Voorhees to induct seven new members into the Hall of Fame
Denmark, S.C.- Voorhees College will induct five new members into the Hall of Fame during the 16th annual Hall of Fame banquet on Friday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. in the Leonard E. Dawson Health and Human Resources Center.
The Voorhees College Hall of Fame is a prestigious membership reserved for an elite group of Voorhees College alumni. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize and honor Voorhees College alumni who have highly achieved in their prospective career and community. In addition, they are ardent supporters of the college.
Mary R. Burke, native of Clinton, S.C., is a retired administration representative senior staff on F-22, C-130, C-5 and P-3 programs. She is a 1971 graduate of Voorhees College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Burke is a member of Life Church, where she serves on the Welcome Committee and clean up team. She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., LM Leadership Association, chapter member of Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and American Society for Quality, where she served as certified quality auditor, certified quality improvement associate, and certified manager of quality organizational excellence.
She was recognized as the first salaried minority, first minority and female with a bachelor’s degree and first minority and female to join the National Management Association at Lockheed Missiles and Space based in Charleston, S.C. In addition, she was recognized at Lockheed for 44 years of dedicated service and contributions.
Burke is the recipient of the 2010 Women of Color Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Award and the Aero Star Award, Lockheed’s highest employee honor. Also, she serves as group leader and facilitator for Bible Study Fellowship, Inc., where she has been for more than five years.
Burke resides in Kennesaw, Ga. with her husband, Glenn. They have three children, Donna P. Berry (Charles), G. Curtis Burke (Aisha), Eric A. Burke, and one granddaughter Riley N. Berry.
Hezikah Dority, native of Fredericksburg, Va., is retired from the United States Marine Corps and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dority is a 1969 graduate of Voorhees College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Dority received numerous work related accommodations, performance awards and service recognition and honors for his military service.
He is a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, National Urban League, Habitat for Humanity, Nee Hope Housing, Inc., Southern Poverty Law Center, United Negro Fund, and Bethlehem Baptist Church in Alexandria, Va., where serves as a deacon.
Dority is married to the former Linda A. Blackwell and they have a son, Kenneth A. Dority (Tonya).
Russell N. Feaster, a native of Blair, S.C, currently serves as a summary court judge (magistrate) in Fairfield County, S.C. He is a 1981 graduate of Voorhees College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Feaster retired from the South Carolina Army National Guard in 2012 after more than 31 years of service. He retired at the rank of Colonel. Feaster has commanded at company, detachment, and battalion levels. Prior to his retirement, he served as intelligence officer on the adjutant general’s staff.
He has received numerous military awards and honors while serving this country. In 2006, he became the first African American inducted into the Palmetto Military Academy Hall of Fame. Feaster recently
Feaster is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., the National Guard Association of S.C., the National Guard Association of the U.S., and the Palmetto Military Academy Association. He is also a member of the South Carolina Summary Court Judges Association.
He is married to Reverend Yvonne B. Feaster, and they have four children: Bobby (LaToya), Crystal, Jimarra (Thomas), and Russell Jr. They also have four grandchildren: Khaniah, Maya, Madison, and Trison.
Ervin Henderson, a native of Newberry, S.C, is a United States Navy veteran and retired quality resource specialist from the District of Columbia’s Department on Disability service.
Henderson is a 1977 graduate of Voorhees College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He furthered his education at Cambridge State University, where he earned a master’s degree in psychology counseling.
While at Voorhees, he was actively involved in the student senate and The Voorhees Vista (student newspaper).
Henderson is a member of the Voorhees College DC, Maryland Virginia (DMV) Alumni Chapter, lifetime member of the DC Chapter of NAACP, and Walker Memorial Baptist Church in Washington D.C.
He has one son, Marty Henderson, and a 12-year-old Beagle, Al.
Rev. Dr. Alexander Pope, Jr. is currently the pastor at First Providence Baptist Church and founder of the First Providence Foundation, a non-profit that assists local communities renovate homes and install handicap accessible ramps. He is a 1972 graduate of Voorhees College with a bachelor’s degree in history.
He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Clemson University and a master’s degree in divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center ITC in Atlanta. Additionally, Pope earned a doctorate degree in theology from Cenfield Theologian Seminary.
Pope received a certificate of Appreciation for outstanding leadership and oversight of the Children Church Ministry and Man of the Year award for outstanding pastoral service from First Providence Baptist Church. In addition, he received a certificate of appreciation from the Office of the Mayor of Augusta, Ga Pro Tem for outstanding leadership rendered to Richmond County and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).
He also received a Certificate of Appreciation from the SC House of Representative, Representative William Bill Clyburn, and was nominated for Executive Manager of the year by the National Management Association. Pope also was recognized by the Golden Key Community Ward for founding and organizing the First Providence Foundation 29841, Inc.
Pope is a member of the Savannah River Retirement Association, North Augusta Historically Society, Mt. Canaan Baptist Association, Concerned Ministers Fellowship of Aiken County, SC Ministers’ Fellowship of National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., and Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc.
Dr. John Foster Potts, Sr., was a native of Hot Springs, Ark. He served as president of Voorhees College from 1954-1970.
He earned a bachelor’s degree from Benedict College and a master’s degree from Cornell University. In addition, Potts received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Benedict College and Virginia Theological Seminary.
Prior to serving as president at Voorhees, he was the principal of Avery Institute, recruiting specialist for the United States Naval Reserve, and served as a teacher and assistant principal of local Columbia schools.
He was a member of the Palmetto Education Association, life member of the American Teacher’s Association, National Society for the Study of Education, and Department of Higher Education of the Palmetto Education Association, where he was former chairman. Additionally, he was a member of Omega Psi Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Pi Phi, Alpha Kappa Mu National Honor Society.
Potts is the author of “History of the Growth of the Negro Population of Gary, Indiana”, “A History of South Carolina State College”, and “A History of the Palmetto Education Association,” along with several articles of educational interest published in professional magazines.
Raymond O. Singleton, a native of Sumter, S.C., is a retired market claim manager of Allstate Insurance company. He is a1972 graduate of Voorhees College with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and education.
While at Voorhees, Singleton joined the charter line of the Sigma Theta Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and served as the chapter’s first president in 1970.
He has volunteered for service in the United States Army with tours of duty in Frankfurt, Germany and The Republic of South Vietnam.
He is currently a member of Omicron Phi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. in Columbia, S.C., board member of the Walker Cemetery Association in Sumter, S.C., Lincoln High School Preservation Alumni Association, and the Voorhees College Midlands Alumni Chapter, where he previously served as vice president. He is also a member of Francis Burns United Methodist Church in Columbia, S.C., where he serves on the Usher Board.
Ray is married to Sarah Lowery Singleton and they have three daughters, RaShana J. Singleton, Raina J. Singleton, and Yolanda Lawrence Gaines (Glenn), and a granddaughter, Gabrielle.
