Little Legacies
Legacy is a powerful word. It has weight to it. Its not a word people use lightly.
You don’t often sit around at a party or walk up to a stranger and say lets talk about your
legacy!
How would you define the word?
One of the formal definitions of the word is :
The long-lasting impact or influence of a person, organization, or event,
especially as it affects future generations.
Today I’d like to share 3 stories about legacy with you.
The first is from a poet named Mattie Stepanek. Mattie started writing poetry when he
was 3 years old and by the time he was 13 had written 7 NY Times Best Selling Books.
Mattie’s first book was entitled Heartsongs. He believed that we all have heart songs--a
special purpose and “reason for being” given to us by God.He was bort with a rare
neuromuscular disease. Despite disability, Mattie grew to be a well-respected poet and
peace ambassador, and he inspired millions of people around the world with his deep
faith in God and humanity, and with his messages of hope and peace. He was on the
Oprah Winfrey Show and Jimmy Carter said that “We have known kings and queens,
and we’ve known presidents and prime ministers, but the most extraordinary person
whom I have ever known in my life is Mattie Stepanek. He was just shy of his 14 th
birthday when he passed away leaving a legacy of being a poet, a peacemaker and a
philosopher that played.
Read the poem “Heartsongs” from his book.
The Second is about a man that I view synonymously with the word legacy. They are
one in the same for me. Its a man that lived a life of strength and confidence, with
humor and resilience and with vulnerability and resilience. That man is my
father—Roosevelt Ramsey. Yesterday our family celebrated 25 years of a concert that
he started during black history month. Originally it was called Friends of Roosevelt
Ramsey and it was perfect name for the event. My father made friends every where he
went and bringing them together to celebrate unity through song, poetry and dance
made him proud. I asked my mom last night how it started. And she said he just said to
her one day I want to have a concert for black history month and I want to invite people
from all different churches in the area and next thing she knew he was in his car—he
loved his cars—mostly cadillacs-driving around inviting people to his concert. That first
concert was a hit—the parking lot was full and there was food and it continued year
after year. He had a chair in the front of the sanctuary at Howells Congregational
Church that he would sit in during the concert and lead the event—that was his chair

and he was in charge and everyone knew it. And 25 years later it still continues – Why-
because of the impact-the feeling people had when they came together and for me—the
feeling of watching how proud both my mother and father were of this event. And how
did it start? It started with an idea—it started with a purpose and it started with a vision.
The scripture in Deuteronomy 6: vs. 6-7 that Ann read says “these commandments that
I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about
them when you sit at home, and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and
when you get up. The Hebrews were extremely successful at making religion an
integral part of life. The reason is because religious education was life oriented not
information oriented. Let me repeat that—because religious education was life oriented,
not information oriented. And by being life oriented that means its not perfect because
none of us are perfect. We will make mistakes and that’s part of the education. They
used the context of daily life to teach about God. The key to teaching your children to
love god is stated simply and clearly in these verses. If you want your children to follow
God You must make God a part of your everyday experiences. You must teach your
children diligently to see God in all aspects of life, not just those that are church related.
Finally, I want to share with you a story about a building that has a long legacy of being
welcoming – It’s the building your sitting in right now. Invite Ann up to share history of
the church around civil rights and black heritage and ask the following questions:
1. Why was Pastor Ron James (our minister before Jeff) arrested during the Civil
Rights    
           Movement in January 1964? (For protesting in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for the
right for fellow Black citizens to vote).
2. Years later, a search pastoral nominating committee came here from Yorktown
Presbyterian to hear Pastor James preach.  One of the members of the
committee was shocked to see a Black woman serving communion as an elder
and helping with the service as a worship leader.  What was the name of that
church Elder who was serving communion? (Elder Goldie Mann)
3. Which member of our congregation ( who just passed away last year), helped
organize Black Heritage Sunday and often sang Spirituals for this service in his
beautiful deep voice (Mr. Sam Tucker)
4. During summers, as far back as the 40s, many predominantly African American
visitors would come from Kings Lodge and Paradise Farms to our church for
Sunday worship.  At that time we never sang during offering, but one Sunday
when the organist played Sweet Hour of Prayer, some of the visitors started
humming.  How did the congregation respond?(Everyone Joined in singing.  This
is the kind of thing that made people feel welcome - and want to come to our
church.)
Please share other stories after worship and other times - those are just a few of the
many.  

I’m sure there have been times when we’ve missed the mark, but these stories reflect a
welcoming legacy.  We want to grow and cultivate this because we serve an amazingly
welcoming Savior.
In closing- as we leave here today I hope you all will think about your little legacies and
the heartsongs you have to share with the world.
Thank You!

Kelly Dolson   February 23, 2025