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Thank you to Mr. Eddie Mac Locklear for establishing a basketball scholarship at UNC Pembroke to honor his late brothers' Gary and Lockwood Locklear. Mr. Gary and Mr. Lockwood impacted the lives of so many people in our tribal community, but also across the nation. PEMBROKE, NC – Despite having no formal education, Gus and Josephine Locklear made higher education attainable for their 11 children through hard work and lifelong sacrifices. “Dad never learned to write his name, but he and my mother mortgaged the farm seven times to send their children to school,” said Eddie Mac Locklear. “They always told us there are two things we can’t give you—education and religion—but we make them available.” Locklear maximized his UNC Pembroke education, enjoying a career in education spanning nearly 40 years. To pay it forward, the 86-year-old recently gifted $25,000 to the university to establish the Lockwood Locklear and Gary Wayne Locklear Memorial Endowed Scholarship in memory of his late brothers. The student-athlete scholarship will be awarded to a men’s basketball player, combining the Locklear brothers’ love for the university and their lifelong support of its athletics programs. UNCP recently held a signing ceremony in the English Jones Center. In attendance were Gary’s wife, Panthia, and their children, Garrick and Autumn; Lockwood’s wife, Polly, and their daughter, Gerri. Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings, Athletic Director Dick Christy and Head Men’s Coach Drew Richards were among the university leaders present. “My brothers earned many accolades throughout their life and made substantial contributions to the community, so I wanted to do something to honor them and acknowledge their affinity for UNC Pembroke,” Eddie Mac Locklear said. “I’m not sure what my family and I would have done without Pembroke State. We couldn’t afford to go to any other school back in those days.” A skilled carpenter, Lock retired after 18 years at UNCP. His younger brother Gary was a proud alumnus, played on the basketball team in the mid-60s, and later became a big supporter of the hoops program. Gary was well known in the community for his mission ministry with the United Methodist Church and would give campus tours to individuals visiting from other countries. “UNCP is the center of the community, so anytime we have visitors, we make sure to take them by the campus because we are proud of the university,” said Locklear, who lives in Pembroke. Raised in the Moss Neck community, Eddie Mac Locklear was born at home in 1935. After earning a history degree from Pembroke State College in 1958, he moved to Maryland to teach school. “I wanted to experience everything I had been reading about. I spent many weekends in Washington, D.C., visiting the Jefferson Memorial and the Gettysburg National Military Park.” Locklear returned home and taught in the county school system before accepting a counseling position with Robeson Community College. He would later serve as assistant to the president. In retirement, Locklear volunteered many years at the hospitals in Robeson and Scotland counties and local nursing homes. His philanthropic efforts dates back to the days the late Dr. English Jones occupied the chancellor’s office. “I was the treasurer for the alumni association and a founding member of the Braves Club. I began supporting the (Givens) performing arts center in the 70s and 80s. I’ve had an affiliation with UNCP for many, many years.” In 2018, he was presented with the Braves Club Member of the Year award. During the signing ceremony, Athletic Director Dick Christy commended Locklear and his family for consistently stepping forward to support UNCP athletics. “There is no one in the Braves Club or anyone associated with athletics that, in my opinion, gives a higher percentage of their income to the Braves Club in support of our programs. Eddie Mac is truly one of the most generous human beings I’ve ever met. He is always making us first and helping our student-athletes and our next generation,” Christy said. About UNC Pembroke Established in 1887 as a normal school to train American Indian teachers, UNC Pembroke today has an enrollment of 8,319 in 41 undergraduate and 18 graduate programs. UNCP is a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina System. For more information, contact Mark Locklear, Public Communications Specialist with University Communications and Marketing, via email (mark.locklear@uncp.edu) or by phone (910.521.6351). Connect with UNC Pembroke on social media or online at uncp.edu to learn how the university is changing lives through education.

