For the first time in its 80-year history, Emmanuel Baptist Church at Dundonald Street in Hamilton now has a female pastor. The Rev. Ms. Donnamae Cynthia Postlethwaite was installed in a ceremony marking the start of a year-long celebration of Emmanuel’s 80th year.Significantly when the church marked its 70-year a decade ago it was highlighted by the dedication of the Founders Fellowship Hall, on the ground floor, and the unveiling of a tablet on the church’s eastern wall honouring Deacon and Deaconess Charles Stevens as Emmanuel ‘cornerstones.’The ‘cornerstones’ were the new pastor’s grandparents.Rev. Postlethwaite was licensed to preach on January 27, 2002, at the Beulah Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia by that church’s pastor Rev. William L. Cottrell Sr. In August of that year Rev. Cottrell was called to Bermuda to officiate at her ordination service at The Emmanuel Baptist Church. And he was honoured to return to ’charge’ her at the installation and be guest speaker.She was educated at the Gloryland Bible College in Bermuda with an Associate in Theology, Ohio University with a Bachelors of Science in Home Economics Education, Masters of Counselor Education from Indiana University and Masters of Arts in Christian Education from Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta Georgia. While at ITC she was inducted into the Theta Phi Honors Society, served as vice president and acting president of the International Students Association, treasurer of the Morehouse School of Religion, as well as a member of the ITC Chorus, Biblical Studies Club and the Missions Society.Born August 2, 1957, to the late Donald Wentworth Postlethwaite, Sr., and Cynthia (Stevens) Postlethwaite, Pastor Donnamae was hailed for having had a “lifetime of ministry” both in the church and through her social and cultural activities on the outside.She has been a member of Emmanuel all her life, worshipping there with her family, singing in the choirs and serving in many positions as deacon, church clerk, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, Women’s Ministry President and Single’ Ministry President for the Bermuda Baptist Fellowship.She has been involved with the Bermuda Girl Guides Association, Bermuda Cadet Corp American Counselors Association. And can be seen regularly riding around the country on her oversized motor cycle as a member and Chaplin of the Bermuda Longriders Club.Pastor Donnamae’s desire to have her installation to be a ‘personalised’ one was realised, with involvement one way or other those influential in her spiritual and cultural walk. Her mother, introducing Rev. Cottrell, thanked him for his oversight and inspiration given her daughter while she was a member of his historic church when she attended ITC in Atlanta. “It took big load off my shoulders as she was away from Bermuda, Mrs. Postlethwaite.Rev. Cottrell and his administration at Beulah had prominent roles in late Martin Luther King’s historic “I have a dream march.” The civil right leader lived ‘one street over’ from Beulah.Other participants included Worship Leader Sis. Gwyneth Rawlins, Rev. Rodney Grimes of Heard Chapel AME Church; Dr. Muriel Smith, Sis. Muriel Roach, soloist Glen Iris; Gov. Minister Hon Michael Scott, who brought salutations from Premier Paula Cox; Hamilton Corporation Secretary, Bro. Madeiros, on behalf of Mayor Charles Gosling; Leader of the UBP, Mr. Kim Swan, a cousin of the pastor.Also Rev. Charles Franks of First Baptist Church, Devonshire; Retired Bethel AME Church Pastor Rev. Alton Thompson. There was liturgical dancing and a Ministry in Song by the Emmanuel Choir.Participating in the Investiture Ceremony were visiting Rhema Ministries leader Re. Henry Armstrong; Emmanuel’s Rev. C. Winston Rawlins and Deacons Charles Daniels and Jaymo Durham. Presiding at the organ was Bro. Walter Ingham.Mae starts new lifeThe former Mae Walker-Wales of St. George’s who has spent the past several years in training and serving as a Captain in The Salvation Army returned home a week ago as a vivacious bride to introduce her Canadian husband Leslie ‘Beaver’ Mullen to a host of family and friends.They were married at the Village Lighthouse Church in New Brunswick on January 21, 2012. Attending from Bermuda were Mae’s mother Mrs. Florence Walker and sister Joanna Bean; uncle Leon Albouy and wife Winnie. He rendered the solo “Flesh of My Flesh;” and cousins Josandia Bean and Rozzie Simmons.Mae resigned her