“God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful. When we stand before God, results are not important. Faithfulness is what matters.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Our hearts are saddened by the death of three-year-old Keimori “Latte” Butler, who was killed in an auto accident on March 29th. She was the daughter of Ashanti Brazzle and Kendarius Butler. Her funeral arrangements are scheduled for Saturday, April 11th, at 1:00 at the W. F. Mapp Funeral Home Chapel, with visitation on Friday, April 10th, from 5-6 p.m. Mapp Funeral Home has been entrusted with her final arrangements.
Several members of our community passed away last week, including three alumni from Scott County Training School and its successor, E. T. Hawkins High School. All were athletes and contributed to the athletic reputation enjoyed by Scott County and Forest. We ask our readers to pray for their families and for the peaceful repose of their souls.
A beautiful Celebration of Life was held for Mrs. Bettye Ree Holifield Mosley on April 3rd at New Beginning Ministries of the Great MS Delta in Cleveland, MS. Pastor Elder David Sayles, Sr. officiated and delivered her eulogy. The Mistress of the Ceremony was Ms. Nora Moore, and among those participating in the program was Forest Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton, who shared sentiments from the 1967 classmates, several of whom were present.
Locals attending were Angie Holifield, Eddie James Rigsby, Leonard Horton, Barbara Horton Longmire, Charles Longmire, James Longmire, Jerry Smith, and Nytezia Pinkston Donald. Resolutions were presented by Alcorn State University (Bolivar County), Cleveland School District, and A New Beginning Ministries of the Greater MS Delta.
Mrs. Mosley, a 1967 Hawkins High School graduate (where she was a star basketball player) and a graduate of Alcorn State University, where she met her husband, Richard Mosley, dedicated her services to the Cleveland School District and worked in the administrative office for more than 40 years. She was known for her educational services to students and the community, and for her love of Alcorn’s purple and gold, which she wore daily. Please remember and pray for her son, LaCari, his wife Cumeshia and their son, LaCari, II, her brothers Willie (Shelby) and John D., and sister Angie, all of whom were present at this beautiful Celebration of Mrs. Holifield Mosley’s life.
Please continue to remember the family of Election Commissioner, Educator, Outstanding Athlete, and Coach Roy Pinkston, who suffered a fatal heart attack on Good Friday. His Funeral is scheduled for Saturday, April 11th, at 11:00 at the Forest Elementary School Auditorium. Visitation is on Friday, April 10th at Holifield Funeral Home from 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. Additional information and details will be shared in next week’s column.
Please continue to remember the family of Educator and SCTS/JSU Basketball Captain Ms. Annie Bell Currie, who passed on April 4th. Memorial arrangements are incomplete at press time. Mapp Funeral Home has been entrusted with her final arrangements.
Our prayers are with the family of Mr. Johnny Rodriguez, who passed away on March 28th and whose life was celebrated on April 4th at Mapp Funeral Home Chapel. Pastor Marcus Mann officiated and delivered his eulogy. Mrs. Cynthia Harper was the Mistress of the Ceremony. Mr. Calvin Bobbitt and others shared special tributes with the Rodriguez family. Our prayers are with his family, namely his children, Johnny (Daphane), Lillie M. (Patrick) Stewart, Carrie, Carman (Otis) Logan, and Jesus Jose. Mapp Funeral Home was entrusted with his final arrangements.
We continue to remember our readers who are facing health challenges, namely, Lucille Patrick, Ronnie Willliams, Amos Holifield, Dr. Clarice Slaughter Bell, Ester Perry, Jo Taylor, Vernal Williams Breashears, Joe Tucker, Dr. Sheldon Graves, Kathy Hollingsworth, Gwendolyn Harvey Kelley, Dorothy Pinkston, R. C. Williams, Howard Burkes, Robert Jennings, Connie Sorey, LaToya, Que, and LaTasha McClendon, Bobby Carter, Linnie K. Lofton, Ruby Warnsley, Iris O’Neal Warnsley, Shelley Joseph, Vera Patrick, C. J. Polk, McArthur Robinson, Irene Lyles, Eleanor Longmire, Cathia Coleman, Connie Parker, Jordan Crump, Mary Bobbitt, Rev. Floyd McConnell, Thomas Anderson, Cliff Qualls, Jr., Virginia Hannah, Lavell Stewart, Ledora Benton, Rev. Henry Patrick, Lucy V. Moore, Sidney Ellis, Anderson “Yellow” Stingley, Dorothy Mae Patrick Tigar, London Thompson, Melba Dixon, Mitch Nichols, Lucille Flex, Laura Jackson, Roseann Lynn, Eunice Slaughter, Viola Morgan, Lillian Gray, Jean Bates, Tomi Reed Smith, Tommy Rankin, John Norman, Juanita Jones, Vernette Owens, Diane Williams, Dashell Earnest, Sherry Holmes, Will Hughes, Billy Jack Evans, Wells Gray, Otha Herrington, Robert Loper, Ken Ormond, Eileen, Annie, Elijah, and Symone Ickom, Charity Robinson, Linda Martin Solomon, Ruthie Lay, Clark Jackson, George Tucker, Thorton Gray, Bobby Hodges, Wayne Lindsey, Patsy Bradford, Marie Graham, Rita Wash, Willie Wash, Margaret Bates, Lillie Mae Rodriguez Stewart, Cordell Hughes, Clyde Curry, Bobby Joe Spivey, Al and Lesa Bergin, and Rita Moody.
