Our community is saddened by the transition of Ms. Gertrude Walk who transpired Tuesday night at the MS Care Center in Morton. She celebrated her 100th birthday March 17th. Graveside services were Monday, July 6, 2020 at St. Peter – Ebenezer Cemetery. Rev. Henry Patrick, her Concord M. B. Church pastor, conducted the services and remembered Ms. Walk, a native of the Scott County’s St. John community, as a faithful member and a God-fearing Christian who loved her Concord Church family. Our prayers are with her granddaughters, and other family, especially her cousin and caretaker, Mrs. Loyce Collier. Mapp Funeral Home was responsible for arrangements.
Our community is saddened by the transition of Mrs. Bessie Walker who transpired Tuesday while hospitalized in Coldquitt, GA. Mrs. Walker retired after many years as head cafeteria manager/worker at Bettye Mae Jack Middle School. Memorial arrangements are being handled by Wolf Funeral Home in Morton and Graveside Services are scheduled for Wednesday at 11:00 at Pleasant Hill Church Cemetery. Our prayers are with her family especially her daughter, Khamiya, and her family son, LaVar Robinson.
We are sorry to learn of the recent death of Dr. Estus Smith, former Vice President for Academic Affairs at Jackson State (JSU) and other JSU positions for 22 years. Following his tenure at JSU, he joined the Kettering Foundation in Dayton, OH. Our prayers are with his wife, Dr. Emma Smith, and their son, Donald.
Please continue to remember, in your prayers, our readers who are experiencing health challenges, namely, Mrs. Henrietta Horton, who previously resided with her daughter Barbara Longmire, who is now residing at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland; Mrs. Hattie Lou Robinson who remains in critical condition at Baptist Hospital; Mr. Christopher McCullum of Peoria, IL who is the nephew of Pastor Shirley Wilder, and other readers.
Congratulations to Pam Confer on the release of her second recording, “Stand” which was celebrated at her listening event held during the last week of June. She was dubbed the MS Song Ambassador when she was president of the Canton Chamber of Commerce. “Mississippi Beautiful” is a beautiful song and is available for purchase.
The month of June is special to Drs. John and Vera Perkins. On June 14th, they celebrated 70 years of married life together. They celebrated with their children and friends at their Robinson State home. Two days later, Rev. Perkins celebrated his 90th birthday. Special congratulations to Rev. Perkins who was one of this writer’s first clients. We wish Drs. John and Vera Perkins many more happy years!
Mississippi officials made history Saturday, June 27th when the House of Representatives voted to retire the MS flag, and the Senate followed suit on the next day, June 28th. The Governor signed the bill Tuesday, June 30, and the flag, containing the confederate battle flag, was transferred to the Old Capitol the next day. Kudos to officials, both elected and appointed, and other state leaders, particularly religious leaders, athletic heads, business persons, economic development leaders, and other officials, who stood to the challenge and rose to the occasion.
Lynch Chapel Pastor Rev. Shirley Wilder delivered her Sunday message, via teleconference and FaceBook, and addressed the subject, “What is the Condition of Your Heart? - How Strong is the Light that Shines in your Heart?” In so doing, she referenced Cain and Abel. She went further and referenced the following: The light, a symbol of God and goodness, comes from God who gives it to all believers; We must take steps to fuel and refuel the light in our hearts; Does our light show who we really are? Our lights will not shine without being charged and we need the light of God to take care of the condition of our hearts; and Keep the current to the Master charged by doing unto others as we would have them do unto you. In closing, she praised God by singing “God Has Smiled on Me.”
Once again, Rev. Sheldon Thomas delivered a dynamic message to the Little Rock M. B. Church family during their Drive-In Service Sunday, July 5th at 9:00 a.m. Following devotion, he shared the topic of his message, “You can’t serve a dynamic God with a firecracker religion.” He referenced the following: Religion is not very much if you serve God once a week with prayer and church attendance; Your shadow is God’s presence in your life; “In Between Places” means that you are between where the devil tries to upset you and doing the right things; When you find yourself on a ship with people of little faith, step out and become a “water walker” – Did you step out or stay in a shell? Water Walkers are like Paul – walk, don’t sink; Suit up, boot up, and stand your ground; Jesus must be our savior and personal Lord; and If we remain focused and faithful, God will turn this pandemic around. In closing, Rev. Thomas remarked, “I pray we will all be ready.”
Happy birthday greetings to babies born between July 11th through July 22nd, namely, Justice Myers (12) , Marquavious Bradford, S. Terrell Futch, J’Ciana Lacey, Jo Ann Pheal and Vincent Soloman (13), Billy Rashod Gray, Sherry Young, and Shirley Sykes (14), Tamarrow Jones and Terrence Smith (15), Eunice Slaughter (16), Patricia Holland and Jenifer Perez (17), Shirley McGowan, Lashanda Lay, Christopher Clark, and Makiya Denise Jones (18), Mattye Evans (19), Nytezika Pinkston, Nakisha Parker, and Lori Triplett (20), Lekendra Burks, Ruthie Lay, Wykershia Patrick, and Gerlisa Rodriguez (21), and Octavia Kincaid and Veronika Garmon (22).
Answer to Quiz Teaser # 575: The four (4) African American North Scott Attendance Center students who integrated Scott Central Attendance Center were Maxine Odom, Dorothy Strong, Frances Odom, all of whom retired from the education and academic fields, and Auruby Odom who is a psychologist. Congratulations to Mrs. Cora Bell Odom Peavy who provided the correct responses.
Quiz Teaser # 576: Which Forest native was one of the first African Americans to attend Belhaven University on a sports/academic scholarship?
