Vol. 1, Issue 2 FEBRUARY 2019 Advertise Your Business or Promote Your Event Free Calendar Listings and 20% OFF Your Ad through February 28, 2019 Thank you for subscribing to our first NEWSCENE publication. We are the NEW SCENE where NEWS is SEEN! We hope you enjoyed the stories about and the pictures taken at events we visited last month. We are looking forward to sharing more pictures and stories with you next month about the many events taking place this month. As you know, we can’t be at more than one event at a time, but we are here to assist you to get your events online, in our calendar, and in print. Don’t forget you can click on the links that are included to visit websites, blogs, Facebook pages and more! We want to be the first place you look to learn about the things happening in your community, but we won’t know about what’s happening unless you tell us. Write to us at Memphis.Meetings@gmail.com or call (901) 300-0250 to leave us a message. We promise to return your call in a timely fashion. NEWSCENE . . . ...is currently seeking ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS and passionate and outgoing volunteer photojournalists who can write stories and take pictures at local events. Interested persons should phone (901) 300-0250 for details. 36 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR By Yvonne D. Nelson, Ph.D. In celebration of Black History, and not just the month devoted to it, NEWSCENE will be featuring several article reprints and stories about some of Memphis’s residents from yesteryear throughout this, our February and second edition, as well as throughout the entire year. Always a concern of mine, this edition’s feature story was especially inspired by Mr. William Henry Reed, 92, a long-time Whitehaven resident, former Whitehaven Civic Club President, Mt. Joyner Baptist Church Deacon, and community advocate in and for Whitehaven. A brief history of Mr. Reed’s life is our featured article for this month. We hope that you will enjoy reading it and the rest of this edition and will encourage youth that all history is not in books, but, if they look hard enough and ask the right people, they may be able to find history in their own neighborhoods. As stated last month and repeated here, we depend on you, our readers to share this new publication with your family and friends, whoever they may be. We want stories of interest from all walks of life to enhance our pages each month. Of course all of this depends on you. Your readership, your ability to share online links to featured stories about you to create new viewers like yourself, your willingness to submit calendar events that are scheduled to happen as well as pictures and stories about things which have recently taken place, and your desire to support us through advertisements featuring local businesses and activities. Feel free to write me at I Love Shelby County, Attn: Senior Publicist, P.O. Box 9146, Memphis, TN 38190-0146, call me at 901-300-0250, or you can email me at Memphis.Meetings@gmail.com. I hope to hear from you soon! Thank you, Yvonne WILLIAM H. REED, A TRUE ‘BLACKHAVEN’ PIONEER KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE MONTHLY WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN SHELBY COUNTY, TN Photo by Nat Valentine While visiting New York in December 1981, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (left), Whitehaven Resident, William Henry Reed (front right) and former NY 6th District, U.S. House of Representatives; former Wilberforce University President and Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral Sr. Pastor Floyd H. Flake (rear right) meet in his church offices in Jamaica, Queens, New York. This year, during Black History Month, NEWSCENE’s February edition is highlighting Mr. William Henry Reed of ‘Blackhaven.’ Annexed into the city of Memphis December 31, 1969, Whitehaven was originally a mostly all white suburb in Shelby County, TN. Forward to 2019, Whitehaven is now a practically all black portion of the most south-western part of the city of Memphis. Mr. Reed is the only person alive that I personally cannot do or say anything about using the word ‘Blackhaven’ when talking about Whitehaven. Here’s why: William Reed was named after his grandfather, who owned and sold some land on Whitehaven Lane to Middle Baptist Church. This land is where the church currently sits, on the first street developed in what has become known as the community of Whitehaven. William’s father, James Reed, married Theodora Shelton. To this union, three children were born. William H. Reed, the eldest and the subject of our story, his sister, Dorothy Reed Brownlee who is no longer with us, and a younger brother, James, who still lives in Memphis. Reed was an inquisitive child growing up. When he witnessed things that didn’t seem proper to Continued on Page 2
