Thursday, January 15, 2015

Historical Marker Honors Civil Rights Activist on Channel 3 - WHSV.com

Historical Marker Honors Civil Rights Activist

Posted: Wednesday 6:33PM,  Jan 14, 2015

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV)-- You'll soon notice a new historical marker in Harrisonburg. The marker will honor civil rights activist, Edgar Amos Love, who was born in Harrisonburg.

The marker will look similar to this one that is on Court Square. It will be placed at John Wesley United Methodist Church on the corner of Sterling and Effinger Streets. Love was a bishop and helped to desegregate the Methodist church. He was also one of the founders of the first fraternity at a historically black college, Omega Psi Phi, the local James Madison University chapter of that fraternity...Beta Delta Delta. Believes love is someone who deserves to be honored.

"This is a very important marker and an important thing in history," said Xavia Gary, a Beta Delta Delta member. "He was a member of the Harrisonburg community, his father was a reverend. He became a bishop and he served the community as well."


Full Text that will be on marker:
Edgar Amos Love (1891-1974)
Edgar Amos Love, son of a Methodist minister, was born in Harrisonburg in 1891. On 17 Nov. 1911, while a student at Howard University, he co-founded Omega Psi Phi, the first fraternity established at a historically black college. The organization later expanded beyond the United States. Ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Love served overseas as an army chaplain during World War I. He became a bishop in 1952 and worked to desegregate the church. Dedicated to social justice, he advocated nonviolent protest against discrimination and helped lead the Southern Conference Educational Fund, an interracial civil rights organization.

http://www.whsv.com/home/headlines/Historical-Marker-Honors-Civil-Rights-Activist-288585871.html?device=phone&c=y



Sunday, December 21, 2014

A Labor of Love Luncheon - Tickets Are Now Available


Love BDD Foundation, Inc. Presents

A Labor of Love” Luncheon 

Bishop Edgar Amos Love Highway Marker Unveiling
Beta Delta Delta Chapter’s 30th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, April 18, 2015
Spotswood Country Club
1980 Country Club Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
1:00PM – 5:00PM
**Doors open at 12:30PM**

Ticket Price: $50.00

For more information send your inquiries to info@lovebddfoundation.org or visit us online at www.lovebddfoundation.org.

Proceeds benefit the Love BDD Foundation’s Edgar Amos Love Scholarship Fund and community service programs.

Roadside Marker Approved for Civil Rights Champion

ROADSIDE MARKER APPROVED FOR CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION

Posted: December 19, 2014
By Bryan Gilkerson

HARRISONBURG - While Virginia may be for lovers, the state has decided to recognize
Harrisonburg as the home of a historic Love.

The Virginia Department of Historic Resources has approved a state highway marker to 
mark the 1891 birth of Edgar Amos Love in Harrisonburg.  Randall Jones, public information officer for the state agency, said Love's role in cofounding Omega Psi Phi - the first fraternity established at a historically black college - as well as his efforts to desegregate the Methodist Church and leadership in the Southern Conference Educational Fund civil rights organization warranted the marker.

"Love's work had statewide and national significance," said Jones.

Love also served as a chaplain with the U.S. Army during World War I and was elected 
chaplain of the American Negro Veterans of the World War organization in 1922.  He was chosen as a bishop in the Methodist Church in 1952 and was involved in desegregation efforts and voter registration drives.  He died in Baltimore in 1974 at the age of 82.

The marker will be placed near John Wesley United Methodist Church at the intersection of Sterling and Effinger streets.  Love, whose father had been a minister at the church, was born in the parsonage. At the time, the church was on West Market Street at the site now occupied by the former 
Wetsel Seed Building and the current home of several shops and the Union Station Restaurant and Bar.

The Love BDD Foundation - the philanthropic arm of the James Madison University chapter of Omega Psi Phi - sponsored the effort to have Love's connection with Harrisonburg commemorated.  Dawnn Wallace of Newport News - whose husband, Andre, is an alumnus of the JMU Omega Psi Phi chapter - said the marker will be dedicated on April 18, the 30th anniversary of the chapter's founding.  She also said Love's son, Jon E., and the national president of the fraternity, Antonio F. Knox, are expected to attend.  A banquet will be held at Spotswood Country Club following the dedication ceremony.

Contact Bryan Gilkerson at 574-6267 or bgilkerson@dnronline.com

Copyright (c) 2014, Byrd Newspapers, All Rights Reserved.

Merry Christmas

Christmas is finally here: the best time ever to celebrate with your family and closest friends.  We wish you and your family a joyous, peaceful and safe holiday season.  

Merry Christmas and Season's Greetings from the Love BDD Foundation.






Friday, December 12, 2014

Historical Edgar Amos Love Highway Marker Approved

We received the official notification that the Virginia Board of Historic Resources approved the Edgar Amos Love (1891-1974) highway marker at its meeting on December 11, 2014 in Richmond, VA.

The final text is as follows:

Edgar Amos Love (1891-1974)

Edgar Amos Love, son of a Methodist minister, was born in Harrisonburg in 1891. On 17
Nov. 1911, while a student at Howard University, he co-founded Omega Psi Phi, the first
fraternity established at a historically black college. The organization later expanded beyond
the United States. Ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, Love served
overseas as an army chaplain during World War I. He became a bishop in 1952 and worked
to desegregate the church. Dedicated to social justice, he advocated nonviolent protest
against discrimination and helped lead the Southern Conference Educational Fund, an
interracial civil rights organization.