13 MAY 2017 BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Do You Really Know Syl Morgan-Smith When contacted by the Body of Christ and asked to share details of her life, Syl Morgan-Smith said, “Many people think they know me, and my life story but they really don’t.” She is known in Colorado as founder and president of the Colorado Gospel Music Academy & Hall of Fame pro- gram for the past 46 years, which rec- ognizes local talented youth, pastors, singers, musicians, choirs, and many known and unknown individuals that do great work in the community. Before that, she was known as the Black female television news anchor on channel 2, and later as talk show personality on Channel’s 2, 4 and 7. At the same time she was the morn- ing drive time voice on the radio lifting everyone’s spirits by playing gospel music and delivering community news. And although it’s hard to believe, while working in electronic media, she was also the managing editor of the Denver Drum, a newspaper focused on people of color in Denver. Syl Morgan Smith has come a long ways and is still committed to her com- munity, her church, and remains a strong committed woman and mother. Born in Alabama, Syl’s parents sepa- rated when she was eight months old, later they divorced and married other people before she was two years old. They left Syl with her Dad’s aunt who raised Syl by herself. Her name was Hattie Lewis, she was a widow, and sister of Syl’s deceased grandmother. “Mama Hattie,” as Syl called her, had no children of her own, and found herself with an infant and very little education and resources following the death of her husband. She was known as the community caregiver and com- passionate neighbor that showed up to cook, clean or wash clothes for those in need. She loved Syl and did her best to provide a living for her little great niece. Most years, the two would go to Cleveland, Ohio for six months so Mama Hattie could work as a hotel maid or food preparer in restaurants because the pay was better than doing domestic house work in Alabama. They always returned to Alabama but this meant Syl was always in a new school with new children. “My childhood consisted of being bounced around like an army brat,” Syl Morgan Smith laughs. “My grand- mother (great aunt) had an entrepre- neurial spirit. She made her own home brew beer, tomato and peach wine and even some moonshine, which she sold in mason jars. She also sold fish and pig ear sandwiches.” “While the south was totally segre- gated, white law officers were some of her best customers. “The Sheriff would even come to her house to eat and buy alcohol. He was a steady customer.” “Mama Hattie was not a bootlegger by choice, but she was a creative and determined woman with lots of pride and determined to take care of her home and child. She was willing to do whatever was necessary to earn a meager but honest living that included cooking, cleaning, washing and iron- ing, in her heart she was a faithful member of the church that rose to the challenge of being a single poverty- stricken woman with a little girl to raise. At church, she was very active with the usher board and women’s chorus, frequently traveling around the state of Alabama attending differ- ent church conventions, and always bringing Syl right along with her. At age three, someone in the church heard Syl Morgan Smith singing and recruited her to sing in the choir along with the adults. Her big voice reso- nated over the years as a great gospel soloist. However, there are sometimes trials and tribulations in one’s life where God will test you. Syl Morgan Smith went through that test after becoming pregnant at age 15. She admitted that It all happened in one week--she found out she was preg- nant, she graduated from high school and also married her baby’s father. That week was a blur to say the least. Her first job was working as a salad girl in the cafeteria of JC Penny, and at age 18, Syl attended nursing college and became a graduate nurse. She admits, “I never wanted to be a nurse but the only options available to me were to be a nurse or school teacher. Those options grew smaller after I had five children within eight years. (Her middle child died 36 hours after birth) And all the time as a child I had wanted to be an actress and singer like Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge. Mama loved me but couldn’t see my potential so she made sure I could cook, clean and iron to qualify for work as a house girl in the south. Neither mama or my parents could truly understand or see this little girl with the big voice and even bigger dreams that wasn’t afraid of anybody and always daring to do things beyond other kids her age.