By Nelson A. King
It is often said that “necessity
is the mother of invention”
and so, on Friday, July 5, the
basketball court at Lenox Road
Baptist Church in Brooklyn was
transformed into what has been
described as a “Wonderland of
Gold,” with a touch of purple
decorated for royalty.
The occasion was the grand
celebration of the 50th Golden
Wedding Anniversary of
Jamaican-born Ruel and Eudel
Wallace.
The couple migrated from
Kingston, the Jamaican capital,
in 1985 and have settled in
Brooklyn ever since.
Since migrating to the US, the
Wallaces said they have made
Lenox Road Baptist Church
their “church-home” and are
very active in various ministries
in the church, including the
marriage ministry.
The celebration was co-hosted
by the couple’s youngest
son, Lenworth Wallace, and
Hyacinth Robinson-Goldson,
Mrs. Wallace’s sister.
During the cocktail hour,
guests were entertained by
saxophonist Allan Brown, a
member of the church.
“Though partially impaired,
his mastery of all genres of
music was evident and enjoyed
by the 250 guests, with rounds
of applause, and other gestures
of appreciation,” Robinson-
Goldson told Caribbean Life.
“Some were swaying and
singing along in nostalgic
harmony.”
She said the program began
with Mr. Wallace’s “grand
entrance,” escorted by two of
his daughters, Michelle Knight
and Jacqueline Wallace, both
teachers in Kingston.
James Knight, Jr., one of
the grandsons, preceded Mrs.
Wallace, who was escorted by
Lenworth, a former teacher
of Wolmer’s Girls School in
Jamaica.
During the “Rededication
of Love Ceremony,” the Rev.
Dr. Kirkpatrick Cohall, senior
pastor of the church, reminded
the couple of “How special
Caribbean L 16 ife, July 19–25, 2019 BQ
they were of God’s gift to each
other” and that “their lives
have touched many through
their ability to navigate the ups
and downs of life”, according to
Robinson-Goldson.
She said Dr. Cohall offered
the couple a special meal of the
“Loving Cup,” which he said
symbolized spiritual food for
the next leg of their journey,
committing them into “God’s
continued care and protection”
In bringing pastoral
greetings, First Lady Minister
Sophia Cohall said “how proud
and blessed” they were “to
have such a fine example of
two people committed to each
other and to God working with
the Marriage Ministry of the
church.”
She thanked them for their
selflessness and their Christian
examples of love, as written by
the Apostle Paul in his letter
to the Corinthians: “Love is
kind, love is patient, love is not
boastful…”
First Lady Cohall told the
couple, based on the support of
The Rev. Dr. Patrick Cohall, senior pastor of Lennox Road
Baptist Church in Brooklyn, offi ciates at gala 50th Wedding
Anniversary of Ruel and Eudel Wallace. Brandon Charles
family and friends at the gala
event, that “you came from
good stock.”
Robinson-Goldson said her
daughter, Millicent Bailey,
coordinated and produced the
celebration as a gift to the
Wallaces, who she calls “mom
and dad.”
Bailey said the couple “have
been there as a part of the
village since my childhood.”
“This is my special gift to
them on this special milestone”,
she said after offering a tribute
in dance to the song “Our Love”
by Natalie Cole.
After the sumptuous dinner,
Minister Carlyle Johnson,
complemented by two sisters
from the church choir, sang
“My Tribute” from the album
“Keep on Singing” by Grammy
Awardee and gospel singer
Andre Crouch.
Keneshia Maxwell also
gave a tribute in spoken word,
modeling her inspirational
writing from Toni Morrison,
renowned American novelist,
essayist and professor emeritus
at Princeton University.
Jamaican couple celebrate
50 years of marital bliss
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