THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994 TAG: 9410070249
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Rebecca Myers
LENGTH: Long : 128 lines
Linwood Williams is starting a new life in Georgia, and his BLT won't be far behind.
Bacon, lettuce and tomato?
No, Black Local Talent, a community theater group Williams founded in 1980.
``The organization has the name Black Local Talent because it was created in the black community, but we cater to blacks and whites alike,'' said Williams, 46, who until his move two weeks ago was an adult probation/parole officer in Portsmouth.
Because Williams can't take his local troupe with him, he plans to start a similar community theater in Augusta
``I know one thing: Wherever I go, there will be a BLT,'' Williams said emphatically.
Williams started BLT during a time when Portsmouth's crime rate was rising - and its reputation falling.
``At that particular time, I can tell you exactly what was happening. A good friend of mine was murdered in her home. That same month, three boys right around the street from her were killed at a 7-Eleven. And at that time, there were a lot of drug problems going on,'' Williams said.
``There was just so much going on, and Portsmouth was getting a bad name. And I wanted to do something to change that image. I got together with a bunch of my friends and I created BLT, Black Local Talent, an organization that would present theatrical performances to the community.''
In addition to donating the proceeds from each show to local charities, Williams hoped that BLT would pull the community together through ``drama therapy.'' He wanted BLT to provide ``an outlet for the tensions and pressures of everyday life.''
In 1992 Williams was presented with the Liberty Bell Award by the Portsmouth Bar Association for his outstanding contribution to the community as well as to the arts.
But now the future of Portsmouth's BLT is up in the air.
``I'm trying to work with the assistant director of the organization to get him to continue presenting productions,'' said Williams. ``But he's a lawyer and he's in a couple of productions himself . . . He's so busy, I just don't know.''
Williams' move was precipitated by a promotion received by his fiancee, Kim Edwards.
She ``got a promotion to Augusta, and I told her to go ahead and take it because I didn't want to blow her chances of moving up in life,'' Williams said. ``We're getting married in November. She's already there, established and working'' as a pharmacist, he said.
Born and raised in Portsmouth, Williams' move is his first away from home. Among those he left behind are his ``dear, dear mother, Dorothy Bazemore,'' his two brothers, a sister and his two sons.
``It's scary,'' he said with a nervous laugh. ``I was raised here all my life. I'm going to miss all the people who contributed to my growth here. I appreciate what Portsmouth has done for me. I can't walk away saying I'm not going to really miss this area because these are my roots here.''
Williams and his bride-to-be will return to the area for their nuptials later this month or in early November. They also will return for the grand reunion of I.C. Norcom High School. The 1966 Norcom graduate received a degree in sociology at Norfolk State University in 1975.
Williams said goodbye to his colleagues at the Department of Corrections last month after 15 years in probation and parole. He also had spent 21 years on and off working as a residential counselor at Maryview Psychiatric Center.
Because parole officers cannot transfer from state to state, Williams is not sure what he'll be doing in the Peach State. For starters, he has applied to take a test given under the state merit system in Georgia.
Of his job here, Williams said: ``I loved trying to help people get their lives together. That's what that was all about, helping people to get re-socialized back into society, finding jobs for them, placing them in school programs, doing whatever we could do to help them out.''
Meanwhile, Williams will continue writing, producing and directing plays in his spare time. But the question remains: Will he ever pursue his hobby professionally?
``If the right things happen, of course,'' he said. ``If I ever get up with the right people, and if I ever have a real successful production with original music - if I ever do a score for a production - then, yes, I'm quite sure I will . . . So you may be reading about me in Atlanta one day!''
Name: Linwood Williams Sr.
Nickname: Bubba (Wig)
Neighborhood: Downtown
Number of years in Portsmouth: 46
Birthplace: Portsmouth
Birthdate: March 12, 1948
Occupation: Probation/parole officer
What other job than your own would you like? Entertainment promoter
Marital Status: Divorced/engaged
Children: Linwood Jr. (Nate), 25, and Shawn Faulks (A.J.), 20
Fondest childhood memory: Involvement in church school and Baptist Training Union at Third Baptist Church, which has attributed to my love for mankind as an adult.
First concert: James Brown, Sunset Lake Beach, 1963
What song or book title best describes your life? The song ``A Change Gone Come,'' by Sam Cook
If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? Real estate
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Nelson Mandela: To have experienced what he experienced and to have survived it all and live to share his experience with others is a testimony to our African-American heritage
Biggest accomplishment: Receiving the Liberty Bell Award in 1992
Most embarrassing moment: Age 12. Got into a fight with a girl . . . she beat me
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My height to 6 feet 3 inches. Then I wouldn't have to jump so high on the basketball court.
Perfect way to spend the day: On the basketball court with friends
I can't resist: Crabs (fried and steamed)
Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Sotto Voce Expresso
Favorite Portsmouth hangout: Home
Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Racism
If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?
Blacks and whites would work together for one cause, the betterment of mankind
That the City Jail was empty
The fathers of all the illegitimate children in Portsmouth would come home and father their children
Other than its small-town atmosphere, what do you like about living in Portsmouth? Its geographical location, its proximity and its easy access to surrounding cities, such as Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Williamsburg and Richmond. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
Linwood Williams
by CNB