Jamaica to Mattapan: Pastor James's enduring community impact
'What I hope people will take from today is paying it forward and providing a loving gesture to someone else and someone in need,' said
The City of Boston also designated Thursday, the second anniversary of Pastor James' passing, as Pastor Pearline B. James Day
as a tribute to her decades of service to the local community. Together with her husband Evan O. James, she turned their home into a childcare center for 37 years.
Advertisement
In addition to childcare, Pastor James led a ministry called the couple's ministry in the Full Life Gospel Center. She dedicated her life to church services, and even took in international students from UMass Boston who didn't have a place to stay.
Advertisement
The event took place around the James's home. The family has lived there for more than 55 years, Clark said. Many people who Pastor James impacted attended the ceremony, including ministry friends, neighbors, and family.
The ceremony included speakers such as Mayor Michelle Wu, City Councilor Enrique Pepén, Conan Harris representing his wife Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and journalist and author Rev. Liz Walker.
'Block by block in Boston there are incredible people who made us who we are,' Wu said about highlighting Pastor James, the first Jamaican woman to have a street dedicated to her name in Boston.
Pastor James, born in Morant Bay, Jamaica, moved to Boston in 1971. She was a trained hospital dietician before dedicating herself to childcare. At age 60, Pastor James graduated with an associate's degree from Urban College of Boston.
Pastor James served as a minister at Full Life Gospel Center, where she led the couple's ministry. She was a profound source of strength to community members through her service, despite facing personal hardships. On November 13, 1989, Pastor James's son Conrad was shot and killed one block away from the family's home.
Clark continued in her mother's steps. After Pastor James was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Clark became her caretaker. Clark, who is the CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, also leads the
'It means so much for her legacy and just who she was as an immigrant to this country,' Clark said.
Pastor James's granddaughter, Cherina D. Wright, who works at Suffolk University as the Assistant Vice President
for Student Affairs reminisced on childhood moments when she would walk up shiny red stairs, now white, to visit her grandmother. She remembers eating ice cream on those steps. Now, Wright said she carries her grandmother's essence everywhere she goes.
Advertisement
'This was an opportunity to give to a woman that was just humbly in her space, giving to the community and to those that reached out to her and that she protected,' Wright said.
Pastor James's husband, 81-year-old Evan James, smiled as he remembered Pastor James' retreats for the couple's ministry. He described her as a 'workaholic,' who at the same time, 'didn't ask for anything.'
Audrey Beaumont, who was an assistant of the couple's ministry said that Pastor James had a huge presence, wasn't afraid to speak up, and inspired her to pay it forward in church. Beaumont said she holds a voicemail James sent her close to her heart, giving her comfort to this day.
'Hi sister Audrey, I miss you,' the voicemail said. 'I'll see you in a while.'
Pastor James's grandson, Will Clark, who claimed to be her favorite, said that his grandmother always wanted to share what she had with others, including her home.
'She's got the street named after her now, and it feels good, but it feels even better to be here,' Clark said.
Maria Probert can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Doomsday prepper shares survival tips for WWIII — including 90-day food stockpile: ‘Things could unravel very quickly'
A Doomsday prepper has shared survival tips for World War III — including having a 90-day food supply and investing in communication gear. Derrick James, 50, who hails from rural Maine, started building his food stockpile and making emergency plans for natural disasters and war in 2007. The content creator claims current tensions between the US and Iran will inspire others to start prepping. Advertisement 'Every event that we have lived through — whether it is Covid, the Iraq war or hurricanes — brings in a new wave of preppers,' he told Southwest News Service. 'My advice is to take a deep breath, come up with a plan that you can stick to, and don't stress yourself out.' 5 Derrick James, 50, who hails from rural Maine, started building his food stockpile and making emergency plans for natural disasters and war in 2007. Derrick James / SWNS 5 'My advice is to take a deep breath, come up with a plan that you can stick to, and don't stress yourself out,' James stated. Derrick James / SWNS Advertisement '[However] We are living in a fragile society and things could unravel very quickly,' he ominously added. James believes global supply chains will collapse quickly in a war, especially if trade routes close, and suggests people should stock up on foods like rice, beans, wheat berries, canned meats and ready-to-eat meals. 'A lot of preppers will suggest starting with water and say you can live three months without food, but three days without water, which is true, but anytime you get a food crisis, food is harder to come by,' James explained. 'If you have food for 30 to 90 days, you can weather any storm that comes your way.' James says it is imperative to invest in communication gear, to make sure you can keep up to date with the latest news alerts and instructions from the government. He says investing in hand-cranked radios, ham radios, and walkie-talkies is a must, as cell towers and the internet could go down. Advertisement The prepper proclaims that it's also important to make sure your passport and other documentation are up to date. James told Southwest News Service that if you ever need to flee, you need to make sure that all your paperwork is in order before embassies shut down. 5 James believes global supply chains will collapse quickly in a war, especially if trade routes close, and suggests people should stock up on foods. He's also a avid hunter. Derrick James / SWNS 5 'You need to protect your finances and make sure you have cash on hand,' he implored. 