Hope Mississippi
A bimonthly podcast educating Mississippians about the needs of fellow citizens, encouraging residents to work together to change the trajectory of our families and children, and sharing success stories.
Hope Mississippi
From Birmingham's Civil Rights Era to Mississippi's Classrooms: Martha Cherry's Life of Service
Reverend Martha Cherry's life reads like a journey through America's most pivotal moments of the last century. From witnessing the bombing of Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church where her friend Carol Robertson died, to studying under Dr. King's sister at Spelman College when he received the Nobel Peace Prize, Cherry's path has intersected with history at remarkable turns.
"I drew from my faith that we were going to have a brighter future," Cherry reflects, describing how hope sustained her through childhood fear amid bombings and civil unrest. That same hope would later carry her through unimaginable personal tragedy when both her pregnant granddaughter and grandson were murdered in separate incidents.
Rather than allowing grief to define her, Cherry transformed her pain into purpose. "My healing took place by talking about it," she explains. Now working in Hattiesburg Public Schools, she connects with children facing poverty and trauma. "These children need somebody to listen to what they have to say," Cherry emphasizes, recognizing that in a state where one in four children lives in poverty, simply being present can change trajectories.
Cherry's forthcoming book, "Tear Down These Walls," challenges faith communities to move beyond comfort zones and address real-world problems. "We need to leave our gated communities and magnificent church buildings to go where the problems are," she urges, calling Christians to year-round engagement rather than seasonal charity.
Through her remarkable journey from office administrator to police chaplain to educator and minister, Cherry demonstrates how seemingly disconnected experiences form a divine pattern. "God takes all of these experiences we have in life and they just come together like pieces of a puzzle," she shares. Her story reminds us that despite our differences, "We all hurt the same" – and in recognizing our common humanity, we find the strength to build hope together.
Be the change you want to see in the world. Get involved with your local community – you'll make a difference while receiving tremendous hope and joy in being God's hands and feet.
When you need some hope and inspiration to build collaboration. Hope Mississippi is your salvation.
Speaker 2:One in four kids live in poverty.
Speaker 1:One in five are food deprived. Build collaborations and build hope with those who are struggling.
Speaker 2:Build collaborations and build hope with those who are struggling. Hope Mississippi.
Speaker 1:Hello and welcome to another episode of Hope Mississippi. I'm Dawn Beam and I am so happy to welcome Reverend Martha Cherry today. Welcome.
Speaker 2:Reverend, thank you so very much. It is an honor to be here with you today.
Speaker 1:We were talking a few minutes ago and I had previously met you at our Methodist church here in Summerall. But you and I became reacquainted recently at Wendy's. We were just sitting there eating and started sharing our faith and things, and it's so good to get reacquainted with you.
Speaker 2:Yes, it is. I consider that as being divine intervention. I was so happy to see you again and it was a pleasure for me to share some of my experiences with you growing up in Birmingham. I had just completed a presentation on Black history, so I shared that with you.
Speaker 1:You know, I think that's how God works he directs our path and I certainly pray that he directs my path, and I think he put us there together that day in February so that we could encourage one another and share our faith as well as our journey. Where did you start out? Where did you grow up?
Speaker 2:I was born in Corinth, mississippi, but I left there when I turned seven years old. I went to Birmingham, alabama. So I really grew up in Birmingham. I was in Birmingham during the times of the demonstrations, the boycotts. The presence of Dr King was everywhere. I remember so vividly when the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church occurred. One of the girls was my friend, carol Robertson. We had talked that Friday and she died that Sunday. Addie Collins and I attended the same high school as well.
Speaker 1:I am so sorry. You know there's a saying that if you don't learn from history, you are likely to repeat that. So today we just want our audience to know your story, Certainly growing up, and so you were in Birmingham during that difficult time. Tell me your thoughts as a young girl and how you have seen hope along the journey, as a young girl, I had fear.
Speaker 2:I was frightened a lot just wondering what was going to happen next, because there were bombings all around me. Other than the bombing at the church, there were homes that were bombed as well, so it was a time when we really felt uncomfortable.
Speaker 1:How did you draw from your faith during those times?
Speaker 2:I drew from my faith that we were going to have a brighter future. Reverend Jesse Jackson used to always say keep hope alive. And that was what we had to do was to keep our hope alive.
Speaker 1:The church can be such a comforting place, a place of refuge and hope. I'm reminded of a tornado that went through Hattiesburg one time and my husband and I went that Sunday it happened on a Saturday and provided food for that church in the Palmas Crossing area and the joy, the worship that they had in the midst of a storm, in the midst of turmoil, where people had passed, was amazing. But that's our faith, that is our God, who is way more powerful than we can ever imagine. So you came up in Birmingham and graduated from high school in Birmingham? Yes, I did and tell me about from.
Speaker 1:There.
