Page 3 - Florida Sentinel 9-9-22

Feature
St. Pete Deputy Mayor Resigns In Hostile Work Environment Charge
St. Petersburg’s Deputy
Mayor Stephanie Owens
has resigned in wake of accu- sations of fostering a ”hostile work environment.” She had been placed on administra- tive leave by Mayor Ken Welch. Her final day will be Friday, September 9, 2022.
Communications Di- rector Janelle Taylor re- signed Thursday, September 1, 2022, alleging Owens cre- ating an environment of bul- lying and a lack of communication or guidance.
After Taylor resigned, Mayor Welch placed Owens on administrative leave while an investigation reviewed the complaints.
After the resignation of Owens, Welch tasked St. Pete’s city government human resources to “develop additional initiatives to edu-
FORMER DEPUTY MAYOR STEPHANIE OWENS
cate employees on their rights and protections and foster workplace civility and profes- sionalism throughout the city."
‘Call Ricky, Ask Ricky’ Passed Away Thursday
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
The proprietor of “Call Ricky, Ask Ricky” passed away last Thursday, Septem- ber 1, 2022, after a brief ill- ness. Ricky Williams was 68 years old.
Williams, a native of Gainesville, FL, is described as a constant giver, always present and would give his last. If he didn’t have it, he’s find a way to get it. “He worked behind the scenes a lot, helping youth league sports teams. Any child that he found out that didn’t have a father figure in their lives, especially boys, he took them under his wings to make sure they had what they needed,” son Marco Williams said.
Marco Williams, said his dad graduated from Gainesville High School in 1971. He continued his edu- cation at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, earning his undergraduate degree in 1975. Williams was not done. He went on to the Uni- versity of Florida, where he earned a law degree in 1978.
He worked for a small law firm in Ocala before becom- ing the first Black Assistant District Attorney for Volusia County.
He came to Tampa and entered private practice, ex- panding his criminal defense career, establishing Williams and Associates.
In 2010, Williams es- tablished “Call Ricky, Ask Ricky,” a legal and medical referral service. He reached out to several first respon- ders during the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, having lunch delivered to them on more than one occa- sion. He was joined by his mother (90+ years old), Mrs. Eula Mae Williams, a Gainesville resident, on many of those trips as she handmade masks to be deliv- ered.
Among the awards he re- ceived was one for being among the first 250 African- American attorneys in the State of Florida.
Mrs. Marie Tarver White said Williams has
RICKY WILLIAMS
been a friend to she and her husband (Pastor Donald)
for more than 30 years. “He donated to our church (Mt. Carmel MB Church), came to my birthday parties each year, encouraged me in whatever I was doing; and he came to our church events. He was such a giving person. He not only donated to our church, he donated to many churches and people in this community.”
Williams was the father of 5.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, 11 a. m. at Bible-Based Fellowship Church on Erhlich Rd. The funeral serv- ices are being handled by Chestnut Funeral Home, Gainesville.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2022 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 3-A