Leach to address emancipation program
The Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach, pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, speaks to his congregation in May.
File Photo
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
The Rev. Dr. Dennis Leach, pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 1400 Fitch Street, will address the annual Emancipation Association Program on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017, at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1075 Shalimar Drive in Winston-Salem. The Rev. Dr. John Mendez is host pastor. Jannette Piggott will preside.
This program marks the 154th anniversary of the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Others appearing on the program are: Council Member James Taylor, Mayor Allen Joines, state Sen. Paul Lowe Jr. and State Rep. Edward Hanes Jr., greetings; Wilhemina Long, welcome; Attorney Donna Taylor, reading of the Emancipation Proclamation; Minister Charolette Leach, introduction of speaker; Joycelyn Johnson, annual appeal; Dr. Manderline Scales and Larn Dillard, scholarship presentations; Josephine H. Jones, remarks; and Mendez, invocation and benediction.
Music will be provided by Mae Burney and an Emmanuel choir.
Scholarships will be awarded to some outstanding seniors in our area high schools. The association is also soliciting member-ships of $10 to support the scholarships.
Leach is a native of Philadelphia ,Pennsylvania. He was born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Guy Heartwell and Irene Williams-Leach. He is the third of 10 siblings. He received his early education in the public schools in the city of Philadelphia. After receiving his GED, he entered the United States Army, where he served for 20 years, retiring in 1993 as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division.
He received numerous awards and decorations to include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Army Accommodation Medals, seven Army Achievement Medals, two National Defense Service Medals and the Southeast Asia Service Medals before retiring. He is a Vietnam era as well as a Gulf War Veteran.
He received his call to ministry while serving in the military and was licensed in 1981 by the Church of God in Christ denomination. He founded the first Baptist Association in Europe. He was licensed by the Rowan Association of North Carolina at the Pine Hall Baptist Church.
After retiring he received his bachelor’s degree from Fayetteville State University, majoring in Criminal Justice and graduating cum laude. He went on to earn a Master of Divinity Degree from the Inter denominational Theological Center of Morehouse School of Religion in Atlanta, Georgia.
In October of 2009, he accepted and assumed the position of senior pastor of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He is married to the former Charolette Geraldine Hagan, and they are parents of five children (Malisha, Christopher, Denise, Jason and Dennis Jr.) and grandparents of three grandchildren (Jaeylyn, Jermaine and Chloe).
The public is invited to attend this service. Josephine Jones is president and the Rev. Miller Allen is program chairperson.
