Founders

Meet The People Who Launched "The People's Voice"

Founding Board Members
	Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson, Roanoke, Alabama Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson is often dubbed the "CEO" of the People's Voice. However, she views her role more as "facilitator" than CEO. Ms. Clark-Frieson is a published author, entrepreneur, professional educator, and public servant. She's the CEO and founder of the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation a “Movement for Improvement” that grew out of her desire to bring historical distinction and remembrance to her father, The Late Wilkie Clark, an outstanding 20th century black citizen and civil rights activist in rural Randolph County, Alabama. As an outgrowth of the Foundation, Ms. Clark-Frieson also became co-founder and co-publisher of The Peoples Voice Black Weekly News. She is about to conclude her long pilgrimage of 18 years as an elected member of the Randolph County Board Of Education. Her column, Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson's “Sober Thoughts,” appears regularly in her weekly, and upon request, may be reprinted with permission. Articles, as well as other writings can be accessed on the world wide web, at her blog, at www.charlotteclarkfrieson.com. Phone: 334-375-7160 Email: caclarkfrieson@msn.com
	Dr. Alvin Thornton, Washington, D.C. Alvin Thornton is Associate Provost and Professor of Political Science Howard University. His mother, Lillie Mae Thornton (now deceased), was Wilkie Clark’s first cousin. He is a graduate of the Randolph County Training School in Roanoke, Alabama on whose Board of Trustees Wilkie Clark served. Dr. Thornton has been a part of the W.C.M.F. from its inception. He has been both a financial contributor as well as a very strong moral supporter of The People's Voice black weekly news. Phone: (301) 420-6661 Email: athorn@Howard.edu.
	T. Jeanetta Minnifield Stevens, Roanoke, Alabama Ms. Jeanetta Stevens is a retired educator, having taught for 25 years in the Roanoke City School System. She is one of the founding board members and a life contributor of the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, Inc. Phone: 334-863-2667 Email: jminnifield56@yahoo.com
	Jerome A. Gray, Montgomery, Alabama Mr. Jerome A Gray is the State Field Director for the Alabama Democratic Conference, Based in Montgomery, Alabama. Through his work with the A.D.C., Mr. Gray has devoted his life and work to the expansion of political and civic opportunities for African Americans, through exercise of the right to vote. He has also been involved in the civil rights arena for many years, and served in numerous capacities both in his local N.A.A.C.P. Chapter in Evergreen, Alabama, and at the State level. Phone: 334-263-4040
	Reverend R. L. Heflin, Roanoke, Alabama Reverend R. L. Heflin is one of the most outstanding black Baptist preachers in the East Alabama area. He has earned a reputation as a compassionate servant of God. We value his presence as a member of our board, however due to advancing age, we do not demand anything of him other than to add a measure of wisdom, knowledge, and experience to enhance what we are trying to do. Phone: 334-863-2234
	Reverend William A. Dean, Roanoke, Alabama Reverend William A. Dean serves as Ambassador for The Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, Inc. Professionally, he is a building contractor, and a minister of the Gospel. He serves as the moderator of the Southwestern Union District Baptist Association of East Central Alabama and West Central Georgia. Phone: 334-863-6810
	INTERIM MANAGER Christopher Daniels, Roanoke, Alabama Christopher Daniel is a member of the WCMF, who has had the audacity to assume interim management of The People's Voice. Chris is a native of Roanoke, Alabama. He is active member of Mount Carrie Baptist Church, Franaklin, Georgia. Christopher is a member of the management team at Wal Mart Distribution Center in LaGrange, Georgia. Phone: 334-863-5893 Email: c4daniel@teleclipse.net
	Ms. Frances Drake, Welch, Alabama Ms. Frances Drake is a world traveler, having lived all over the world, including France, England, and Africa. She however, now hails from Welch, Chambers County, Alabama, where she resides on her family's home place. She is the Chief financial officer for the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, Inc. Moreover, she has been one of the best supporters of The People's Voice, from it's inception. Phone: 334-863-6184 Phone: 334-863-1976 Email: frances_drake@yahoo.com
	Mrs. Mary Turner, Five Points, Alabama Mrs. Mary Turner serves as the Chief Financial Officer for The People's Voice. She has been actively involved since the inception of the WCMF and was instrumental in assuming her role with The People's Voice Weekly News. She has been a champion of The People's Voice, and we appreciate all of her heroic efforts during this time. Phone: 334-864-0981
	Ms. Lola Mae Wright, Wedowee, Alabama Ms. Lola Mae Wright, a resident of Wedowee, Alabama now serves as secretary of the W.C.M.F. She is employed with the Randolph County Department of Human Resources. Phone: 256-357-4484 Email: blckrsinc@aol.com
	Mr. Gene A. Thornton, Springfield, Virginia/Roanoke, Alabama Mr. Gene A. Thornton serves as the North Eastern Regional Director for the W.C.M.F. A native of Roanoke, Alabama, Gene is a retired executive of Xerox Corporation. He is returning home to his father's farm in Roanoke, after residing for a number of years in the Springfield, Virginia/Washington, DC area. In addition to his work with the W.C.M.F., Gene is also actively involved in developing and preserving some of the history of the Randolph County Training School. Phone: 334-863-4670 Email: blckrsinc@aol.com
