“If someone feels that God wants him/her to transform social structures, that’s an issue between him/her and his/her God. We all have the duty to serve God where we feel called. I feel called to help individuals, to love each human being. I never think in terms of crowds in general but in terms of each individual person. Were I to think about crowds, I would never begin anything. It is the person that matters. I believe in person-to-person encounters.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta
Please keep Dr. Clarice Slaughter Bell and family in your prayers as they accept God’s Will with the death of her husband and loved one, Don Bell (Alcorn State University Hall of Famer), who transitioned on January 8th at their home in Jonesboro, GA. Memorial arrangements are incomplete.
Our prayers are with the family of Mr. Paul Gene Fountain who passed January 8th. Please keep his family in your prayers. Memorial arrangements have not been finalized.
A beautiful Memorial was held for Mr. John Mun Jones on January 10th at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness in Forest. His discourse was delivered by Daryl Reeves and others celebrating his life on program were Allen Middleton and Bill Brewer. He was remembered as a skilled electrician and a good fisher and excellent cooker of catfish. His legacy includes his wife, Mrs. Ocie Jones, and children Arthur (Latrice) Miller, Shelia Miller, and Marcus Miller; his sisters Eunice Robinson, Maggie Ickom, Mary Townsend, and Viney Lay. Evans Memorial Funeral Home was entrusted with his final arrangements.
The Celebration of the Life of Mr. James Lamar Mayers, son of Taaron Mayers and Ora Lee Riley Mayers, was held on January 10th at Evans Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Timothy Ringo officiated and delivered his eulogy. Other program participants were Mistress of Ceremony Mrs. Rosie M. Kersh, Mesdames Rita Parker, Andrea Williams, Dianna Mayers, and Charles A. Crudup, Albany Crudup, Jr., and Danny Johnson. Please remember his children Maurice (Lucille) Mayers, Tyrone Stowers, and Felicia Hunt; his siblings Herman Mayers, Sammy Mayers, and Dr. Ella Jean Davis; and his aunt Aretha Riley Gray. Our prayers continue to be with his family. Evans Memorial Funeral Home was entrusted with his final arrangements.
Please continue to be with our readers who are facing health challenges, namely, Vernal Williams Breashears, Dr. Sheldon Graves, Kathy Hollings-worth, Gwendolyn Harvey Kelley, Dorothy Pinkston, Clarice and Don Bell, R. C. Williams, Howard Burkes, Robert Jennings, Connie Sorey, LaToya, Q and LaTasha McClendon, Bobby Carter, Jo Taylor, Linnie K. Lofton, Ruby Warnsley, Iris O’Neal Warnsley, Shelley Joseph, Vera Patrick, C. J. Polk, McArthur Robinson, Irene Lyles, Nancy Myers, Eleanor Longmire, 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, Annie Curry, Margaret Davis, Ruby Helen Moore, Ken Ormond, Eileen, Annie, Elijah, and Symone Ickom, 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 Rodguiez Stewart, Cordell Hughes, Clyde Curry, and Rev. Walter Roberts, Jr.
The Mosley Quadruplets (Mike Allen, Jr., MJ Allen, Selena Faith and Serena Hope) continue to reside at River Oaks (Merit Hospital) in the NICU and are in good shape as they enjoy being pampered and loved by their parents. Please continue to keep them and their family in your prayers.
Lynch Chapel celebrated the Epiphany of the Lord on Sunday, January 4th and the theme was “Get Ready to Move.” Those participating in the Order of Worship were Zion Chapel Pastor Rev. Yolanda Ratliff (Quitman), Deno Willis and Dennis Hayes. January babies were recognized by Cynthia Slaughter Melton with her traditional snack bags, and they are Shelby McClendon, Serena McClendon, Nettie Ware, Jasmine Gray, Osie Ratliff, and Michael Holifield. Maurice McClendon assisted in the distribution of snack bags. Our prayers continue to be with Pastor Rev. Walter Roberts, Jr.
We enjoyed the Fortune Report podcast on January 8th featuring Dr. Melody Fortune. Her guest was Dr. Ivory Phillips who shared his perspective on the late Senator Henry Kirksey. The theme was “The Life, Legacy, and Impact of Senator Henry J. Kirksey.”
MHV Cluster Club president Carolyn Macon presented 123 pairs of socks to Stewpot Services Center. Members making donations were Connie Wash, Dessaree Bradford, Cynthia Slaughter Melton, Mary Lofton, Bobbie Carter, and Louella McConnell. Stewpot representatives thanked the Cluster Club ladies for the socks.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and often referred to as “MLK Day’) is a federal holiday and is observed on the third Monday of January. Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which protested racial discrimination in federal and state law, and civil society. The movement led to several groundbreaking legislative reforms in America. Dr. King’s actual birthday is January 15, 1929.
The campaign for a federal holiday in Dr. King’s honor began shortly after his assassination in 1968. Representative John Conyers (MI Democrat) and Senator Edward Brooke (MA Republican) introduced a bill in Congress to make King’s birthday a national/official holiday. Musician Stevie Wonder released the single “Happy Birthday” to popularize the campaign in 1980, and he and others collected six million signatures for a petition to Congress to pass the law. The Nation termed this petition as “the largest in favor of an issue in United States history.”
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill into law to create a federal holiday honoring Dr. King. It was first observed three years later January 20, 1986. At first, some states, Mississippi included, resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. Official observance in each state’s law as well as federal law occurred in 2000.
Congratulations to Captain Robert Jennnings, Mrs. Francis Richmond and Sister Eileen Hauswald who have been selected to serve as Parade/Walk Marshals for the Legacy/Slaughter Library 28th Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Walk/Parade to be held on January 19th on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., National Holiday!!!!!
Congratulations to Maria K. Morales and Richardo J. Quesada who will tie the nuptial knot on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2026)!! The bride-to-be was honored with a Bridal Shower “Miss to Mrs. Maria” on January 10th at the St. Michael’s Catholic Church Fellowship Hall. She was showered with gifts, delicious food, fun, and much love!!
Please mark your calendar for Monday, January 19, 2026, for the 28th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Walk/Parade to begin at the Legacy Slaughter Memorial Library at 518 Jones Street from 9-11 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to persons recruiting and bringing the most walkers and the most vehicles. Refreshments will be served. For additional details and information, please call 601-900-5178.
The Scott County JSU Alumni Association will meet for its January meeting on Thursday, January 15th at 4:30 at the Forest Services Center.
Happy Birthday greetings to January babies born during the third week, namely Rosie Mabry (16), Parris Ringo, Nicholas Harrison, Elmer Lowery, and Nettie Ware (18), Meko Boyd, Bryan Shepherd, Martin Brown, and Ireme Ward Lyles (19), and Kristen Boyd, Lynn Whitfield and Mike May (21).
Answer to Quiz Teaser #867: In 1968, Lynch Chapel UM Church was named after its founder, James D. Lynch, who was credited with organizing the first African Methodist Church in the south. He served as Mississippi’s Secretary of State during the carpetbag administration from 1869 to 1872.
Quiz Teaser # 868: Who was the first certified African American police officer in Morton?
