“Joy is prayer; joy is strength; joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.” St. Teresa of Calcutta
Our hearts are saddened by the death of one of our community’s humanitarians, Mrs. Martha Reed who joined her Heavenly family on October 19th. Please keep her family in your prayers.
We are sorry to learn of the death of Mrs. Mary S. Loper whose funeral service is Saturday, October 25th at 12:00 p.m. at Greater Deliverance COGIC. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 24th from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Evans Memorial Funeral Home, and on Saturday from 11-12 p.m. at the church.
A beautiful Homegoing Celebration was held for Evangelist Rosie Helen Pace on October 18th at Mt. Carmel M. B. Church with Pastor Larry Reed officiating and delivering her eulogy. She dedicated her energies to serving God and loved to sing gospel music. Other program participants were Pastor Willie and Mrs. Sherri Thompson, Pastors T. J. Dear, Elwando Brown, Willie Ealy, J. P. Viverette, and son Bonnie Patrick, Lamarei Johnson, and Katrica Gray. She was previously married to Edison Harrison, Jr. and Florzell Patrick. Our prayers are with her children, Edison Harrrison, III, Florzell Harrison, Bonnie Patrick, and Rose Mary Johnson, and her siblings Billy Mack, Willie, James, Thelma, Betty, Patricia and Debra. Evans Memorial Funeral was entrusted with her final arrangements.
The Life of Noble Lee Hughes, Jr. was honored October 11th with Pastor Rochelle Wright delivering his eulogy. Other program participants were Ira Payton, Brailynn Hughes, Pastor Christ Thompson, Dr. Delesa Patterson, Pastor Johnny Agnew, Noble Lee Hughes, Sr., Krishna Moore, Marcus Mann, Haden Mosley, and Outcast MC: Dwight Payton & Dion Cooks. Noble was remembered as a Forest High School graduate, a Jacksonian, and a Tyson Foods Complex Safety Manager in Camilla, GA. Please remember his family in your prayers, especially his wife LaKisha Hughes, children Asha Funches, Mahogany Hughes, MaKaysha Hughes and Devin Hughes, his mother Peggy Ware and father Noble L. Hughes, Sr., siblings Essence and Corey, and special aunt and cousin, Barbara Ware, and Tambria Ware Draekos.
Mrs. Bernice Walden Brown, who shared 100 years of love on this earth, received a beautiful Homegoing Service on October 18th at Union Grove Church with Rev. Alvin Moore officiating and delivering her eulogy. Her life was celebrated by her family and friends including program participants Mistress of Ceremony Rita Parker, Rev. Rochelle Wright, Briana Burton, and Rebecca Wright. Mrs. Brown was remembered as a good cook and one whose vibrant spirit brought joy to many. Our prayers are with her family including her nine children, May Doris Love, Bertha Jean Moore, Bettye Turner, Charles Brown, Roy Brown, Linda Faye Rankin, Ricky Brown, Kenny Walden, and Lee Andrew Brown, 24 grandchildren, and sisters Laura Jean Kirksey, Ada Jones and Lilla Mae Walton. Mapp Funeral Home was entrusted with her final arrangements.
Bishop Odee Akines, co-founder of Abundant Grace Temple of Deliverance Church, was remembered during his Homegoing Celebration on October 18th at Greater Deliverance COGIC where Bishop Daniel Littleton is Pastor. Bishop Timothy Johnson officiated and delivered his eulogy. Program participants were Minister Michael Mason who was Master of Ceremony, Bishops Lanford Porter and Dexter LeFlore, Evangelist Valerie LeFlore, Bishop Akines’ daughter Nartassha Mason, and Elder Ronald Collier. The Evangelist Temple COGIC provided beautiful music. Our prayers are with his family including his wife, Evangelist Emma Mason Akines, daughter Shauntel Mathis, grandchildren Quantavious, Jasmine, Ja’Varion, Dominic, Jalencia, Ma’Karious, Chancler, Jakenzie and Landen, and stepchildren Melody Collier, Fekesha Pierre, Sophia Michaels and Reginald Reed.
Please continue to remember those who are facing health challenges, namely, Gwendolyn Harvey Kelley, Bobbie Adams, Ada Jones, Dorothy Pinkston, Clarice and Don Bell, Charlotte Moman, R. C. Williams, Rubin Ruiz, Eloise Reed, Howard Burkes, Glenda Graham, Robert Jennings, Wells Gray, McArthur Cotton, Connie Sorey, LaToya and Q. McClendon, Bobby Carter, Jo Taylor, Linnie K. Lofton, Ruby Warnsley, Iris O’Neal Warnsley, Deon May, Jr., Shelley Joseph, Vera Patrick, C. J. Polk, McArthur Robinson, Jamisha Benton, Irene Lyles, Nancy Myers, Travis Ward, Eleanor Longmire, Jordan Crump, Albert Lee Payton, Kenard Bowie, Jr., Connie Lewis Williams, Mary Bobbitt, Rev. Floyd McConnell, Thomas Anderson, Cliff Qualls, Jr., Kristie Ware, Virginia Hannah, LeReece Crimm, Lavell Stewart, Ledora Benton, 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, Renea Taylor, Juanita Jones, Elijah Ickom, Vernette Owens, Diane Williams, Dashell Earnest, Sherry Holmes, Will Hughes, Billy Jack Evans, Otha Herrington, Robert Loper, Annie Curry, Miriam Mejia, Margaret Davis, Ruby Helen Moore, Ken Ormond, Eileen, Annie and Symone Ickom, Linda Martin Solomon, Ruthie Lay, Clark Jackson, George Tucker, Thorton Gray, Leon Hudson, Bobby Hodges, Wayne Lindsey, Patsy Bradford, Marie Graham, Rita Wash, Willie Wash, and Margaret Bates.
