The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
INSPIRATIONAL TALES
Spud Webb, Melba Moore speak at fifth annual YMCA Prayer Brunch
WAMPSVILLE, N.Y. >> People came together at the fifth annual YMCA Prayer Brunch to share a message of staying strong and never giving up.
Spud Webb and Melba Moore each had a story to tell Saturday about finding strength and fighting through adversity with the help of God at the New Beginnings Church.
YMCA CEO Hank Leo said every 5-foot-7 kid in America who saw footage of Webb in action gave them hope. Webb played on numerous teams, from the Rhode Island Gulls and Atlanta Hawks to the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic.
He is famous for being the shortest person to compete in the NBA slam dunk contest in 1986 and won the event at his hometown’s Dallas’ Reunion Arena.
“As a teenager, he dunked with two hands at 5-foot-3,” Leo said. “He tried out for his JV team and was cut because of his height but convinced his coach to let him play and scored 20 points in his first game.”
Webb said growing up and learning all the values at church, he knew the importance of a gift.
“I had no muscles and was not tall at all so it was definitely a gift from God I could jump like that,” Webb said.
And Webb took care of that gift, saying he never had a drink in his life — he was too scared he’d do something to the body had given him.
“I’d never go out and do those kinds of things because I wanted to be successful like my parents, my sister and my brother,” Webb said.
As president of Basket
ball Operation for the Texas Legends, an NBA Development League, Webb said helping others and helping themget to where they need to be is what helps him sleep at night — whether that’s inspiring the next generation or raising money for the YMCA that gave so much to him.
“I’ve been there for 10 years and I want to keep doing that,” Webb said. “I want to keep raising money for different charities, I want to keep helping kids.”
Webb added he tells those aspiring children at basketball camps that they can make it and that one day, they may end up standing where he is.
“I want to tell you to never give up on your dreams because you never know what person will come into your life,” Webb said.
Moore’s story is an epic one. She’s a five- octave singer, an award-winning actress, she shot to stardom in her early 70s with her debut album ‘ I Got Love’, had her own variety television store, a fourtime Grammy nominee, a one time Tony award winner and has made countless appearances in television and movies from the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson to ‘All Dogs go to Heaven’.
But her story is one with many ups and downs. Moore was born in Harlem Hospital and raised by her mother, R&B singer Bonnie Davis. Her music career truly began when her mother married Clement Moorman, who insisted Moore learn to play the piano. From there, she went on to study art and music before teaching music at a public school in New Jersey.
In 1968, Moore left her music education career and went back to New York City where she provided background vocals to studios and musicians like Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin.
Her first big break was the Broadway musical ‘Hair’, succeeding Diane Keaton in the lead role — making her the first black actress to replace a white actress in a lead role on Broadway.
And that was just the beginning. Moore said if there was an award for a Broadway musical, she got it. But she also got love.
Moore said she met Clifton Davis and had a fouryear relationship with the television star.
“One of the highs was that both our careers were soaring,” Moore said. “But all wasn’t perfect in paradise. Too much sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Everything seemed to be fine until I discovered I was pregnant.”
When she revealed this fact to her lover, Davis told her “...with tears in his eyes” that they couldn’t have a child now with both careers on the line. He was by Moore’s side when she had the abortion.
Moore started to cry on stage, saying she never got over having the abortion and deeply regrets it. A born-again Christian, Moore said she knows God has forgiven her.
“It’s my responsibility and privilege as a born again Christian to speak as God speaks,” Moore said. “To say what God says. He says thou shalt not kill. We are eternal creatures because [God] said so and that he created us in His image and once conceived, we live forever.”
Moore and Davis broke off the relationship after a complication with an IED put her in the hospital. Moore learned her business manager had left town as well, leaving her without a career or money.
It took some time, but Moore got back on her feet performing a benefit show at the Apollo Theatre. At the after-party, she met Charles Huggins.
The two quickly became close friends andweremarried. Moore said the two of them focused on having a family and digging Moore’s career out of the rut it had fallen into.
She went back to Broadway and formed Hush Productions with Huggins, signing such big names as Freddie Jackson.
But once again, Moore was tested. She learned Huggins had forged her signature on divorce papers and had maneuvered all business andmarital assets to himself.
When confronted and asked why he didn’t just want a regular divorce, Moore said Huggins told her “I wanted my cake and to eat it, too.”
His personality changed, Moore said, and became verbally abusive to Moore and their daughter. It ended with Moore counter-suing for custody of her daughter, changing the locks on their apartment and moving to a divorce of her own.
But the damage had been done. Huggins had been telling people that Moore was retired, a crack addict, losing her voice andmore to ruin her reputation — and it worked. No one would talk to her about work and she was in financial ruin.
The story ended with Huggins getting physically abusive with Moore but she had a friend with her as a witness and got a restraining order.
“My point is, I think the most important lesson I’ve learned is to forgive, let go and let God,” Moore said. “My daughter is nowa born again saved Christian, my ex-husband is now a born again saved Christian; he’s incarcerated, but he’s saved and I am saved.”