Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Mount Zion pastor receives award

The pastor of a Gurdon church was recognized for his community involvement during the Ila Upchurch Community Corporations annual recognition banquet in Prescott April 14.

Rev. William Colbert, pastor of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Gurdon, was awarded the citizen of the year award from the Charmette Civic and Social Club.

Club member Joyce Gibson presented the award. She began by admitting that the award was about a year late, and by thanking the member of the Ila Upchurch Corporation for allowing the Charmettes the forum for the award.

Gibson said the Charmettes began with a group of women from Prescott and surrounding communities in the 1950s. The Charmettes were to be a mainly social endeavor, but they soon expanded their mission.

The clubs theme is lifting as we climb, and Gibson said Colbert exemplified that theme.

Colbert is pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Gurdon and Gibson cited Colberts community involvement as the reason for the award.

Colbert called the award, A blessing.

Patricia Blake was named Ila Upchurch Corporations citizen of the year. Prescott teacher Merle Johnson was named teacher of the year. Rev. Arthur Hill was named pastor of the year. Ashley Dixon, Colby Christopher and Brittany Holleman each received scholarships.