Rev. Helen Sinclair discharged from hospital
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Doctors: “Her heart and blood pressure like a 20-year-oldâ€
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By Chinta Strausberg
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Flooded with calls about the condition of Rev. Helen Sinclair including Facebook fans concerned about her hospitalization after holding Easter service worship at Statesville, St. Joseph Hospital officials late Wednesday night discharged the 91-year-old prison minister.
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“My doctor said I have a heart beat of a 20-years-old and the blood pressure of a 20-year-old,†said Sinclair as she was packing up her belongings prior to being discharged.
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When asked what was her secret, she said, “I am the servant of the Most High. That is my secret. The brothers in Statesville and Joliet were praying for me, and their prayers got through.â€
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Asked what is her diet,  Sinclair said, “I do not eat meat or anything with eyes, mouth and teeth. I eat vegetables,†she said. “I have had this diet since my first trip to Israel more than 25-years-ago. Time flies. One minute I was in the Peace Corp at the age of 65 and the next thing I was in Israel with the Black Hebrews,†she recalled.
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Asked why do they call her Queen Mother, she stated, “It was because of my prison ministry.†Rabbi Ben Ammi Israel, who is over the Black Hebrews, asked her if she would take the name of Queen Mother and she excepted.
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“I am on my way home and as fast as I can I will be back in the Prisons bringing the good news to our children. We are trying to save the children,†she said referring Matthew 25:35-36.
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Referring to her late mother, Jessie “Ma†Houston who was a very popular prison minister, Sinclair referred to a sign that was on her mother’s car that said, “I was in prison and you visited me not.â€
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Sinclair said thanks to the late Al Johnson, who owned the Al Johnson Cadillac car dealership; her mother visited the prisons in her station wagon. She would bring the inmates toiletries and other items.
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Led by Johnson, the black businessmen paid for the car, which was purchased from Al Johnson dealership, and was sponsored by Joe Louis, who owned Joe Louis Milk, Grove Fresh Orange Juice, Al Johnson Cadillac, Parker House Sausage, Baldwin Ice Cream and the owner of Mumbo Sauce.
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The oldest of Sinclair’s six children, Fahmeeda Veal, said of her mother, “I am quite excited. I was not expecting her to be discharged so quickly. When I called her, her voice is so full of life. I asked her when were they going to discharge her, and she said, ‘as soon as you come get me.†Veal took the next flight out to get her mother.
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Her mother, who also wrote for the Courier Newspaper, passed January 5, 1980. Sinclair said, “I have to carry on my mother’s legacy. These are our children in these prisons and someone has to show them some love. Someone has to teach them, and I intend to carry on my mother’s legacy.†Last Sunday, Sinclair told the inmates, “When I die, I want my funeral to be held at Statesville.â€
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Chinta Strausberg is a Journalist of more than 33-years, a former political reporter and a current PCC Network talk show host. You can e-mail Strausberg at: Chintabernie@aol.com.
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