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Books By &
About Mary Carter Smith
Mary Carter Smith: African American Storyteller
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The Griot's Cookbook: Rare and Well-Done
Vibes: Experimentation in Co-creation /
Town Child /
Heart to Heart
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Sitting on Top of the
World
—for Mary
Carter Smith
By Rudolph Lewis
Whippoorwill sings his song deep in the dark
woods as a fat half moon in mist reclines
on its back—sings three notes, like “griot
gone,
griot gone, griot gone.” A poem I wrote
her voice transformed on air into a spring
bush of red flowers. She was a tiller
rugged, back-bent, gentle green-thumb sower
who inspired fragile seeds to root & bloom—
even in stony ground among thorns. She
was a passing presence touched with wisdom
stories—brim-filled with loss, sweat, &
struggle.
This cherishing caretaker for us turned
the soil, hands firmly on the plough
handles,
giving all of self,
thoughtless of profit.
27 April
2007 |
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Mary Carter Smith is now an
Ancestor
On April 24, 2007,
Mary Carter Smith made her transition. Mother Mary, as
she is affectionately called, was a visionary, poet,
teacher, historian, chronicler of the values and
principles of the people. She is known nationwide for
reviving and promoting storytelling as an art form, as a
teaching method, and as a form of communication.
Twenty-three years
ago, along with Linda Goss, Mother Mary founded The
National Association for Black Storytelling, Inc., was
awarded the Zora Neale Hurston Award in 1985, proclaimed
“Mother Griot” in 1994, received the Lifetime
Achievement Award and The Circle of Excellence Award
from the National Storytelling Association in 1996, and
her image is celebrated at the Great Blacks in Wax
Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Mother Griot’s numerous
achievements and recognitions affirmed her as an
international treasure and a living legend.
She was a teacher
in the Baltimore City Public School system for
thirty-one years and volunteered her services hosting a
Saturday morning radio program, “Griot for the Young and
the Young at Heart,” for twenty-five years. In 1983
Mother Mary was named the official Griot of Baltimore
City and, in 1991, was named the official Griot of
Maryland.
Mother Mary is
co-founder of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Maryland,
founding member of Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America,
the Arena Players and the Griots’ Circle of Maryland,
founder of the Citizens’ Coalition for Urban Survival, a
member of Huber Memorial Church of Christ and Zeta Phi
Beta Sorority, Inc., and a graduate of Coppin State
University.
In the true sense
of the meaning of “Griot,” Mother Mary excelled. She
has written countless numbers of books of poetry and
stories. With her inspiration, storytelling continues to
be an important voice in this global community; a voice
that spoke of God’s Love, Peace and Understanding
between the peoples of the world.
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Home-Going Celebration
Mother Mary Carter Smith
Viewing
Sunday, April 29, 2007
4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Huber Memorial Church
5701 York Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21212
Homegoing Service
Monday, April 30, 2007
Huber Memorial Church
Family Hour (Wake) 10:00 am
Home-going Service (Funeral) 11:00 am
Internment
Arbutus Cemetery
Cards can be sent to the family:
Mrs. Joan Stevenson & Family
9028 Scotts Haven Drive
Baltimore, Maryland 21234
Source:
http://www.nabsinc.org/mc/page.do
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posted 27 April 2007 |
