A beautiful homegoing celebration was held for Odessa “Tooley” Robertson at her home church of New Bethel M. B. Church. Pastor Rev. Vincent Hopkins officiated and delivered the eulogy. Susie Jackson Boyd was the mistress of ceremony and other program participants were Revs. Billy Lyles and Bob Lanier, Shirley Norris and her niece Shalene Walker. Our prayers continue to be with her family. Evans Memorial Funeral Home was in charge.
We are sorry to learn of the death of Mrs. Louise Sanders who was memorialized Saturday, May 25th at Mt. Olive M. B. Church. Her family and friends paid tribute to her during her homegoing. Mt. Olive pastor, Rev. Charles Bell, officiated and delivered the eulogy. Ester Perry was the mistress of ceremony. Other program participants included Rev. Walter Patrick who also served as the musician, Shirley Thomas and Van Thames. Please keep her family in your prayers. Mapp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Our prayers continue to be with our readers who are facing health challenges including Forest Alderman James (Bo) Clark who is hospitalized at the G. V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans’ Center, Mitch and Mary Nichols, Mildred Guyse, Flo Chambers, Angel Martinez, and Albert Moore.
Congratulations to Tiffany Vbricky of Decatur who was recently honored as the Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She teaches third grade at Oakland Heights in Meridian. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John (Angela) Plummer. Congratulations!
We enjoyed the Forest Head Start Completion Program held at the Forest Elementary School Auditorium. It was a wonderful event and parents and other supporters turned out in record number. One hundred thirty students received their completion papers and are headed to Kindergarten. Center Director Sheila Y. Brown expressed appreciation to the Head Start family and village. Program participants included Miya Burks, Yessy Gabriel-Tomas, Rotravion Ware, Errius Brown and other young students. Mrs. Brown reminds parents that registration has been ongoing since January. The deadline for registration to attend Head Start is this Thursday, May 30th.
Compliments and accolades are still being received for the “Seven Zero” celebration for Cynthia Slaughter Melton. Elder Arthur Kennedy blessed the food and the event. Teselyn Melton Funches, Esq. provided a beautiful tribute to her mother. Melton thanks those in attendance and she also thanks those who provided services, including Dorothy Pinkston, Wanda Pinkston and Nytezia Pinkston, Sandra Bates, Shirley Goldman, Diane Evan, April Jennings, Kathern Qualls, Sandra Watts, BoZo Burks, Carl Lamb, David Reed, Constance Olivia, James, Jr. and James, III (Tre’) Burwell, and Constance Slaughter-Harvey. Door prize winners were Curtis Gore, Carolyn Macon, and Geraldine Johnson Jackson. We’re looking forward to her next birthday celebration where we will enjoy another year added to the Seven Zero Celebration.
The Scholarship, Youth and Z-Hope Recognition Program sponsored by Nu Pi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was held Sunday, May 19th at the Forest Services Center. This annual tradition highlighted scholarship recipients, community service honorees, youth honorees, and Z-Hope Award honorees. Jasmine Page was the mistress of ceremony, and other program participants were Veronica Duncan, Lakisha Lee, Valler Woodson, Debra Lowery, Gowanda Holloway, Roxana Sullivan and president Jacqueline Patrick. Scholarship recipients were Scott Central seniors Cameo Odom and Na’Tya Smith, and Sebastopol’s Kamiah Walker. Z-HOPE honorees were Carolyn Knowles, Thomas Wilson, Constance Slaughter-Harvey and the late Richard Rogers. Parent of the Year was Valler Woodson and Zeta of the Year was Sylvia Kennedy. Congratulations to winners and a special kudo to Zetas for continued investments in our community particularly through education and community services.
Legacy Education and Community Empowerment Foundation’s In-School Mentoring Program mentees received Legacy Star Trophies during Honor’s Day at Scott Central Friday, May 17th and at Hawkins Middle School on May 21st. Mentees receiving Trophies were Hawkins 5th graders Jamaria Derrick, Temarius Gill, Breyiah Joseph, Suky Montoya, Serenity Noguera, Alysson Pace, Ita Patrick, Mabdilya Gomez Perez, Nurivet Santiago, Nykeria West, Jadevius McClendon, Cameron Mapp, Jose Marruequin, Javen Marshall, Randy Orozco, Adam Rodgers, Jaden Wash, Mytonio Williams, Salvador Seba, Shawn Myers, Sabastian Cristobal, Jefri Aguilar, Larry Alonzo, Marcus Boyd, Luciana Campuzano. Perkins Chandler, Tavairus Fulton, Jean Garcia, Ridavious Graffenread, Joseph Greenhouse, Gregory Keeton, Xzavier Love, Cameron Erby, and Abraham Perez; Hawkins 6th graders Grace Boone, Janya Dillon, Sierra Marbuary, Tierra Marbuary, Zamiah Patrick, Akil Rankin, Sumoria Willliams, Akayla Wilson, Izaveon Burns, Tivaung Fulton, Aiyden Guy, Tyric Howard, Jr., Jamari Hughes, Ethan Hunt, Israel Miguel, Praise Moore, Tremius Pace, Anias Patterson, Malchi Rayford, Tregen Robinson, and Devon Trest; and Hawkins 7th graders Rebecca Analys, Bella Burks, Jacqueline Cajas, Latoya Gray, Odalis De Leon, Madiamond Edmonds, Ja’Zyoha Hunter, Alejandra Lopez, Mariyah Moore, Jon’Taesha Ormond, Jayla Lopez-Rowell, and Jacquelyn Williams. Scott Central mentees included 6th graders Latia Brantley, Arcelia Coronado, Zamir Grant, Georgia Hardin, Betty Harrison, Makenzie Harrison, Hannah Henry, Phoebe Liner, Tela Moffett, Tiana Moore, Elizabeth Risher, Kennedi Smith and Amanda Spencer; and Scott Central 7th graders My’Quita Bradford, Mariah Butler, Izzy Carter, Jamya Henry, Destiny Murray, Hershala Parker, Hershiya Parker, Thaomi Pham, Kristina Stelle, Shalini Valdez, and Irene Washington. Thanks to Mentors Dorothy Strong, Shonnette Kelley, Shirley Sykes, Elizabeth Ferrell, Henry Slaughter, Andrew Crudup, D. L. Bennett, Barbara Dawson, Constance Slaughter-Harvey, Bonnie Floyd and Marquita Patrick.
Weather permitting, Legacy Summer Side Walk Sale/Exchange will be held this Friday, May 31st and Saturday, June 1st at the Slaughter Block on Highway 80 next to Farmer’s Nursery. Linens, furniture, furnishings, office and school supplies, tools, clothes for all sizes and ages, dishes and other items will be available.
The Lynch Chapel U. M. Church family invites our readers to participate in their Vacation Bible School starting June 3 through June 7th from 4:00 until 6:00 p.m. Rev. Shirley Wilder is the pastor.
Birthday greetings to June babies born during the first week, namely, Evelyn Lewis and Kevin Reynolds (1), Zachery Reed and Sandy Wash (5), Malek McNair and Cortay Ragland (6).
Answer to Quiz Teaser # 488: The late George Wash and the late Forest Alderman W. L. Slaughter were the first presidents of the Scott County NAACP Chapter, which was organized and chartered January, 1972.
Quiz Teaser 489: Name the first African American Morton Alderman who sang with the B&S Gospel Singers.
