Katherine Roberts Berndes

is the author of How to Write a Personal Narrative, How to Become a Better Consumer and How to Write Your Autobiography. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.A.L.S. in Education, Psychology and Anthropology from Wesleyan University, CT. She taught writing process and has twenty-seven years experience in elementary, junior high and adult education.

She is a consultant in English, writing skills and adult education.

She is a winner of the National League of American Pen Women and local and national nonfiction, poetry and photography awards.

Katherine Berndes's books may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Dr. R. Eugene Burley

was born and raised in Mount Dora, Florida. He has pastored in Atlanta, andBrooklyn, N.Y. He is the organizer and first president of the Martin Luther King, Sr. House of Studies in Brooklyn, N.Y. His first graduate study was in American History - Period 1845-1865. He is one of Florida's most distinguished local historians holding a master of arts and an Ivy League doctorate.

Burley has served as Stewardship Specialist for the Florida Baptist Convention. He is the minister of the First Institutional Church, Mount Dora, Florida and the Crossroads Baptist Church, Clermont, Florida. He has carefully examined the hidden history of Mount Dora from 1870 to present.

Dr. R. Eugene Burleys book may be purchased by clicking on theorder form
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Emma J. Clark

is the retired Director of the Richmond County Public Library, Richmond, California. Clark served as secretary to Dr. Mattic McGlothen, who was Director of the Women's Department of theChurch of God in Christ. Clark is Archivist of the Mattie McGlothen Library/Museum.

Emma J. Clark's book may be purchased by clicking on theorder form
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Amil David DuPree

has autism. He is a part-time volunteer at the Center for Independent Living and a part-time student at the Loften Center, Gainesville, Florida. The son of Herbert and Sherry DuPree. Amil has written about his life as a student in the Public Schools of Florida. Amil is also a consultant in Autism career choices. For more information on Autism,click here

Amil DuPree's book may be purchased by clicking on theorder form
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Herbert Clarence DuPree

received his M.A. from the University of Cincinnati and attended the University of Michigan and the University of Florida. DuPree has served in several capacities in the church as a steward and as a Sunday School teacher. He has served in educational administration for over 20 years, including coordinator of the Bethune Cookman College Extension Program in Gainesville and assistant principal of a middle school. He is is now principal at College Park Elementary School, Ocala, Florida.

For the 1998 school year, DuPree's school received the highest writing scores in the elementary schools of Marion County. This school has been honored for their contribution to the development of Florida's education system by a visit from Senator Buddy Mckays's wife and staff members of the School Board in Marion County. He has also received other state and local citations for his leadership at College Park Elementary. In June 1998, Herbert DuPree was honored by "The 100 Black Men of Gainesville." He has traveled to several countries. He has a background in urban geography. Herbert DuPree is a Consultant in elementary education and school supervision, urban geography and school discipline.
Herbert DuPree's books may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Sherry Sherrod DuPree

was the recipient of the State of Florida's 1997 Black Achiever's Award in the Religion category. Her contributions to the profession include founding and organizing the DuPree African-American Pentecostal and Holiness Collection at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

She is married Herbert C. DuPree, they have three sons: Amil, Andre, and Andrew. DuPree received two degrees from North Carolina Central University in Durham, a B.S. in vocational home economics in 1968, and a M.A. in educational media in 1969. In 1974, she received her A.M.L.S. in academic librarianship from the University of Michigan and an Ed.S. in 1978 in educational technology from the University of Michigan. DuPree was saved and filled with the Holy Ghost on Easter Sunday, 1981 at Williams Temple Church of God in Christ in Gainesville, Florida.

DuPree started a National African American Holiness Pentecostal Project in 1981. She has received several grants and has participated in several religious workshops. In 1988, DuPree was appointed by Dr. Wilma Hughey to the Archival Historical Committee of The Church of God in Christ, Memphis, Tennessee. In 1995, DuPree became the Archivist of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Detroit. In March of 1998, she was elected Second Vice-President in the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

DuPree's biography can be read in the following sources: Contemporary Authors, Vol. 156, Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who Among African Americans, Who's Who in the South and Southwest and several British biographical reference books. She is a consultant on religion, gospel music, grant writing, research techniques, African American Holiness-Pentecostal history, exhibit planning, the Rosewood Massacre of 1923, and computer information technology.

Meet the author Sherry Sherrod DuPree onEncore and read her latestprofile.

Sherry DuPree's books may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Willie Claude Eason

is "The Father of African American Gospel Hawaiian Steel Guitar Players in the United States." The tradition of the gospel Hawaiian steel guitar music has become very influential with its unique sound. Today Elder Aubrey Ghent of Ft. Pierce, Florida, and his father Deacon Henry Nelson, are highly regarded gospel Hawaiian steel guitarists who performed at the Smithsonian Wolf Trap Folklife Festival, on April 1, 1994.

In 1957, Mahalia Jackson, Queen of Gospel Music, said to Deacon Henry Nelson, who was playing backup for her in New York City, "the Hawaiian guitar has legs, let me see it walk, since you made it talk." There are only a few African American steel gospel guitarists today. Brother Willie Claude Eason is the man who most musicians point to as their mentor. Eason has played his steel guitar for over 50 years, backing up many gospel groups. Eason fans say that Willie and his guitar talk for Jesus. Eason is recognized as the "king of the gospel Hawaiian steel guitar players."