'You need to diversify into things like silver, gold, and even crypto can be good if it is stored offline.' Derrick James / SWNS 'More people are pursuing a second passport if it is available to them, a lot of countries now offer them in terms of heritage,' he stated. 'This won't be an option for some people, but it is a growing topic in the prepping community. I'm in Maine, if something happens I'm closer to Canada, it would be faster to go to Canada than to get to any other state.' Advertisement The final tip from James is to make sure you have a stash of cash to use. In a crisis, some banks may close and limit access to your accounts. 'You need to protect your finances and make sure you have cash on hand,' he implored. 'You need to diversify into things like silver, gold, and even crypto can be good if it is stored offline.' 'If another country is part of your plan B, make sure you have currencies in those countries,' James added. 'A global war could mean that banks freeze, and ATMs go dark, and the dollar collapses.' 5 The prepper proclaims that it's also important to make sure your passport and other documentation are up to date. Derrick James / SWNS Derrick's top tips to survive a war 1 – Build a 90-day emergency food supply 2 – Stock water and have water filters 3 – Invest in communication gear like a hand-cranked radio Advertisement 4 – Address fuel and energy needs 5 – Have a bag packed ready in case you need to flee 6 – Make sure passports and documents are up to date 7 – Protect your finances
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Boston Globe
Jamaica to Mattapan: Pastor James's enduring community impact
'What I hope people will take from today is paying it forward and providing a loving gesture to someone else and someone in need,' said The City of Boston also designated Thursday, the second anniversary of Pastor James' passing, as Pastor Pearline B. James Day as a tribute to her decades of service to the local community. Together with her husband Evan O. James, she turned their home into a childcare center for 37 years. Advertisement In addition to childcare, Pastor James led a ministry called the couple's ministry in the Full Life Gospel Center. She dedicated her life to church services, and even took in international students from UMass Boston who didn't have a place to stay. Advertisement The event took place around the James's home. The family has lived there for more than 55 years, Clark said. Many people who Pastor James impacted attended the ceremony, including ministry friends, neighbors, and family. The ceremony included speakers such as Mayor Michelle Wu, City Councilor Enrique Pepén, Conan Harris representing his wife Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, and journalist and author Rev. Liz Walker. 'Block by block in Boston there are incredible people who made us who we are,' Wu said about highlighting Pastor James, the first Jamaican woman to have a street dedicated to her name in Boston. Pastor James, born in Morant Bay, Jamaica, moved to Boston in 1971. She was a trained hospital dietician before dedicating herself to childcare. At age 60, Pastor James graduated with an associate's degree from Urban College of Boston. Pastor James served as a minister at Full Life Gospel Center, where she led the couple's ministry. She was a profound source of strength to community members through her service, despite facing personal hardships. On November 13, 1989, Pastor James's son Conrad was shot and killed one block away from the family's home. Clark continued in her mother's steps. After Pastor James was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Clark became her caretaker. Clark, who is the CEO of the Boston Arts Academy Foundation, also leads the 'It means so much for her legacy and just who she was as an immigrant to this country,' Clark said. Pastor James's granddaughter, Cherina D. Wright, who works at Suffolk University as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs reminisced on childhood moments when she would walk up shiny red stairs, now white, to visit her grandmother. She remembers eating ice cream on those steps. Now, Wright said she carries her grandmother's essence everywhere she goes. Advertisement 'This was an opportunity to give to a woman that was just humbly in her space, giving to the community and to those that reached out to her and that she protected,' Wright said. Pastor James's husband, 81-year-old Evan James, smiled as he remembered Pastor James' retreats for the couple's ministry. He described her as a 'workaholic,' who at the same time, 'didn't ask for anything.' Audrey Beaumont, who was an assistant of the couple's ministry said that Pastor James had a huge presence, wasn't afraid to speak up, and inspired her to pay it forward in church. Beaumont said she holds a voicemail James sent her close to her heart, giving her comfort to this day. 'Hi sister Audrey, I miss you,' the voicemail said. 'I'll see you in a while.' Pastor James's grandson, Will Clark, who claimed to be her favorite, said that his grandmother always wanted to share what she had with others, including her home. 'She's got the street named after her now, and it feels good, but it feels even better to be here,' Clark said. Maria Probert can be reached at
Miami Herald
15-06-2025
- Miami Herald
After a century of logging, lands along California's Klamath River returned to tribe
LOS ANGELES - Along the Klamath River in Northern California, where logging companies once cut ancient redwood trees, vast tracts of land have been returned to the Yurok Tribe in a years-long effort that tribal leaders say will enable the restoration of forests and the protection of a watershed that is vital for salmon. The effort, which unfolded gradually over the last 23 years, culminated in May as Western Rivers Conservancy turned over 14,968 acres to the Yurok Tribe. It was the last portion of 47,097 acres that the nonprofit group acquired and transferred to the tribe in what is thought to be the largest "land back" deal in California history. Members of the tribe say they are celebrating the return of their ancestral lands along Blue Creek, a major tributary that meets the Klamath about 40 miles south of the Oregon border. Blue Creek holds cultural and spiritual significance for the Yurok, and its cold, clear waters provide a refuge for salmon. "We are salmon people," said Joseph L. James, chairman of the Yurok Tribe. "The river takes care of us, and it's our job to take care of the river." In all, the tribe now owns an additional 73 square miles