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| Black History Month: Making our community a better place to live |
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Posted: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 9:04 pm
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In recognition of Black History Month, The Messenger is presenting a series of articles focused on people who are making history today in our own community. The emphasis is on men and women who have been elected to positions of responsibility throughout Obion County and on those whose jobs involve keeping us safe and coming to our assistance when there are problems. Specifically, the latter will include those citizens who are involved in law enforcement, firefighting and rescue efforts.
These are some of the people who make our community a place we are glad to call home.
Curtis McLendon has a heart for children and young people. It shows itself in a variety of ways, but one of the most important to the community is his service on the Union City School Board. He was first elected 10 years ago and sees his role there as one of helping people and encouraging them to excellence.
It is his belief that young people who have an opportunity to serve as he has will make a better future for themselves and make a difference in the world and he intends to keep on helping young people reach their goals and their full potential through education. His commitment is to govern the school system into an even better and more efficient one.
McLendon, who is a pastor, is a graduate of Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Fla., and a 14-year member of the Foster Care Board. He has also served as a volunteer chaplain at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union City for 22 years.
He is married to Gloria McLendon and they are the parents of four sons, Tony Clemmons of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Robert Clemmons of Madisonville, Ky., Jerrick McLendon of Garner, N.C., and Rod McLendon of Union City.
Kenny Craig, a deputy sheriff with the Obion County Sheriff’s Department, is part of another husband-wife team who serve in the community. His wife, Debra Craig, is city manager of South Fulton. They are the parents of Kendall, who is 13; Kaleb, 11; and Kolby, 8, who are all students in the Union City School System.
Craig has been with the sheriff’s department since 2002 and is currently serving as school resource officer at Obion County Central High School in Troy. He polices the county schools, enforces school rules, assists with disruptive students and monitors visitors in an effort to maintain school safety. His job makes him a preventive and disciplinary force against violence, bullying, terrorism and gang and criminal activity.
He also teaches Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) for 10 weeks and influences more than 120 elementary school students each school year.
The Craigs live in Union City.
A 1991 graduate of Ripley High School, he received a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from the University of Tennessee in 1997 and graduated from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy in 2004. In 2007, he completed the Tennessee Department of Safety Drug Abuse Resistance Education School and he has also claimed several specialized law enforcement training certificates. He is currently enrolled at Union University in Jackson and is pursuing a master’s degree in Christian studies.
“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, ‘I cannot be what I ought to be, as long as you are not what you ought to be.’ I would encourage young people to consider a life of public service, as it will afford them the opportunity to give back to the community in which they live. In this career, you can see the difference you make by the lives you impact in the community. Whether you are helping a senior citizen up a set of stairs or intervening in a violent domestic dispute, this job will allow you to help those who cannot always help themselves,” Craig says.
Besides his career in law enforcement and his commitment to higher education, Craig finds time to serve as senior pastor of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church in Dyer — a position he has held since 2004. As a dedicated churchman, he has served as vice moderator and dean of the Obion River District Association and is currently president of congress and region one coordinator for that body.
He is also actively in-volved with the Tennessee Baptist Missionary and Educational Convention’s Department of Christian Education, where he is site coordinator, associate dean and president of the Western Region.
In addition, he is a certified dean for the National Baptist Convention’s Sunday School Publishing Board Division of Christian Education Accreditation and Credentials.
As a bivocational pastor, he is on the staff as chaplain for Rawls Funeral Home in Union City, South Fulton and Paris.
He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Nathaniel Lodge No. 216 F&AM, DARE Officers Association and National Association of School Resource Officers and is a mentor for children in Obion County. He is also a monthly mentor for an after-school program in Rutherford Elementary School.
Craig is an avid reader with a love of American history, culture and national politics. His hobbies include golf, chess and table tennis.
“There are many aspects of my job that I love. One is that no two days are the same. As someone who dislikes doing the same monotonous repetitive routine on a daily basis, this job is one in which I can see or experience something different almost each day. Another thing I enjoy is the opportunity to work with and around youth in the school system. I am able to share my life experiences, faith and law enforcement lessons with them in hopes that they will make wise decisions and become life-long productive citizens through education, hard work and determination. There is no greater joy than when I enter an elementary school and the little ones run to me and hug me or say, ‘I wanna be like you when I grow up.’ It reminds me just how responsible I am to those within the community in which I live. It keeps me humble,” Craig says.
As for the future, Craig says he will decide at the end of the year whether or not to pursue a doctorate. He says he has also been approached by some individuals who would like him to consider running for sheriff when the current sheriff retires.
“While I am humbled by the idea, that would be something I would have to discuss with family and friends,” Craig says.
Debra Craig began her career as South Fulton’s city manager a little more than a year and a half ago and says it provides her with an opportunity to witness community growth and progress first hand.
She adds that she is very appreciative of the opportunity her job provides to contribute to the spirit of unity and sense of mutual accomplishment that is vital among city leaders, employees and residents.
“When there is cooperation and collaboration, minds are focused, goals are met and success is achieved,” she says.
Mrs. Craig is a graduate of Dyersburg High School and attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and UTM, pursuing a degree in business administration with a concentration in finance. She is a graduate of the State of Tennessee Certified Municipal Finance Officer program.
Married to Obion County sheriff’s deputy and pastor Kenny Craig, she is mother to Kendall, Kaleb and Kolby and is a member of Fairview Baptist Church in Dyer.
The Union City resident is also a board member of Twin City Chamber of Commerce, presiding director of Twin City Ambulance Service and a member of Obion County Prevention Coalition and Delta Sigma Theta.
She is an alumna of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity, as well.
Her hobbies include tutoring children, playing board games, creating print designs and playing piano.
“Young people should become involved in public service,” she says. “A position in local government is a great opportunity to serve the public in a positive way. Government needs people who are bright, enthusiastic and committed to making their community and society better.”
Her job goals, she says, involve providing more community youth-oriented activities and events in the area.
Published in The Messenger 2.19.13 |
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