Benefit concert for Charles McNeair has the church aisles rocking
{Wanda Cox, who chairs the non-profit Advocates for Charles McNeair, stands in front of a photo of McNeair as she explains his story to those in attendance at Sunday’s benefit concert at First Reformed United Church of Christ. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local}
Sunday was still bitterly cold but the aisles and pulpit at First Reformed United Church of Christ on East Center Street were rocking and heated up during a benefit concert for Charles McNeair.
Organized by the nonprofit group Advocates for Charles McNeair, the goal was to help raise funds to support McNeair once he is granted clemency by Governor Roy Cooper.
Rev. Alan Suber welcomes those who braved the cold Sunday to attend a benefit concert for Charles McNeair. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local
The organization, led by Chairwoman Wanda Cox and President Rev. Alan Suber, is a grassroots organization has been working to get McNeair granted clemency or parole for three years.
Cox told those gathered Sunday that she met McNeair “when I heard his story, and didn’t believe it. I wanted to know if it was true.” So she sat down for a face to face at Davidson Correctional Facility where he was housed at the time, and she came away believing the story was true, and that McNeair had not been treated fairly,
In 1979, a 16-year-old McNeair, who could read only at a second-grade level, was accused of raping a white woman in her mid-fifties. Threatened with additional charges and the death penalty, McNear plead guilty to second-degree rape, and was sentenced to a full life sentence plus 2-10 years for the alleged breaking and entering.
Dr. Kim Britt smiles as she performs several songs during a benefit concert Sunday. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local
He is now in his 44th year of serving time, despite the fact that new laws on the books mean his case should be reviewed and adjusted, since he was given a life sentence as a juvenile. He has been turned down by the parole board time and time again, so Cox began to pull together a group willing to fight for clemency from Gov. Cooper.
But when he is released, and Cox will not allow anything but that hope to exist, he will need financial help. He has a place to live, but he will need a job, and he will need money just to live at the start, as well as for counseling as he adjusts to life on the outside.
Kenneth “Monk” Davis gets the audience on its feet during a benefit concert at First Reformed UCC church Sunday. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local
“We have some business people in this room tonight, and Charles is going to need a job,” Cox said. “I’m not talking about hiring him to mow your lawn, I’m talking about a job with benefits so when he’s my age he has something to live on.”
The church was more than half full Sunday with not only residents who support McNeair but with four members of the city council, Mayor Jason Hayes, Mayor Pro-Tem Joe Watkins and council members John Burke and Garret Holloway.
“The council did something truly unprecedented,” Cox said. “They wrote and unanimously signed a resolution acknowledging that racism was a part of the case, and supporting his release.”
Mike Price took to the center aisle Sunday during his performance at a benefit concert for Charles McNeair. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local
Several performers spent some time entertaining the audience, including Dr. Kim Britt, who was accompanied by pianist Mitch Little, singer Kenneth “Monk” Davis, musician and well known former band director Mike Price on saxophone, and beloved guitarist and singer Kacey Leak.
Kacey Leak’s soulful, jazzy rendition of Amazing Grace set the tone for a rousing performance during Sunday’s benefit concert. Elisabeth Strillacci, Davidson Local
“This is the right location for this benefit,” said Rev. Lester Smith in welcoming those who braved the cold. “Where else can you go to talk to an audience about forgiveness, about redemption? Many of you understand - you might not be the person you were meant to be yet, but you surely are not the person you used to be. We all need second chances, and so does Charles. He needs a chance to live a life of freedom. We need a song to encourage us, to encourage Charles. This is a God assignment, and we are asking you to join us.”