Happy Birthday to our Lumbee Tribe First Lady Shelia Ann Godwin! She recently had an opportunity to visit the Immersive Experience Exhibit of her favorite artist Vincent Van Gogh in Charlotte. Mrs. Shelia fought cancer during the pandemic and is a breast cancer survivor. She is a retired Public Schools of Robeson County Art Teacher and an artist. Mrs. Shelia is a sunflower person and she fell in love with sunflowers because of Vincent Van Gogh. She said the exhibit was like your walking through his life. “I felt like I was walking with Vincent”, said Godwin. Wishing you many more beautiful birthdays! Happy Birthday Mrs. Shelia!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Dwayne “Bear” Locklear. Dwayne passed from this life and went home to be with the Lord on Monday, September 6th. He was laid to rest today. He will be remembered for his welcoming smile and the way he loved his family and his community. Today, Pembroke slowed for a few minutes to say farewell to this community friend and fireman. 58-year-old Dwayne “Bear” Locklear was born November 13, 1963 to the late Mr. Donnie & Mrs. Allie Mae Locklear. He served for more than 20 years as a firefighter. He worked for 32 years at Campbell Soup, where he met so many people and had a huge impact on so many individuals. Dwayne was also a 1st Responder at Campbell Soup. He also painted vehicles as a job for many years. He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife: Mrs. Evonia Locklear of the home; two sons: Mr. Donald Locklear and Mr. Christian Locklear; two grandchildren: Dylan and Carmon Locklear; daughter-in-law: Ms. Amber Barton; brother: Mr. Donnie Locklear; in-laws: Mr. Herman Barton and Ms. Mary C. Barton and a host of relatives and friends.

Linda Oxendine, CORE NC Area Director and Nicholas Hiraldo, Robeson County Teen CERT Civil Engineer/ Contractor are deployed with CORE NOLA in New Orleans assessing damage following Hurricane Ida. They spent Thursday assessing areas which are still without utilities. Some homes already have mold forming in them. Oxendine and Hiraldo are also helping victims register for FEMA and assisting with TSA Transitional Shelter Assistance. Today they are continuing canvassing efforts. Later Oxendine and Hiraldo will meet with CORE’s National team and senior management to finalize CORE’s Hurricane Ida Recovery Plan based on their report and update. Oxendine was assigned by CORE to lead their Hurricane Response Plan for the East Coast and Gulf in July 2021. The teams will also visit the Houma Tribe today. “Response from Lumbee Tribal members willing to volunteer their time to assist Louisiana families devastated by the impact of Hurricane Ida is overwhelmingly appreciated,” said Oxendine. Core is bringing families a Packlite kit with a phone charger and other supplies. World Central Kitchen is also assisting families.

The first day of fall is just around the corner. For our Lumbee Families, it is a special time to celebrate so many blessings. Please join us for the Lumbee Tribe of N.C. DRIVE THRU Fall Festival Fish Fry on Saturday, October 9, 2021. The event is from 11 am till 4:00 pm at the Lumbee Tribe Cultural Center. The event is TAKE OUT and it is FREE.

Many of you watched the news of an arrest finally being made in the case of Faith Hedgepeth, a member of the Haliwa Saponi Tribe. The Lumbee Tribe is thankful that investigators were steadfast and continued to work toward justice for the past nine years. Today we are one step closer to justice for Faith. The Lumbee Tribe continues to pray for the family and friends of Faith Hedgepeth, as well as the families of all missing and murdered Indigenous Women. We must continue to share their stories and seek justice for all of our Sisters. Story link: https://www.wral.com/police-make-arrest-9-years.../19880002/

Small business owners looking to compete for state transportation contracts are invited to attend a workshop Sept. 25 at Southeastern Community College. The N.C. Department of Transportation is hosting informational meetings aimed at disadvantaged businesses enterprises, which include small businesses and those companies run by minorities or women. Many small businesses may not be familiar with the letting and award process and how to become prequalified as a subcontractor. The NCDOT is looking for more companies that can perform contract work such as mowing, litter pickup, snow removal, emergency maintenance, traffic control and roadway striping. The free, in-person workshop will be from 10 a.m. to noon in Building D/Auditorium at the college, which is at 4564 Chadbourn Highway in Whiteville. NCDOT is able to host the meeting because the space is large enough to safely accommodate people and still adhere to COVID safety protocols such as social distancing. To ensure there is adequate space, however, the NCDOT requests disadvantaged business owners who would like to attend to RSVP Allen Waddell at rawaddell@ncdot.gov or Becky Walker at bwwalker1@ncdot.gov. Both can be reached at 910-788-5300. The department’s Highway Division 6 staff will lead the workshop and answer questions. A college representative will be on hand to explain its resources for small businesses. Division 6 is based in Fayetteville and covers Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Harnett and Robeson counties. Division 6 staff members are joining the NCDOT’s Office of Civil Rights and the department’s Chief Engineer’s Office in sponsoring quarterly outreach events for disadvantaged business enterprises. The first outreach event in June attracted statewide more than 180 people representing small and disadvantaged businesses. To learn more about the disadvantaged business enterprise outreach initiative, visit this NCDOT page, where there is a video, too. (Attached to this news release email is a flier promoting the event.) ***NCDOT***

Lumbee Tribal Chairman Harvey Godwin, Jr. Remembers First Responders During 20th Anniversary of September 11th.