We are saddened by the transition of former Forest Assistant Police Chief Theoplis Hayes who passed at his home Sunday night, February 2nd. Our prayers are with his family, especially his wife, Bernice, and sons, Sheldon, Dennis and Anthony. Memorial services are are set for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Little Rock M.B. Church. It is interesting to note that his life and legacy were celebrated Sunday at his home church of Lynch Chapel where his family and church family paid tribute to the contributions of this icon. W. F. Mapp Funeral Home is in charge. Additional information and details will follow in next week’s column.
We are sorry to learn of the transition of Mrs. Willana Price on Thursday, January 30th at Lackey Memorial Hospital. She is the mother of former Forest alderman Billy Price. Memorial services were held Sunday, February 2nd at Ott & Lee Funeral Chapel. Program participants included Rick Sellers, Haywood Reeves, Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Lynn Fountain, and Dr. Joe Pate. Mrs. Price, the widow of Will Price, former IRS agent and CPA, was a teacher by profession and a lover of the written word and books. We will miss her and her comforting words of wisdom. Please keep her family, especially her son Billy and wife Tracy, and grandchildren Maddie, Will, and Zack, in your prayers.
A beautiful Home Going Celebration was held for Bobbie Joe Pinkston, Sr. at Greater Deliverance Church of God in Christ Saturday, February 1st. Rev. Nathan Pinkston provided his eulogy and other program participants were Elder Vernada Pinkston, Kenyon Corbin and Richard Miller. Our prayers are with his family especially his children, Sennie, Jennifer, Juanita, Deborah, Angela, Bobby, Jr., Thomas, and Tony. Holifield Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
We are sorry to learn of the transition of Forest native Timothy Crudup. Memorial services will be held Saturday, February 8th at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in Yazoo City. Mr. Crudup, a graduate of Scott County Training School and Alcorn University, was the brother of Mr. James Walter Crudup. Please keep his family, especially his daughter, Linda Crudup Gladney, in your prayers.
Please continue to remember our readers who are facing health challenges. Attorney Oliver Triplett remains hospitalized; Mrs. Flo Chambers is improving; Mr. Albert Moore is enjoying his stay at the Veterans’ Home in Koscuisko; and Mr. John Lee Evans has returned home from Scott Regional;
Congratulations to the Loras College students and staff who volunteered and worked with the Morton Elementary students during the past week. Their volunteer work was coordinated by Sister Eileen Houswald, director of the Excel Center in Morton. Students who provided assistance were Cora Shefchik, Lauren Krapfl, Bella Barrios, Kelsey Callahan, Rebecca Nonnenmann, Meredith Recker, Ben Colwell, and Meghann Long. They visited the Legacy office and the Slaughter library and enjoyed an appreciation reception. They also dialogued with Legacy president Constance Slaughter-Harvey and enjoyed an overview of Mississippi history. We appreciate these young students who serve others without any expectation of compensation or rewards.
Congratulations to Katlynn and Kylee Brown, former students at Forest, Morton and Scott Central, who performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington. They are the granddaughters of Mrs. Joyce Brown, who flew to Washington for the event, and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Antonia Brown, who were also in attendance. Their performance was outstanding and they, along with their choir, the Washington Performing Arts Gospel Choir, received standing ovations. We are proud of our native daughters! Way to go!!!
Legacy Mentors attended their Annual Team Building Training Retreat this past weekend in Meridian and shared their experiences during their advanced mentoring training. Meridian Mayor Percy Bland welcomed participants and commended mentors for working to save and empower our youth. Following their training and team building Friday session, they watched “Just Mercy.” Among those participating were Liz Ferrell, Dorothy Strong, Marquita Patrick, Shonnette Kelley, Barbara Dawson, Bonnie Stowers, Andrew Crudup, D. L. Bennett, Shirley Sykes, Constance Slaughter-Harvey. Henry Slaughter and Constance Burwell served as facilitators and trainers. James Burwell, III provided assistance. The session concluded with a special lunch at Applebees. Special thanks to the mentors and Legacy donors.
The SCTS/ETHHS Reunion Planning Committee will meet Sunday, February 9th at the Odessa Graves Education Center at 4:30 p.m. Time is winding down for the 2020 Reunion to be held July 10-12, 2020. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Roaring 20’s.” Contact any committee member for additional information.
The next Cluster Club meeting is Tuesday, February 13th at the Extension Center.
The first 2020 Scott County JSU Alumni Association meeting will be held Thursday, February 6th at 5:30 at the Forest Service Center.
Happy birthday greetings to babies born during the second week in February, namely, Tokasha Watts, James Nicks, and Jasmine Gray (7), Jarid Mezhua, Andrae Ward, Shirley Harper, and Victoria Thames (8), Tyailieka Lay, Abdu Clark, Carolyn Macon, Inetta Nichols, KaVontae Phillips, Antonia Pinkston, and Arkeavies Clark (9), Patricia Massey and Michael Melvin (10), Teselyn M. Funches and Rick Mitchell (12), Ralph Johnson, Mercedes Bloodsaw, Jacari Traylor and Tivaivus Fulton (13), Evany Gray and Renita Hughes (14), and Jimmy Butler (15).
Answer to Quiz Teaser MLK # 561: On June 7th, 1966 James Meredith began the March against Fear. The March was an attempt to walk from Memphis to Jackson to promote black voter registration and defy entrenched racism. On the second day of the March, Meredith was shot. Within hours, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and others vowed to continue the March, and they did.
Black History Quiz Teaser #2020-1: During the March against Fear in June, 1966, what dramatic declaration was expressed? It later captivated the globe.