	Wilkie Sherard Frieson, Roanoke, Alabama Wilkie Frieson is the first grandchild of the late Wilkie Clark. He is one of the founding board members of the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, Inc. He plays a very supportive role with The People's Voice by donating his extensive technical know-how and computer saavy to help maintain a level of technology needed in order for us to remain competitive. Professionally, he is employed at Mohawk Corporation in Roanoke, Alabama, where he works in the maintenance division. His job at Mohawk is to perform regular maintenance and/or repairs in order to keep the company's production machinery running in top condition. Phone: 334-863-5723 Email: wsfrieson@teleclipse.net
	Je'Lynn M. Frieson, Roanoke, Alabama Ms. Je'Lynn M. Frieson is the daughter of Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson, and the granddaughter of the late Wilkie Clark. Professionally, she is serving as the managing director of Clark Memorial Funeral Service in Roanoke, Alabama. She is an Alabama licensed funeral director, as well as a candidate for L.P.N. certification at West Georgia Technical College, LaGrange, Georgia. She is one of the founding board members of the W.C.M.F., and serves a supportive role for The People's Voice by assisting in the payment of personnel, and providing transportation services for newspaper pick-up and delivery. Phone: 334-863-4885 Email: ClarkMemorial@aol.com
	Earnestine Thornton, Atlanta, Georgia Ms. Earnestine Thornton is a native of Roanoke, Alabama, who now hails from Atlanta, Georgia, where she has resided and worked for a number of years. She is the sibling of L.C., Gene, and Alvin, and as part of this group, labored alongside them in successfully co-producing the historical DVD and book, which traces the illustrious history of The Randolph County Training School (RCTS) which was the predominantly black high school attended by hundreds of minority children during the “Separate but Equal” era. Professionally, Earnestine is employed with Cascade Medical Facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Phone: 404.364.7320 Phone: 404-691-3236 Email: Earnestine.Thornton@kp.org Fax: 404.505.4127
	Lonnie Clyde (L.C.) Thornton, Stone Mountain, Georgia A native of Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama, L. C. (Lonnie) Thornton hails from Stone Mountain, Georgia. He is also a member of the board of the W.C.M.F. His most recent accomplishment involved working alongside his siblings, Alvin, Gene, and Earnestine, to successfully co-produce a historical DVD and book, which traces the interesting history of The Randolph County Training School (RCTS) which was the predominantly black high school attended by hundreds of minority children during the “Separate but Equal” era. His contributions to The People’s Voice are considered as a real asset to the newspaper, and add “A Voice Of Reason” to the potporri of material published herein. L.C. enjoys chess, photography, fishing, traveling and writing. Phone: (404) 294-4633 Email: mrzeke0@aol.com
	Mr. and Mrs. Beotis Clark, Augusta, Georgia Mr. and Mrs. Beotis and Belle B. Clark are the aunt and uncle of Charlotte Clark Frieson. They have played a supportive role in her life, since the day she was born, and after the deaths of her parents in 1989, they became more like "surrogate" parents. They have been supportive of all of her efforts to establish The Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation, Inc., and The People's Voice Black Weekly News. The have both retired from the medical field, and are now active in their community in Augusta, Georgia. Phone: 706-724-2768 email: sisterbclark@aol.com
	Reverend. Jeffery Rosser, Roanke, Alabama The Reverend Jeffery Rosser is a minister serving the Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Roanoke, Alabama. He grew up and resides in the East Roanoke Community, where he formerly served as the Chief Administrator of the Rosser Nursing Home (now Roanoke Health Care Center) in Roanoke. He is a member of the board of the W.C.M.F., and serves as the custodian of documents. Phone: 334-863-7390 Email: No Email Address
	David B. Baker, Anniston, Alabama David Baker is the South Eastern Regional Director of the Wilkie Clark Memorial Foundation. David has very deep roots in Randolph County, Alabama. He is the grandson of Reverend E.R. Dunson. He is the son of the late Grover Baker, Sr., and Imogene Dunson Baker. He grew up and resides in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. 1998, David founded one of Alabama's most active and influential non-profit organizations, Community Against Pollution (CAP). For years, he was at the forefront of a huge war against one of Anniston, Alabama's gigantic powers, Monsanto Corporation, who damaged the health of thousands of Anniston, Alabama residents, by the improper disposal of pcb's, which were a by-product of the company's manufacturing process. As CEO of CAP, David now is one of the most outstanding, vocal and visible advocates for environmental justice in Anniston, Alabama and beyond. Since 1998, David Baker has worked with members of Congress and the federal Administration to make the health hazards emanating from Anniston a priority issue… Learn more about David Baker and his work as CEO of Cap by visiting http://www.communityagainstpollution.org Phone: 256-237-4948 Phone: 256-236-6773 Phone: 256-225-5486 Email: bakercap@bellsouth.net
	Mrs. Betty Woody, Five Points, Alabama Ms. Betty Woody hails from Five Points, Alabama was one of our founding board members of The People's Voice. Betty has been actively involved in all aspects of the foundation's efforts to establish itself as the pre-emptive advocate for black progress in East Alabama. 334-864-8089
	Mrs. Julia Minnifield, Wedowee, Alabama Mrs. Julia Minnifield hails from Wedowee, Alabama, and has been a part of the Clark Memorial Foundation from very early on. She has been an active supporter of The Voice, also from it's inception. Phone: (256) 357-2328 Email: jminnefield@wmconnect.com Email: jminnefield@yahoo.com

Weekly News

"Culturally Relevant News & Information About Black Communities Throughout East Alabama & West Georgia..."