Support and homecoming
By Melinda Harrell
Published in News on January 15, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Randy Wellington sings "All Your Man Won't Do For You" during Open Mic Night at the Arts Council of Wayne County Thursday night. He had not planned on stopping by the Arts Council when he arrived in the city, after being away for 10 years.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Brenda Braswell Brewington sings "At Last" during Open Mic Night.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Eloise Harris, originally from the Bahamas, reads her poem "Beautiful to Me" at the Arts Council of Wayne County's open mic night Thursday. She said, "I try to write poems when I'm having a bad day. I guess I'm trying to get myself out of it."
The Arts Council of Wayne County became a place of support and homecoming for some during Thursday's Open Mic Night event.
Randy Wellington did not plan to stop at the Arts Council when he arrived in Goldsboro Thursday morning.
He came from Baltimore to visit his brother, Jay Atkinson. It was the first time he had been in the city in 10 years.
With a little encouragement from a group of people standing outside of the Arts Council, Wellington stood behind the mic and introduced himself.
"I haven't been here in 10 years -- since my father died," he said.
"I am going to sing tonight. I am sure everyone has been through something in their life and they feel like they have been treated wrong."
Wellington then belted out "All That Your Man Won't Do For You" a capella because he did not think he would be showcasing his passion for singing and had brought no musical accompaniment.
Wellington said he sings all the time in Maryland, and his brother had a studio, so performing was something they were both accustomed to.
"It's what we do," Wellington said with a smile.
Brenda Braswell Brewington did come prepared to sing, performing "At Last."
She also came to Open Mic Night to support the community and celebrate the city's growth.
"I came out tonight because I just wanted to support my community," she said.
Ms. Brewington said she left Goldsboro when she was 17 years old, and came back in 2004 to visit.
After experiencing the loss of her husband and other family members, she said she decided to stay with guidance of God.
"God brought me back to Goldsboro," she said.
"God said sit still. I didn't understand then, but I understand now."
She said the city changed since she was a girl.
"It's growing," she said.
"It's beautiful downtown. It certainly doesn't look like it did in 1970. It's wonderful being back home. I am glad I came back to Goldsboro, to connect the past and present and whatever God has going for me."
Ms. Brewington said she attends as many events at the Arts Council as she can because supporting the arts is a way to make it grow in the community.
"I love the arts, and we need to keep supporting them to grow," she said.
She also participates in other roles of support within the community, through helping with Dillard Alumnae and speaking to young women about valuing themselves and building their self-esteem.
The event also featured poets, a ukulele player, pianist and guitarist and song writer.
The Arts Council of Wayne County hosts Open Mic Night every second Thursday from 6 to 8:30 p.m.