“We are here to be witnesses of love and to celebrate life, because life has been created in the image of God. Life is to love and to be loved. That’s why we all have to take a strong stand so that no child — boy or girl — will be rejected or unloved. Every child is a sign of God’s love.” Saint Teresa of Calcutta
A beautiful Celebration of Life was held for Mrs. Ruby Helen Moore on February 7th at St. Mark M. B. Church, where Pastor Jermaine Jones officiated and delivered her eulogy, entitled “A Prepared Place To Be In His Presence.” Mrs. Moore passed away at her home in Forest on February 2nd. Among those participating in this Celebration of Mrs. Moore’s life were Mistress of Ceremony Davida Monya Fletcher, Pastors Robert Moore and Ricky Hoye, Mesdames Bonnie Stowers, Peggy Burnside, and Glenda Nickson. A special tribute was rendered by saxophonist Jonathan Ward, and the St. Mark Choir shared beautiful music. Family and friends shared special memories of this gentle, kind, and loving lady who shared much love during her 38 years as KFC’s ambassador. Our prayers are with her family, especially her children Dialene Keeton, Marilyn (James) Nicks, Vicky (Derrick) Moss, Willie (Lisa), Michael (Jan), and Darren (LaDawn). Holifield Funeral Home was entrusted with her final arrangements.
Family and friends of Mr. Gregory Jerome “Snap/Rome” Ragsdale, son of Mrs. Bettie Joe Ragsdale and the late Gregory James Robinson, paid their loving respect to Mr. Robinson on February 7th at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith. Bishop Billy C. Williams, Sr., officiated and delivered Robinson’s eulogy. The Mistress of Ceremony was Mrs. Susie Jackson Boyd, and other program participants were Eric Hunt, Rev. Larry Reed, Ms. Mary Purvis, and Ms. Anna Grace Reed. Please remember his family in your prayers, especially his mother and children, Ashley Ragsdale, Kyeria Ragsdale, Tanzania McCalphia, LaGregory (Tink) Ragsdale, Michael Brantley, and Jamarkius Bogan. Evans Memorial Funeral Home was entrusted with his final arrangements.
The community joined family and friends of the late Mrs. Winnie Eva Anderson Bobbitt (North Scott High School graduate), and her sons, Terry L. Bobbitt (Scott Central graduate) and Calvin L. Bobbitt (Scott Central graduate), to Celebrate their Lives on Saturday, February 7th at Little Rock M. B. Church. They lost their lives in a house fire on January 30th. Rev. Rochelle Wright officiated and delivered their eulogies, reflecting on their contributions while on earth. Ms. Treshia Towner was the Mistress of the Ceremony, and other program participants included Mesdames Monya Flether and Somer Moore, who shared beautiful music; Pastor Timothy Croft; Little Rock Pastor Sheldon Thomas; Evangelist Rosa Baptise; and Ms. Brittany Ellis. Please remember their family in your prayers, especially Mr. Calvin Bobbitt’s wife, Alician Bobbitt and children Caydian, Ja’Brayden, Jayden and Aiden, sister Tracey (Thornton) Gray, and brother Edward Bobbitt, Sr.; Mr. Terry Bobbitt/s’ family, especially his daughter Tangie Evans, his brother Edward Bobbitt, Sr., and sister Tracey (Thornton) Gray; and Mrs. Bobbitt’s family, daughter Tracy (Thornton) Gray, son Edward Bobbitt, Sr., and siblings Mary Beal, Vervie Lyles, Gloria Jean Holifield, and Percy Anderson.
