Page 6 - Florida Sentinel 10-7-22

Local East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership To Honor Community Heroes
The East Tampa Commu- nity Revitalization Partner- ship, will be honoring two Community Heroes for Octo- ber. The recognition will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at Ragan Park Commu- nity Center, 1200 E. Lake Ave., 6:30 p. m.
As a native Tampan, Mr. Don Lee is no stranger to community service, he and his family have spent many years providing delicious food to neighbors in need. His passion is shown through his food and his services to the East Tampa community. Often referred to as ‘Chef Don,’ Mr. Lee has supported his community through many efforts which
included providing shoes, clothing, furniture, paying rent and utility bills for less fortu- nate families.
Born to entrepreneurial par- ents, his mother had her own seafood business, and his fa- ther had a bakery on Central Ave., which is still known to lifelong residents of East Tampa. His father’s bakery was the first bakery in the community that made colorful bread which was served at weddings, anniversaries, and funerals.
Aside from his community contributions, Mr. Lee had many professional accom- plishments, which started with him being elected the first
African American class presi- dent at Tampa Bay Tech in 1978 and then continued with his service to the United States Navy. However, Lee states that his greatest accomplish- ments have been supporting the youth by helping coordi- nate food services for back-to- school events, coordinating Tampa Bay Tech’s Fish Fry to support the student’s sports division, and his volunteerism with the Tampa Bay Tech’s Culinary School.
Lee is well respected by his community and friends and relies on his network to assist him in providing resources to people in need. “I will call up my friends, and they will show
CHEF DON LEE
up with donations and re- sources, almost immediately,” Lee stated. “They know if I call them, it is to help families, es- pecially single mothers who need the most help.”
Throughout medical obsta- cles, Lee is still pushing for- ward and will continue to assist the community. He credits his sense of community service to some special people in his life, his mother, his high school guidance counselor Ms. Hanley, which he states was a mother figure in his life. “If I had half of their strength I can stand on the moon,” he ex- claimed gleefully. “It’s because ofthem,IamthemanIam today. I stand on their shoul- ders.”
A lifelong resident of East Tampa, Mrs. Mae Judge graduated from Middleton High School in 1960. She is a member of St. John Progres- sive Missionary Baptist Church. She loves her com- munity and the beauty indus- try, which encouraged her to open Total Image Beauty Salon in 1978 in East Tampa.
The shop was in the Zayre’s Shopping Plaza on Hillsbor- ough Avenue.
Mrs. Judge was able to share her love for making peo- ple feel beautiful and provid- ing for her family after her husband passed away. In
BUSINESSWOMAN MAE JUDGE
1983, Mrs. Judge invested in her future and her beloved community by purchasing a plaza on 40th Street. She shared that doing hair was something she really enjoyed and felt like a hobby to her. This love of making people feel beautiful about themselves continued for 48 years. Many residents went to her beauty salon for their beauty needs and she was a caring and a lis- tening ear to all that patron- ized her services.
In 2020, after more than 48 years in the beauty industry, Mrs. Judge retired, still leav- ing a legacy and impact to her beloved East Tampa.
Mrs. Judge is the mother of three children, Joseph, Jr., Celeste Judge John- son, and Lynette Judge Daniels. She is the beloved grandmother of five: Tiffany Judge, Sakeya Donaldson, Jordan Judge, Joseph Judge, lll, and Rylee John- son, and she continues to be blessed as great grandmother of four: ReiAnna Graves, Reico Graves, Jeremiah Judge, and Summer Lester.
Meetings of the ETCRP are held every 2nd Tuesday at Ragan Park Community Cen- ter. Next meeting will take place on October 11th at 6:30pm.
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