Story and Pictures by Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson The Reverend Samuel Billy Kyles (1934 - 2016), was the founding pastor of the Monumental Baptist Church, 704 South Parkway East, in Memphis, TN, in 1959. The Civil Rights Activist, delegate to the First African National Congress, and Pastor was the co-founder and a founding member of the National Board of People United to Save Humanity (PUSH), the executive director of Rainbow/PUSH-Memphis, and the executive producer of Rainbow/PUSH WLOK Radio. Kyleswas appointed by President Bill Clinton to serve on the Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad. He was affiliated with the World Baptist Alliance, the Progressive National Baptist Convention, National Evangelist, the Ecumenical Minister’s Task Force, Chairman of the State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, and an executive committee member of the National Rainbow Coalition. Kyles was the recipient of numerous awards and honors for his work to further civil rights. On Sunday, April 7, 2019, Kyles’ wife, Aurelia Kyles, Monumental Pastor, Rev. Wade Bryant, and members of the Monumental Baptist Church family held “A Man Remembered,” a tribute to the Life and Legacy of Rev. Samuel Billy Kyles. Known as a “Social Justice Advocate,” the event, titled the “2019 Samuel Billy Kyles Social Justice Award,” presented Social Justice Awards to Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher, #901UptheVote founder and Pastor, Abyssinian Baptist Church, 3890 Millbranch Road and Ms. Jamaea Nelson, a third generation member of Monumental Baptist Church and 12th grade student at Lausanne Collegiate School. The program was emceed by Monumental members and fictional radio announcers Sandra Rashad and Anita Phillips. The event was staged to appear as if it were being held in the recording booth of the fictitious PUSH 102.5 radio station. As the ladies paid tribute to the life and times of Kyles, the listening audience received a brief educational lecture of the civil rights activist and more. Judge Bernice Bouie Donald, a federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit and former judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, was the special guest speaker. “I just want to express my gratitude to Aurelia for including me on this program,” said Donald. “You know Rev. Kyles led a committed life of service and activism. He was a son, a husband, a father, an activist, a preacher, a teacher, a leader, an advocate, a visionary, a dreamer, an ambassador and he was also a friend. This icon could walk with kings and queens and come right back and sit down and chat with the least of these. He was a powerful, powerful man… God bless you Monumental. We are all better because Rev. Kyles lived.” The program continued with song and praise and three notable students, 7th grader Brandon Johnson of the Memphis School of Excellence, 9th grader Myles Rashad of Overton High School, and 10th grader Matthew Jones of the Memphis University School, each of whom read tributes to Kyles life and the many accomplishments he achieved during his life. “One of the things we are honoring my husband for this year is to present both a youth award and an adult award that’s called the Samuel Billy Kyles Social Justice Award, said Aurelia Kyles. “This year to field the nominees for our youth award we are very pleased to partner with Facing History and Ourselves which is an organization that was very near and dear to my husband. It is an organization that really helps young people to understand how to identify the injustices in our country and really take some action.” Facing History and Ourselves provides professional development and resources for educators through the mid-south and prepares students for life beyond high school. Their programs provide lessons and resources that help them explore the events and local activism that brought the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis in the spring of 1968. The agency, headquartered in Brookline, MA, has 10 offices, including a branch in Memphis, TN. “If you can imagine a world built on knowledge and compassion, not racism and bigotry, that’s the world we are seeking to build at Facing History,” said Executive Director Marti Tippens Murphy. “It is people who make choices and choices make history. Here at Facing History when we think of Rev. Kyles, we think of a man who was our teacher and had a huge impact and inspired hundreds of students and teachers over the years through our partnership with him.” Special recognitions were given to the individuals who assisted in the final selection of the youth awardee. The adult and youth awardees were introduced by Rev. Bryant, given their awards, and were able to individually express their appreciation for being selected for the award to those in attendance. Rev. Bryant followed their presentations by closing the program out in prayer with his wife at his side. All those in attendance were invited to an afternoon brunch downstairs in the church’s Fellowship Hall. 10
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