Crenshaw hails Cheryl Ann Price at retirement ‘love-fest’
By Stanley O. Williford
Director of Publications
It was September, recalled Cheryl Ann Price, when her son, Portland Trail Blazer shooting guard Allen Crabbe III and daughter, Niki, phoned. Allen told her:
“Mom, it’s time for you to come home from the church and work for me, and I’ll take care of you.”
Why work for her son Allen? He had been awarded a big contract of seventy-five million dollars over four years.
Cheryl agreed immediately. “I was very grateful, and he was all excited.”
“I had been working for him from the day he got drafted,” she said. “He needed to focus on basketball, and I would focus on other things.”
Still, that call changed a Crenshaw Christian Center dynamic that had existed over the past 40-some years. Cheryl, as executive vice president of the corporation, had been the main support for older sister and CEO Angela M. Evans, and a strong and highly visible pillar of both the church and the Fellowship of International Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM). She served FICWFM for 27 years.
But on February 2, when the middle daughter of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price and Dr. Betty R. Price officially retired, that all changed. Cheryl became simply a parishioner, albeit an extraordinary one.
“I can come back to Bible Study,” she quipped, speaking of something that was difficult to do with her former workload. But in the weeks after her retirement, she admitted to “binge-watching TV.”
The day following her retirement, she was back in Portland.
During the luncheon ceremony honoring her retirement at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel on March 5, Angela deftly mc’ed the event, being both intermittently humorous and tearful about her sister leaving. She said her nephew Allen had told her that his mother had given him everything, and now he wanted to give her the world.
Cheryl left college in June 1976 when Angela called and asked her to come help in the ministry. She was 17 at the time. “I was a week or two out of high school and Angie said come to work and help me with daddy. That’s why I said I came here – for her,” she said.
She began her employment in the bookstore, and later as manager of not only the bookstore, but the mail processing and tape duplication departments. Cheryl then “aggressively instituted new concepts and marketing strategies to promote the sale of teaching materials to an average of 5,500 persons attending three services each Sunday and to an expanding television, radio, book and tape ministry,” says a church certificate of recognition that was read during the March 5 church service.
The certificate also noted her progression to personnel manager and, ultimately, to executive vice president of the church and FICWFM.
Among the approximately 280 persons who packed the luncheon were members of “Team Allen,” a group of four or five lawyers, accountants and wealth managers with whom Cheryl will be working.
Special guest Congresswoman Maxine Waters brought along a special certificate of recognition from the City of Los Angeles and expressed her delight at being invited to speak. But said she couldn’t believe that Cheryl was retiring.
Among the speakers were Pastor Beverly Ann “Bam” Crawford, an alumna of CCC, and founder of the Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church in Inglewood and Bam Crawford Ministries.
“I can’t believe Cheryl is retiring before me,” said Bam, who noted that she “came on the scene by way of Watts and Hollywood,” and that she and Cheryl linked up easily when she worked at Crenshaw.
Barbara Byndon, who was Cheryl’s assistant for 21 years, called her “an example of a consummate professional” who “always made coming to work a joy.” Cheryl was baby sister Stephanie Price Buchanan’s boss when Stephanie came on board at the church. Stephanie said she hated the first job Cheryl gave her so much that she threatened to leave work and go to the mall.
“She found me another job separate from her, but a few years later I was back with her and we were never apart again – for like 25 years," said Stephanie.
"She's an extremely fair boss and one who identifies your strengths as an employee and gives you tasks that support those strengths."
Her brother, Frederick, Crenshaw pastor, noted humorously that Cheryl had fired him the same day he quit his job at the church.
All the speakers echoed comments about Cheryl’s brilliance, fairness, decisiveness and ability to deal swiftly with any problem.
Former security chief Michael Lynch, in describing Cheryl’s overall management style, said she told him: “Handle your business and everything is good.”
Her uncle, Baltimore Scott (Uncle Balti) said Cheryl could have been anything she wanted to be. “She could have been the next Oprah.”
John Grayson, a longtime friend of the family, said “Cheryl has worked for me and I have worked for her, and the working relationship was exactly the same.”
