We are saddened by the death of Mrs. Alice Faye Bland Gray who transitioned Monday, August 3rd and was memorialized Monday, August 10th with Graveside Services at Lovelady Cemetery. She was a dedicated employee of the Forest MAP Head Start family for many years. Our prayers are with her family especially her daughters, Sandra and Bridget, and her special daughter-in-law, Patsy Strong Bland. Holifield Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Our prayers continue to be with our readers who are facing health challenges, namely, Representative Willie Bailey, Mrs. April Harris Agonzi, Mrs. Estella Smith, Mrs. Addie Russell, Mr. Larry Bobbitt, Mrs. Lovie Bland, Mrs. Fannie Bradford, Mrs. Rosie Odom Harris, Angel Martinez, Mrs. Mary Nichols, and Sister Camilla.
Our community is saddened by the transition of Mr. Ruben Hughes on Thursday, August 6th in Greenwood. This iconic Forest native was a 1958 graduate of E. T. Hawkins High School and Tennessee State University where he ran track with Olympian Wilma Rudolph. He began his radio career here in Forest with WMAG and from there he journeyed to WQIC in Meridian. He later travelled to Mobile where he established a record shop and nightclub. In 1969, he and the Floyd brothers owned and operated WORV in Hattiesburg which was the first African American owned radio station in the state. He was featured in the July 26, 1969 edition of Jet Magazine. Mr. Hughes and his wife, Mrs. Maxine Denham Hughes, continued to provide community services in Greenwood and established WGNL and WCNG where they featured R&B, Blues, Gospel, news and community announcements.
Memorial services are scheduled for Friday, August 14th at 1:00 at the Greenwood-Leflore Civic Center in Greenwood. Family and friends will accompany Mr. Hughes to the Lovelady Cemetery in Forest on Saturday. Our prayers continue to be with his family, especially his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Maxine Hughes, and their children, former JSU Football Coach Tony (Marion), Cyreio (Willete) Charmaine, and Vikki (Perry) Williams, and sisters Emma Jones, Alice Holifield, and Bobbie Hunter. Please keep his family in your prayers. Century Funeral Home in Greenwood is in charge of arrangements.
We appreciate hearing from Mrs. Lucy Moore and niece, Ms. Nettie Jean Ware, regarding Mr. Albert Moore, World War II Veteran. They visited him the last week in July and were able to speak and wave from a distance. They spoke with this past week and he sounded upbeat. Please continue to remember him in your prayers.
Rev. Sheldon Thomas continued to offer inspirational messages. During the Little Rock M. B. Church revival services this past week, Pastor Thomas addressed different themes each of the five nights. Monday, the message was “I Didn’t Have What I Thought I Had”; Tuesday’s message was “Ignore What Others Say and Do What God Says”; Wednesday’s theme was “You Deserve A Good Laugh” and shared laughter is medicine to the soul; Thursday’s message was “This Got To Be Good For Me”; and Friday’s message was “I May Be Down But Not Defeated” and advised that tough times don’t last forever, and TGIF – Today God Is First.
We enjoyed Sunday services at Little Rock M. B. Church via YouTube and were inspired by the musical devotion. Commendations to the young lady, J’Ciana Lacey, who shared “How Great Is My God.” The theme of his sermon was “You Haven’t Seen Nothing Yet” and referenced the following: In order for God to get your attention, God lets you run out of things; God looks at our hearts and noted that small things matter; God loves a cheerful giver; We will change our address from earth to heaven, so pray we all be ready; and How soon we forget our blessings from God. Services were concluded with the song, “Every Praise Is to Our God.”
We enjoyed speaking with Mrs. Addie Russell on her birthday of August 4th where she said, ‘thank you’ as we extended special birthday wishes to “MaDear”. Family and friends serenaded her with birthday love songs. She celebrated her 94th birthday and because of the pandemic, this is the first birthday in the last 15 years when she did not celebrate with her traditional house party.
The Legacy Connection Program will continue with its Remedial and Support Program for the 2020-2021 School Year. The final week of the Legacy Summer Connection consisted of 14 scholars reading 292 books and watching 15 educational videos over 59 hours in our Epic Online Reading Classroom. The reading classroom will remain active throughout the year, but our support services will shift from reading encouragement to class support (remediation, encouragement, one-on-one, and weekly parental meetings.) Last week’s discussions with parents and scholars included the schools’ COVID-19 Response Packet, home-schooling options, subject remediation, study skills, learning styles, encouragement, and goal setting. Change Agents will be saluted in next week’s column.
We salute local citizens who provide assistance and services to seniors and others who are not able to travel and shop during this pandemic. What a blessing they are in attending to the needs of their neighbors by providing food, home-cooked meals, and other tasks. Thank you!
It was good hearing from Mrs. Natha Mapp and we enjoyed discussing the history of North Scott and the Morton schools. It is rewarding to hear positives about the history of our schools.
For persons interested in getting a COVID test, you may receive one this Saturday, August 15th at Mt. Olive M. B. Church from 8-12 noon. Rev. Charles Bell, Jr. is the pastor. Thanks to Mrs. Ester Perry for the notification.
Happy Birthday to August babies born during the dates of the 14th through the 21st, namely, Ethan Hunt (14), Sandra Bates, Shirley Townsend (16), Jamarius Moore, Jatateous Washington (17), Linda Russell (18), Shanedral Pinkston (20), and Chris Gilmer (21).
Answer to Quiz Teaser # 580: Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton is the first African American female alderwoman and has served in that position since 1997. She followed in the footsteps of her father, the late W. L. Slaughter, who was elected as Ward 1 Alderman becoming the first African American Forest Alderman in 1977. Mrs. Charity Robinson provided the correct response. Congratulations.
Quiz Teaser # 581: Which son of Forest natives has served on football coaching staffs at U of MS, USM, MSU, and head coach at JSU?
