Thelma was born in Monrovia, CA, the fifth (5^th) child of eleven children born to Frank and Mary Adams. Thelma graduated from Monrovia High School after World War II had began, much like many women she worked for the War effort.

She worked at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation.

In 1943 Frank and Mary Adams moved their family to Riverside and settled in Belltown. Thelma moved to Riverside in 1944. She worked then at Norton Air Force Base. When the War ended, she attended a private school, and then changed to Riverside City College where she worked as a library assistant and received her AA Degree. She worked at the college library until 1950. During that period 1946 – 1948, Thelma belonged to the Riverside Playhouse where she appeared in several stage productions.

In 1942 until 1946 Thelma was a USO hostess and visited many Air Force and Naval bases.

She was hired by the government and worked as a Library Assistant for the Naval Ordinance Station in Inyokern, CA, There she met and married Charles R. King. Their marriage lasted 51 years until his death in April of 2006.

Later the Federal Government changed the name to Department of Defense.

Thelma and Charles returned to Riverside in 1978 to take care of her parents. She had been a member of the African Methodist Church all her life and upon returning to Riverside, she and her husband joined Allen Chapel AME Church where she is still a member.

In 1959 Thelma and Charles and several other family members purchased the first Go-Kart that catapulted Adams Kart Track to the level of karting that Adams Track is known for today.

Adams Kart Track, now known as Adams Motorsports Park, will be celebrating 50 years of karting in January 2010.  Thelma as the senior (matriarch) member of the family sits as an advisor on the Celebration committee. They are planning a banquet to be held at the Marriott Hotel, Riverside, on Thursday, January 28, 2010.

The Annual Victorious In Battle Service Awards Conference will acknowledge and recognize men and women who have served in their communities and have become inspirational role models in the process. Men and Women are welcome both conference nights. The conference will begin at 7:00pm. They keynote speaker will be Pastor Fred Price Jr and Dr. Betty Price both from Crenshaw Christian Center.

The Awards conference will feature honorees and keynote speakers from around the community.

The community event is anticipated to bring together over 1,500 attendees, including ministries, government leaders and corporate sponsors from throughout the country.

The Service Awards Conference will feature many notable Honorees to include: Ron Wilson, Pastor David Horn, Pastor David Horn, Pastor Rick Alanis, Evangelist Jerry Musgrove, Jeannie Alanis, Denise Portee, Sue Rebar, Delores Burgess.

For information, contact Dewayne Tillman, Sr. at 866.257.9889 or email dewayne@thenationalwordnews.com.

An Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, Dr. Abbington is also the Executive Editor of GIA Publishers’ African American Church Music Series and has served as the musical co-director of the legendary Hampton University Ministers’ and Musicians’ Conference since 2000.

According to Dr. Daniel E. Walker, Founding Director of the Gospel Music History Project and Research Associate at the Center for Religion and Civic Culture at the University of Southern California, “Dr. Abbington is a real heavyweight when it comes to the study and performance of Black Sacred Music.” Added Dr. Dylan Rodriguez, chair of UCR’s Department of Ethnic Studies, “I hope we can keep co-sponsoring and endorsing this type of work. It is vital and inspiring.”

The former National Director of Music for both the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the NAACP, Dr. Abbington holds an undergraduate degree in Music from Morehouse College and a Masters of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan.

An acclaimed performer, recording artist, and passionate presenter, his skills as an organist, conductor, arranger, and educator are unparalleled.

As Rickerby Hinds, Associate Professor of Playwriting at UCR, comments, “It is very seldom that you get someone of Dr. Abbington’s status who makes the connection between theory and practice. He not only teaches it, he lives it.”

Previously a Professor of Music in the Department of Fine Arts at Morgan State University, Dr. Abbington was also the former Chair of the Department of Visual and Performing Arts at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Among his publications include; Let Mt. Zion Rejoice! Music in the African American Church (Judson Press) and Readings in African American Church Music and Worship (GIA). He is also an associate editor for the best-selling African American Heritage Hymnal (GIA).

During his visit to UCR Dr. Abbington will be speaking on his new work Let the Church Sing On:  Reflections on Black Sacred Music. The book explores “TheSpiritual”, “Pioneering and Contemporary Hymn Writers”, and “Pastoral Considerations and Worship Resources.” In the words of Kenneth Simons, Director of African Student Programs, “Get ready to be educated and inspired!”

For more information contact the African Student Programs Office at (951) 827-4576.

L.A.M.P.S. International 2009 Conference will be held October 18-21 at Bible Enrichment church. The church is located at 400 East Kelso in the city of Inglewood. The purpose of the conference is to unite Christian leaders from around the world for a time of prophetic prayer, apostolic teaching, mentoring and training of leaders, as well as faith-based teachings. The global theme, “Building The Kingdom Of God Through Prophetic Warfare”, will bring in international speakers, Bishop John Francis, from London England, Bishop Tudor Bismarck and Pastor ChiChi Bismarck from Zimbabwe, Apostle Clifford Turner, Chicago and Apostle Crawford. Music guests will feature psalmist Jackie Gouche and Bam Crawford’s Purpose and Desmond Pringle.

Bishop Francis a man of distinction, someone with a clear sense of purpose is the Founder and Senior Pastor of Ruach Ministries (Brixton, London), one of the largest and fastest growing churches in the UK. He preaches five services every Sunday, with over 5,000 plus people in regular attendance.

Apostle Crawford says “Bishop Tudor Bismarck is a voice to the nations.” Bishop Bismarck serves as an apostolic overseer to over 900 churches in 12 African nations, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Venezuela, the West Indies and the United States.

Apostle Crawford is Senior Pastor and Founder of Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church (BEFIC) in Inglewood, California. She is also founder of BAM Crawford Ministries, Chosen Vessels Women’s Ministry and missions project “Book of Acts”.

For more information about L.A.M.P.S. International Conference please call 310.330.4700 or Log on at www.bamcm.org.