him, his responses often made him appear to be much older than he really was. “Being raised in Whitehaven,” said Reed who still lives in the area, “I always questioned my parents about why I had to walk from here, where I am now, over to Geeter School when there was an empty bus that passed me going over to pick up three white children and bring them back. The bus went over empty and it came back empty and I always asked my parents, why? The bus went over empty and it came back empty, but we couldn’t ride it.” Reed often questioned his parents wanting to understand why he and his siblings couldn’t ride the bus, but they could not give him an answer. William told himself that if he ever got grown, he’d “do something about it.” “As a child growing up in Whitehaven, we were left behind in everything,” said Reed. “During WWII, when the Jap’s bombed Pearl Harbor, we had some young [black] men who had enlisted in the U.S. Navy who lost their life in the war. I was very young, but I was very angry because I felt that when the Jap’s bombed Pearl Harbor that was the wrong thing to do. They’d taken advantage of a lot of people. A lot of people lost their lives. Some people I knew who were in school lost their lives. During that time, they brought a B-14 or 15 bomber, whatever it was, up to Whitehaven High School for the white boys to tear it down, rebuild it, and get it ready for flying. They didn’t even put a T-Model or an A-Model Ford over there [at Geeter] for us to work on.” Reed always felt that the decision to not train blacks on aircraft or other types of transportation was wrong; but the real shock of WWII didn’t actually fully set in until he was drafted into the U.S. Army. “One of the first things that happened when we landed in le Laha, France occurred when I saw the pillboxes that had been built,” said Reed. “They were truly something else. They had been bombed to the point that they almost looked like tissue paper.” Reed remained in Germany for a while and travelled to Munich, Stuttgart, and some of the other places that had also been bombed to ashes. Upon his return to the United States, he discovered yet another disturbing practice that was in place. “I found out that my service in the military did not even warrant me a decent place to go in and sit down to have a meal with my family,” said Reed, referring to the lack of fair treatment he and his family continued to endure. “It was just mind-boggling. My wife and children and I had gone to the Harlem House to eat. It was one of the best places to eat in Memphis and we had to eat from a stool.” Reed was now a grown man. He was married and had his own family to care and provide for. He remembered telling himself as a child that if he ever reached this stage in life he would try to change some things that he didn’t Long before he married, William Reed purchased some land and this three-room house on Whitehaven Lane. was a task so momentous, that even in the mid-1940’s and especially below the Mason-Dixon line, it was going to be far harder than he had chalked it up to be. His solution? Moving his young family north. “Whitehaven has always been called Whitehaven,” said Reed. “At one time, it was so small that it was just a street up there that connected to the highway. If you didn’t know Whitehaven was here, you’d pass right by it and never know it!” It was around this time when Reed and his wife began receiving papers from as far away as Colorado and Minnesota. “We picked some places where we thought we could go to raise our children. Where they would have a better education and we would have access to a library and whatever we needed, but it didn’t work out,” said Reed. Meanwhile, some of the Black residents of Whitehaven were silently praying that Reed and his family could not get out of Whitehaven and make things work the way they wanted them to. “There was Mother Mullins who got to be over 100 years old, Mother Geeter, my Grandmother, Mother Reed, and my wife’s family,” said Reed. “I had this job offer in Pueblo, CO. I took a week’s vacation from my job at Harvester, left my family in Memphis, and went there to get the job, but I couldn’t get the job because of my skin color.” That job was for a WD-14 machinist, the same job Reed was performing in Memphis. Being the sole provider for his family, Reed knew that he couldn’t afford to lose his machinist job in Memphis, so he returned to Whitehaven. But there was a different feeling going on inside of him. Reed returned, but with a whole new outlook on and attitude about life 2 like about the way white’s treated blacks. As an adult, Reed had finally figured out what his parents knew all along. Changing the way blacks were treated by whites While preparing to write the history of the MCMJ, I discovered that in the African American community, there is an illness that we as a people suffer with, what I call, “start a splinter group.” When these individuals see something that has promise, if they can’t take over, they will “start a splinter group.” They will work with your program just long enough to discover what makes your program great. Then