Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 5-13-16 Online Edition

Features
Family Needs Help With Funeral Expenses For Young Mother Of 3
Season Ends For School Official, But Mission Doesn’t Change
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
For weeks, rumors about whether Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb, member of the Hillsborough County School Board, would seek a fourth term. Tuesday night, Mrs. Edgecomb ended the spec- ulation with the announce- ment that she would not seek another term on the board.
The late pioneer Rev. A. Leon Lowry, Sr., became the first African American to serve on the School Board. After his retirement, Mrs. Doris Ross Reddick was elected and became the first African American female to serve on the Board. Mrs. Edgecomb was elected to serve on the Board in 2004, following in their footsteps as the Representative for Dis- trict 5. She was re-elected in 2008 and 2012.
Mrs. Edgecomb said at the meeting, “As with many things in life, there is a begin- ning and ending, and open- ing and closing, a point of entering and a time for de- parture, I call it the seasons in one’s life, and so it is my season to end this chapter of almost 52 years as an educa- tor.”
However, she continued, “My mission remains the same, the fight continues, and my voice will continue to be among those that will speak out. What changes is just the place, the space, or the battleground.”
Mrs. Edgecomb further discounted the rumors that she had lost her fight, she was afraid to seek re-elec- tion, or that she is being
MRS. DORETHA EDGECOMB
forced out.
She said the decision was
not one made easily or taken lightly. It was not based on any one event in her life, nor was it made in haste. Instead, it came about after much contemplation, reflections, conversations and prayers with family members and others who have her best in- terest at heart.
“Like an eagle, I know when I should take flight with the assurance that there will be yet another place for me to land, new places to ex- plore, and other opportuni- ties to fulfill.”
A Tampa native, Mrs. Edgecomb is the descen- dant of a long line of educa- tors, and the daughter of the late Mrs. Sarah Wynn, who was also an educator. She attended the public schools of Hillsborough County, and is a product of the District she was later elected to represent.
She graduated from Tal- ladega College, and contin- ued her education at the University of South Florida, where she earned her Mas- ter’s Degree.
Mrs. Edgecomb began her career with the Hillsbor- ough County Sch0ol District as an English teacher 51 years ago. During her tenure with the district, she served in several positions, retiring in 1996 as an elementary school principal.
She is the widow of
Judge George E. Edge- comb and the mother of one daughter, Allison, who is currently an administrator in the Hillsborough County School District.
Mrs. Edgecomb will continue to represent District 5 until her term expires in November 2016.
Currently, five individuals have filed with the Hillsbor- ough County Supervisor of Elections as candidates for the Hillsborough County School Board District 5 posi- tion. Those individuals are: Ms. Lynette Tracee Judge, Ms. Jacqueline Coffie Leeks, Terance Delento LeNoir, Joseph W. Jordan-Robinson, Jr., and Tamara Patrice Shamburger.
ASHEANA KING
It would have been hard finding anyone as happy as Asheana King. The 28-year- old had just given birth to her third child, and she was look- ing forward to a new life and a new career.
What family members and friends didn’t count on was a week after giving birth to her son, Ms. King would be dead on May 9th.
Family members said they don’t know what happened, because she had no preexisting medical problems, and had
only been complaining of headaches recently.
Ms. King is a Tampa native and graduate of Chamberlain High School. She had been working as an instructor at the Steps To Maturity Learning Center, and decided to transi- tion over to the medical field.
Family members said Ms. King had a wonderful Mother’s Day, and she was looking forward to her eldest sons’ birthday on June 4th.
Ms. King had no insurance at the time of her passing, and family members are asking the community for help with fu- neral expenses.
They have contacted Gudes Funeral Home to assist them and they’ve set up a Go- FundMe account that can be found at GoFundMe.com/- Asheana.
Anyone who wants to help this family can also contact her oldest brother, Rickie King, at (813) 215-5033. If no one answers, please leave a mes- sage.
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-A