Speaker 2:After graduating from high school, I went to Atlanta, georgia, to Spelman College, and at the time when I was in a class taught by Mrs Christine King Ferris, dr King's sister, she shared with us that Dr King had just received the Nobel Peace Prize. So that was history in the making and we were so very excited about that.
Speaker 1:That must have been amazing to have a first row seat to history being made. Certainly there were struggles along the way, but things like that are victories and have left such a lasting impact on our country.
Speaker 2:Yes, most definitely, and that was just the beginning for me to really see a lot of historical things happen, because I started working for the city of Atlanta and I actually worked with Mayor Maynard Jackson and he was instrumental in getting the airport to Atlanta. Then the next mayor was Mayor Young and he was instrumental in getting the Olympics to come to Atlanta. The next mayor was Shirley Franklin. She had the distinction of being the first female mayor of Atlanta and definitely the first black mayor, female mayor of Atlanta. So I worked with all of these people and it was such a pleasure to just see history in the making.
Speaker 1:You know that's an important thing to remember is we have folks that are named, that we remember because they held political positions, but there every day, are lots of folks that are helping make government work. And so you worked for the city of Atlanta. What did you do there?
Speaker 2:I worked in management. I worked in the accounts payable division.
Speaker 1:Okay, well, that's interesting. Now you didn't stay in accounts payable division. Okay, well, that's interesting. Now you didn't stay in accounts payable. Move me on along your journey, because I know that God has directed your path through many twists and turns.
Speaker 2:Yes, I did an internship and I left Atlanta. So I moved around a lot. I was in South Carolina for a while, I was in Florida for a while and some people would ask me Martha, what are you going to do in life? You're getting these degrees, different areas. Just what are you going to do? I realized how God takes all of these experiences that we have in life and they just come together like pieces of a puzzle. Later on you can see just how well they fit together and what plans God had for you. So my first degree from Georgia State was in office administration. Then I went to the Master of Arts in Christian Education degree, then from that one to the Master of Divinity degree. So I really used everything that I learned in my walk for Christ.
Speaker 1:That's important. You need to be equipped in order to do what God has planned for you, and each of us has a different mission, a different journey, but we're all. Our purpose should be to be God's hands and feet and leave for us Mississippi or our country better than we found it. So, with all of these degrees, keep welcoming me forward about how God has used you.
Speaker 2:With these degrees. I worked at the Hattiesburg Police Department and I was there for over 10 years and I actually worked as a chaplain five of those years. So that was a very interesting experience because I had an opportunity to really talk with the officers, to be present. When someone had a baby or if somebody had death in the family, I was there. Maybe if they were going to pull over the plug, I was there for that. So God used me in so many different ways as a chaplain.
Speaker 1:That is absolutely wonderful. You know, we take for granted the needs of our law enforcement. We just think they just show up and that they're supposed to take care of us. But it's important that we nurture them because they have needs too, Certainly in the line of duty, the things that they experience. They talk about secondhand trauma, and in law enforcement there is a lot of secondhand trauma where you go into households and see things that we're just not prepared to see. That is so very true. So you did that for 10 years, five years, five or 10 years.
Speaker 2:I worked for the police department for a little over ten years but, I, worked as a chaplain about five years.
Speaker 1:Where did you see hope in that job? Let's talk about hope and how you saw hope in the work that you were doing.
Speaker 2:I saw hope because I saw experiences where people came into the building and they were very upset. They felt like the world was totally against them. But they calmed down and they realized we weren't the enemies, we were the friends. We were the people who were trying to help them. We were the friends. We were the people who were trying to help them and we had to just explain to them a lot of the procedures and the rules and regulations. They did not understand that. So when they got a good understanding of what was going on, they calmed down in many instances. So they had hope that things would work out for them.
Speaker 1:You know, I'm reminded of the Bible verse God comforts us so that we can yet be comforters, and he has certainly been with you through your life and the struggles that you have had. When we were talking about your life and you talked about being a chaplain, you've experienced your own heartache in seeing family members being victims of crime. Can you tell just a little bit about that, because folks need to understand the ripple effect that crime has and also the hope that we have in Christ that even when difficulty comes, we can always, always call on him.
Speaker 2:The first incident was the loss of my granddaughter. She was murdered and she was pregnant at the time, so that was a double homicide. And then the gun was turned on her daughter and she was shot seven times. Then the gunman turned the gun on a neighbor and shot her two times. The only one who died was my granddaughter and the baby that she was carrying. I'm so sorry, thank you.
Speaker 2:That was a difficult time. Death is something that we have to deal with, but it seems more difficult when it's murder rather than just a death regular death, you don't get that opportunity to say goodbye and to walk that path, and that's frustrating, isn't it?