October “Babies” were recognized on Sunday, October 5th at Lynch Chapel UM Church. They were gifted with “snack bags of joy” in memory of Mrs. Olivia Kelley Slaughter. Those honored were Kilas Odom, Charlie D. White, Viola Morgan and Marvin Murrell. October “Babies” remembered were Mrs. Sammie Rigsby and Mrs. Olivia Kelley Slaughter. Rev. Walter Roberts, Jr. is the Pastor.
Congratulations to little Miss Wave Ringo who was crowned Miss Dr. Lottie Thornton Early Childhood Center. She represented the Early Childhood Center in the Jackson State University Homecoming Parade last weekend. Wave is the daughter of Shanod and Cara Robinson Ringo, and the granddaughter of Chineta Perry McClendon and Larissa Ringo Parrott. Wave represented her family’s friend and her special lady, Attorney Constance Slaughter-Harvey. She was a beautiful and classy princess. Way to go Little Wave.
Mrs. Olivia Kelley Slaughter’s Heavenly Birthday was celebrated on October 9th prior to the beginning of the MHV Cluster Club meeting. Cynthia Slaughter Melton was the hostess. In addition to the beautiful birthday cake, snack bags of joy, pizza, salad and other dishes were served. Jenna Turner provided prayer, and Louella McConnell blessed the food and shared a beautiful solo. The ladies were also provided with information on the beginning of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month. They concluded the afternoon with the monthly business meeting. Thanks to all in attendance. Guests were Jenna Thomas Turner, Barbara Holifield Beamon and Constance Slaughter-Harvey. Cluster members attending were Carolyn Macon, Dorothy Strong, Connie Wash, Dessaree Bradford, Mary Lofton and Cynthia Slaughter Melton. Thanks to Jason Hurdle, Tristen Phillipson and Brenda Darby. The November meeting will be hosted by Louella McConnell, and the date will be announced later.
Students from Creighton University in Nebraska continued their annual tradition of traveling to Scott County to provide services to the Morton students, to assist with We Care, and to visit the Legacy Reading Center to learn about Mississippi history. During their October 16th visit, they assisted with preparing items for the Legacy Fall Block Sale on October 18th. They enjoyed their visit and played with “bubbles” which is the Legacy treat to all Creighton students. Special thanks to Sister Eileen and Pam Holman of Morton Activity Center (Excel). Students participating in this fall break service were Eliza Loecke, Alessandra Martinez, James Brainard, Gracie McHugh, Jack McMullen, Josh Chandra, Hailey Bergin, Heidi Hollman, and Grace Nilsson.
The Midway Head Start/Early Head Start Center’s Parent Empowerment Sessions were held October 17th where the speakers were Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton who focused on and shared pointers on Government, and Independent Sales Agent Franchesca Rankin who spoke on credit repair/budgeting and establishing good credit. Other participants were Marissa Banks, Crystal Triplett, Markeisha Gray, and Evelyn Smith. The door prize donated by Melton was won by Markeisha Gray.
Our readers are invited to the Little Rock M.B. Church for the Blessing of the Teams on Sunday, October 26th at 10:00 a.m. The guest speaker is Mr. Shay Hodge. Rev. Sheldon Thomas is the Pastor.
The Pastor and Members of the Lone Pilgrim Church invite our readers to their 156th Anniversary which will be celebrated October 26th at 2:00 p.m. and Rev. Lee Carson is the guest speaker. Thanks to Secretary/Clerk Desaree Bradford for this notice.
Happy Birthday greetings to October babies born during the fourth week, namely James Perkins, Thelma Faulkner and Addison Anderson (22), Labriska Rayford (23), Wykersha Parrott (24), Amiyah Myers (26), Johnnie Brown, Donnovan Phillips, and Mitchell Nichols (27), and Joyce Rigsby (28).
Answer to Quiz Teaser 855: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity’s Eta Sigma Sigma Chapter was incorporated and chartered in Forest in 1964. Former Forest Alderman W. L. Slaughter was the founder of this chapter.
Quiz Teaser # 856: Which African American Scott County Baptist Church celebrated 123 years of existence and housed a public school in 1902?
