Page 9 - Florida Sentinel 9-4-15 Edition

Local
Go Hillsborough Schedules Public Hearings On Transportation Plan
Popular Gospel Singer And National Recording Artist Succumbs To Illness
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Edit0r
Ms. Shelia Upshaw was known through- out the nation as a popular and in demand singer. She passed away on Sunday, silencing her melodic voice forever.
Her four sisters, Roberta, Paulette, Car- olyn, and Priscilla, were at the hospital on Sunday when Ms. Upshaw passed. They said, “The picture with this article was taken a month ago. She was at an advanced stage when she was diagnosed, but she didn’t want anyone feeling sorry for her. If you didn’t know she was battling cancer, you wouldn’t know it. She continued working, singing, and caring for her family until the end. She went to be with Jesus on Sunday.”
Since childhood, Ms. Upshaw was a de- voted member of Grace Mary M. B. Church, where she took an active role. She was also an active member of the Progressive M. E. Con- vention and enjoyed spending time with her family, church family, and friends.
A Tampa native, she attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. She gradu- ated from Chamberlain High School in 1984. Following graduation, she continued her edu- cation at Hillsborough Community College and the University of Phoenix, where she stud- ied Business Administration.
Ms. Upshaw was a very popular singer in Tampa and in the nation. She sang and per- formed with Praise Ensemble, UGE Youth Re- treat, Ronald Rosson and Friends Community Choir.
She was also known by members of the Na- tional Football League and began singing the National Anthem at the Rays games, USA Box- ing Matches, the Tampa Bay Storm, the Tampa Bay Lightning, minor league and high school games for more than 8 years.
“She no longer had to audition to sing, the Glazers called her personally when they wanted her,” her sisters said.
Additionally, Ms. Upshaw had the oppor- tunity to record with professional artist such as Kenny McGee, Bobby Roman, the late Prophet and Pastor Glenn Miller, Dr. Brenda Jefferson, Ben Tankard and more.
She also recorded the CD Projects: Em-
MS. SHELIA UPSHAW 11/21/1966 --- 8/30/2015
manuel & Company “There is Hope,” Sa- cred Place, REDEEMED, with the Trans- Siberian Orchestra. On stage, she performed in plays with Michael Matthews in “Wicked Ways,” Melvin Coleman’s “Think Like a Lady” and Kandace Nunn- Johnson’s “Black Nativity.”
Ms. Upshaw shared the stage with such notable gospel singers as Pastor Shirley Caesar, Fred Hammond, Marvin Sapp, Damita Haddon, Myron Butler, Mario Winans, Gerald Haddon, Shawn & Rhonda McClemore, Lacresia Camp- bell, Lucinda Moore, RiZen, Collage III, and others.
She performed at political events, including an event for former Governor Charlie Crist and most recently for Mayor Bob Buck- horn’s Annual Prayer Breakfast.
Ms. Upshaw is survived by 4 children, 4 grandchildren, 4 sisters, and other family members and friends.
HART, Hillsborough County’s public transporta- tion agency, has been holding a series of public hearings to inform the public about their Transit Development Plan (TDP). The last of those meetings will be held over the Labor Day weekend, Septem- ber 4th through the 6th, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Florida State Fairgrounds during Florida’s Largest Home Show.
The TDP is a 10-year plan that guides funding and serves the mobility needs of residents, employees and vis- itors. The plan undergoes a major update every five years with annual updates.
A review of the current system revealed:
The current system is limited, inadequate and underfunded.
An interest in re- designing transit to in- clude a true commuter express service and real park rides.
Solution oriented transit – not just a bus.
New routes in some areas not served or un- derserved.
Improved frequency, evenings and weekend service.
The presentation for pub- lic input is made up of two different scenarios. One is an action plan that lists the HART’s projects based on status quo funding, and he HART component of the Go Hillsborough Plan that is based on an additional $30 million-a-year.
HART and Go Hillsbor- ough are hoping that County Commissioners will agree to present a request for a half- cent tax increase to voters that will be on a 2016 ballot for their approval.
HART Senior Manager, Marco Sandusky, said they all want the community to be a part of the planning process.
“We want the people to tell us what they would like to see change with the current system. We don’t want to cre- ate a plan in a backroom.”
scheduled a series of public hearings to address the plan: September 8th, Progress Village, 10 a.m. to 12 p. m., 78th Street Community Library,
7625 Palm River Road. September 8th, Cen- tral Tampa/Ybor City, C. Blythe Andrews, Jr. Pub- lic Library from 5:30 p. m. to 7:30 p. m., 2607 East Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. Boulevard September 14th, Downtown, John F. Ger- many Public Library from 10 a. m. until 12 noon, 900 North Ashley
Drive.
September 18th South
Tampa/MacDill, Port Tampa City Library from 10 a. m. until 12 noon, 4902 Commerce Street.
September 19th Cen- tral Tampa, Norma and Joseph Robinson Part- nership Library, Sulphur Springs from 10 a. m. to 12 p. m., 8412 North 13th Street.
September 24th, Cen- tral Tampa, Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Library from 5:30 p. m. to 7:30 p. m., 1505 Nebraska Av- enue.
At the Go Hillsborough meetings people will get to see other unfunded projects.
Go Hillsborough has
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A