Nearing the end of the program, Apostle Price and Dr. Betty came to the podium. Dr. Betty agreed with the accolades that had been showered on their middle daughter. She said it was true that Cheryl is very bright, and had been since she was a child. She shared a story about a speech that Cheryl refused to recite when she was two or three years of age. After numerous chidings, they finally told her she never had to give a speech ever again. At that, Cheryl blurted out the whole speech!
The Apostle said ditto to everything Dr. Betty said, but included that they loved her and wished her the best in her endeavors. She really wasn't retiring, he told the party gathering, although she won't be working at the church. Still, she had a lot more to do, he said.
Cheryl flies to Portland once a month to “check on things and make sure things are being done.” While there she often contacts acquaintances she’s made in the city for lunch or meetings.
One major project during her retirement, she said, is to write an inspirational self-help book.
“I put in a lot of time here [at the church],” Cheryl said concerning her decision to retire. “In time, we have to let these other kids come in and get their feet wet. I’m very happy about this move. The saddest part is that I [usually} see my sisters every day. That [working with them] would be what I would miss most.”
Of the recognition before the Sunday service and the luncheon, Cheryl said, “It was absolutely one of the grandest days of my entire life – from the start of the ceremony at the church, the proclamation and all that. Angie and Stephanie did such an amazing job. It was such a big love-fest.
“I was overwhelmed by the love and support of the CCC members who attended,” she said. “I wanted – and tried – to hug every single one of them, but time didn’t allow it. I just felt very grateful.
“It was so cute when the congresswoman came. I was shocked. I was so honored. And then Bam was a big honor.”
She noted how special it was that the church attorney Brooke Asiatico and her Uncle Balti had flown out from Dallas and New York, respectively, just for the luncheon, and that Uncle Balti had called the function a milestone in life.
“I was just overwhelmed,” she said.
With the love-fest over, three days later Cheryl was off to Portland.
By Stanley O. Williford
Director of Publications
It was September, recalled Cheryl Ann Price, when her son, Portland Trail Blazer shooting guard Allen Crabbe III and daughter, Niki, phoned. Allen told her:
“Mom, it’s time for you to come home from the church and work for me, and I’ll take care of you.”
Why work for her son Allen? He had been awarded a big contract of seventy-five million dollars over four years.
Retiree Cheryl Ann Price |
Cheryl’s son Portland Trail Blazer guard Allen Crabbe III |
Cheryl Price and family |
Cheryl agreed immediately. “I was very grateful, and he was all excited.”
“I had been working for him from the day he got drafted,” she said. “He needed to focus on basketball, and I would focus on other things.”
Still, that call changed a Crenshaw Christian Center dynamic that had existed over the past 40-some years. Cheryl, as executive vice president of the corporation, had been the main support for older sister and CEO Angela M. Evans, and a strong and highly visible pillar of both the church and the Fellowship of International Word of Faith Ministries (FICWFM). She served FICWFM for 27 years.
But on February 2, when the middle daughter of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price and Dr. Betty R. Price officially retired, that all changed. Cheryl became simply a parishioner, albeit an extraordinary one.
“I can come back to Bible Study,” she quipped, speaking of something that was difficult to do with her former workload. But in the weeks after her retirement, she admitted to “binge-watching TV.”
The day following her retirement, she was back in Portland.
During the luncheon ceremony honoring her retirement at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel on March 5, Angela deftly mc’ed the event, being both intermittently humorous and tearful about her sister leaving. She said her nephew Allen had told her that his mother had given him everything, and now he wanted to give her the world.
Cheryl left college in June 1976 when Angela called and asked her to come help in the ministry. She was 17 at the time. “I was a week or two out of high school and Angie said come to work and help me with daddy. That’s why I said I came here – for her,” she said.
She began her employment in the bookstore, and later as manager of not only the bookstore, but the mail processing and tape duplication departments. Cheryl then “aggressively instituted new concepts and marketing strategies to promote the sale of teaching materials to an average of 5,500 persons attending three services each Sunday and to an expanding television, radio, book and tape ministry,” says a church certificate of recognition that was read during the March 5 church service.
