Queen of gospel doles out youth scholarships

Long live the "Queen of Gospel," Dr. Albertina Walker, who gave another outstanding scholarship benefit concert recently.

"God has blessed us to receive all the blessings we have received, and He didn't want us to keep it all to ourselves and for ourselves. He meant for us to spread the word of giving," said the legendary performer.

The gospel diva sponsors the free annual event through her scholarship foundation.

Each year, Stellar and Grammy Award winning celebrity recording artists participate in the event.

"The purpose of the free will offering is for people to give freely so that we can give to the students. The more they give, the more we can give to students," Walker said.

This year, Beverly Crawford, Smokie Norful, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Percy Gray & Joshua's Troop, as well as Darius Brooks and The Tommies Reunion choir, all gave their time and talents to render outstanding performances.

"That's what the scholarship is all aboutgiving, and it's for the young people to encourage them to stay in school...because they got to have a degree in order to survive," the leader of The Caravans said with a smile.

Walker has given thousands of dollars in scholarships to students over the course of the foundations two decades-long existence.

For more information about the Albertina Walker Scholarship Foundation, e-mail albertinawalker@ scbglobal.net Speaking of giving, Marvin Sapp, took time to pay a personal visit to the home of the late Bernie Mac to comfort his wife, Rhonda McCollough, and daughter Je'Niece. The Zomba Gospel recording artist sang a hymn and "Never Would Have Made It," a favorite of the King of Comedy's widow.

The single "Never Would Have Made It

On August 28, Inspiration 1390 and other Clear Channel Radio stations will join forces with the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation Inc., in a historic fundraising effort to establish a memorial in the nation's capital to honor the life and legacy of King. Celebrity artists, including Aretha Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, T.D. Jakes, Smokie Norful, Darius Brooks, Donald Lawrence, Stephanie Mills, Gen. Colin Powell and Tom Joyner will be among those urging listeners to support this worthy cause. Interestingly, the radiothon will take place on the 45th anniversary King's I Have A Dream speech–also the same day that Sen. Barack Obama will be declared the Democratic presidential nominee during the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Congrats to Bishop Charles E. Blake, presiding bishop of the Church of God in Christ, who was the keynote speaker for the DNC Sunday. Blake is also pastor of West Angeles C.O.G.I.C., whose current single, Lord Prepare Me, continues to heat the Billboard charts. Also, on the homefront, Aaron Sledge was nominated for four Stellar Awards and Sharon Pulliam is one of 14 performers nationwide to be featured on a CD produced by the Be Sickle Smart campaign sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

Happy Bday blessings to Dasha Brooks (Darius Brooks’ daughter), Bishop Charles Blake, Sharon Roberts Walker, Andre Fluker and Doris Sykes.

"Remember, You are Blessed by the Best!"

Effie Rolfe is a radio personality and the religion entertainment columnist for the Chicago Defender. E-mail her at effie@theinspirationalcafe.com.

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