Church Women United 4 Friendship Day

Jefferson Wiggins, son of a sharecropper, author, veteran, lecturer, and vice president of the Greater Danbury Coalition for a Community United, will be guest speaker Friday, May 4, for the Newtown/Bethel Church Women United (CWU) May Friendship Day Celebration at the Newtown Congregational Church. The service begins at 6 pm, with a light supper following. The public is invited.

“For Such a Time as This: A Call to Eliminate Racism” is the theme of this ecumenical event that will be celebrated around the world. The worship service was written by Dr Lois Dauway, assistant general secretary, Section of Christian Social Responsibility for the women’s division of the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. The service invites us to broaden our minds, hearts, and attitudes to people who seem different from us.

Mr Wiggins, the fourth of seven children, was born in rural Alabama in 1929. He says his first memory is of a burning cross in front of his house and the Ku Klux Klan looking for his father, who had escaped into the woods. The family moved the next day.

He left home at 13, lied about his age, joined the Army, and fought in Europe and at the Battle of the Buldge. Sergeant Wiggins received a field commission of Second Lieutenant from General Patton.

While Sgt Wiggins was stationed at Staten Island, he frequented the library there and met Mrs Ann Marie Merrill, who became his mentor. She taught him proper English and how to communicate. She helped him get his high school diploma and into Tennessee State University, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in three years.

He taught high school history and social studies for a year before he was called back into the service for three and a half years of active duty in Korea.

Mr Wiggins will tell how to use your brain to survive. He wrote his first book, White Cross Black Crucifixion, in 1970, has done social work with juvenile delinquents, participates in Black History Month in area schools, serves on the New Fairfield School Board, lectures extensively, and has a new book out, Another Generation Always Forgotten, that is being considered for a screenplay. He volunteers with the Greater Danbury Coalition, a not-for-profit organization in Danbury that works to eradicate prejudice and stereotyping.

Mr Wiggins was married in his teens and produced two sons before the marriage ended. In 1969 he married Janice and though they have no children of their own, they have raised his granddaughter from age three. They are residents of New Fairfield.

Those wishing to attend the celebration and dinner are asked to make reservations with the key women from the participating churches. Cost is $5.

Key women are Barbara Gates (426-3446) of Newtown Methodist Church, Pat Stroud (426-5270) of St Rose, Betty Williams (270-9931) of Newtown Congregational Church, Shirley Roman(426-0638) of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Doris Schoonmaker (270-0311) of St John Episcopal Church, Barbara Gorham (426-0638) of Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, Norma Gray (426-2712) of Trinity Episcopal Church, and Althea Benedict (748-2910) of St Thomas Episcopal Church in Bethel.

Jeane Roberts, president of the local unit, will open the ceremony. Participants of the worship service in addition to the key women will be Treasurer Peg Forbel, Rose Chen, and the Rev Janice Touloukian of the Newtown Congregational Church. Jean Conover of St Rose is Hospitality Chairlady. Darlene Jackson, who is also a member and past president of the Danbury Coalition, will introduce Mr Wiggins.