On Sunday, Jan. 11, the Atlanta air may have been cold and even rainy, but that did not dampen the spirit of the people inside of the state Capitol, north wing building, especially the family members and church members of the speaker for the occasion.
Many of them had traveled four-plus hours and were bubbling over with excitement. Rep. Al Williams, D-Midway, host of the annual Eugene C. Tillman Sr., Memorial Prayer Convocation was glowing and beaming with pride. Many of his fellow Southeast Georgia natives and Liberty Countians were in attendance.
Williams named the convocation in memory of his mentor, former Rep. Eugene C. Tillman of Brunswick. Tillman also was pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Brunswick.
“Rev. Tillman, who spent 10 years in the House, asked me prior to his death to not let the convocation die,” Williams said.
“The purpose of the convocation is to invoke the presence of God — to unify us. We must remember that only what we do for Jesus will last. While we may disagree, let us never fall out; let us remain brothers and sisters,” he said.
Tillman was a founder of the original Georgia Legislative Prayer Caucus. The Prayer Caucus was initiated in 1993 by former Rep. Dr. Ronald A. Crews, who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 1991-99, and Tillman, who served from 1993-2003. The Prayer Caucus is a non-partisan, ecumenical organization, open to all legislators and Capitol employees for weekly prayer meetings.
Through the years, the opening prayer convocation, held the Sunday before the first day of the annual legislative session, featured the governor, speaker of the house, secretary of state, legislators, members of the clergy and vocalists, instrumentalists and choirs.
Williams selects a clergy member and choir each year to participate in the program. This year, he selected the Rev. Dr. C.L. Anderson to bring the inspirational message, along with his combined choirs to sing. Anderson is moderator emeritus of the Tattnall Missionary Baptist Association of Hagan and pastor of Good Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church of Allenhurst, Greater Zachariah Missionary Baptist Church of Glennville and St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church of Daisy.
Williams also asked Shirley Frasier, one of his 1965 classmates from the old Liberty County High School, to serve as an usher.
The prayer service included Scriptures, singing and a short inspirational message. Rep. Tonya Anderson of Eatonton, D-Lithonia, gave the invocation, followed by the welcome from Tim Echols of the Georgia Public Service Commission.  
“We love Jesus because He first loved us,” he said.  
“I don’t know of any better way for us to begin our work by having this program,” House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, said. “Tomorrow, we embark on a journey. We greet a new legislative session.”  
Ralston then read from Isaiah 1:17-19, with a special focus on verse 18: “come now let us reason together, saith the Lord.”
Russell Keen of Georgia Southern University gave remarks and prayer.
“When we rely on prayer, we get what God can do. Prayer should be our first choice, not our last resort,” he said.  
Anderson read from Psalm 133:1 — “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” His subject was, “Unity Among the Brethren: Can’t We All Just Get Along.”
“It is not difficult to take from this Scripture the idea of unity, togetherness, solidarity, communion and brotherly love among the brethren. When Jesus discussed the idea of atonement, He had in mind the idea of At-One-Ment. Never, for once, can the philosophy of unity be divorced from the spirit of togetherness,” Anderson said.
He also discussed the importance of love.
“Love is the greatest of all. Love is not bitter, love is not envious, love is not boastful, love is not hateful, and love does not find faults in others,” Anderson said.
The pastor said what’s needed most in communities are people who “believe to the point of unity with our brothers and with love in Jesus.”
“Unity is love with overflowing maturity; unity is action lifting men from their sins into God’s saving grace; unity makes us satisfied in the midst of the dimmest problem in life,” Anderson said. “Unity brings the rich and poor to the same meeting ground. Unity brings blacks and whites to the same meeting ground because God is the Maker and Creator of us all. Unity presses towards new marks, new goals, and a higher ground.”  
During the program, Anderson’s combined choirs sang, “I Really Love the Lord,” “Don’t Call the Roll,” “Spirit Fall Down” and “O Happy Day.” Williams asked for an encore of “Spirit Fall Down” at the end of the program.  
At the opening session Jan. 12, Liberty County soloist Veronica Blackwell sang “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” and The National Anthem.
“Liberty County was well represented on both days,” Williams said.