Page 13 - Florida Sentinel 4-21-17

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FLORIDA SENTINEL
FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017
Mother Voncile Drye Will Celebrate Her 110th Birthday On April 24th
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
If you want to know the secret to living a long life, Voncile A. Drye may know the answer.
As a young girl growing up in rural Okaloosa County, Fla., “I tried to do what they told me to do,” she said. “And minding my mother.”
Born in 1907, the woman affec- tionately known as “Mother Drye” will celebrate 110 years of living this Saturday with friends, family, and members of her church, Mt. Sinai AME Zion.
Mother Drye said she’s looking forward to the cake, presents, and she may even wear a hat.
But what she wants most only the top man in town can give, said fellow Mt. Sinai member and friend, Evora Pimento.
“She said what she wants most is for Mayor Buckhorn to shake her hand,” she said.
Pimento, who’s known Mother
MOTHER VONCILE A. DRYE
Drye for 50 years, said her friend was a “very faithful member” of the church.
“She was on the usher board and she took care of the church,” she said. “She’s served the Lord faith-
fully.”
Mother Drye moved to Tampa
sometime in the 1940s. She worked for some years at Morrison’s Cafete- ria before moving on to Jack Pen- dola’s Men’s Apparel.
She’s lived through some signifi- cant times in history: two World Wars, Women’s Suffrage, and the Civil Rights Movement, to name a few.
She’s lived also to see the election of America’s first Black president, Barack Obama.
But Mother Drye admits to being a little sketchy on the details of that and other major events.
“I have a lot of things to remem- ber, but I’ve gotten too old,” she said. She does remember her mother working in her garden and playing ball and jumping hop scotch with the neighborhood boys. And she can readily recall family members, in- cluding her six grandchildren and
cousins, nieces, and nephews. Mother Drye’s son – her only
child – passed away years ago.
Until just four years ago, Mother Drye lived in her own home on Columbus Drive where it was com-
mon to see her doing yard work. Another familiar visual in past years was seeing Mother Drye and her sister walking all over the city,
Pimento said.
“I often wondered if that’s what’s
contributed to her health,” she said. These days, Mother Drye lives in an assisted living facility. She no longer does yard work or walk around the city, but remains mobile,
thanks to a walker.
“I can get around pretty good,”
she said. “I can walk.”
Mother Drye
Celebrates 110 Years Voncile Drye will turn 110- years old on April 24th. If you would like to bid Mother Drye birthday greetings, send cards to Mt. Sinai AME Zion Church, 2009 N. Ne-
braska Ave., Tampa, FL, 33602.
Tampa Native Is Author Of Children’s Book
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Jamaican Mi Seh Mi ABC’s is the title of a children’s book authored by Tampa native, Valrie Kemp Davis, a current resident of Chicago. Mrs. Kemp-Davis, affectionately called Val, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hilrie (Bertha) Kemp of the Progress Village community.
Having two Jamaican daughters – Anastacia and Tatiana, and the aunt to a niece and nephew – Mrs. Kemp-Davis was surrounded by inspiration to put pen to paper for the 60-page book, which is published this month. Published by Carradice Collection, illustrations are by Michael Talbot.
Jamaican Mi Seh Mi ABC’s
takes the classical alphabet book ap- proach and puts a cultural spin to it, weaving aspects of the Jamaican cul- ture into each page. The book high- lights the culture of a young girl who lives in East Chicago and who has a multicultural heritage of Jamaican- American coined, Jamerican.
The book’s summary states, this ABC book is the voice and heart of eleven-year-old Carradice. Though Midwest made and straight out of East Chicago, don’t get it twisted — this young gyal was very much born
VALRIE KEMP-DAVIS ...Tampa native, author of Jamaican Mi Seh Mi ABC’s
Jamerican! You are cordially being invited to a JamRock lyrical, Patois rhythmic adventure.
“We have a large Caribbean pop- ulation in Tampa, especially Ja- maicans and we are people of Diaspora,” Mrs. Kemp-Davis said. “I believe this children’s book is an educational teaching tool as it relates to language (Patios), culture and pride,” she continued.
Book Cover
“It is my contention that this chil- dren's book is an educational teach- ing tool as it relates to language (Patios), her father's culture, history, traditions, food, music and so much more. This book is 60 pages in length with 44 pages of vibrantly colored il- lustrations.
“A glossary has been included to further give the reader deeper insight into all they are learning. It is a book that promotes celebrating the diver- sity of being an American while con-
tinually embracing one's own histor- ical roots. This book encourages oth- ers to be culturally inclusive while exploring the Jamaican culture from AtoZ.”
She further explained, “This book is age-specific for those on the read- ing level of grades 4 through 8. How- ever, it's a book that appeals to the child in all of us, children and "chidults" alike. It is a keepsake and great addition to any library, home, or academic institution.”
Mrs. Kemp-Davis earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Warner Southern University. Her graduate studies were in Criminal Justice Administration, where she attended Clark Atlanta University. Her law enforcement career spans 30 years with Georgia and Illinois De- partment of Corrections.
Mrs. Kemp-Davis is also the International Liaison for the Na- tional Kingdor Parkinson Founda- tion, the only Caribbean Parkinson Chapter in the world since 2010. She is a Life Member and Silver Star of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and has held several offices in her local chapter. And, she’s a surrogate mother to many children in her com- munity.
Jamacian Mi Seh Mi ABC’s is available through Amazon.