Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 12-25-15 Edition

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SPOTLIGHT ON ME
ALONNA
Merry Christmas to all, especially this week’s Spotlight feature, Alonna. As the year prepares to end, Alonna said she’s just getting started, and if you didn’t get to see her in 2015, she promises 2016 will be the year she becomes a star.
Let’s all wish Alonna Happy Holidays, and join her fan club of success. Congratulations to Alonna as this week’s Spotlight feature.
Illness Claims Life Of Popular Tampa Woman
IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A popular Tampa woman died on Sunday, December 20th, at a local hospital. Ms. Kathy Kinsey was 52-years-old. She was surrounded by family at friends at Florida Hospital at the time of her passing.
Ms. Kinsey was the daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert (Carolyn) Kinsey, and sister of Kirk Kinsey.
A Tampa native, Ms. Kin- sey attended the public schools of Hillsborough County, gradu- ating from King High School. She continued her education at Florida A & M University, where she graduated with a de- gree in Journalism.
Mrs. Kinsey said her daughter truly loved people and
MS. KATHY KINSEY 12/10/1963 — 12/20/2015
loved working with the employ- ees, parents and children at the Hillsborough County Commis- sioner’s Headstart Program. She had been employed there for several years and was a Sen- ior Social Worker at the time of her death.
“She was just a wonderful and loving daughter. She dedi- cated her life to making the world a better place for every- one with whom she came in contact. She was passionate about helping others and dili- gently worked to have a positive impact on children and fami- lies,” her mother said.
In addition to her parents and brother, Ms. Kinsey is survived by a niece, nephew, other family members and friends.
Funeral services for Ms. Kinsey will be held at St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church, where she was a mem- ber, on Saturday, December 26th, at 11 a.m.
Ray Williams Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
Tampa Resident Honored For Civil Rights Activism
Several members of the community were on hand to witness the historic occasion. Shown from left to right on the front row are: Rodney Mackey, Ms. Rose Peterson, Ms. Annie Scott, Les Miller, Jr., Hillsborough County Commission Chairman, Richard Smiley, the honoree, Ms. Veronica Sutton, Ms. Janet Clark, Ms. Fannie Keith, and Deacon Harold Simpson. Shown on the back row are: Commissioner Sandy Murman, Commissioner Ken Hagan, Commis- sioner Victor Crist, Commissioner Kevin Beckner, and Commissioner Al Higginbotham. (Photo courtesy of Hillsborough County Commissioners).
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Last week, local officials recognized a Tampa resident for his role in the Civil Rights Move- ment and education.
Richard Smiley was presented the com- mendation during the regular meeting of the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners. The Commendation read, “The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners is proud to recognize Richard Smiley for his significant contribution to the Civil Rights Movement, and for his work as an educator with Hillsborough Community College.”
Smiley was a participant in all three marches that took place in Selma, Alabama in March 1965. The first march, which became known as “Bloody Sunday,” took place on March 7, 1965. A group of citizens, tired of being denied the right to vote, planned to march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery, Alabama.
However, when the group reached the Ed- mund Pettus Bridge, they were attacked and beaten by the Alabama State Police and local law enforcement.
After news of the attacks spread nationally and internationally, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr., now Congressman John Lewis, and other Civil Rights activists converged on Selma. But, the group turned back after seeing law enforcement waiting for them on the bridge.
The march was finally completed on March 21st after a judge gave them approval to march. Smiley was living in a foster home at the time and was told if he participated in the march he would be homeless. He decided to participate anyway. After it was over, he said he returned to his former residence and found his
belongings outside.
The series of events changed his life and
after the marches ended, he went on to other cities in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia as a member of the SCLC to help with voter regis- tration.
Smiley said after a few months, he had the opportunity to move to California and complete his education. He continued his education at a community college and went on to earn his B. A. Degree in Black Studies and a Master’s De- gree in Human Resource Management.
Smiley
later returned to Tampa and obtained employ- ment at Hillsborough Community College. He retired in 2013.
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2015