Happy Birthday Deacon Richardson! Deacon Jesse Richardson’s (second from left) held a birthday program and dinner in honor of his upcoming birthday. On hand at the head table for the event were (from left) Pastor Oscar Walker Jr. of Praise of Joy, Pastor Dr. Pearl Lurry of Vision Temple Ecumenical Church and Outreach Ministries, Inc., and Richardson’s Pastor and nephew, Pastor Cameran Harris of True Love Baptist Church. Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson To celebrate his upcoming birthday, Deacon Jesse Richardson invited nearly 100 friends and relatives to join him for a birthday dinner at 4 PM on Saturday, June 2, 2019. Much to his surprise, nearly 150 people showed up. The event was held in the Family Life Center of the Norris Avenue Missionary Baptist Church, 1437 Norris Road in Memphis, TN. The program emcee was Pastor Calvin Myers of Botts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Minister Cedric King opened the program with a devotion and the True Love Praise Team performed several musical selections. Pastor Travis Dancy gave a stirring welcome and occasion followed by a solo performance by soloist Sister Beverly Trice Bell. Gospel comedian Brother Fred Mitchell lightened the mood with several funny stories about his past and a few jokes. “Back in the 70s and 80s I was always attending Christmas parties,” started Mitchell. “One year, somebody spiked the punch and a young lady had drank some, gotten drunk, and asked me for a ride home. Being the gentleman that I was, I knew I could trust myself and agreed to drive her home. The next day my wife and I were riding in the car and glanced over and saw a shoe on the floor. When we got to a stop light, I diverted my wife's attention and quickly retrieved the shoe and threw it out of my window. When we got to our destination it was taking my wife a long time to get out of the car, so I asked her was everything okay? She replied, no, saying that she couldn’t find her shoe!” Soloist Brother Therman Richardson sang and The Glass Singers (Charles Pop Glass, Cordia Glass, Pearl Clark, Stephiane Johnson, and Gordon Glass) performed several musical selections before dinner was served. Groups were called by table number to dine off of cuisine prepared by the capable caterer, Dorothy Harris and her crew of helpers which included Richardson’s niece, Alexcia Mathis, Jalen Bolton, Coby, Alexius, and Zaryion Westbrooks. Short words were provided by Richardson’s nephew, Pastor Cameran Harris (as a Deacon), neighbor, Pastor Oscar Walker, and Pastor Dr. Pearl Lurry (as a friend). The celebration ended with a reunion of Richardson’s Bible Aires and musical selections by the True Love Male Chorus and The Kings of Harmony. A good and festive time was had by all. 24
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