Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, November 21, 1994 TAG: 9411210093
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: GLOUCESTER LENGTH: Medium
A gasp of admiration went up from the crowd of several hundred people as Debbie ``White Dove'' Sehring revealed the 4-foot Pocahontas sculpted by her husband.
Linwood Adams, brother of Upper Mattaponi Tribe Chief Edmond Adams, had one word for the statue: ``beautiful.''
Also attending the ceremony was singer Wayne Newton, a descendant of the Powhatan Indian tribe to which Pocahontas belonged. Newton flew in from Las Vegas with his wife for Saturday's event in Gloucester.
During ceremonies following the unveiling, Newton spoke briefly about his family and heritage, then departed through a gamut of friends, relatives and autograph seekers before heading back to the airport.
``He's got another engagement tonight,'' said Adams, a cousin of Newton's.
Sehring's husband, Orange County sculptor and painter Adolph Sehring, modeled Pocahontas' face after photographs of his wife as a young girl. Debbie Sehring is the daughter of Mattaponi Chief Webster ``Little Eagle'' Custalow, who delivered a prayer before the unveiling.
Pocahontas was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, who was the leader of 32 American Indian tribes when English colonists settled Jamestown. Capt. John Smith wrote that Pocahontas saved him from being killed twice during the early years of the settlement.
She was later captured by another colonist. During the time she lived with the settlers, she converted to Christianity and married a third settler, John Rolfe, in 1614. Pocahontas died during a visit to England.
The Pocahontas celebration in Gloucester, where her father lived, included a parade, American Indian music and dancing and exhibits.
Visitors included descendants of Pocahontas, who had a son, and a representative from Gravesend, England, where she is buried.
by CNB