PASSION: HE CAPTURED HER HEART AND SHE CONTINUED BUILDING A HISTORIC LEGACY!

Dr. Saundra Cherry has continued building a historic legacy!


The mission of the James A. Fields House, Inc. is to promote the historical, educational, and cultural legacy of Americans of African heritage in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia; to support tourism In Virginia; and to restore and preserve the landmark of the first black hospital in the city of Newport News, Virginia (Whittaker Memorial Hospital) through educational programs and historical tours within the Hampton Roads area.

Address: 617 27th Street, Newport News, VA 23607

Phone Number: (757) 245-1991 (757) 245-1991

Email: jafieldshouse@hotmail.com





A Blessedness of Believing Series: Youtube Tribute to Elder Greg Cherry

Dr. Saundra Cherry has gracefully embraced her late husband's, Elder Greg Cherry's passion and dedication of preserving the noble legacy of James Apostle Fields an ex-slave, educator, graduate of Hampton Normal & Agricultural Institute, legislator, attorney, and home owner where the first African American Hospital in Newport, News existed).

Elder Greg Cherry (1955-2007) was a passionate historian who dreamed of acquiring the historic James Apostle Fields House before a demolition crew was scheduled to level this important landmark. Elder Cherry continually petitoned the City of Newport News for three years regarding his ownership of an important piece of Virginia's African American history. Elder Cherry successfully acquired the James A. Fields House. In that year of 2000, the Cherry's began restoring the house and thus began a labor of love and committment dedicated to educating a community regarding the treasure that had withstood years of neglect.

Today, there is a continued need for the greater community to support the James A. Fields House. Dr. Saundra Cherry remains faithful and dedicated to the vision of preserving this historic landmark and museum located in Newport News, VA. She is compelled to carry on the legacy in order that future generations will continue to appreciate and celebrate the amazing life of James Apostle Fields. We’re extremely grateful for Elder Greg Cherry's zeal and love for life, history, culture and the arts. And more importantly, we salute Dr. Saundra Cherry for continuing to build upon the legacy of a noble man.

As a result of the Cherry's outpouring of love and preservation, the James A. Fields House is listed on the Virginia Landmark Register, the National Register of Historic Places, and the Virginia Civil War Trails. Museum visitors have a unique opportunity to experience firsthand what the turn of the century life resembled for African Americans living in in Newport News. We hope many more will follow Virginia’s Trails leading to the James A. Fields House embrace this passionate mission and support the vision!

Expressing Thanksgiving & Joy!
Linda Mose Meadows, Author & Inspirational Columnist:
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises

http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/
http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/

WOULD I KNOW HIM IF I SAW HIM?

Word4Word Poets

@ Aroma's Cafe

Newport News,VA.

"My sheep har My voice ad I know them, and they follow Me."
John 10:27

My poem:Would I know Him If I Saw Him was shared at the Word4Word Open Mic this past Tuesday evening at Aromas Cafe in Newport News. I was inspired to write and share days before this event. Was it ever good theraphy-sitting amongst kindred spirits loving poetry, writing their stories, unashamedly sharing their voices and experiences! There's power in these prose! No negativity, just acceptance and partaking in an honestly exhilerating evening! What a great way to conclude a workday.


The inception of my poem occured on Sunday afternoon. It was really a crisp, wintery feeling day. There was no snow, but it was certainly cold. I stood in my kitchen, wearing my favorite warn sweater and just enjoyed gazing out the window. There was nothing particularly interesting at that moment. But then I noticed a fire engine red furry ball moving, or so it appeared. As I looked closer, I realized it was a Cardinal playing in a pile of leaves. What a wonderful sight. This was a first for me, witnessing this.

Yes,this was truy a Kodak Moment! My camera wasn't in arms reach,when I returned ready to snap pictures, my cardinal had flown away. But what was truly surprising happended moments later when. I opened my dining room curtains and there on a Holly Tree branch was a Blue Jay perched and peering back at me. The bird knew I wanted to snap his picture and proceeded to give me an acrobatic arial show. No sucess with snapping his antics but I recognized this as a splendid moment. Then the Holy Spirit impressed upon my heart that when we see the divine, see God's imprint, His outstretched hand in our simplistic lives, if we're rushing we forfeit the opportunity to celebrate the Divine-celebrate God with us! Do we know Him? Do we understand that He's been in our presence? Can we recogize Him in the ordinary? I surely hope so, because witnessing Him is a gift from heaven!

