Spring 2017

Spring 2017 Pages 43-45

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Nothing gave Mark R. Washington more satisfaction than returning to Oakwood in 1996 to serve as the Director of Financial Aid, where he frequently went above call of duty to help the students. Currently, he serves the US Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Planning, the highest rank a civilian can achieve without being a political appointee. He counsels African-American boys through “My Brother’s Keeper.” Mark’s top volunteer priority is working with the Capitol Heights Volunteer Fire Department.

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As an Oakwood student in the late 1970s, Anthony Whigham formed a group called, “Way Back When.” During the summer months working in tent revivals, he realized that music ministry was his true calling. He travelled throughout the U.S., Central America and Canada, in full time music ministry, resulting in the production of six albums, a worldwide concert tour, and an invitation to join the Breath of Life telecast. Whigham has worked with several evangelists in the Seventh day-Adventist Church, and is most proud of having been influential in the baptism of more than 7,000 souls.

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Dr. DeWitt S. Williams was an honor student at Oakwood College, served as the editor of the Acorn, as USM president, and sang with the choir. Williams was the first African-American director of the North American Division’s Health Ministries; served as the associate director of Communications of the General Conference; served as a missionary in the Congo Union; and was president of the Central African Union. He retired after 46 years of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has written or co-authored nine books. Williams served as president of the National Alumni Association from 2006 to 2012.

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Wol Bol Wol one of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan, came to America and found his way to Oakwood. He is described as being positive, kind hearted and friendly, always with a kind word or some encouragement, and would never miss an opportunity to minister, pray or even just talk to people. He always demonstrated a real sense of interest, and whatever his reply, it seemed well thought out. Wol is fluent in eight languages, and is finishing a translation of the Bible into the Dinka language.

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Brenda Wood attended Oakwood University for two years where her mother, Alma Blackmon, taught English and Music. Wood graduated from Loma Linda University with a B.A. degree in Speech Communication and Mass Media. She recently retired after a stellar career in journalism and television news, having worked in Huntsville, Alabama, Nashville, Tennessee and Memphis Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. She has received hundreds of civic, community and professional awards. Wood considers her career a blessing from God and whenever she has the opportunity, she willingly shares her God-directed journey.

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Elder Robert L. Woodfork felt “called” to the gospel ministry while at Oakwood Academy, and graduated from Oakwood College in 1942. He was later called to Oakwood to become Dean of Men, and during summer vacations, he managed to earn his Master’s degree from the Adventist Theological Seminary, then located in Takoma Park, Maryland. He pastored churches in New Orleans, Miami, and Atlanta, served as president of the South Atlantic Conference, and spent ten years in his Master’s service at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, retiring around 1990.

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Mrs. Ramona Bryant Young is remembered for her warm smile and faithful partnership in ministry with her husband, Milton M. Young. It is said that she had a quiet, but fun-loving spirit. As a children’s choir leader and pianist, she was firm but kind hearted. She had a lifelong love for Oakwood, and in memory of her husband, established a scholarship in his name at Oakwood. She also traveled with the Aeolians to Russia in 2012.
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