along the lower Klamath River, including much of the Blue Creek watershed. The conifer forests, which were heavily logged over the last century, will be managed by the tribal government as two protected areas, the Blue Creek Salmon Sanctuary and the Yurok Tribal Community Forest. Yurok leaders say regaining stewardship of these lands contributes to larger efforts to revive the ecological health of the Klamath watershed, where last year the removal of four dams farther upstream restored a free-flowing stretch of the river and enabled salmon to reach spawning areas that had been inaccessible for more than a century. "This land is back home with us now, and we'll continue that work that we have done as Yurok people to protect the land, protect the streams, provide for our people and provide for the environment," James said. In addition to Blue Creek, the land includes other streams that flow into the Klamath. The tribe plans projects to create healthier stream habitats for fish, and to restore meadows and prairies. In the forests, they plan to use controlled burns to thin vegetation that has built up. Some old logging roads are being decommissioned, while other roads are set to be upgraded. "We're going to continue to work to bring back our wildlife population, our fish population," James said. "It's going to take a lot of work, but a lot of people are going to benefit from this." Beyond the local benefits, James said the effort serves as an example for the Land Back movement, in which Native people in many areas are seeking to regain ancestral lands that were taken from them generations ago. "This is what it looks like when we talk about land back," James said. "Land back means giving the land back to its original people with no strings attached. Let them provide their traditional knowledge to heal the land, the environment." He said reaching this successful conclusion involved years of efforts by leaders of the tribe and Western Rivers Conservancy, as well as help from other partners. He said the deal should start more discussions nationwide about how other tribes can advance toward regaining their traditional lands. "It's a big win for Indian Country," he said. "Here is a model that people could use, from our experience, to get land back." The effort has more than doubled the tribe's landholdings. The lands were previously owned by Green Diamond Resource Co. and its predecessor Simpson Logging Co., which harvested timber there for nearly a century. The last time logging occurred on the property was in 2007. Western Rivers Conservancy, a Portland, Ore.-based nonprofit, signed a purchase agreement with Green Diamond in 2008 after five years of negotiations and efforts to identify funding. The lands were gradually acquired by the group between 2009 and 2017, and were transferred to the tribe in multiple phases. The conservation group used an innovative funding strategy, assembling $56 million from foundations, corporations and philanthropists, as well as other sources such as tax credits, public grants and the sale of carbon credits. State funding and support for the effort came from the California Wildlife Conservation Board and the California State Coastal Conservancy, as well as other agencies. "We put together this mosaic of different funding sources," said Nelson Mathews, president of Western Rivers Conservancy. "This is the result of commitment, persistence and tenacity." Mathews' organization focuses on protecting rivers for fish, wildlife and the public, and was drawn to the project for its conservation benefits. By establishing the salmon sanctuary in Blue Creek, the deal safeguards a vital cold-water habitat for fish including Chinook salmon, coho salmon and steelhead. "With climate change, cold water is at a premium for these rivers, and it's critical," Mathews said. "So having complete protection of that watershed is important." He said the deal shows how conservation goals and tribes' efforts to regain lands can align in ways that bring tremendous benefits. "It's good for the soul to protect these rivers, and it's a double benefit to see the tribe get their land back," Mathews said. Members of the Yurok Tribe say this effort and others like it are a critically important step in grappling with the lasting effects of colonization. During the 1800s, California's Native population was decimated by diseases, displacement and violence, including state-sponsored killings. The Yurok reservation was established by the federal government in 1855, confining the tribe to an area that covered only a tiny fraction of their ancestral territory. In the late 1800s, white settlers and speculators found ways to secure additional lands along the Klamath River where they could extract valuable redwood, in some cases by bribing U.S. General Land Office officials as they fraudulently acquired thousands of acres of timberlands. Today, the Yurok Tribe is the largest tribe in California, with more than 6,400 enrolled members. "We are trying to recover from colonization," said Amy Bowers Cordalis, a lawyer for the tribe and executive director of the Ridges to Riffles Indigenous Conservation Group. "And we are just now getting into a place where we are starting to see some of the fruits of our efforts, between dam removal and now land back efforts." Regaining these lands enables the tribe "to start rebuilding and to start taking care of our land and our resources," she said. "We are strongly committed to living in a balance with the natural world." She said for members of the tribe, visiting the cold, clear waters of Blue Creek is a spiritual experience. "It's one of the most wild places in all of California, and it is glorious." It's possible to see some of the area by boat, traveling from the Klamath River to the mouth of Blue Creek. But for now, access to the area is limited. James said that could change in the future, once restoration and other work is completed. "At some point in time, we have an opportunity to turn that into a big, beautiful park," James said. "We've got to heal it first, put our resources in it, and it's going to take some time." He said the tribe's members feel delighted to be once again stewarding these lands and waterways, as their ancestors once did. "It's a beautiful feeling knowing that we'll have this land in our hands moving forward for the next seven generations, for our Yurok people and our grandchildren." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
