Sojourner Truth Luncheon: Celebrating
those who serve
Karen Lynn Todd 7:57 p.m. EDT April 23, 2015
Vice Mayor Lynn Ward Gray, middle, won the Sojourner Truth Award for her service to the
community.(Photo: Justin Andert/For the Enquirer)
A community leader, activist, business owner, artist and spirited leader all are winners, and this
Saturday the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women are honoring
them for their service.
Each year they honor community folks who have gone above and beyond in their area of service.
"They're just an awesome group of people," said Shirley Tuggle, club president. "Between the
five of them, I couldn't even count all the time they have devoted to community service. It's
mind-boggling that all of them have been so active."
This year, John Banks is receiving the Business Award; Sharon Miller will receive the
Community Spirit Award; Erma McGinnis will receive the Community Musical Artist Award;
Bobby Holley will receive the Frederick Douglass Award; and Lynn Ward Gray will receive the
association's highest honor, the Sojourner Truth Award.
"Community service for my family is what we've done for as long as I can remember," said
Gray, who is Battle Creek's vice mayor and a leader for a lengthy list of organizations. "Growing
up in Battle Creek, I saw my mom and dad doing a lot of community service, from Dad as the
treasurer and deacon at our church, Mount Zion, to Mom being a stewardess and being involved
in Sunday School. And then everything else they did in the community — it's just in my blood."
Gray has been a development officer at the Battle Creek Community Foundation since 2007. She
is also the program director and host of the foundation's Horizons Radio program on WFPM,
99.5 FM.
"I get a lot more out of community service than I give," Gray said. "I believe it's the rent you pay
for being here on earth, and I really do take that seriously. I feel like I'm robbing God if I don't
give back."
Sharon Miller (Photo: Nick Garrison/For the Enquirer)
Sharon K. Miller believes it is her calling to serve the community. She was a Kellogg Co. tour
guide and worked for Kellogg Community Credit Union as a loan counselor for more than 20
years. She is a Battle Creek native and has been involved in local organizations ranging from
director of the Greater Battle Creek Golf Club Tournament to a mentor at the former Operation
Grad to sitting on the Sojourner Truth steering committee.
Lately, Miller has been instrumental in organizing tributes for unsung heroes in the community
— not realizing she would be honored herself.
"This is what we're putting on display for the community — that we appreciate what these five
unsung heroes and sheroes do for Battle Creek," Tuggle said.
Miller said she is honored.
"It's for the love of God that I serve in the community," Miller said. "I love walking and working
in my assignment."
Erma McGinnis (Photo: provided)
Erma McGinnis' musical journey began as director and organizer of the United Ministerial
Alliance Choir. She also directed and played for Olivet College Gospel Choir for two years. She
served as a youth director and musician for her church's district, comprised of churches in the
Midwest. She retired from Southwest Michigan Rehabilitation Hospital after 33 years of service.
"We wanted to make sure we got Erma in the group of awardees because of her spiritual gift,"
Tuggle said.
Because of his strong commitment to all of the citizens of Battle Creek in the fight against crime,
violence and drugs, Bobby Holley has already gone above and beyond the call of duty, according
to Tuggle, and that's why he was chosen to receive the Frederick Douglass Award.
Bobby Holley (Photo: provided)
Bobby Holley has campaigned for jobs, education, the disabled, public safety, homelessness and
much more.
In addition to his singing career, while being a pastor of Church of the Living Water, he led
various marches and rallies and even walked or crawled to different cities including Kalamazoo,
Detroit, Lansing and Albion.
His most recent awareness campaigns were walking 160 miles to Chicago protesting gun
violence and staying in a cardboard box during the winter to bring attention to homelessness.
Holley says that "all praises go to God who makes all things possible. Without Him, nothing
would be possible. God gets all the glory."
John Banks (Photo: provided)
John Banks, a Flint native, is CEO and minority owner of Motor Shop Electrical Construction.
He moved to Battle Creek and accepted an internship with the Kellogg Co. in 1984. He later
became a journeyman electrician in 1997 and a master electrician and contractor in 2003.
He became owner of Motor Shop Electrical Construction in 2003 and owner of Independence
Electric and PAOP in 2005.
He has been a member of Maranatha Original Church of God for more than 25 years and is vice
president of the Michigan Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association.
During the luncheon, three students are receiving scholarships from the proceeds.
They are Donte' Jamal Tuggle, a senior at Lakeview High School, Gabrielle Leslie Jones, a
senior at Battle Creek Central High, and Aysia R. Rucker, a nursing and biomedical sciences
student at Western Michigan University.
"These students are our future, and very deserving of the scholarships," Tuggle said.
If you go
•WHAT: Annual NANBPW Sojourner Truth Luncheon.
•WHERE: Maranatha Original Church of God, 400 Waubascon Road.
•WHEN: Noon Saturday.
•INFO: Call the church at 968-3878.