methodist Church; Rev. Danny B. Leonard of Memorial United Methodist Church of Thomasville; and retired Methodist pastor Warren W. Miller and his wife Patti.
Other honorees present were Rev. Gavin A. Pratt of North Lexington Baptist Church, Jayne Radionov of Genisis Kardia at Mount Olivet United Methodist Church and Pastor Rosa B. Sutton of Good Hope FBH Church of Lexington.
The pastors received gifts from the club in recognition of their service to the community.
Hundreds of Civitan clubs across North America participate annually in International Clergy Appreciation Observances honoring ministers of all faiths and denominations. The events are generally held in February each year in remembrance of the Four Chaplains. Civitan member Gary Arnold presented a brief history of the Four Chaplains.
Eighty-three years ago during World War II, on February 3, 1943, only 230 people survived out of around 902 men and two women on board the U.S.A.T. Dorchester when it was hit by a torpedo and sank off the coast of Greenland.
Among those lost were four clergymen — a Catholic priest, a rabbi and two Protestant ministers — who went down with their troop transport ship after giving up their life jackets to soldiers who had left their vests below deck during the scramble to evacuate.
Survivors said the chaplains stood with arms linked together, braced against the railing, offering courage, reciting “The Lord’s Prayer” and singing as the ship sank.
Civitan President Derrick Hopkins presided over the event, which was attended by 83 people. Civitan Chaplain Mark Jordan gave the invocation, and Sergeant-at-Arms Anna Louvet led the Pledge of Allegiance. Shirley Link closed the meeting with a reading of the Civitan Creed.
The Ladies and Men’s Fellowship of Hedrick’s Grove Reformed United Church of Christ have served the meal for the observance for the past eleven years.
Civitan is a worldwide service organization dedicated to community service with an emphasis on assisting people with different abilities. The Davidson County Civitan Club typically meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at various locations.
Photo captions (Photos by Gary Arnold)
Civitan President Derrick Hopkins stands with clergy honored at the Davidson County Civitan Club annual Clergy Appreciation Observance. Pictured from left are retired Pastor Warren W. Miller, Pastor Rosa B. Sutton, Lt. Alison Hamilton, Rev. Gavin A. Pratt, Rev. Ed Armfield and Rev. Danny B. Leonard. Not pictured is Jayne Radionov.
Davidson County Civitan President Derrick Hopkins, left, stands with speaker Lt. Alison Hamilton of the Salvation Army of Davidson County and David Bovender.
