Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 1-3-17 Online Edition

2016 In Review
JANUARY
Eleven-year-old Sarah Sheppard, a student at Williams Middle Magnet School, was chosen to ride on a float in the Rose Bowl Parade New Year’s Day.
Donley Harris, former Howard W. Blake athlete and 1970 graduate, lost his battle with cancer. Harris, 64, had battled pancreatic cancer.
Tampa Bay Buccaneer fans were shocked over the firing of Head Coach Lovie Smith after only two seasons. Most fans felt Smith never got the chance to turn the team around and work with first- round pick Jameis Winston.
The idea of a ferry joining the cities of Tampa and St. Pe- tersburg became a step closer to reality after the Hillsbor- ough County Commissioners voted to examine the feasibil- ity of the ferry service.
Richard “Dick” Clayton Gregory, 83, was the guest speaker for the Black Heritage Festival Luncheon.
Former gospel singer with Pilgrims, Sylvester Moten passed away Monday morn- ing, January 4th, at home. He was 81 years old.
N’Jhari Jackson, of Troop 142 of the Boy Scouts of America was chosen as one of several Eagle Scouts to deliver the Report to the Nation. The event took place in Washing- ton, D. C. N’Jhari and his fel- low scouts met with Congressional and govern- ment leaders during the week- long visit.
James “Jim” Ham- mond was chosen to serve as Parade Marshal for the 27th Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade.
Ms. Patricia Wingo,
Outreach Coordinator at the Tampa Housing Authority,
MS. PATRICIA WINGO
helps individuals living on the streets to find homes and jobs. She goes out into the commu- nity and meet the people, not wait for them to come to her office.
Ms. Patricia Newton
was hired by Mayor Bob Buck- horn to serve as the Human Rights Investigation Supervi- sor for the City of Tampa.
Ordained teenager, Bay News 9 Everyday Hero, and 10th grade sophomore, Patrick Jackson-Williams delivered the keynote sermon at Trinity Christian Methodist Episcopal Church’s 2016 Con- nectional Youth and Young Adult Day Week Celebration.
Jackson-Williams is the son of Patricia Jackson and a member of the Dominion and Power Worship Center.
The Commission on the Status of Women inducted for- mer State Rep. Mrs. Betty Reed and Mrs. Lee Leaven- good into the 2016 Women’s Hall of Fame.
A report released by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) states that Black drivers are stopped and ticketed for seatbelt violations nearly twice as often as whites.
FEBRUARY
The parents of a 14-year- old Andrew Joseph, III, a student killed in 2014 filed a lawsuit. Joseph was hit and killed crossing Interstate 4 after being ejected from the Florida State Fairgrounds. They were represented by At- torney Barry Cohen.
The Florida State Fair held its first Black History Exhibit in 2016. The idea was intro- duced, approved by fair offi- cials, and embraced by the community. The exhibit is in celebration of Black History Month.
Noble Sissle Jr., a “Son of the Harlem Renaissance,” received the Robert W. Saun- ders “Lamp Of Knowledge” Award. Sissle Jr. is the son of the legendary Noble Sissle, one of the nation’s premiere composers, bandleaders and singers who began during the Harlem Renaissance era in the early 20th Century. He, musi- cal partner Eubie Blake and James Europe wrote and produced the historic show Shuffle Along.
In a special service, the United States Postal Service unveiled a new stamp honor- ing Richard Allen. Born a slave on February 14, 1760, Allen was the founder of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia, in 1787. His remains are entombed in the lower level of the church near the Richard Allen Museum.
Orlando Gudes retired from the Tampa Police De- partment as a Master Patrol after 26 years of service. A very popular officer, he was the first member of his family to enter law enforcement.
Ms. Kathy Castor, U. S. Congresswoman, honored three Hillsborough County residents by reading their names and accomplishments into the U. S. Congressional Records. The event took place in the auditorium of Middle- ton High School.
She paid tribute to World War II Veteran Emanuel P. Johnson for his years of serv- ice in the military. She also paid tribute to two Civil Rights activists, retired Tampa At- torney Delano Stewart, and Ms. Patricia Spencer,
who was honored posthu- mously.
Family members and friends gathered at the Florida State Fairgrounds for the 2016 Annual Florida State Fair Di- versity Appreciation Wall of Fame Inductions. The African American inductees were re- tired educator and former President of Florida A & M University, Dr. Walter L. Smith and the late Doug Jamerson, Florida Commis- sioner of Education.
Benjamin Moore was chosen as the new Manager of Facilities Maintenance Sup- port for the Hillsborough County School District.
Moore was hired by the Hillsborough County School District in 1983, and was pro- moted into management.
Chief Justice Jorge Labarga, of the Florida Supreme Court, officiated over the Investiture Ceremony ad- ministering the Oath of Office to Judge Daryl Manning as a Hillsborough County Judge for the 13th Judicial Circuit.
MARCH
Ms. Shalyah Fearing
earned a spot on “The Voice” on Team Christiana. She gave what has been described as an “awe-inspiring” performance with her rendition of V. Boze- man’s “What Is Love” fea- tured on TV’s “Empire.”
Mrs. Ersula Knox Odom and Mrs. Doris Ross Reddick, the first African American woman to serve on the Hillsborough County School Board, co-au- thored a book entitled, “The Doris Ross Reddick Story,” The book chronicles the life and family history of Mrs. Ross Reddick.
The Hillsborough County School District board mem- bers unanimously voted to name a high school baseball field after a retired educator. The Middleton High School Baseball Field was renamed the David Best Baseball Field.
State Senator Arthenia Joyner (D-Tampa) was named “Legislator of the Year” by the National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL). This prestigious award is given to a deserving legislator who has led passage of legislation or action that has positive impacts on the African American community.
A benefit program was
planned for Dwayne S. Bryant, Sr., a well-known gospel singer in the Tampa Bay community. Bryant, 57, was suffering from cancer.
The ladies of The Tampa Chapter of The Links, Incorpo- rated hosted their first golf tournament fundraiser. It was held at Rogers Park Golf Course.
Ms. Pat Frank, Hillsbor- ough County Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court, instituted several changes in the methods used to pay fines, including the newly centralized Customer Service Center, located on the first floor of the George Edge- comb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street.
A long awaited traffic light became operational in East Tampa. The traffic signal is lo- cated between N. 22nd Street and N. 30th Street on E. Hills- borough Avenue.
Members of the Tampa City Council voted 6-1 to ap- prove a proposed ordinance to change the penalty for posses- sion of marijuana Council- man Charlie Miranda casted the lone vote in opposi- tion of the proposal.
The new ordinance de- criminalized less than 20 grams of marijuana. Instead of being arrested, the violator would be given a citation.
Mrs. Sarah
Wynn, (August 3, 1915 --- March 22, 2016), who was 100 years old, died following a lengthy illness. She retired from the Hillsborough County School District after more than 30 years as an educator.
Mrs. Wynn was the mother of Mrs. Doretha Wynn Edgecomb, a mem- ber of the Hillsborough County School Board. Mrs. Edgecomb and her sisters, were all classroom teachers as well.
Mrs. Dora L. Reeder,
(June 28, 1915 --- March 18, 2016), a retired educator from Hillsborough County, died of natural causes at her home. Mrs. Reeder was 100-years- old.
She retired as the Principal of Dunbar Elementary School at the end of 1984. Her retire- ment closed out a 47-year ca- reer as an educator.
Stroud
PAGE 12 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2017