“ She was a straight A student because Mama Hattie insisted she had to be smart and a good thinker to find her place in the world. “Forget about boys and looking cute. You get something in your head and be somebody,” was the house mandate. Syl Morgan Smith worked as a nurse and her husband, the Rev. Oscar Morgan, Jr. worked in the packing house in Omaha Nebraska to care for their family. Later the packing house closed in Omaha and he was trans- ferred to the plant in Denver where he joined Central Baptist Church. He then became a young minister and joined Mt. Gilead Baptist Church where he served until he was called to pastor a small church that was located at 34th and Franklin streets. Syl and the children remained back in Omaha, Nebraska. She loved her pastor, Rev. Dr, J.C. Wade, Sr. at the Salem Baptist Church and really enjoyed her service there as she con- tinued to work. She really didn’t want to come to Denver. Her first visit to Denver was as national soloist for the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc. While here for that convention, it was Bishop Rev. Acen Phillips who convinced her to move to Denver and be with her husband. This was the same message from Dr. Wade, your children need to be with their father. Like Mama Hattie, Syl was not afraid of hard work. She studied to excel in school and later took on various careers that included being a graduate nurse, insurance under- writer, customer service specialist, clothier, and all the time serving on some of Colorado’s most prestigious Boards. These boards include Vice Chair of the National Small Business Administration’s Council, Childrens Hospital, Denver Zoo, the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, chair of the Denver Commission on Community Relations, First Interstate and Norwest Banks. Denver Board of Ethics, Denver Private Industry Council and the Jefferson, Gilpin and Summit Tri County Workforce Board. Syl Morgan Smith came to Denver and was active in citywide choir programs, where one in particular, she won’t forget was the Command Performance, an annual event at Mt. Gilead Church. “I was the emcee and after we took an offering, I said, ‘We’re going into Act 2 and we are going to move up a little higher, so now is the time to loosen those ties or whatever is tight on you. We are going to rock Daniel”… then out of the blue, I said “I want this to be good because I won’t be in Denver for your next Command Performance. I am leaving for to Los Angeles to study voice and theater and be about what God wants me to be and do.’” She said everyone just looked at her in shock. After that, Syl Morgan Smith ven- tured out to California to study voice and theater. It’s where her start in radio began—she became the announcer for the Ever Faithful Church Sunday Worship Broadcast. But after nine months, Syl Morgan Smith felt she needed to return to Denver, which was a better place to raise her children. So she did and immediately met and began working with the late media and technical genius and Freeman “Cosmo” Harris at a radio station KPBI-FM. She remembers at that time, local civil rights groups were giving the Denver television stations a hard time about having no on-air black report- ers. They continued to pursue the issue and she and other Black females were hired. She still credits singing and working in church with giving her added confidence that allowed her to excel in television, radio and newspa- pers. She was never afraid to ask the hard questions and would always see her position as the voice of the people and not her pedestal. From her first radio position, she was hired on at Channel 2, where she worked for 10 years. “When on television, I made it a point to cover what was going on in the local schools and black churches,” she adds. I was there to serve the com- munity that fought to get me there in the first place.” Syl Morgan Smith made her mark in media within the Denver community and went on to do other things. She has continued for the past 46 years to put together and host the Colorado Gospel Music Academy and Hall of Fame program. So what’s next for Syl Morgan Smith who has already seen an abundance of blessings? She would like to work with a safe haven for teenagers, teenage mothers and have it be an outreach place for children. “These young teenage girls don’t see their value. They crank out babies and the boys become gang bangers because they don’t see any other way out. They have no idea how awesome they really are and what they can achieve with a little help. And that is a failure on our part (as adults). As for the church, Syl Morgan Smith, states it will always be affront and cen- ter in my life as a relevant and influen- tial part of the community. “I especially love my work at New Hope Baptist Church, where I serve as a leader and ordained Deacon. I have a servant’s heart and my pastor, Rev. Dr. Eugene Downing. Jr. and my church family gives me the projects and opportunity to serve God as we all work together to reach this present age of brothers and sisters needing Jesus Christ and a bet- ter way of life. I am so grateful for my children, Shiva Maxey, Andre Morgan, Melody Lynch and Ramon Morgan. They have taught me great life lessons. And now I know for sure that my teenage preg- nancy, which appeared as a heavy burden was ultimately a tremendous blessing. Now I know it’s not how or where you begin but how you end, and with God all things are possible. My future is so bright I need new sun glasses.” Syl Morgan-Smith PROFILE SUMMER COMPUTER CLASSES Colorado Futuretek is offering summer computer classes for all stu- dents from incoming freshman to high school students. Classes are Tuesday through Friday starting June 6th-July 14th from 9:00am to 3:00 pm (lunch provided). Register early as applications are on a first come first serve basis. CLASSES ALSO AVAILABLE FOR SENIORS! For info contact Ron Fontenot, 720-381-3074 or visit www.cftek.org