BAY MINETTE, Ala. — We are still in Black History Month and one person must be mentioned, Stephen J. Boykin.

Stephen published the first black newspaper for Bay Minette, called “The American Banner”, from September 1899 to February 1902. That means Black History Month being in February is a perfect time considering his last paper was published in February, 106 years ago.

Not much is known about the Bay Minette native whose name somehow is not included in state history accounts. We can tell you that he also founded Baldwin County’s first school for black students.

Stephen Boykin was a self educated editor, a teacher and principal. He was known to be an inspirational, outspoken historical figure. He also proved to be a fine businessman and earned the respect of other businessmen and professionals in the area.

Many of you may not have known Stephen, but you probably knew his son, Alvin Boykin. Yes, Alvin E. Boykin who resided in Fairhope until his passing a few years ago, was an educator like his father. He earned a master’s degree in education, taught school for 32 years and served as principal for 23 years.

Stephen J. Boykin died in 1927, but still has quite a few family members still here in Bay Minette. There’s J. Allison Boykin who retired from the Pentagon in 1987 after 27 years of service as director of computer systems development for the U.S. Army.

He now resides here in Bay Minette. There is the Rev. Dwight Boykin who designed and patented a bathroom product who is also the pastor of Union Baptist Church, here in Bay Minette.

There are many more in the Boykin family that I could name who are helping to keep the dream and efforts of Stephen Boykin alive.

So, let us not all just sit by and watch others, but let us all get busy and do something positive so that our living will not be in vain.

I pray that we will all leave something behind that others can use as a stepping stone for higher heights. And not just for heights and self gain but, so that others can learn from something that will be encouraging to others. Thank God for Stephen Boykin, who knows, if it had not been for people like him who knows where we would be.

Who knows if he had not started that newspaper in 1899, I may not have started writing for the Baldwin Times in 1996. There are so many ifs that we can all ask but most of all, we thank God that he did.

We invite everyone out on this Sunday afternoon, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m. to Union Baptist Church, here in Bay Minette. The Missionary Department will host their annual Mission Program.

The speaker will be Victoria Mitchell of Macedonia Baptist Church in Daphne. Serving as emcee of the program will be Clara Cox of McGee Memorial Temple. Shirley Thompson is Missionary President and the Rev. Dwight Boykin is the pastor.

Our sincere sympathy goes out to the families of their love ones: Gussie McReynolds, Amelia Baldwin and any others who may have suffered a loss. Remember: This too shall pass.

Remember the sick and shut-ins everywhere by praying and visiting them. After all we never know when our time will come.