Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 5-28-21

Editorial
FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN
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2207 21st Avenue, Tampa Florida 33605 • (813) 248-1921 Published Every Tuesday and Friday By
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S. KAY ANDREWS, PUBLISHER
C. BLYTHE ANDREWS III, PRESIDENT/CONTROLLER ALLISON WELLS-CLEBERT, CFO
GWEN HAYES, EDITOR
IRIS HOLTON, CITY EDITOR
BETTY DAWKINS, ADVERTISING DIRECTOR HAROLD ADAMS, CIRCULATION MANAGER TOYNETTA COBB, PRODUCTION MANAGER LAVORA EDWARDS, CLASSIFIED MANAGER
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Feature
Wanda White, A Sentinel Carrier, Died After Illness
POSTMASTER: Send Address Change To: Florida Sentinel Bulletin,
P.O. Box 3363 Tampa, FL 33601 Periodical Postage Paid At Tampa, FL
C. Blythe Andrews 1901-1977 (1945)
C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. 1930-2010 (1977)
MRS. WANDA JUDKINS
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Mrs. Wanda White, a longtime Sentinel carrier, died last Wednesday, May 19, 2021, while in Hospice care. She was 72 years old.
Her daughter, Sandra Campbell Fergu- son, said that her mother suffered a stroke on January 23, 2021, and never really recovered. Ms. Ferguson said Mrs. White was admitted to Hospice on Saturday, May 15th. “I stayed with her Monday and Tuesday night and I was there when she slipped away,” she said. Her mother was in a lot of pain, but she kept repeating, ‘Mary, Mother of God, open the doors, open the
gates.’ She found a song by Kirk Franklin (Oh How I Love The Name Jesus) and laid the phone on her mother’s pillow near her ear. “She smiled a couple of times and I told her to go on through the pearly gates. She passed at 11:57 a. m.”
A native of Live Oak, FL, Mrs. White moved to Tampa with her family several years ago. She has lived in her home in East Tampa for more than 25 years. She worked as a cook in se- veral locations, was a maid; volunteered at seve- ral agencies: the Apostolic Church’s food bank on 21st St. and Columbus Dr., the Salvation Army and Metropolitan Ministries; and did several odd jobs. The mother of 2 (Ms. Ferguson and Bernard Campbell) was also described as very giving.
“Ms. Wanda,” as she was known to her customers, was a carrier for the Sentinel for more than 11 years. Her customers depended on her delivery. Many would not get their paper from anyone else. Once she stopped walking, she got a scooter that took her all over the city, even to the odd jobs she did. She had gotten a new scooter, but Ms. Ferguson said she did not get to use it. “We will still be getting her papers.”
Funeral services are planned for Saturday, May 29, 2021, 10 a. m. in the Chapel of Aikens Funeral Home. In addition to her children, Mrs. White is also survived by a close friend, Willie White, and her beloved animals, including 12 dogs.
“Everybody that knew my mother, knew that she would tell you off in one voice, and turn right around and make you love her in the next. That’s the way she was, and people knew it, and still loved her. We are going to miss her.”
Who Do Republicans Really Represent?
ecent actions and votes by Republican Congress
members have shown American citizens that they have no concern for the attacks on the Capitol by white in- surrectionists; that they support voter suppression laws; that they see nothing wrong with the murders of Black men by law enforcement officers that are shown on tele- vision; and that they could care less about hate crimes against Asians, Jews, Hispanics, or Blacks. Moreover, they act like they support businesses that make billions in profit, yet pay no income tax.
No wonder more than 100,000 American voters have left the Republican party to become Independents and De- mocrats. They could be the few Republicans with any common sense left.
The danger of Republican Congress members vowing to filibuster or oppose the establishment of a Commission to study the January 6th attempt to overthrow the Ameri- can government, the killing of Capitol police officers; the attempt and the threat to harm or kill elected Con- gresspersons and the Vice President of the United States, by thousands of unruly white Americans sends a chilling message that Republicans are comfortable with the ac- tions that took place on that day.
Anyone with an ounce of sense can’t help but see the potential danger we are in if we don’t find out how to pre- vent a repeat of the January 6th riots. The willingness to overlook the behavior of the blatant lawlessness by groups whose presidential candidate doesn’t win an election means we can look forward to something similar every four years. Since only 400 of the attackers have been ar- rested and charged, this also means there are tens of thou- sands of participants who could make other attempts again.
Studies, polls, and interviews have shown that more than 50% of Americans support police reform, the estab- lishment of an insurrection commission, an anti-Asian hate crime law and a national voter protection law. Then the question, ‘Who Do Republicans Really Represent?,’ is a question that needs answers.
If you care about how Republicans are protecting in- surrectionists; opposing hate crime legislation for attacks on Asians, Blacks, Jews; and other groups, and supporting
voter suppression laws, then call (202) 224-3121 and express your concern about Repub- licans’ behaviors on these issues.
Telephone calls to elected officials count, especially when you make telephones ring off the hook with your call and that of 10 friends. Make the call today.
FYI
2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Begins May 28th
The 2021 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins at midnight on Friday, May 28th and will end on Sunday, June 6, at midnight.
During this 7-day period merchants will not charge sales tax on exempted items. The holiday is designed to help Floridians prepare for the upcoming 2021 Hurricane Season. The season begins on June 1, and ends on November 30th.
During this week, residents can purchase unflavored bottled water, canned food, including meats, vegetables, fruits, peanut butter and other non-perishable food items.
Residents are also encouraged to purchase first aid kits, prescription and over the counter med- ications, baby food, baby formula, and feminine hygiene products as well.
Other useful items include any gas or diesel fuel containers, batteries for radios, radios or two- way communication items, and a battery-operated weather band radio, costing $50 or less.
Items such as reusable ice (reusable ice packs) that cost $20 or less; any portable, self-powered light source that includes candles, flashlights, and lanterns that cost less than $40; coolers and ice chest or portable power bank under $60, and portable generators that cost less than $1,000. The gen- erators can be used to provide light, communications, or to preserve food during power outages.
Items costing $100 or less that can be purchased include bungee cords, ground anchor systems, ratchet straps, tarpaulins (tarps), visqueen, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths, and other flexible waterproof sheeting.
The purpose of the no sales tax holiday is to allow residents the opportunity to purchase items that will be needed in a storm at the beginning of hurricane season.
For more information visit www.floridarevenue.com/disasterprep.
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FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 5-A