Conyers spread good news in black community
Nathan Conyers knew there were a lot of good things going on in Milwaukee’s African-American community, and as a journalist he knew they weren’t always covered in the mainstream media.
Husbands and wives in half-century, loving, committed relationships; a faith community with a strong commitment to family well-being; young people striving to make positive impacts.
“He focused on the achievements of individuals and organizations who were successful and making positive contributions,” said Lynda Jackson Conyers, his wife of 35 years. “He saw the good in everybody. His favorite line was, ‘Everybody has a story.’ “
A “community visitation” will be held Sunday for Conyers, business leader, newspaperman, co-founder of The Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper and chief journalistic celebrant of Milwaukee’s African-American community. Conyers died of natural causes April 27 at age 72.
“He felt that when the black community was covered by the mainstream media it was everything negative, criminal or both,” said Jacquelyn Heath, editorial page editor at the Times. “He wanted to change that.”
Conyers was born in Paxville, S.C., the youngest of seven children of James and Hessie Conyers.
He came of age in Sumter, S.C., before enlisting in the U.S. Army, later earning a bachelor’s degree in political science from Clark College — now Clark Atlanta University — while working as a telex operator for Time magazine.
After working in the magazine’s Chicago bureau for seven years, Conyers had developed a taste for journalism and a friend told him of such opportunities in Milwaukee’s black community. When he joined the staff of the Milwaukee Community Journal in 1977, editor Mikel Holt was struck by Conyers’ level of professionalism and global understanding of politics.
“He just opened my eyes and helped me to control some of my passions, and it helped me get my points across,” Holt said.
After working as a legislative aide for state Sen. Monroe Swan and an administrative assistant for the Project Focal Point community center, in 1981, Conyers, Louvenia Johnson and Luther Golden co-founded The Christian Times. The biweekly newspaper focused largely on the work of churches and religious events in the black community. It soon expanded to cover news of general community interest and was renamed The Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper, with The Christian Times as a supplement.
Conyers did most of the writing, photography and
Nathan Conyers
A visitation will take place 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Mark A.M.E. Church, 1616 W. Atkinson Ave., Milwaukee. A funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. May 12 at West End Community Church, 101 South Salem St., Sumter, S.C.
editing for the Times, his wife recalled.
“The issues were much the same as now — unemployment, low achievement, discrimination — but he wanted to focus on the positive events in the community,” said Jackson-Conyers, now the Times’ publisher and president.
To that end, the Milwaukee Times publishing team in 1985 launched the annual Black Excellence Awards program to pay tribute to the good works of ordinary people from Milwaukee’s black community.
The program has recognized nearly 1,000 people and gave birth to the Louvenia Johnson Journalism Scholarship Fund, which offers financial support for college to graduating high school seniors. To date, the fund has awarded more than a half a million dollars to area students and is now an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable organization, Jackson-Conyers said.
“He wanted young people to see the careers and opportunities available to them if they have the proper education and focused on a positive lifestyle,” she said.
The Milwaukee Times and its Econo-Print Inc. offshoot also created an annual event called “A Golden Moment in Time,” which honored couples celebrating 50-year wedding anniversaries. The event was created to emphasize traditional family values and unity, Conyers told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in 1995.
“Marriages that flourish for 50 years or more are remarkable accomplishments,” Conyers said.
“These couples are pillars in our community, and their commitment to marriage is the epitome of the American dream.”
The value of family is reflected in the newspaper Conyers helped create, and, with the passing of Conyers, the Times has lost the head of its family, Heath said. “He put himself before others and gave back more than he was ever given,” she said.
Along with his wife, Nathan Conyers is survived by his daughters, Morgan Ashley Conyers and Deloris Alexandria Conyers.