Speaker 2:It is very much so. After that, my grandson was murdered in Atlanta, georgia. It was home invasion, so that was another, and it happened not that long after the other death had occurred. So it was a rough time. It really was, but I found that my healing took place by talking about it. Not just being closed in, but just talking, but just talking. And by talking to people I was able to be an inspiration to some people, because they said, oh, you have such strength and I never thought of things that way and I'm comforted by what you're saying.
Speaker 2:I always think how, whatever we're experiencing, it could be worse than whatever it is. Whereas I lost two grandchildren at that time, it could have been all of the grandchildren. They could have been in an automobile accident and no one could have been left. There's just so many ways to think about it and we have to move on.
Speaker 2:I am trying to make my life be a good example for my grandchildren who are alive now, but the tribute to the children who have died have been number one. I'm dedicating my book to those deaths of those children and I want to do volunteer work. This will be something that I can do to help others. There might be some mothers and grandmothers out there who are really struggling and they need to get the strength from me on how to handle things like this. I work in the school system, so when I'm working with the children, I think perhaps I might be able to reach this child. Nobody else might be able to reach that child, but I might reach that child. This will be a tribute to my grandchildren who have died and preceded me in death.
Speaker 1:That is just a wonderful statement. They say that every child needs somebody to love them and believe in them, and there's no telling how many kids that you touch just like that. And we can't understand why evil happens. Ever since sin came in the world, evil has been here, but good still prevails and we believe that through our faith that God forgives sin, he is a loving and forgiving God and that he uses us, in the heartaches that we've gone through, to help other folks. And you know, my hope would be that, as you work with kids in the school, that they see that there's alternatives to a lifestyle of crime. You know, if I'm not mistaken, you work in the Hattiesburg schools.
Speaker 2:Yes, I do. Hattiesburg Public School District.
Speaker 1:Boy. It's been exciting to see how Hattiesburg schools have really taken off too. Yes, if you haven't kept up with the schools in Mississippi. All around our kids are increasing their reading abilities and Hattiesburg is no exception, and part of this podcast talks about collaborations. When we all work together toward the common good, great things happen, and certainly Hattiesburg Public Schools is an example, with churches adopting schools, with churches adopting schools, with people with skills whether it be yours that goes in there, and you don't just teach, do you? You certainly want to teach them to read and write, but beyond that, what other opportunities do you have to encourage kids to make wise choices, to overcome trauma and to set goals?
Speaker 2:Being in the Hattiesburg Public Schools District, it gives me an opportunity to listen to the children. Listening is very important. These children need to have somebody to listen to what they have to say. Sometimes they don't have other people who listen to them. Then there are times when they need somebody to talk to them. So, just sharing experiences with them Because of my age, I'm able to share with them a lot of information about how things used to be and they look at me and they say well, ms Cherry, I can't believe that.
Speaker 2:I just don't think it was that way. These children have never seen black and white photos, things that we take for granted and it's just a joy to me to see their excitement when I talk to them about how life used to be, things that we used to do, and how they can make their lives much better. Talk to them about the importance of education. They need to pursue higher goals and I'm so happy that through the Hattiesburg Public School System, especially at the high school, there are programs that prepare students to receive dual degrees and this way they're able to get out of school and make money and then, if they want to go on and further their education, they can do that, but some of them need to have jobs, and so that's a good stepping stone for that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. In Mississippi, I think we get so used to being the poorest state that we don't really wrap our minds around the data that one in four of our kids lives in poverty. One in five are food deprived, and we know that with poverty, oftentimes those children are surrounded by single parents. Lots of crime, just a variety of dysfunction, and so they say that children talking about themselves and things. That's a one way to unpack all of that trauma. And I know that God uses you every day to encourage these young people. And that's one way to unpack all of that trauma. And I know that God uses you every day to encourage these young people. And that's exciting. Yes, it is.
Speaker 2:I get excited when, for example, at the grocery store and I hear Miss Cherry. Hey, miss Cherry. And then the child comes over and gives me a big hug. It's so rewarding to know that you have made a friend, you've touched a child, you've made a difference in their lives.
Speaker 1:That is wonderful. You wear so many hats. You've been the chaplain. You are working in the schools and making a difference there. You also have a master's in divinity, so you have studied the Bible. Now do you preach.
Speaker 2:I was a temporary pastor at two churches here in Mississippi and I also worked as a director of Christian education at a church in Florida.
Speaker 1:Okay, and so part of your education that, masters of Divinity, you really knocked the glass ceiling out as far as you're excelling in that area, is that right? I just looked at some of the newspaper articles about you.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, that was very interesting and, as I said, what I learned getting my bachelor's degree in office administration helped me when I went to do my internship for my Master of Divinity degree, because I learned the importance of being able to talk to people.