We enjoyed the 2026 Lenten Lunch on April 1st at the Morton United Methodist Church. The delicious food highlighted a variety of salads, including Caesar, Garden, Bean, Greek, Pasta, Chef, Fruit, Chicken, Cobb, Coleslaw, Waldorf, and Ambrosia, and a variety of cakes, pies, and traditional tea cakes. In addition to the delicious meal and wonderful fellowship, the speaker, Elder Walter Roberts, Jr. Lynch Chapel U. M. Church Pastor, was right on time as he illustrated the relevance of Jesus turning over tables in the temple (Matthew 21: 12-17) to today’s world, where we sometimes make visitors feel unwelcome in our churches (temples). Special thanks to Mrs. Janeen Robinson, who coordinated the luncheon meals, and the ladies who prepared the dishes. The tea cake lady, Mrs. Patsy Garner, continued to serve her specialties. Special thanks to the pastor of Morton United Methodist Church, Rev. Dwayne Scoggins. Lynch Chapel members who were in attendance to hear their Pastor’s message were Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton, Mrs. Lillian Gray, and Ms. Nettie Ware. James “Tre” Burwell, III and his grandmother Constance Slaughter-Harvey enjoyed the Lenten Lunches and thank all who made this Lenten Luncheon Program most enjoyable.
The Annual JSU Baby/Youth Contest/Pageant was held on March 22nd at the Forest Service Center. Participants were Little Miss JSU Madelyn Burks, 1st Runner Up Jazhara Hogan, 2nd Runner Up Cayleigh Estee, 3rd Runner Up Aria Henriques, and 4th Runner Up Jream Gore. Little Mr. JSU was Bentley McGee and others were 1st Runner Up Vamari Booth, and 2nd Runner Up Jhayden Henriquez. Thanks to program participants Bonnie Stowers, Albert Gray, Faye and Walter Patrick, Ann Bryant, and Cynthia S. Melton. Thanks also to Lisa Darby, Renee Rodriguez, Andre and Jereman Evans, Christy Evans, Robert and Martha Kincaid, and Rosie Anderson for their assistance. Special thanks to coordinator Carolyn Macon. Contestants received trophies and gifts, and snacks were provided following the contest. The winners will ride in the Christmas Parade.
Thanks to the local Church families and other entities for providing Easter programs and activities for community residents. The Easter Egg Hunts were popular in our community this year, and from all indications, they were successful. The Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Friends of Roosevelt State Park was most impressive. The young children appeared to enjoy themselves laughing, running, and grabbing Easter Eggs. They enjoyed having winning raffle tickets for bikes, baskets, and other gifts. Youth were divided into four groups and offered prayer, and their volunteer leaders shared a special Easter story. Special thanks to Beverly Tadlock and Friends of Roosevelt State Park for providing this activity for our youth.
We spoke with one of Legacy 2026 Women’s History Month Honorees Mrs. Roseann Lynn, who now resides in Asheville, NC, on her birthday (April 2nd), and she was returning from a birthday dinner with her two children and their families. She was looking forward to another birthday dinner treat from her other son and grandchildren. We wish Mrs. Lynn a very happy 97th Birthday. She is indeed a very special “angel.” Happy Birthday Roseann!
We enjoyed spending Triduum (last three days of Holy Week) with the other Legacy 2026 Women’s History Month Honorees, Mrs. Lloyce Collier, who was home preparing Easter dinner for her family. At age 99, she still enjoys cooking, and we enjoy eating her delicious greens, baked turkey, and bread pudding. The remaining Honoree, Mrs. Lucille Patrick, was relaxing at Bedford when we visited with her. She was excited about receiving her Yellow Chicken Basket-Bucket, which contained enough treats for all Bedford residents, and she is looking forward to sharing the goodies with them.
Happy Birthday Greetings to April Babies born during the third week, namely Rico Jones (12), Juana Gomez (13), Pharen Nelson (15), Annie Crudup Lowery and Jaylon Hord (16), Brienna Payton and Vonda Carter (17) and Lisa Webster (18).
Answer to National Women’s History Month Quiz Teaser # 878: The University of MS (Ole Miss) Law School’s first female Dean was Susan Duncan, and the MS College School of Law’s first female Dean was Wendy Scott, who was also the first African American to serve in that position.
Quiz Teaser # 879: Which family has more outstanding basketball players and coaches than any other in Forest?
