[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13967]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              TRIBUTE TO REVEREND HUBERT DONALD COCKERHAM

 Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Rev. H. Donald Cockerham for 30 years of dedicated service to the 
members of Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville. His devoted 
congregation recently honored him by writing and performing a play 
about his life, and I am proud to join in their celebration of this 
milestone anniversary for both Rev. Cockerham and the church body.
  Rev. Cockerham, born in McComb, Mississippi, first came to Louisville 
in 1969, to preach at a foreign missions rally. At that time, he was 
the minister at Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago, but after filling-in 
as speaker at Zion one Sunday, Zion began to pursue Cockerham as a 
candidate for pastor. Although he was serving another church, he said 
he felt called to accept the invitation to lead Zion's congregation.
  By all accounts, Zion flourished under Rev. Cockerham's leadership. 
During his 30 years as pastor, the church building changed 
significantly, with the construction of a new wing. Also, the addition 
of a new organ and piano have surely been a blessing to the church 
choir when they perform their well-known presentation of the 
``Messiah'' each Christmas. During Rev. Cockerham's time as pastor, 
Zion has also significantly increased opportunities for youth through 
additional ministry programs.
  Rev. Cockerham was not only deeply involved in his church, but was 
also an integral part of the community. Over the years, he has been 
involved in the WHAS Crusade for Children, a project which raises funds 
to help with the care and treatment of handicapped children in Kentucky 
and southern Indiana. Reverend Cockerham has won numerous awards and 
distinctions during the past 30 years, and was recognized most recently 
by the Louisville YMCA as a 1999 Adult Black Achiever.
  I am certain that the legacy of commitment to faith that Rev. 
Cockerham has left will continue on, and will encourage and inspire 
those who follow. Reverend, best wishes for many more years of service, 
and know that your efforts to better Zion Missionary Baptist Church and 
the Louisville community will be felt for years to come. On behalf of 
myself and my colleagues in the United States Senate, thank you for 
giving so much of yourself for so many others.
  Mr. President, I also ask that an article which ran in Louisville's 
Courier-Journal on June 12, 1999, be printed in the Record following my 
remarks.
  The article follows:

               [From The Courier-Journal, June 12, 1999]

       Faith in Action--Church Honors Pastor's 30 Years With Play

       At Zion Missionary Baptist Church, members are busy showing 
     their pastor how much they appreciate his hard work and 
     dedication.
       The Rev. H. Donald Cockerham will celebrate 30 years as 
     pastor of the church tomorrow, and the congregation wants 
     this to be a celebration Cockerham will never forget.
       ``It is rare for a pastor to have remained at a church for 
     30 years, so I wanted to know how I could make this 
     anniversary more special,'' said Beverly Jones, anniversary 
     chairwoman.
       When Troy Bell, co-chairman of the anniversary committee, 
     suggested that they write a play as a tribute to Cockerham, 
     she couldn't resist.
       Bell, who has a background in musical theater, wrote, 
     directed and starred in the play, which is based on the 
     Broadway musical ``Purlie Victorious.''
       ``I changed the title to `Hubert Victorious' because it is 
     our pastor's first name, and I rewrote this play to correlate 
     with the pastor's life,'' Bell said. ``This adaptation was a 
     combination of fiction and non-fiction.''
       For a month, Bell and others worked to make the play a 
     success.
       ``I contacted actors and actresses . . . and we went to the 
     DAV to find clothes and wigs reminiscent of the 1960s,'' Bell 
     said.
       They performed the play Monday night at Derby Dinner 
     Playhouse.
       Cockerham cried and then he laughed and then he cried 
     again, Bell said.
       ``It was a hilarious play,'' Cockerham said. ``Although I 
     had known about the play for weeks, I did not know that it 
     would be about me. I was surprised.''
       Sheivel Johnson, publicity and program director for the 
     church, said faith explains why Cockerham is still pastor 
     after 30 years.
       Cockerham said the congregation's love and compassion for 
     the community makes his job more pleasurable.
       ``A love affair between the people and myself began, 
     almost,'' when he came to Zion, he said.
       The 68-year-old pastor, a native of McComb, Miss., was 
     pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Chicago when he was asked 
     to join Zion in 1969.
       ``I came to Louisville to preach at a foreign-mission 
     rally. At the time, Zion did not have a pastor,'' he said. 
     ``Their candidate could not speak at their service because he 
     became ill. When the pulpit committee discovered that I was 
     in town, they asked me to speak and I accepted.''
       Impressed by his sermon, the church body asked him to 
     become their pastor, but he declined initially.
       ``I did not want to change churches because I was their 
     (Calvary's) first full-time pastor. I had dedicated myself to 
     building that congregation.''
       But shortly afterward, Cockerham changed his mind, 
     believing that coming to Zion was his fate. ``It occurred to 
     me that Zion did not have to ask me to be their pastor simply 
     because they needed one. I believed that the Lord was moving 
     me in a different direction.''
       In 1969, Cockerham received a unanimous vote by Zion's 
     governing body.
       Under Cockerham's leadership, the church has greatly 
     expanded youth activities and made improvements to the 
     building including a new annex and a new organ and piano.
       Over the years, he has received many awards, including 
     being named an Adult Black Achiever this year by the YMCA.
       For Bell, Cockerham's many accomplishments and recognition 
     come as no surprise.
       ``If there was ever a pastor that was loved unconditionally 
     by his church family, it is him,'' he said. ``He is the 
     father to the fatherless.''
       Zion Missionary Baptist has been celebrating Cockerham's 
     anniversary with services all week. The grand finale will 
     begin at 11 a.m. tomorrow, with dinner served after morning 
     worship.

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