Community Recognizes and Celebrates Juneteenth (2024)

Our prayers are with the family of the late Miss Joy Smith, Head Start student, who drowned at her home June 14th. Please keep her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel (Amanda) Smith, and siblings in your prayers. Additional details and arrangements will be shared in next week’s column.

A beautiful Homegoing Celebration was held for Mrs. Christine Ealy Black, widow of Charlie Black, who was memorialized June 15th at Midway M. B. Church. Pastor Wesley Griffin was present, and Rev. Rochelle Wright officiated and delivered Mrs. Black’s eulogy. Dr. Locard Wilson was the Mistress of Order and other program participants were Revs. Melvin Lyles and Vincent Hopkins, and Psalmist Marissa Choice and the Midway Choir. Friends shared reflections and gave tributes. Mrs. Black was remembered as one who loved to help and serve others, as a lab technician and as an employee of Home-Health and MAP. Please keep her family in your prayers especially her children, Charlie (Daphne) Black and Brandy (Rodney) Lyles, grandchildren Simone, Brandon, Jordan, Christian, Brittni, Adrianne, Ellen, Chris, Justin, Jaymaya and Justin, great grands, and siblings Janet (Arlander) McClendon and Linda (Louis) Rowe. Holifield Funeral Home was entrusted with her final arrangements.

Please continue to remember our readers who are experiencing health challenges, namely, McArthur Cotton, Don Bell, Margaret Wodetzki, Gwen Gary, Q. McClendon, Bobby Carter, Gail Lee, Martha Reed, Connie Sorey, Rita Wash, LaToya McClendon, Diane “Tooty” Herring, Robert Jennings, Melvin Hodge, Linnie K. Lofton, Deon May, Jr., Mel Roland, Shelley Joseph, Vera Patrick, C. J. Polk, McArthur Robinson, Jamisha Denise Benton, Irene Lyles, Nancy Myers, Travis Ward, Eleanor Longmire, Rubin Ruiz, Curtis Derrick, Jordan Crump, Albert Lee Payton, Timothy Crudup, 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, Sammie Jean Webb, Anderson “Yellow” Stingley, Dorothy Mae Patrick Tigar, London Thompson, Melba Dixon, Mitch and Mary Nichols, Lucille Flex, Laura Jackson, Roseann Lynn, Eunice Slaughter, Viola Morgan, Jean Bates, Tomi Reed Smith, Tommy Rankin, Ruby Rhodes, Nicholas Jones, John Norman, Renea Taylor, James Earl Nickson, Juanita Jones, Roosevelt “Shane” Smith, Elijah Ickom, Vernette Owens, Diane Williams, Dashell Earnest, Sherry Holmes, Will Hughes, Billy Jack Evans, Otha Herrington, Douglas Braggs, and other readers who are facing health challenges.

The 2024 HBCU Family and Friends Picnic in the Park Day was a huge success on June 15th. A great time was had by all in attendance. School alumni represented were Alcorn State University, Jackson State University, MS Valley State University, and Tougaloo College. Good food, fun, dancing, Juneteenth discussions, and fellowship were on the agenda. SCTS/ETHHS, NAACP, and other vendors set up booths and tents. Special thanks to Event Coordinators Charles Longmire, Alvert Gray, and Teddy Bloodsaw; to Rev. Christopher Derricks for blessings the food and occasion; to Gaddis Park staffers; to Fonzie Parrott for his assistance; and to all volunteers representing their respective HBCUs. Thanks to Tom Miles and Robert and Martha Harper Kincaid for special door prizes. The HBCU Family & Friends Day in the Park Committee members thank all school chapter members and other friends for their time and gifts to make this celebration a success. The Committee members are looking forward to the 2025 HBCU Family & Friends Day in the Park.

