Page 8 - Florida Sentinel 9-19-17

Local
Sentinel Editor Spent 32+ Hours On Highway ‘Running’ From Irma
Longtime Educator, Community Activist Dies
MRS. BERTHA KEMP 11/26/1938 --- 9/14/2017
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
A popular retired educator and community activist passed following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Bertha Lee McCalister Kemp, was 78-years-old.
A native of Jackson County, Mrs. Kemp, was the daughter of the late Elijah and Pecola McCalister. She attended the public schools of Jackson County, Florida.
She moved to Tampa at the age of 15 and graduated from Middleton High School in 1957, with honors. Utilizing an aca- demic scholarship, Mrs. Kemp attended Knoxville College, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree as an English major and Spanish minor.
Following graduation, Mrs. Kemp returned to Tampa and launched her career as an educator at Booker T. Washington Jr. High School. Her career spanned more than 40 years as a mem- ber of the Hillsborough County School District.
She married Hilrie Kemp, Jr., in 1960, and to this union, 3 children were born.
Throughout her life, Mrs. Kemp was active in her commu- nity. She was chosen as the “Soror of the Year,” and “Most Sis- terly,” as a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She has also been the recipient of the Robin Young Spirit Award,” “Finer Womanhood Award,” and “Outstanding Golden Soror Award.”
Becoming a member of the 34th Street Church of God during the 1960s, Mrs. Kemp was a dedicated member of her church. She served as the Sunday School teacher, Superintendent, Pres- ident of the Guiding Light Ministry, Newsletter Editor, and church mother.
Mrs. Kemp also donated countless hours to the Progress Village community, where she lived and raised her family.
Mrs. Kemp was a member of several professional and social organizations some of which includes the Top Ladies of Distinc- tion, NAACP, NCNW, HEAR, and Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. She was honored by the ABWA, previously known as the Progress Village Foundation, where she was honored for more than 20 years of service.
In addition to her husband and children, Mrs. Kemp is sur- vived by 5 grandchildren, 2 great granddaughters, and other family members and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Kemp will take place on Saturday, September 23rd. Wilson’s Funeral Home is in charge of handling arrangements.
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Hurricane Irma was a rude awakening for so many in the Tampa-Hillsborough County Community. Why? Because this community, being right on the Gulf, has dodged the bullet so many, many years. This time, the announcement of a hurri- cane coming directly to our community was no joke.
It did help that Florida’s governor, Rick Scott, gave fair warning to the state. He constantly talked about the approaching strong hurri- cane, packing winds of up to 185 miles. This time, the state was proactive in getting the word out to the commu- nity, making accommoda- tions, getting all agencies of government involved on the ground floor.
The state of Florida was under Hurricane watch.
As the week wore on, my husband, James started preparing to leave town. I was a little more reluctant, believing we had enough time. We were going to head to Georgia, with immediate family in Macon and Atlanta.
With the prodding of our children, we decided to leave on Friday morning, around 3 or 4 a. m. We didn’t. By that time, James started to won- der, had we waited too late to leave.
Wepulledoutat8a.m. headed towards I-275. As we traveled Busch Blvd., the service stations we passed didn’t have fuel. However, as we approached a station on the corner of Nebraska and Busch, there were vehicles at the pumps – they had gas. James says that gave him an indication that it was OK to get on the highway. We did.
A trip of about 340 miles that normally takes us about 6 hours (even with stops) took us a total of 13-1/2 hours.
Initially leaving Tampa, travel was fine until we reached Wesley Chapel and the back-ups began. Most of the time we traveled 30-40 miles per hour. We seldom had any stand-stills – we moved slowly, but we were moving. We didn’t encounter any road rage – not that we could detect. Of course, there was the usual lane-jockeying, and in Florida Gov. Scott gave drivers the option to ride on the ‘left’ shoulder; even though many drivers rode the right shoulder, too. Some tried it in GA, but they weren’t having it, putting cones in the shoulders so many feet apart.
It was a long trip, but not so tedious and aggravating. It took 3 hours to get to Ocala; another 2 to get to Gainesville. The folks at the Georgia Welcome Center re- ally welcomed those who were evacuating.
As you entered the rest stop – cars overflowed the parking spaces, in all open spaces –signs read “Free Food For Evacuees.” Some group was grilling hot dogs on site, and offering them with chips and sodas of your choice – name brand chips and sodas. Didn’t get the name of the group, but they were very orderly, and clean, everybody wearing gloves and keeping the table of condiments cleared.
It was then on to Val- dosta, our ‘normal’ highway stop for gas and food after traveling 4 hours from Tampa. We arrived about 8 hours after leaving Tampa.
Our ultimate destination was Atlanta, but the night was getting long and we stopped in Macon to stay overnight with my sister.
After breakfast on Satur- day morning, we left Macon and arrived in Atlanta 3 hours later. Getting to Tanger Mall exits is always a back-up, but not this morn-
ing – we zoomed right through those exits.
One of the things along the highway that kept you alert and gave such a good feeling was seeing all the hundreds, literally, of re- sponders – electric trucks and vans and u-hauls full of equipment heading south as we headed north. They were from so many different mu- nicipalities, traveling in groups; coming to take care of the people we were leaving behind.
Since the responders were mostly the only vehicles traveling south, there was no slow-down. They were mak- ing time.
There were even caravans of military vehicles traveling south, to assist in whatever way they were directed.
Sunday, seemed fine. We all went to church. Eric and LaTanya Hayes and Bryson Williams had also evacuated the city and we were all in Atlanta visiting with Kasmyene and Kameron Hayes.
The winds and rains started in the early hours Monday morning, probably after it passed through Tampa. The power went out about 3 p. m. Monday. Both Hayes family decided to leave on Tuesday. We left – still no power.
The trip back south to Tampa was just as long – an- other 16+ hours of travel, but this time James drove straight through, making necessary stops – gas, bath- room, eat on the go. We ar- rived in Tampa at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, after leaving At- lanta 10:30 a. m. Tuesday.
Now, the meteorologists are telling us to pay attention to the ‘M’ storm – Maria -- while we wait on Jose to de- cide what he’ll do and Lee fiz- zles out.
We’ll keep watching!! Hurricane season is not over.
PAGE 8 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2017