and when Viree comes home he still continues ministering in and with the food ministry.” Thanks to Orange Mound Historian Ms. Mary E. Mitchell, GNSMBC member Norma Nelson was instrumental in bringing NEWSCENE to Greater New Shiloh for our February Black Facts edition. Before we go any further with our story about GNS members, please allow us to pay tribute to those currently on the Greater New Shiloh sick list. Mary Branch, Beulah Cole, Emma Craig, Magnolia son… may our prayers and blessings bring warm thoughts of wellness from all of us to all of you as we send these sentiments of cheerfulness into your world to help you to feel better today and every day. Norma Nelson, wife of the late Samuel H. Nelson, has been a member of GNSMBC since 1961. The church was called Shiloh Baptist Church when she arrived at it. It was rebuilt and renamed New Shiloh, and later became Greater New Shiloh as it is known today. The mother of three sons and caregiver of 10 children, is a graduate of the Superintendent Clinic of the National Baptist Congress and currently serves as the General Superintendent of Sunday School. She has been a member of the GNS choir since age 11 and served as one of the choir directors. Cunningham, Dorothy Foreman, Loistene Malone, Mary-Ann Cloud McKinney, Ida White, Beatrice Wil“One of my most heartwarming memories is how the deacons would arrive at New Shiloh in the winter hours early to heat up the pot belly stove located in the center of the center of the old shot-gun house-church to warm up the church for service. Another was being baptized, along with children from other churches in the community, at the old Orange Mound swimming pool.” Norma’s sister Anniece Green, a 58-year GNS member, is the General Secretary of Sunday School, in the Matron Ministry, and the Sanctuary Choir. She leads the Sunday School Praise Dancers team and works on the church Decorating Committee. The Central High School and Kansas Vo-Tech Childhood Education graduate has one son and four grandchildren. “I was blessed to retire only having worked at Christian-based schools,” said Green. “I sought them out to work at.” Shirley Williams’ family relocated from Binghampton to Orange Mound when she was in the 8th grade. Williams father purchased a home and grew up on Spottswood. She attended Messick, a first through 12th grade county school at the time. After graduating from Messick High School, Williams attended the former Memphis State and Shelby State Community Colleges. She took classes in therapeutic recreation from Memphis State and graduated with a Physical Therapist Assistant degree from Shelby State College. She has been a member of GNSMBC for approximately 24 years where her husband, Charles Williams, is also a member, currently lives in the Fox Meadows subdivision, has two sons, and works at St. Francis Hospital on Park Avenue in East Memphis. 28
29 Publizr Home