Top 50 Promised Land Difference Makers Award Winners in America---For 2013 !

By Twomucht, Topix National News Editor,   

Over eight years ago, The Livseys created the "Promised Land Difference Maker Awards", that acknowledge Americans of all races who are visionaries, and are keeping Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dream, alive, not for fanfare or community recognition, but merely by the way they choose to make a difference one person at a time.  

In 1925 Tom Livsey's grandfather Robert Livsey purchased a third of the 1500 acres known as 'The Promised Land' plantation, and the original Thomas Maguire plantation house, affectionately referred to as 'The Big House'. The house survived General Sherman's March through Georgia, at the end of the Civil War,

(http://www.gwinnetths.org/Tour/default.asp) .  

Today it is the oldest plantation in Gwinnett County, Georgia.   Margret Mitchell, "Gone With The Wind", author visited numerous times during her research in the late 1920's for research for her now famous worldwide selling novel, that has made over four billion dollars, since her death in 1954.  

Over fifty percent of her information came from the daily farm journals of the original Promised Land plantation owner, Thomas Maguire, without any credit of her sources.  

Without animosity, the plantation is still home to many members of the extended Livsey family, and so many new neighborhoods, who's households have no idea, that they are living on the grounds of Georgia's history.  

The Promised Land community is located off Centerville Highway & Lee Rd., seven miles south of Hwy. 78 in Snellville, Ga.

  "We are the Livseys. ... For the first time about five summers ago, the White and Black Livseys, celebrated a family reunion together, after over 170 years apart.   It was a wonderful occasion. No one owed no one an explanation or excuse for the past. No animosity. No guilt. The only thing each and everyone left with was a whole new family tree. How about that?

Since then, we have become one family.", exclaims National News Editor, Tom Livsey.   He adds, "The Livseys are one of the first families to settle in Gwinnett County in 1840, certified by Gwinnett County Historical Society.

Eight years ago, my parents, Thomas and Dorethia Livsey, received a lifetime achievement award from the Gwinnett Chapter of the NAACP, for their service in the community.  

That same year, my dad and I, learned about the many branches on our other family tree from our white cousin, Annette Livsey Merritt of Decatur.  

She and her sister Avis, accompanied us to the National Archives in East Point, to help patch up the holes in our family genealogical research. We blew the assistants minds when we walked in together to ask about 'Our Family Tree' !" LOL !

Just like in Dr. King's, infamous last public speech, made strong inferences to this historic Promised Land, once a large plantation during the Civil War, that he viewed from the mountaintop of Stone Mountain...Once an exclusive site for the KKK rallies, which is located seven miles away. No black man was allowed to climb.  

"Mine eyes have seen the fertile land of promise", as illustrated by the last paragraph of his speech below: ,( no recorded evidence though).  

Dr. King's famous last public speech:  

"Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now.   I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.   But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oehry1JC9Rk   source: ( http://www.afscme.org/about/1549.cfm).  

So without any further ado...Ladies and Gentlemen, here are your 2013 Top 50 Promised Land Difference Maker Award Winners !  

* The Following Is In No Qualifying Order:  

1.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Family

2. President /Mrs. Obama

3 .The Whole Livsey Family-(Worldwide)-(Thomas & Dorethia Livsey)

4. The Thomas Maguire Family

5. The Whole Anderson Family-(Willie Anderson)

6. The Mason Family

7. Sen. Max Cleland

8. Ms. Opera Winfrey

9. Mr. Andrew Young

10. Ms. Tricia Bailey

11. The Austin Family (Worldwide)

12. The Williams Family

13. General & Mrs. Bill Livsey

14. Ms. Mary Jane Mahan

15. Mr. Roger Ach

16. Judge Melanie (Gwinnett Co.)

17. The Snell Family

18. Mr. Matt Ryan

19. Mr. Joe Jones

20. Mrs. Annette Livsey Merritt

21. The Britt Family

22. Mr. Dave Emanual

23. Atty. Alan Mullinite- Renowned Gwinnett Co. Attorney

24. Ms. Yewande Austin

25. Dr. & Mrs. Coletti

26. Mr. & Mrs. Jack Livsey

27. Mayor Kelly Kautz

28. Pro-Tem Mayor-Tom Witts

29. Coach Joe Paterno

30. Mrs. Carol Meinhart

31. The Nan Nash Family

32. The Janis Anderson Family & Georgia Military College

33. The Sons Of The Confederate Veterans

34. Mrs. Cheryl Smith (Dept. of Ga. Travel & Tourism)

35. Mr. Don Kapela

36. Mrs. Bev Carroll

37. Mr. Darin Stahl

38. Mr.Chris Burnett-OurTown Media

39. Mr. Ray Lewis

40. Mr. Dieon Sanders

41. Atty. Dwight Thomas- Celebrity Lawyer

42. Dr. Kim Livsey

43. Mr. Drew Brees

44. Former President Jimmy Carter

45. Mr. James Thrape

46. Mr. Will Hibbert

47. Ms. Pat Shabaaz

48. Ms. Brandi Bell Family

49. Mr Arthur Blank

50. Mrs. Doris Jones  

To be sure, this list is not meant to be a complete list of those who have made a difference this past year. However, it is to shine a light on those who have lit a torch for others, when the light in their lives were none existing.  

We challenge all of you, no matter your race or complexion, to take this Black History Month to make a difference in your own community.

There are so many young people who have dark caves, where a heart should be. We encourage next year's leaders to light their individual torch of life in them.  

Please take several books of matches, and light as many torches in the coming year, so they can find their life's purpose.   Please leave comments below, and for more information email Tom Livsey: tlivseyflnb@yahoo.com    .

###