Please continue to be with our readers who are facing health challenges, namely, Vernal Williams Breashears, Joe Tucker, Dr. Sheldon Graves, Kathy Hollingsworth, Gwendolyn Harvey Kelley, Dorothy Pinkston, Clarice Slaughter Bell, R. C. Williams, Jo Taylor, Howard Burkes, Robert Jennings, Connie Sorey, LaToya, Que, and LaTasha McClendon, Bobby Carter, Linnie K. Lofton, Ruby Warnsley, Iris O’Neal Warnsley, Shelley Joseph, Vera Patrick, C. J. Polk, McArthur Robinson, Irene Lyles, Nancy Myers, Eleanor Longmire, Cathia Co leman, Connie Parker, 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, Ester Perry, Annie Curry, Ken Ormond, Eileen, Annie, Elijah, and Symone Ickom, Charity Robinson, 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 Rodriguez Stewart, Cordell Hughes, Clyde Curry, Bobby Joe Spivey, Al and Lesa Bergin, and Rev. Walter Roberts, Jr.
We enjoyed visiting with Mrs. Lucille Patrick, Mr. Willie Harris, and other residents of Bedford Care Center in Newton on February 6th. At Mrs. Patrick’s request, Constance Slaughter-Harvey spoke to residents during their afternoon activity hour, and Legacy Intern James “Tre” Burwell, III, delivered Valentine baskets of goodies to Activity Director Ms. Jennifer for the residents’ enjoyment. Happy Valentine’s from Bedford Residents to our Readers.
Legacy Intern Burwell continued to spread the Legacy Valentine Love to Kidney Dialysis Patients on February 6th. For the past 15 years Patients have received semi-annual Goody Baskets in memory of the late Mrs. Olivia Kelley Slaughter, a local librarian and founder of the Slaughter Memorial Library and Foundation. There was no local Kidney Dialysis Center in Forest, and she and others in need of kidney dialysis had to travel to Jackson for treatment. We were committed to working with officials, including doctors and other professionals, to establish a local center for kidney patients. Happy Valentine’s Day to Kidney Dialysis Patients.
Please mark your calendars to attend the Black History Program at Bettye Mae Jack Middle School at 9:00 a.m. on February 19th. The theme is “Dream Forward — Be the Change That Turns Present Aspirations into Future Legacies.” Thanks to Mrs. Angel Myers for the invitation.
February Babies, Mary Payton and Amari Gray, were honored on February 1st at Lynch Chapel U M Church. They received Bags of Joy Snacks in memory of Mrs. Olivia Kelley Slaughter, which were donated by Alderwoman Cynthia Slaughter Melton. Thanks to Dr. Kelly Ellis for her assistance. Rev. Walter Roberts, Jr. is the Pastor.
Happy Birthday to February babies born during the third week, namely, Evany Gray, Eloise Reed, and Renita Hughes (14), Jimmy Butler and Jerry Brantley, Jr. (15), Ashley Lyle-May and Heather Knowles Darby (16), Lexis Gore (17), Thomas Colbert (18), Desmond Towner, Sheena Evans and Jessie Morgan (18), Carolyn Macon and Delie Shepard (19), and Letonia Johnson (20).
Answer to 2026 Black History Month Quiz Teaser # 870: Dr. Katherine Johnson loved math and early in her career, she was called a “Computer.” She helped NASA put an astronaut into orbit around Earth, and then she helped put a man on the Moon. As a young girl, she loved to count even the steps into the church and forks and plates when she washed the dishes. She loved to learn, and she went through school quickly. She started high school at 10 and graduated from college at 18. After college, she became a teacher and taught school until she married and had children. When she was 34, she heard that NASA was hiring African American women to solve problems, and these workers were called “computers.” She soon learned so much that she left her job as a computer programmer and became a team member on various space projects for NASA. In 1962, the United States decided to send people to the Moon.
Dr. Johnson studied how to use geometry for space travel and determined the paths for spacecraft to orbit Earth and land on the Moon. NASA used Dr. Johnson’s math, and it worked! Later, her math helped send astronauts to the Moon and back. She worked for NASA for more than 30 years and retired in 1986. Dr. Johnson died on February 24, 2020, at the age of 101 years.
2026 Black History Month Quiz Teaser #871: Who was the first African American Astronaut?
