Title: A True Servant Leader Original CoS Document (slug): [[https://conventionofstates.com/a-true-servant-leader|a-true-servant-leader]] Login Required to view? No Created: 2023-03-18 12:28:06 Updated: 2023-05-31 03:00:01 Published: 2023-04-05 00:00:00 Converted: 2025-04-14T21:23:41.130871394 ---- Those in attendance at a recent Loganville COS Town Hall meeting had a real treat by having Melvin Everson as the guest speaker. They were also blessed with having Lucretia Hughes and her husband David of Make Real News in attendance. When doing research on Mr. Everson, then hearing him speak, I was struck by the fact that, at each juncture of his life that meant taking a great step forward, he would never waver from the two things that never seemed to fail him; the lessons his father taught him and his faith. Virtually everything you could possibly want to know about Mr. Everson's history can be found via a simple online search, so I do not plan to repeat it for this article. I much prefer to speak of my impression of Mr. Everson from a very personal viewpoint and from a brief Q&A via email with him. As Melvin began to speak and share his story, I immediately felt a familiar kinship with him. Mr. Everson and I both came of age, separated by just a few years, during the desegregation {{https://content.conventionofstates.com/cosaction-prod/public/content/images/66715/66715_original.jpg?183x288}}era of the public school system. He here in Georgia and myself in Pittsburgh, Pa. We followed some similar pathways and other divergent paths. He and I both made at least one life long friendship that would not have been possible without desegregation. Melvin still talks to Marty Bloodworth often, as do I with Dr. Chris Spann. The communities in Georgia took proactive steps to ensure as smooth a blending of cultures as possible and Melvin stated it worked well for all involved. That didn't happen in Pittsburgh where we had our share of full blown riots. Neither of us attended prom. In much the same way this era in our lives changed us both for the better. When speaking with Melvin about our time in the US military we both agreed that it was another of those life altering, yet life affirming periods in life. In not one article I accessed about Mr. Everson did I find where one interviewer asked him of his service and my question to him in that regard was a simple one. "How did your time in service affect the development of your conservative views, if at all"? Melvin stated, "Serving in the military had a tremendous impact on my conservative views! It solidified my view that freedom has to be preserved, sometimes even with military strength. In addition, the military service further reinforced my position that we live in the greatest country ever and there are those who wish to destroy it and we must not let that occur"! My final question to Melvin was, "I am one of the lucky few, who at my age, still can call his father when family or life perplexes him. How would your father advise you to navigate today's societal challenges? Or would he be asking you"? His answer was as expected, particularly for those who know him, "My father passed away in 1987 and if he was alive today, he would tell me as he did so many times, son you may not agree with someone’s position and you have every right to speak out and let your voice be heard but do it with respect! Treat people the way you want to be treated and stay grounded in your faith and look to God for that endless source of strength"! Amen sir! Thank you for being a true servant leader in so many areas, over so many years, and for supporting the Convention of States movement.