The first memorial service that I conducted at the Black Alumni Reunion occurred in April 2011, a mere four months after my mother had passed away. As a small tribute to her, and as a way of symbolically addressing the wounds that I perceived to still exist in the Pioneer Valley, I played a song from the gospel album that my mother would play so often in my youth. The album was Sam Cooke and the Soul Stirrers and the song was "Peace in the Valley"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnB8WWdps0w
Now for those of you not familiar with Sam Cooke, well he would leave the gospel circuit to pursue a highly successful secular recording career. You can read about him at
but, for many, Sam Cooke's greatest contribution may be this song
In light of this week's announcement about the College's disassociation from the Lord Jeff mascot, a change has indeed come. However, there is still a need to have Peace in the Valley. Perhaps, the voice of Sam Cooke may not be heard by all. Perhaps, some may be able to hear the message better if it is sung by an even more famous Sam Cooke contemporary, one who just also happens to be part Cherokee.
Peace,
Everett "Skip" Jenkins
Class of 1975
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