Special thanks to James Burwell, Jr. who prepared a short narrative on the history and significance of Juneteenth and the “Role of HBCUs in Preserving our History and Continuing the Movement and Legacy.” This narrative connecting the relationship between HBCUs and Juneteenth was distributed to attendees at the 2024 HSCU Family & Friends Picnic in the Park Day. A portion of this narrative states, “Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, commemorates a critical moment in American history. This day in 1865 marks when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordan Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of all enslaved African Americans, over two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth symbolizes the long and arduous journey toward freedom and equality. It is a day to honor the resilience and strength of African Americans who endured the horrors of slavery and continued to strive for their rightful place in society. Today, Juneteenth serves not only as a commemoration of emancipation but also as a celebration of African American culture and heritage. The recent recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday underscores its importance and is a reminder of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the need to address systemic racism and inequality in contemporary society. Additional copies are on reserve at the Slaughter Library/Legacy Reading Center. Happy Juneteenth to our readers!

Congratulations to former Newton County Election Commissioner/Supervisor Walter Gardner, who became the first African American to hold these Newton County offices. He is the founder of the Underground Railroad Re-Run, Inc. and made several trips from Decatur to Cincinnati on his motorcycle. His daughters, Amy Gardner and Dr. Jennifer Gardner-Jordan coordinated this beautiful event – Celebrating A Legacy of Leadership – Mr. Walter Gardner on June 15th at the East Central Community College Gold Room. Among those participating on the program were Constance Slaughter-Harvey who was the featured speaker, Rev. Melvin Lyles, Gailya Porter, Bo Hawkins, Kimberly Lum Miller, Ottis Harrison, Freddie Murphy, Kerry Nichols, Arstralia Gibson, grandsons Sean Gardner, Matthew and Aaron Jordan, Baylor Singers, Decatur Mayor Pro Temp Mark Buntyn, Tommy Williams, and several others. “The Silk Band” provided very special and enjoyable music. Many friends, including his Alcornite alumni and Phi Beta Sigma fraternity brothers, and family members were present to honor this man of service of more than 55 years. His favorite quote was shared with those in attendance, “If there’s not enough wood on the fire, we must go and chop some more.”

Congratulations to Legacy Change Agent, former Dean of the University of MS (Ole Miss) School of Law Susan Hanley Duncan. Effective June 16, 2024, she became the Executive Director of the Kentucky Bar Foundation and Kentucky IOLTA Fund. Way to go!

Mrs. Dorothy Pinkston celebrated her June 11th birthday June 8th when her children surprised her with a party and a delicious homecooked meal with all the fixings. She enjoyed the food and special love from her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. While smiling, she was happy to be surrounded by her family. She was surprised to see her granddaughter Shanedral and her sons Camarion, Deshaun, Camron, and Dartavius who travelled from Milwaukee to surprise her. We enjoyed Shanee and boys’ visit to the Slaughter Library/Legacy Reading Center where Shanee was a Slaughter Scholar, Volunteer, Tutor and Slaughter Scout.

Our readers are invited to attend an appreciation reception for Kansas City Chiefs Football Coaching Staffer Todd Pinkston as we applaud his Super Bowl accomplishment. The celebration is Sunday, June 22nd at 3:00 at the Forest Services Center. See you there!

Happy Birthday greetings to June babies born during the 19th and 30th, namely, Felisha Temple (19), Delora Nelson and Irene Martin (21), Ayanna Batiste, and London Evans (23), Eric Boone, Khrystallyn Amos, and Brianna Johnson (24), Roberto Orello, Shania Ealy, and Laron Moore (25), Corey Qualls (26), and Lewis Lyles and Kymberlyn Amos (28).

Answer to Quiz Teaser # 777: Barbara Patrick Tucker became the first African American Miss Forest High School after winning the election in 1974. Mrs. Tucker transferred to Forest High School while she was in the 9th grade. She and her former husband, Joseph Tucker, received several honors, awards, and accolades as business owners of Victory Manpower in Milwaukee. Congratulations Mrs. Patrick-Tucker.

Quiz Teaser # 778: Who was the first African American to serve as a Forest High School cheerleader?

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