Events for the Glass family:
Monday, Jan. 21, the Dairy Queen in Conyers will donate 10 percent of all sales to the Glass family, in honor of the four children who died - Ah’Dariya Glass, Dar’Shawn Glass, Armoni Roberts, Deon Glass.
On Sunday, Jan. 27, the Auto Extremes shop will host the Cruise-In For a Cause car show from noon-5 p.m. at 1012 Iris Drive.
Awards will be given for best paint job, best stereo and best suspension, in addition to raffled items throughout the day. All proceeds will go to the Glass family. Donations of clothing, shoes and household items will also be collected.
Auto Extremes which specializes in custom car and truck work, was featured on the Discovery Channel's "Ultmate Car Build Off."
For more information, call 770-761-0971.
The four young children killed in a Conyers house fire and the legacy they left in their short time on Earth were remembered and celebrated as hundreds came out to the memorial service for the Glass family children on Saturday, hosted at Springfield Baptist Church.
Their mother, Reeba Glass, was discharged from Grady Hospital on Friday in time to attend the memorial service. Glass had suffered severe burns on 40 percent of her body. At one point during the service, she was overcome and had to leave the sanctuary for a short time.
Teachers and program directors described the joyful young Glass children.
Macedonia Baptist Youth Directors Corine Lindley and Betty Carter knew Ah'Dariya Glass, 9, nicknamed Dobie, through the youth activities and the youth choir, where Ah'Dariya sang soprano. They described her as a shy girl with big, beautiful eyes who would tug at the hem of their shirt. "Dobie to me was like a little Shirley Temple. She always had on pretty dresses and her bows and ribbons in her hair," said Carter.
Ah'Dariya's second grade teacher at Shoal Creek Elementary, Lisa Campbell, described how excited Ah'Dariya was to bring her baptism book to class and how she loved to run and play at recess. She would straighten out the clothes of her younger brothers when she saw them in the hallway and made sure they got to the bus on time. "Although she was very shy and soft spoken, her actions were very strong as she modeled compassion in her everyday works and actions."
Campbell read a letter that the Ah'Dariya had written to her mother in class.
"Dear Mom, I want to tell you what I'm thankful for. You are kind and you give me love. I like my school but I love your food. You are good and you do everything for me. I am happy for my friends. Those are the things I'm thankful for."
Dar'Shawn's first grade teacher at SCE, Stephanie Houseworth, described the 7-year-old as a teacher's dream child who loved to run, loved his sibllings and encouraged his classmates. "In class he had earned the title of 'the official computer guy.' He would come in the mornings, turn on the computers, go on to breakfast, then come back and set up our programs that we used in the morning. He was so responsible. That baby loved his ice cream. He loved cheering for others and having others cheer for him. He was the encourager. Dar'Shawn was the teacher's dream child. He worked hard and didn't give up and he was proud of his accomplishments. We will always cherish our fond memories of Dar'Shawn and his life."
The teacher of 3-year-old Armoni, who was enrolled in the Rockdale Headstart program, described him as "my little helper."
"He would always be the first to ask to set the table when it was time to eat. He loved to eat." He would usually cry at the beginning of the day, clinging to his mother when he came in. "At the end of the day, he'd say 'I promise I'm not going to cry tomorrow.' Of course the next day he'd come in crying and it was fine." The program directors presented Reeba with framed artwork Armoni had made.
In the eulogy, Macedonia Baptist Church Pastor Billie Cox asked the audience what legacy they would leave behind. "What will you do with the time you have left on the earth? Because it is not promised to you."
You need to look deep within and see what it is that you ought to be doing that you're not doing. You can't just be here idle. God is coming back for usury on the gifts he's given to us."
"He does not need us, but He wants us. That's a powerful statement. He wants what he put in us. There's a testimony you have that somebody else is waiting to hear so they can get delivered. Your story is not my story but there is something deep on the inside of you that will bring about the blessings of God in somebody else's life.
"Reeba has a testimony. Reeba's choices from this day forward will be able life some other mother in a time like this.
"Darnell has a testimony. Darnell is a man who lost two children. Darnell can go back to his environment and Reeba can go to her environment and allow God to use them in a different way. They can now become the light in dark places. But they've got to be willing to take that walk."
The Rev. Larry D. Spurlock and the Rev. Ruby L. Hale gave the Scripture readings. Prayer was opened by Minister Reginald Knight. Mrs. Delansha Howard, a cousin of the family, gave the family tribute, while Macedonia Baptist Youth Directors Corine Lindley and Betty Carter spoke about Ah'Dariya, Yolanda Hammond and a teacher from the Rockdale Headstart Program spoke of Armoni Roberts, Shoal Creek Elementary first grade teacher Stephanie Housworth spoke about Dar'Shawn, SCE second grade teacher Lisa Campbell spoke about Ah'Dariya, SCE Assistant Principal Shauna Miller spoke about the children in general, and cousins Ashley Barton and Chris Hullum read an originally written poem and gave testimony. Musical selections were performed by the Macedonia Baptist Church Choir, dance selections were also performed, and acknowlegements by George Levett, Jr. of the Levett Funeral Home.
