Atlanta, GA (1888PressRelease)
January 27, 2008 - The Promised Land Community Center recognizes the Top 50 Difference Makers in America.
The Livseys have created the "Promised Land Difference Maker Awards", that acknowledge Americans of all races that are visionaries too,who are keeping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dream, alive,not for fanfare or community recognition,but merely by the way they choose to make a difference one person at a time. Part of the Promised Land plantation Livsey's grandfather purchased in 1920, the community includes the original 1820 Thomas Maguire house that survived Sherman's sweep through Georgia (www.gwinnetths.org/Tour/) and is home to many members of the extended Livsey family the Promised Land community is located off Centerville Highway, near Snellville,Ga.. "We are the Livseys. ... For the first time this past summer, the white and black Livseys celebrated a family reunion together. It was a wonderful occasion. No one owed no one an explanation or excuse for the past. No animosity. No guilt.
The only thing each and everyone left with was a whole new family tree. How about that? Since then, we have become one family." The Livseys were one of the first families to settle in Gwinnett, Livsey said. Last year, his parents, Thomas and Dorethia, received a lifetime achievement award from the Gwinnett Chapter of the NAACP for their service to the community. He and his father learned about the many branches on their family tree from a white cousin, Annette Livsey Merritt of Decatur. She accompanied father and son to the National Archives in East Point last year, he said.
Dr King's, infamous last public speech,made strong inferences to this historic Promised Land, once a large plantation during the Civil War,that he discovered from the mountaintop of Stone Mountain,once a exclusive site for the KKK rallies,seven miles away,Mine eyes have seen the fertile land of promise,as illustrated by the last paragraph of his speech:( no recorded evidence though)
"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord"(
source).
(http://www.afscme.org/about/1549.cfm)
The 2008 Top 50 Promised Land Difference Maker Awards are in random order:
1. E R Snell Construction 26. Gen. Bill Livsey
2 .Britt Home Furnishing 27. Mrs Avis Livsey Hanna
3. Mr.Wayne Mason 28. Mrs./Mrs.George MC Call
4. Sen.Max Cleland 29. Mrs Opera Winfrey
5. Gov. Sonny Perdue 30.Mr.Orrin C. Hudson
6. Mrs. Annette Livsey Merritt 31. Mr Andrew Young
7. Mr/Mrs.Thomas & Dorethia Livsey 32. Mr./Mrs. Arthur & Betty Chaney
8. Dr. Todd 33. Judge Clark
9. Mrs.People 34. Mr. Kelly Barrow
10.Mr. Elliott Brack 35. Mr John Culpepper
11.The Quintana's 36. Mrs. Lillian Webb
12.Atty. Alan Mullinite 37. Mr. Virgil Williams
13.Mr./Mrs. John & Linda Gardner 38. Mr. Jimmy Mason
14.Mrs. Eunice L. Mixon 39. Mr Barry Brown
15. Mr.Tom McFee 40. Mr./Mrs. Barry & Stacy Thrope
16.Mr. Mike Coskrey 41. Mrs.Maureen Hill
17.Mr. Don Capela 42. Mr Couch
18.Mr./Mrs. Mark & Susan Waits 43. Royce Petty
19.Atty. Ray Lail 44.Mr./Mrs. Aaron & Robbi Moore
20.Mrs. Denise Dukes 45. Mr.J. Lloyd Tomer (YTB)
21.*Mr. Scott Banister 46. Mrs. Eileen Drennen
22.* Rev. Sherman Martin 47. Dr. Kim Livsey,
23. Mr./Mrs. Martin & Sheryl Kelly 48. Former President Jimmy Carter
24.Yolanda Livsey 49. *Former President Ronald Reagan
25. Mr. Kevin Livsey & Alexis Livsey 50. Mr. Rick & Danica Smith
For the first time the whole metro Atlanta area is recognizing Dr. King Day.And there is substantial evidence,that if he were here today,he would not turn the celebration towards him, but urge all races to use this day as a celebration, for all people to share ideas. We challenge all of you to take this day to make a difference in your own community.
