There will be a celebration Friday through Sunday of the life and good works of the late Reverend Robert Wesby of Aurora.
It has been 30 years since his untimely death and a strong group, 14 committee members, of the Progressive Baptist Church in Aurora, will bring to life what Reverend Wesby meant to many in churches and in the community. There will be remembrance and information for the youth who did not know him.
The weekend will begin with a Friday banquet in a 6 p.m. social hour and 7 p.m. dinner at the Gaslite Manor on Church Road. Tickets will be available at the door for $50. for adults and $25. for 17 and younger.
Saturday the celebration will continue with a free admission Gospel Concert at 6 p.m. at Progressive Baptist Church, 275 Barnes Road, Aurora. Sunday the church service at 11 a.m. will include guest speaker Reverend Sheridan Todd Yeary of Baltimore, Md..
Progressive Baptist was started in December 1963 by Reverend Wesby and 11 founders on an ice-filled evening. Many were members of Main Street Baptist and ready to find new beginnings. Lucy Steward and Jule Kennebrew remember.
Ms Steward, a member of the committee for the weekend, was married to her husband, Purcell, June 25, 1960 by Reverend Wesby at Main Baptist. “I chose to follow him because I liked the way he carried himself and gave the Word, loved people and cared for others more than for himself. He cared for everybody and was a civil rights leader.”
Ms Kennebrew remembers the small group that met for first few years at the, “little theater at East Aurora High School until we moved into the building at 20 N. Lincoln Avenue (in downtown Aurora).
“I always said he was 10 years ahead of time, a visionary, with his aims and goals. He understood all of society. With his leadership he was involved in many social items and was on the board of the Marie Wilkinson work (of food pantry and child development). He was connected to Aurora and worked for the benefit of people in need. He had a jail ministry and reached out to see many through to getting back into the community. He loved being a part of the grass roots. He worked for the benefit of this program or those in need. He was a fair leader and made sure there was no partiality. We had a few difficulties, with a few hate groups, not nearly as bad as in the South, but, he was courageous.
“After his death, with everything paid for, we moved to where we are now on Barnes Road.”
Reverend Roy Brown was the minister for 25 years and Reverend Kevin Bedford has been the minister the last five years. That is three ministers in 55 years.
Fred Rodgers, retired city government of Aurora youth director, who has had recent health issues, wants to be well enough to attend.
“I remember having many breakfasts with him, and he would invite me to go with him to Chicago, Operation PUSH with Reverend Jesse Jackson. He founded a satellite of PUSH in Aurora, he marched with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, and spent time in jail in Birmingham (Ala.) with Dr. King. He raised funds to be a strong youth advocate. He believed in the rights of others. It is always good to remember. If there was a cause, Bob Wesby was going to be there.”
Mr. Wesby died 30 years ago at the hand of an assassin in Aurora. Nonetheless, it will be a celebration, in the weekend ahead, for a life well lived.