Name: Elder Jamaal Brian Whitehurst

Published 12:00 am Friday, November 30, 2007

Age: 30

Occupation and title: Radio announcer for WLQM 1250 the Light, associate pastor, Third Baptist Church, Portsmouth

Church affiliation: Third Baptist Church, Portsmouth

What’s the best part of your day? Any time after 2 p.m.

If you could select another profession, what would you do? Senior pastor or television anchor

Why do you choose to live in Franklin/Southampton/Isle of Wight County? I was raised here.

If you had two weeks’ vacation and money were no object, how would you spend your time? Spend two or three days relaxing at home, take a trip to Bermuda to visit my cousins, visit Chicago, Milwaukee and Dallas for Dallas Cowboys games

Favorite food: Soul food and seafood

Favorite weekend destination: In church praising the Lord, working at the radio station, spending time with friends or shopping

Favorite college sports team: Virginia Union Panthers

Favorite pro sports team: Dallas Cowboys

Favorite colors: Black, white and red

What’s the best life lesson you’ve learned, and who taught you? Madea, when she said, “it’s not what people say about you, it’s what you answer too, and stop wasting time being angry with people, forgive them, and move on with your life because when you stay angry with people they have power over you.” Maya Angelou when she said, “if someone tells you they are, believe them.”

Favorite Bible verse: Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and to them that are called according to his purpose.”

What’s the best decision you’ve made in life? Laying aside everything that was deterring me from freely and fully doing God’s will, it has made me so happy to know that I’m free.

Which local charitable or non-profit organization do you wish more people would support? Any non-profit organizations that is proactive for assisting our young people to financially attend a college or university.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know: Once you get to know me, most people find me to be a loving and caring person, although my person and demeanor at times displays otherwise.

What’s your hobby? Preaching the gospel

If you could re-live one day of your life, which would it be and why? Friday, March 9, 2007, approximately 3:15 p.m. This was the last time that I saw my mother alive. I did not have the opportunity to have that last conversation with her.

What gives you the blues? Not being able to find a job compatible to the education that I have worked nine years to receive.

What’s the most Southern thing you’ve ever done? Going to a quartet gospel singing concert

What’s your best childhood memory? Giving a speech at my high school graduation, many school professionals had prophesized that I would not graduate from high school.

Tell us one true thing. Our extremities are God’s opportunity.

What frightens you most? People who don’t fear God.

If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be and why? Chicago. It’s my favorite city.

Who’s your favorite ex-president? Bill Clinton

If you could pass or change one law, what would it be? I would create a law against unwed mothers and fathers under the age of 21 that continuously bring children into the work out of wedlock knowing that they are not ready to raise and nurture these children.

What last brought tears to your eyes? When I found out that my mother, the late Rev. Lillian Vernell Whitehurst, passed away on March 10

If you could invite three guests - living or dead, from anytime in history - to dinner, who would they be? My mother, my uncle Earl, and my mentor in the gospel, Pastor Mark Vereen

What three objects would you take with you to a desert island? A boat, food and water

What kind of music do you like, and who’s your favorite performer? All types of gospel music. My favorite artists are Byron Cage, Fred Hammond, John P. Kee and the Canton Spirituals.

Tell us about a good movie you’ve seen lately and why you liked it. Tyler Perry’s “Why Did I Get Married?” I liked this movie because I believe the major themes of the movie were to learn how to love and appreciate yourself regardless of how people view you, and don’t try to change yourself to please people, but if you want to change, do it for you.

Who’s a famous athlete or entertainer you admire? Tyler Perry

What’s the last book you read? The Holy Bible

To whom are you grateful and why? Hezekiah Walker’s song “Grateful” basically says it all. I am grateful to God for all that He has done, is doing, and will do because He loves me and appreciates me when people don’t, and seeks to use, when people don’t think I am fit to be used, for that I’m so grateful.