Willie Eason's CD may be purchased by clicking on theorder form
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Micki Esselstyn

is an ordained minister with standing in the Florida Conference of the United Church of Christ. She is a member of the American Association of Pastorial Counselors, the Center for Prevention of Sexual and Domestic Violence, Guild for Spiritual Guidance, Interim Ministry Network, National Association of Social Workers, Academy of Certified Social Workers, and Spiritual Directors International.

In addition to the United Church of Christ, Rev. Esselstyn has experience with the Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ), Episcopalian, Jewish, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Roman Catholic Traditions. Her husband, Dr. Eric Esselstyn is an educational administrator at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He enjoys singing with his wife, and helping with her Christian Workshops.

Micki Esselstyn's "A Healthy Eating Program" book may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Roland L. Freeman

is a highly regarded photo documentarian whose work has been exhibited worldwide. He has been a field research photographer for the Smithsonian Institution for more than twenty years and has been recognized though awards and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Black Arts Festival through its 1994 Living Legend Award.

He is president of The Group for Cultural Documentation based in Washington, D.C. His successful commercial career has included assignments for Time, Newsweek, National Geographic, London Sunday Times (England), Der Stern (Germany), and Paris-Match (France). Freeman has quilt exhibits that travel worldwide. He is available as a consultant for photo documentaries, exhibit planning and photography.

Roland Freeman's book may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Lucy T. Geringer

has had over 27 years of educating children as an elementary teacher and mother of two. She has applied her vast early childhood knowledge by developing a series of concept books for children ages three (3) to seven (7). In addition to her teaching experience, Lucy T. Geringer earned a B.A. degree from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois and a M.A. degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia. She lives in Florida with her husband.

Find out more about "Rhymes and Times of Cleo-cat-tra" clicking by here.
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Bernardita Cox Kollock

was born and raised in Chile and later educated in the United States where she obtained her degree in Studio Art. Her passion for learning about other cultures along with her extensive travels throughout the world have influenced her appreciation for the arts. She currently lives with her husband in Arizona, where she enjoys the museums, the southwestern art festivals and the wide range of outdoor activities.
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Maude E. (Lewis) Scott

had an early interest in herb plants even before she was able to identify and pronounce their names. Learning as it were "from her father's knee," her training began when she assisted him in the collection of herb plants and in their preparation for herbal treatments. Her life, if stated briefly, has been one of service - service to God by meeting the needs of fellow human beings.

Although the majority of her knowledge was "handed down" from previous generations through her father, Mrs. Scott has also acquired two degrees related to her field, a doctorate in naturopathy medicine (N.D.) and a master herbalist (M.H.) degree. Over the years she has continued her quest to acquire more knowledge concerning newly discovered herbs and alternative methods for maintaining and restoring one's heath. She is a consultant in health careers and home remedies.

Maude Scott's book may be purchased by clicking on theorder form
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Alexander Constantine Stewart

was born on November 3, 1957 in New York City to Dudley and Lillian Mills Stewart. He married the former Shirlene Denise Keys from Detroit, Michigan and they have three children: Shechianh, Akilah and Omari. Stewart received a B.S. in Medical Technology from the University of Kansas.

In Alexander Stewart is a chemistry supervisor at a major hospital in South Carolina. 1989, received a B.T. from Northgate Bible College. Stewart received the baptism of the Holy Ghost on November 2, 1971. He accepted the Jesus Only message and was baptized in Jesus' name, April 29, 1974 at the Greater Refuge Temple in New York. Since, 1974 Brother Stewart has gathered material on the African American Oneness experience.

In 1988, Stewart was appointed chairman of the Church History Committee at the Greater Refuge Temple. In 1991, he received a national appointment as the Assistant Historian to Dr. R.C. Spellman of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. Stewart and his family are very active members of Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Inc.

Shirlene Stewart attended Wayne State University and in May 1989, received a bachelor of religion degree from Northgate Bible College. She received her missionary license in 1985. The Stewart family lives in Columbia, South Carolina. The Stewarts are consultants in the oneness religion, health care, the role of church leaders and church organizations.

Alexander Stewart's books may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Robert Stone

has been documenting the previously unheralded African-American Holiness-Pentecostal sacred steel musical tradition since 1992. He has produced four CDs of the music for America's premier roots music label, Arhoolie Records. Sacred Steel which was partially funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, Traditional Arts Program, documented five Florida masters in 73 minutes of digital field recordings and a 32-page booklet.

Three studio recordings have been released for fall 1997: the Campbell Brothers Featuring Katie Jackson is the debut recording of some of the Keith Dominion's finest musicians and the church's best-known vocalist; Sonny Treadway delivers compelling instrumentals by one of the Jewel Dominion's finest; and Aubrey Ghent and Friends features the reverend's sizzling lap steel work, a driving band, and smooth harmony vocals.

Stone is part of a documentary video project too. It's a collaboration with award-winning Dallas folklorist Alan Govenar, Arhoolie's Chris Strachwitz, and a professional camera crew. He is also working on a book on the subject, he expects to be published soon. He is a consultant on steel guitar music, folklore and guitar music.

Robert Stone's CDs may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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Evelyn M.E. Taylor

was bom and reared in Jefferson County, West Virginia. She received a DA from Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, W.Va. and MA from the University of the District of Columbia. Employed at the Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C. Taylor conducts workshops and seminars on missions and evangelism. She is a researcher and writer.

Evelyn M.E. Taylor Book may be purchased by clicking on the order form
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