Salvation Army Commission when she decided to marry below her rank as Captain. She said, “I am in total peace with my decision and my husband and I look forward to the ministry we will be doing together in the future in whatever way God leads.”Taking time out from her Bermuda honeymoon for an interview, Mae explained to me:“At age 53 I am excited to start a new chapter in my journey of life that God has planned for me. I know that if I had said ‘No’ to the Lord in 2002 I would never be here where I am today, ten years later. God’s ways are not our ways and His timing not ours, but He always does what is for our ultimate good!”By that last comment Mae was reflecting on her girlhood days dreaming of becoming a bride and having a family.She abandoned those dreams when she was overwhelmed by a strong call for ministry. She fought that call. She had learned a lesson from the title of a play, “Your arms are too short to box with God.”“Early one morning after talking to God and having my personal pity party about this tug on my life to serve as an officer in The Salvation Army I cried out to God, ‘I’ll never marry if I do this, I’ll never have a family!’ I then randomly opened my Bible and it fell open to Isaiah 54.”“At this point I cried out, ‘Alright I’ll go!’ Little did I know this was all part of His plan for me to meet my husband.”Soon she was off to Newfoundland to study to be an officer in The Army. Upon completion she was sent to Woodstock, New Brunswick for six years. There she met her husband to be in April of last year. Two weeks later she was transferred back to Newfoundland.On September 24, after much e-mails, cards and Skype, he arrived in Newfoundland. While showing him her new church, he said, “We need to spend time at the altar in prayer. We prayed for our future and our lives of ministry; for our families and friends. When we finished I stood up but he stayed down. Thinking something was wrong with him I looked back.”“He was on one knee with a ring box in his hand. He asked, ‘Will you marry me?’ Of course, I said ‘Yes!’ “‘Tootsie’ tribute was a blastThere was no hiding the fact that everybody was looking for ‘sax’ at the Pembroke Community Club and they got plenty of it!“The Sax Attack” was a highlight of the two hour unadulterated musical tribute to Clarence ‘Tootsie’ Bean, who is reputed to be Bermuda’s best-known drummer.First on stage leading the attack was none other than Jade Minors, and then came Lionel Edwards, followed by the incomparable, one-and-only Max Maybury; and the iconic Wendell ‘Shine’ Hayward accentuating the crescendo until John Bethel and other saxophonists joined them taking the tribute to a climax as one combo.Mistress of Ceremonies Darlene Hartley was moved to exclaim, “This is awesome, unlikely to be seen again!”The applauding audience had been brought to their feet. and one couldn’t help feeling the roof of the PCC might have been shifting.The event was the latest in the ‘Keeper of the Flame,’ ‘Giant Steps’ shows the irrepressible team of Dale Butler and Darlene Hartley are staging honouring Bermudians who have excelled in music and entertainment world at home and abroad.Clarence ‘Tootsie’ Bean has been in the entertainment world for 70 years. He was introduced to the drums by an uncle when he was very young, playing at the old North Shore Bandroom located at the rear of St. Monica’s Church, overlooking the n North Shore Road.Under the tutelage of Ernie Leader ‘Tootsie’ developed and began working at the age of 13. He has played in all the hotels and night clubs in the island from the 1940s through the 1970s. He left Bermuda for the USA to study and play music.He has played all over the United States and many other countries. These day he plays every Sunday morning at the Heard Chapel AME Church, North Shore; and the trio that has his name has engagements at the Swizzle Inn during the Season. He also spends time teaching, passing on the craft of his legendary musicianship.Another of the big highlights at the live PCC tribute to ‘Tootsie’ was when he called his son from the audience to join him in a drumming duet. At times it appeared son was eclipsing the father. It was torrid.The next show the Dale-Darlene producers have scheduled is a Father’s Day extravaganza called ‘Soulful Fathers’ at the Leopards Club, Sunday June 17, featuring the Dennis Fox All Star Band. And something to look forward to at City Hall is ‘Sistas on Fire’ featuring Darlene herself with others.