Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 16 July 1998 — Page 12

The Muncie Times, July 16,1998, Page 12

Muncie Black Expo Officers

W.C. Edwards President Bom in Holysprings, Mass, to J.C. Edwards and Elizabeth Cox, he came to Muncie at seven months old raised by grandparents Jeff and Alma Edwards. He attended Muncie schools, graduated from Muncie Southside High School in 1965. Married to Harriet Edwards, now 29 years have 5 children, Nadine, Debbie, Joe, Tyrone and Stacey; and five grandchildren. Edwards worked several jobs at a time all of his life. He worked for Delco Battery from 1965 to 1972 with a two-year leave, while in the Marine Corp. From 1966 to 1968 on leave from Delco. In July 1970, he became a police officer for the Muncie Police Department. He worked with the police department for 24 and a half years from 1970 to 1995 before retiring. He worked for Southside High School for 14 years before becoming deputy chief of police. He has been pastoring at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church for 14 and a half years. He is a past president of the Black Baptist Church Fellowship of Muncie.

Bea Moten-Foster Vice-President Bea Moten-Foster was named Indiana ambassador by former Gov. Orr just before making a trip to several African countries in 1979. She is the wife of Dr. Robert O. Foster, a retired Ball State professor. Foster is the owner and publisher of The Muncie Times, a newspaper that started publishing in 1991 because of her strong desire to see a Muncie newspaper aimed at the city’s African American population. It is the only African American newspaper to survive in Muncie for more than a year, she said. She said she often reminds the community that she would not have survived without the help of her friend. Dr. Tendayi Kumbula, a Ball State journalism professor, who has been a consultant, adviser, writer, etc., since the paper’s inception. Foster has been first in many categories, including being the first African American radio announcer at the United Nations and the first female African American television announcer in Indianapolis. She has been in broadcasting most of her life. She hosts a 30 minute program, titled “Around Muncie Today,” that airs Monday through Friday in the city. In Muncie, she has been one of the driving forces that helped produce the Muncie Black Expo. She was founder of the Muncie Coalition of 100 Women and was its first president. She started Muncie’s first city wide Black History Month, and was one of the major planners of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday program in Muncie. She is a member of Christ Temple Apostolic Church. Foster was born in Selma, Ala. to Charles and Hattie Moten. Assisting in her upbringing was her grandmother, Mattie Moten. Foster was also one of the workers in Dr. Martin Luther King’s civil rights movement. Formerly featured in Essence Magazine, she is the recipient of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award and the Spirit of Chief Muncie. Bea did a 30 minute show with Sally Jesse Raphael. She has four children: Holly, Brad, Danny and Pamela and nine grandchildren.

Shirley Erby Treasurer Shirley Erby, a Muncie native, is the treasurer of Muncie Black Expo. She is also an assistant to the manager of the First Merchants Bank main office. Erby brings to MBE years of experience in accounting and bookkeeping. She has been a member of MBE for the past 5 years. Aside from MBE, Erby also serves on a number of professional and community boards. She is a former member of the advisory board of Planned Parenthood-Madison Street Clinic. She is also treasurer of the North Eastern District Association Senior Ushers. Erby, is a member of the Coalition of 100 Women, and is a vice president and treasurer of the Coalition. She attends Calvary Baptist Church, where she is president of the usher board and assistant church clerk. Erby and her husband of 38 years, Herman, are parents of three children, Tonya Day, Eric and Tamara. They have six grandchildren. Erby said she feels privileged to be a member of the MBE because of the group’s firm commitment to promoting unity within the community. She said working together helps promote a better and safer environment for all, as well as producing qualified leaders for tomorrow.

Harriet Edwards Secretary Harriet Edwards, wife of retired Muncie police officer the Rev. W.C. Edwards, is a mother of five children. She has been working at Mutual Federal Saving Bank for 26 years. Edwards is a member of New Hope Baptist Church, where she is a youth adviser. She is the chair of the Black Expo Finance Committee and also of the Summer Soul Fest Vendors Committee. Additionally, she is on the board of Women in Business Unlimited, Youth as Resources, the Midwest Missionary Baptist Youth Conference and Kiwanis Sunrisers. Edwards, owner of Nome’s Boutique, is a cruise consultant for Muncie’s Cruise Pro Inc. She enjoys spending time with her five grandchildren. Her hobbies are listening to gospel music and traveling.