For 40 years the community of Chanute has come together for the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, which began in 1985 with Jesse Jackson. Jackson was mayor at the time, and throughout his life served his country and community.
“It’s important to keep honoring the traditions we have set,” Mayor Jacob LaRue said.
This year’s featured speaker was Herman Norwood, a friend of Jackson’s, who spoke of the legacy he left. Many members of Jackson’s family were present at the event.
“We are very blessed that the whole family is here,” his daughter, Brenda Greene said.
Attendees were welcomed by Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce Board President Stacy Atherton, and members of the Jackson family were recognized.
Also recognized were this year’s recipients of the Jesse L. and Frances A. Jackson Scholarship; Avery Dean and Rylee Smith. This scholarship is open to Chante High School students attending Neosho County Community College, based on merit and academic achievement.
After these acknowledgments, Pastor Russ Vallier of Otterbein Community Church led an opening prayer.
“I’m going to quote Jesse now, It’s not scripture Lord, but you know it,” Vallier said. “He said ‘We’re not where we are going to be, we’re not where we want to be, but thank God we are not where we used to be.’” Vallier in his prayer said that there is love in this community, and said he was thankful for the vision that God gave to Mayor Jackson in beginning the annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast.
Norwood noted that Jackson was a busy man, full of servitude.
“To me, he was a mentor,” Norwood said. “He worked hard, and he expected you to work hard.
Jackson was a veteran of World War II, a city commissioner of 12 years, and active in many area organizations such as the Community Corrections Committee, the Area Agency on Aging, the Regional Planning Commission, the Chanute Area Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance of Churches Christian League, Chanute United Way, Adult Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the New Hope Baptist Church Board, the Promise Keepers, and the Vashi Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star of the Blue Eagle Masonic Lodge.
“He left a legacy for all of us to read about,” Norwood said. “He would lead by example.”
Norwood said that Jackson was a man who let love guide his actions and that the world needs more love today.
Norwood also spoke of 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
“Love is when you get up to do something to help somebody,” Norwood said. “That’s the kind of men and women we are looking for in the community, those who lead with love.”
Jackson organized the event from 1985 until the early 2000s. The event continues each year to remember his legacy, according to Norwood. It also serves as a time to reflect on one’s legacy, and how to better serve the community, Norwood said. Ideas of how one could serve were included in the event program, which suggested volunteering at one’s church, FireEscape Coffeehouse, or the Cherry Street Youth Center. One could also donate to food pantries or the Chanute Community Foundation, or be a part of the chamber of commerce or Main Street Chanute. Also suggested was to serve on a board or commission in the city.
The annual theme was taken from 2 Peter 1:5-7, “...add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, charity.”
After a closing prayer offered by Vallier, Betty Norwood and Angela Lockett sang “His Eye is on the Sparrow,” followed by a rendition of “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands” Sung by Vallier and Sheri Sutcliffe.
“This is such a nice event,” District 3 Commissioner Gail Klaassen said. “I love coming here, and I love celebrating what good God has done, and how good tomorrow is going to be.”