The certificate also noted her progression to personnel manager and, ultimately, to executive vice president of the church and FICWFM.
Among the approximately 280 persons who packed the luncheon were members of “Team Allen,” a group of four or five lawyers, accountants and wealth managers with whom Cheryl will be working.
Special guest Congresswoman Maxine Waters brought along a special certificate of recognition from the City of Los Angeles and expressed her delight at being invited to speak. But said she couldn’t believe that Cheryl was retiring.
Among the speakers were Pastor Beverly Ann “Bam” Crawford, an alumna of CCC, and founder of the Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church in Inglewood and Bam Crawford Ministries.
“I can’t believe Cheryl is retiring before me,” said Bam, who noted that she “came on the scene by way of Watts and Hollywood,” and that she and Cheryl linked up easily when she worked at Crenshaw.
Barbara Byndon, who was Cheryl’s assistant for 21 years, called her “an example of a consummate professional” who “always made coming to work a joy.” Cheryl was baby sister Stephanie Price Buchanan’s boss when Stephanie came on board at the church. Stephanie said she hated the first job Cheryl gave her so much that she threatened to leave work and go to the mall.
“She found me another job separate from her, but a few years later I was back with her and we were never apart again – for like 25 years," said Stephanie.
"She's an extremely fair boss and one who identifies your strengths as an employee and gives you tasks that support those strengths."
Cheryl and Pastor Beverly Ann “Bam” Crawford |
Cheryl and Assemblywoman Maxine Waters |
Cheryl and CCC board with proclamation |
Her brother, Frederick, Crenshaw pastor, noted humorously that Cheryl had fired him the same day he quit his job at the church.
All the speakers echoed comments about Cheryl’s brilliance, fairness, decisiveness and ability to deal swiftly with any problem.
Former security chief Michael Lynch, in describing Cheryl’s overall management style, said she told him: “Handle your business and everything is good.”
Her uncle, Baltimore Scott (Uncle Balti) said Cheryl could have been anything she wanted to be. “She could have been the next Oprah.”
John Grayson, a longtime friend of the family, said “Cheryl has worked for me and I have worked for her, and the working relationship was exactly the same.”
Nearing the end of the program, Apostle Price and Dr. Betty came to the podium. Dr. Betty agreed with the accolades that had been showered on their middle daughter. She said it was true that Cheryl is very bright, and had been since she was a child. She shared a story about a speech that Cheryl refused to recite when she was two or three years of age. After numerous chidings, they finally told her she never had to give a speech ever again. At that, Cheryl blurted out the whole speech!
The Apostle said ditto to everything Dr. Betty said, but included that they loved her and wished her the best in her endeavors. She really wasn't retiring, he told the party gathering, although she won't be working at the church. Still, she had a lot more to do, he said.
Cheryl flies to Portland once a month to “check on things and make sure things are being done.” While there she often contacts acquaintances she’s made in the city for lunch or meetings.
One major project during her retirement, she said, is to write an inspirational self-help book.
“I put in a lot of time here [at the church],” Cheryl said concerning her decision to retire. “In time, we have to let these other kids come in and get their feet wet. I’m very happy about this move. The saddest part is that I [usually} see my sisters every day. That [working with them] would be what I would miss most.”
Of the recognition before the Sunday service and the luncheon, Cheryl said, “It was absolutely one of the grandest days of my entire life – from the start of the ceremony at the church, the proclamation and all that. Angie and Stephanie did such an amazing job. It was such a big love-fest.
“I was overwhelmed by the love and support of the CCC members who attended,” she said. “I wanted – and tried – to hug every single one of them, but time didn’t allow it. I just felt very grateful.
“It was so cute when the congresswoman came. I was shocked. I was so honored. And then Bam was a big honor.”
She noted how special it was that the church attorney Brooke Asiatico and her Uncle Balti had flown out from Dallas and New York, respectively, just for the luncheon, and that Uncle Balti had called the function a milestone in life.
“I was just overwhelmed,” she said.
With the love-fest over, three days later Cheryl was off to Portland.
