Paine College presents honorary doctorate

Dr. Shirley A.R. Lewis, president of Paine College bestowed an honorary doctorate on Mr. Brown toward the end of the service. She said the degree was supposed to be given to Mr. Brown during the school's commencement in May.

"We were looking forward to seeing Mr. Brown march with the graduates," she said.

The Rev. Al Sharpton said there was an "emergency meeting" on the night Mr. Brown died to determine whether the degree should be given at that time. It was determined it would be best to wait until the funeral so Mr. Brown's family could be present.

Dr. Lewis and Robert Bell, president of Paine College's board of trustees, presented the degree in recognition of Mr. Brown's unparralled contributions to the nation and the world. They spoke of his contibutions to music and his appreciation of education.

Mr. Brown's three daughters accepted the degree and accompanying cap and stole.
"And now ladies and gentlemen," Dr. Lewis said in closing. "Will you please - excuse me - will you please, please, please join me in applauding Dr. James Brown."

Mr. Brown had been a friend to the college during its most desperate times.

He came to Augusta to play a benefit for Paine on Feb. 4, 1969. The concert was a fund-raiser for the reconstruction of Haygood Hall which was destroyed by fire on Aug. 3, 1968. Haygood, built in 1869 was the campus's main building. The fire destroyed its historic clock tower as well as offices, classrooms, student records and a museum of African artifacts, according to Augusta Chronicle reports.

During a packed morning ceremony Feb. 4 at the college's Gilbert-Lambuth Chapel, campus and city officials declared Tuesday as "James Brown and Paine College Day."
When Mr. Brown arrived later in the day he was part of a parade down Broad Street that drew thousands of people. He visited a youth development center then performed for a sold out crowd at Bell Auditorium.

Paine College is a historically black private college on 15th Street in downtown Augusta. It was founded as Paine Institute in 1882 by black and white Methodists.

The Chronicle reported on Aug. 11, 1972, that Mr Brown was to perform a Soul Bowl concert that night at Butler High School Stadium with some donations going to Paine College's Built It Back Fund.

Mr. Brown was one of four black Augustans honored at the college by the Augusta Black History Committee on Sunday, Aug. 10, 1986.

- Elizabeth Adams