Speaker 2:So when you're a supervisor or any other leadership position, you need to be able to listen to people and talk to them in a way that they will really understand, and you have to be tactful and not talk down to them. So I applied this same method when I went into the churches. I did a lot of evangelism and I wanted to know why members of the church had stopped attending and I went out and I visited with them and I discovered that they said well, nobody said anything to me and I felt like they didn't want me at the church. So we had people who returned to church and that was a good thing. People need to feel needed Absolutely A simple card to say I'm thinking about you, and I made certain that at the church, we gave cards to people when they came that first time to visit to invite them to come back to give us some feedback about the service. So these are the things that I learned in office administration that meal or if the lights are off, to help you turn those lights back on.
Speaker 1:Folks need to come to the church to get that, but also the church needs to be. When we talk about the body of Christ and being his hands and feet, we shouldn't just come to church, we need to do what God intended. Right that's right.
Speaker 2:And another thing the degree that I received, that's right. And another thing, the degree that I received, the Master of Arts in Christian Education degree. And we got a little choir established, so the church, rather than just sitting on the pews. And then the parents got more involved as the children became involved, because relatives would come to see them as they were singing in the choir. Well, that's my little granddaughter, that's my niece. Sometimes we would get some of the family members to start attending the church as a result of that.
Speaker 1:Let's talk about God's Word. What's your favorite Bible verse?
Speaker 2:I like Jeremiah 29, 11. That's been a favorite for me. It has personal meanings for me because at one point in my life I had applied for a job and I thought that I was going to get that job. It was a job in Christian education. I did not get the job. I was so distraught.
Speaker 2:But then I received an email stating closed doors, open door. The reason you don't get something in life is because it's not meant for you. That door is closed so that you'll go another way. I knew this, but that was the first time I had ever heard that and it had special meaning for me. And later, instead of the job that I really wanted, I received another job which was better for me. One of the things that I thought about the job that I wanted was in the North, with all of that ice and snow. That I wanted was in the north, with all of that ice and snow. As I looked at the news and saw the meteorologist talking about all of the snow in that state, I said, yes, lord, you knew what was best. I did not need to be there with all of that snow.
Speaker 1:Reverend Cherry, one thing I love about you is that you live with no boundaries Wherever God sends you. That's where you're going, and I think that is just a wonderful quality that you have. Now you're writing a book. You talked about it earlier.
Speaker 2:The name of the book is what the name of the book is Tear Down these Walls. And what I'm talking about in this book. We need to leave our gated communities. We need to leave these magnificent church buildings, these edifices and go out into the communities. That's where the problems are. That's where the people are. We need to attack the problems of homelessness, hunger, drug problems, human trafficking. There's so much to be done out there and unfortunately, so many people become seasonal workers. You cannot do that. We have to be not just heroes of the word but doers of the word and not just go to ring the bell at Christmas, home at Christmas or Mother's Day or Father's Day. We need to try to find some time that we can allot to do other things the rest of the time, because there are people who are so lonely and would love for somebody to just come around and let them know that they care. This is important.
Speaker 1:Now, Reverend Cherry, you done gone to preaching now and I so so agree with you and shout amen. God gifts each and every one of us with talents and he expects us to use them, just like in the parable of the talents. And you're right, it's a year-round thing and we have tremendous need all around us, just like your story. When you ask God, how can I be used, he opens door after door of ways that we can make a difference. So that's what we want to encourage our audience to do right now, Isn't that right? That's correct. Be the difference that you want to see in the world and remind folks about the hope that we have in Christ, but also the hope that we bring to people every time we meet their physical needs, as Jesus did, and then meet their spiritual needs.
Speaker 2:And we have to remember that there are differences with us, but we still need to come together and communicate with each other. We have different colors of skin, we have different textures of hair, different colors of skin, we have different textures of hair, but when we're sad, we cry, we cry tears. We all hurt the same. Yes, if we're injured, if we're cut, that's the blood, it's the same. So we have to realize this and instead of looking at the differences that we have this and instead of looking at the differences that we have, don't concentrate on the differences. Look at how we are more the same and how we can move forward, because one mother might want their child to be educated, another mother wants the same thing.
Speaker 2:When you realize that person was born in a different state or a different country, but they want the same things that we want. We want our children to be able to go to school and come home and not watch it on beating these men online. We don't want our young men to get involved in gangs, because they're seeking love and they think that they can get that love in these gangs. We as parents, we as people, we have so much in common. We want the same thing, but we're constantly bickering instead of realizing that we want the same thing. We have a common goal. Let's work together. There's unity in strength.
Speaker 1:Absolutely, Boy. You have laid it out today and given us lots of things to think about. Thank you so much for joining us and, if you've been listening, think about what Reverend Cherry said. Be that change that you want to see in the world. Get involved with your local community and I promise you this you'll make a difference, but you will also receive tremendous amount of hope and joy in being God's hands and feet. So enjoy your day and thanks again, Reverend Cherry, for joining me.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for having me as your guest.
Speaker 1:Hope Mississippi.
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