Would I know Him If I Saw Him?
by

Linda Mose Meadows (01/2010)



Standing on the cold linoleum kitchen floor,

Gazing out the back window,

Wrapped up in my heavy sweater,

No thoughts dominating another.

Just enjoying,

Enjoying my refudge,

Enjoying my sanctuary-home!

A sweet, easy Sunday afternoon,

My white, now gray warn sweater,

Hugs my weary body.

The atmosphere whispers,

“Rest, don’t you dare rush!”

“Move easy, don’t be hasty!”

Sipping warm chocolatey joy,

This is the long awaited elixir!

Delightfully perched,

The holly tree branches bend-sway,

Appearing so regal-so assured in your feathered coat of cobalt blue and steel gray,

You beckoned me to watch,

Witness your undisturbed perch.

Confident,

Pulling back my curtain, I applauded your presence.

Thank you, You are here!

And low and behold,

Another friend.

“Good Afternoon,Cardinal what brings you here?"

“Could this be the hallow ground that awaits us?”

And then it dawned on me,

Would I know Him if I saw him?

The Lover of My Soul, the Lifter of My Head!

Sun streaming,

Leaves twirling,

Crisp air moving.

Birds fluttering,

Stillness hovering?

Would I hear Him in my steps?

Feel Him in the atmosphere?

Hear Him in my breathing?

Reverence Him the quiet?

Witness Him in Nature?

Or rush past Him in haste?

Today, I know Him,

Acknowledge, notice the Divine,

Marvel at His presence.

You are truly here!

IT's A NEW DAY FRIENDS!

Linda Mose Meadows,

Inspirational Urban Views Weekly Columnist and Author of :

The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life’s Lessons and God’s Promises
http://blessedauthorlm.wordpress.com/ http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/

IN THE FLOW-DOWNING GROSS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

"Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said, among the nations,

"The Lord has done great things for them."

Psalm 126:2

Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center is a precious pearl that sits beautifully nestled in shell of Tidewater’s Newport News, VA. perfectly situated in the heart it’s urban community.

Oh, friends this center reminds me of a heart beat, with a new life blood joyfully pumping. It's really a new enterprising engery source circulating in Newport News. Innovative resources and progrgams are once again available to all that are interested underneathe the roof of The Downing Gross Cultural Arts Center. It's truly alive and thriving with wonderful opportunities to enrich and broaden the minds of the young and not so young persons that hunger for artistic renewal and rejuvennation!

Oh, yes I love it, can't you tell? Downtown Newport News has this unique center open to the public,and I am so proud that this community cultural arts center exists in my back yard. And more importantly it’s open and accessible to the neighborhood , guests and those in Tidewater Virginia!

It’s a marvelous facility that not only celebrates the arts, promotes cultural enrichment, but beckons the visitor to bring their family, friends, churches, classmates and classrooms again and again to partake in the myriad of outstanding activities.

I regret not having my camera with me yesterday evening during my first visit, it was a visual and performing arts banquet. I tried to register as much of the atmosphere mentally as I could stand. I eagerly awaited an evening starring Amber Fisher, Ron Jenkins and Jeffro Jam of Flow Theatre. They provided the Ella Fitzgerald Theatre audience a stellar and moving choreopoem experience.It was a powerful presentation that is forever etched in our hearts and minds. This Off Broadway Stage production of Flow Theatre's Our Young Black Men Are Dying And Nobody Seems To Care, is a unique form of Choreotheater that not only entertains, but empowers the audience to become an important part of our social solution.

I walked, ( but really was skipping in my spirit) through the modern galleries, and peaked in the ladies rooms, smiled at the guards, spoke to the visitors, laughed with my family and enjoyed the overall ambiance.Truly, truly I knew I was blessed to be there. Be sure to visit their web site to learn of the upcoming events and do frequent this place often. You just never know who you’ll meet and what you'll behold !

The doors to The Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center are open folks, come on-step right in and go with the flow!

From My Heart To Yours,
Linda Mose Meadows, Author
The Blessedness of Believing
A Devotional Journey of Life's Lessons and God's Promises (Tate, Nov. 2007)http://blessednessofbelieving.blogspot.com/