African Methodist Episcopal

At Unity African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Severn, the visiting choir arrives on cassette tape, the pews are brown folding chairs and the sanctuary bears a striking resemblance to a school cafeteria.But with few of the trappings of an established church, the Rev. Myrtle Bowen and her small flock are determined to make a go of it.Bowen and a congregation of one brought Unity from its Crofton home of one year to Van Bokkelen Elementary School on Reece Road in September.Nearly three months and two church-sponsored block parties later, the membership stands at 22, including seven who joined Sunday.

The Rev. Ricky Spain, pastor of East Baltimore's Waters African Methodist Episcopal Church who had also been a community activist in his years as an Annapolis-area pastor, died of cancer Nov. 16 at the Tate Chesapeake Hospice House in Linthicum. The Severn resident was 63. Born in Virginia Beach, Va., he was the son of Luther and Florence Spain. A 1967 graduate of First Colonial High School, he won state honors for wrestling. After studying at Norfolk State University, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

The Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis expanded with a four-story addition almost a year ago after outgrowing its space in the restored Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church. The current exhibit, Trails, Tracks, Tarmac, highlights African-American communities in northern Anne Arundel County through artifacts, oral-history recordings and documentary quilts. Museum director Wendi Perry says she is planning more programs to share African-American culture with a wider audience.

The Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis expanded with a four-story addition almost a year ago after outgrowing its space in the restored Mount Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church. The current exhibit, Trails, Tracks, Tarmac, highlights African-American communities in northern Anne Arundel County through artifacts, oral-history recordings and documentary quilts. Museum director Wendi Perry says she is planning more programs to share African-American culture with a wider audience.

TOMORROW Board of Zoning Appeals The hearing examiner will hear Case BA 05-023C (Mount Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal Church) at 6:30 p.m. in the Ellicott Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. LANDFILL Hours: Alpha Ridge Landfill, 2350 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, except some holidays. SIGN LANGUAGE Interpreters: Call 410-313-6400 (voice); or 410-313-6401 (TTY).

LaTanya M. Beckett, a children's day care instructor, died of respiratory distress syndrome and chronic pancreatitis Saturday at Sinai Hospital. She was 27 and a resident of the West Arlington neighborhood. Born in Baltimore and raised on Groveland Avenue, she was a 1996 graduate of Northwestern High School. She studied at what is now Coppin State University and at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She was taking online courses from Ashworth College at her death. For the past five years, she had been a day care instructor at Lil Pumpkin's Child Care in Randallstown.

From The Sun April 5-11, 1842APRIL 7: The ordinance against the dangerous practice of flying kites in the streets should be rigorously enforced. If we are to guess at the future from the past, we shall have to record some distressing accidents from frightened horses through this cause pretty shortly.APRIL 11: Capt. Sheppard was brought before Justice King, on Saturday, charged with whipping a boy on board his vessel too severely. It appeared that a strong rope had been used.From The Sun April 5-11, 1892APRIL 5: The General Assembly of Maryland closed the session of 1892 at midnight, and will hereafter only be remembered by the record it has made.

Anne C. Fuller, a retired educator and principal whose career in the city's public schools spanned more than 40 years, died in her sleep Thursday at her West Baltimore home. She was 82. Born Anne Calhoun in Dalton, Ga., she was raised by an aunt and uncle after the death of her mother. She moved to Baltimore in 1937 when her uncle, the Rev. Henri R. Tomlin, an African Methodist Episcopal minister, was named pastor of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a 1939 graduate of Douglass High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from what is now Coppin State University in 1943 and a master's from Howard University in 1946.

A gym might seem a curious setting for a sermon.But to Gerald Simms, the thumps and grunts of a basketball game at Bates Middle School in Annapolis make a perfect backdrop for God."Jesus went wherever the people were, and that's what we want to do," says Mr. Simms, 27.Mr. Simms' church, Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal, is one of 20 congregations from Anne Arundel and Prince George's counties that have joined the Washington Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Basketball Ministry.

When Anita Foote Wilkins returned to tiny Bazil AME Church in Cockeysville three years ago, she found the church that time forgot.Not much had changed since she went there decades ago while visiting her grandparents' farm. There was no water, no sewer service or indoor lavatories at the picturesque country chapel on winding Sherwood Road, about a mile off York Road."There was the outhouse -- the same one I went to as a child," said Wilkins, 68, a New York resident who retired to Cockeysville.

TOMORROW Board of Zoning Appeals The hearing examiner will hear Case BA 05-023C (Mount Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal Church) at 6:30 p.m. in the Ellicott Room, George Howard Building, 3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City. LANDFILL Hours: Alpha Ridge Landfill, 2350 Marriottsville Road in Marriottsville, will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays, except some holidays. SIGN LANGUAGE Interpreters: Call 410-313-6400 (voice); or 410-313-6401 (TTY).

