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| | Cheryl L. Batts | Hot Springs, AR -- On May 4th the Laymen News reported that Cheryl L. Batts, president and founder of P.H.O.E.B.E./ The Uzuri Project of Hot Springs, Arkansas, a historian and preservationist, along with her team completed the book they were writing on John L. Webb, the first National Laymen president. The book is titled, "The Winds of Change, John L. Webb, The Man and His Legacy." John L. Webb was the first National Baptist Laymen president from Hot Springs, AR. He served from 1923 to 1946. The laymen have named their annual banquet held in September each year in his memory, The John L Webb Awards and Recognition Banquet. Also the "Layman of the Year" award presented in September, The John L. Webb Award, is named in his memory. It is the most prestigious award that a laymen can receive from the National Laymen. This past July 20 - 22, the Walter Cade, Jr. Southwest Workshop was convening in Hot Springs. Batts and her team made a presentation to the delegates of the workshop about the project and stated that it was almost complete. Now it is ready and Batts is ready to present it to the National Baptist Laymen's Movement membership. It will be presented in Atlanta at the laymen's opening session on Tuesday immediately following the Prayer Breakfast.  Batts said this as she and her team researched the life of John L. Webb as they were preparing for the book, "as we have read and researched the life of this man, it becomes clearer that the road we are traveling to expose his contributions to the 'beloved community' and beyond is the right thing to do."
National laymen and all who read this book will be inspired by this writing by Batts and her team. It is a must read for every layman and a book every layman must have in his library. The last time Batts spoke with president Simmons she said this in her concluding remarks "there is such a fire for us to complete and share this project ... it is dear to our hearts and are excited that you, your wife and pastor Massey share in this excitement! You can tell, we have much respect for John L. Webb and firmly believe that not only the laymen within the auxiliary will be refreshed and encouraged about this man and the work that is to be done, but that our youth today will be encouraged and empowered." Listed below is what others had said after they read the book and their comments appear on the back cover: "In every generation, God plants individuals who are empowered to move humanity forward. Personalities, who are so equipped that they are able to make us better. Such is the case of Mr. John L. Webb." Leon R. Massey, Pastor, Roanoke Baptist Church and President, C.M.B.S.C. of Arkansas, Inc. "...the impact Mr. Webb had on my life and the long positive shadow of influence he had in Mississippi and Arkansas reminds me how he was a 'big' man, big in statue, height and influence..." Dr. Edith Irby Jones, Internal Medicine, Houston, Texas "...equally important as Webb's association with the Laymen's group, was his business sense, for he was able to start a couple businesses, which influenced many men of prominence, and taught them to pool their knowledge and earning, so as to grow and to help others to gain employment." Glen Chelf, Past President of the National Laymen's Auxiliary, Albuquerque, New Mexico "... the history of Hot Springs and its' place in Arkansas history has always been defined by the entertainers that came here, oral history tells us that The Woodmen of The Union set the stage for Louis Jordan, Peg Leg Bates, Lionel Hampton, Bill Bojangles Robinson to name a few, but this book, The Winds of Change, has documented that Mary McCloud Bethune, S. L. Smith, Field Agent Rosenwald Foundation, A.E. Bush, N.G.S. & T (family of the Mosaic Templars, Little Rock) Attorney J. D. Shackleford (Little Rock family) knew about, visited and made history in Hot Springs..." |
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