Anne C. Fuller, a retired educator and principal whose career in the city's public schools spanned more than 40 years, died in her sleep Thursday at her West Baltimore home. She was 82. Born Anne Calhoun in Dalton, Ga., she was raised by an aunt and uncle after the death of her mother. She moved to Baltimore in 1937 when her uncle, the Rev. Henri R. Tomlin, an African Methodist Episcopal minister, was named pastor of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church. She was a 1939 graduate of Douglass High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from what is now Coppin State University in 1943 and a master's from Howard University in 1946.

LaTanya M. Beckett, a children's day care instructor, died of respiratory distress syndrome and chronic pancreatitis Saturday at Sinai Hospital. She was 27 and a resident of the West Arlington neighborhood. Born in Baltimore and raised on Groveland Avenue, she was a 1996 graduate of Northwestern High School. She studied at what is now Coppin State University and at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. She was taking online courses from Ashworth College at her death. For the past five years, she had been a day care instructor at Lil Pumpkin's Child Care in Randallstown.

CINCINNATI - With shouts of jubilation and tears of gratitude last night, the Rev. Vashti M. McKenzie of Baltimore was elected the first female bishop in the 213-year history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. McKenzie, the broadcaster turned minister who has been the pastor at Payne Memorial AME Church in West Baltimore for the past decade, was elected on the second ballot along with the Rev. Richard Norris of Philadelphia. When the votes were flashed on a screen in the convention hall shortly before 8 p.m., it was McKenzie's supporters, recognizable by the red shirts they wore, who first reacted with screams, cheers and outstretched arms.

When Anita Foote Wilkins returned to tiny Bazil AME Church in Cockeysville three years ago, she found the church that time forgot.Not much had changed since she went there decades ago while visiting her grandparents' farm. There was no water, no sewer service or indoor lavatories at the picturesque country chapel on winding Sherwood Road, about a mile off York Road."There was the outhouse -- the same one I went to as a child," said Wilkins, 68, a New York resident who retired to Cockeysville.

Sunday was T-shirt day at Payne Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Church in West Baltimore. Everyone was dressed casually, wearing T-shirts celebrating the church's centennial.Then in walked the church's pastor, the Rev. Vashti McKenzie, looking cool and calm in a royal blue African-inspired two-piece dress that swept the floor.Later, she opened her jacket to reveal her Payne T-shirt.It was just one of the latest surprises from the woman who has become one of Baltimore's leading religious figures.

CINCINNATI - With shouts of jubilation and tears of gratitude last night, the Rev. Vashti M. McKenzie of Baltimore was elected the first female bishop in the 213-year history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. McKenzie, the broadcaster turned minister who has been the pastor at Payne Memorial AME Church in West Baltimore for the past decade, was elected on the second ballot along with the Rev. Richard Norris of Philadelphia. When the votes were flashed on a screen in the convention hall shortly before 8 p.m., it was McKenzie's supporters, recognizable by the red shirts they wore, who first reacted with screams, cheers and outstretched arms.

Rev. Willie K. WoodsTrinity AME pastorThe Rev. Willie K. Woods, pastor for 20 years of Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, died Monday of cancer at Mercy Medical Center.He was 72 and lived on Mount Royal Terrace.Dr. Woods had been president for 10 years of the African Methodist Episcopal Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore and Vicinity. had held both offices longer than anyone else.He was ordained 35 years ago, and his first assignment was as an associate pastor at Ebenezer AME Church in Baltimore.

At Unity African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Severn, the visiting choir arrives on cassette tape, the pews are brown folding chairs and the sanctuary bears a striking resemblance to a school cafeteria.But with few of the trappings of an established church, the Rev. Myrtle Bowen and her small flock are determined to make a go of it.Bowen and a congregation of one brought Unity from its Crofton home of one year to Van Bokkelen Elementary School on Reece Road in September.Nearly three months and two church-sponsored block parties later, the membership stands at 22, including seven who joined Sunday.

Rev. Willie K. WoodsTrinity AME pastorThe Rev. Willie K. Woods, pastor for 20 years of Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, died Monday of cancer at Mercy Medical Center.He was 72 and lived on Mount Royal Terrace.Dr. Woods had been president for 10 years of the African Methodist Episcopal Ministerial Alliance of Baltimore and Vicinity. had held both offices longer than anyone else.He was ordained 35 years ago, and his first assignment was as an associate pastor at Ebenezer AME Church in Baltimore.