they will “start a splinter group.” Consequently, we have a large number of look-alike splinter groups, from master programs. There have been many such individuals involved whit the Jubilee’s program that fell victim to this illness. I have been urged to document the history and purposes of the MCMJ celebration to give outsiders a clean view of the celebration as it actually existed. As well, to point to the fact that volunteering to work for the betterment of others is a noble undertaking. This documentary will focus on the volunteers that worked to promote the MCMJ, did so to bring dignity to the black community and worked to see their fellow man’s quality of life enriched. This documentary will give evidence as to how well documented the MCMJ is as an organization, and give insight into its many accomplishments. You will discover that for many, once they had worked promoting the MCMJ in excess of 50 years because they felt good about the work they were doing for the benefit of others. Even though the celebration’s activities have come to a temporary stand still, I am working to see that a museum is established to insure the historical records of the MCMJ are presented for all times, which will give the celebration an opportunity to be revived. Additionally, the museum may be used as a toll to recruit new members to help restore the movement and the celebration and bring forward new innovative ideas to revive the celebration for the next generation. Finally, I have a burning desire for young people to know about the successes of the MCMJ that prevailed in the early 1930s when the Black community was facing its most difficult times. With this knowledge, as a People, if we were able to reach such milestones then, there is no limit to what young people can accomplish today. Provided they strive for excellence and seek services that will elevate their fellowman. This is the history of the Memphis Cotton Makers’ Jubilee (MCMJ). This story starts with the introduction of the MCMJs founder, Dr. Ransom Quincy Venson, II. Dr. Venson was born April 10, 1895 in Tioga, Louisiana to Ransom Quincy Venson Sr. and Creasy Griffin-Venson. He was the oldest of seven children born to this union. Tioga was a very small rural township, located in Central Louisiana. Dr. Venson professed a hop in Christ at the age of 10 with the New Light Baptist Church in Louisiana. He moved his membership to St. John Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee in 1927. He was inducted into and served his country in the U.S. Army during World War I and was Honorably discharged with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant on December 16, 1918. To be continued in March 2019 35 Dr. Venson graduated from Coleman College located in Gibsland, Louisiana which is located close to Ruston, Louisiana and geographically located in north Louisiana. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at West Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis. His post graduate work was done at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. After being discharged from the military, Dr. Venson opened his first dental office in 1919. It was located at 179 Beale at Third Street in Memphis, Tennessee. He continued to practice dentistry at that location until his death on August 4, 1970. He married the former Ethyl Bell Horton in 1935. There were no children born to this union. Dr. Venson was active in the Memphis community and he was a devoted member of St. John Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher, a Deacon, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees. He was one of the organizers of the Tri-State Bank of Memphis and he served on the banks’ Board of Directors. Dr. Venson helped to organize the Autress Russell Post No. 27, American Legion, which was the largest black post in America in 1934. He served as the Commander of Post No. 27 and as President of State Chapter of the American Legion. Dr. Venson was one of the founders of the Local, State, and National Dental Association where he served a term as President for each level, local, state, and national. The National Dental Association is still very much active today. Finally, and most importantly, Dr. R. Q. Venson was the founder of the Memphis Cotton Makers’ Jubilee. Founded in 1935, he served as the General Chairman of the Board of Directors until his death in 1970. As a dentist, each day, after eating lunch in his office, he spent an hour walking down Beale Street, talking to the many businessmen on the street. This, along with his political activities, caused him to be revered by the business community on Beale Street and throughout the city of Memphis, and Shelby County, Tennessee, and on a national level.
These attributes of Mrs. Poe were not meant to minimize the contributions made by the Jubilee’s Founder and many of the members of the first Board of Directors in 1934. They were all professional men and women. Mrs. Poe was simply a member of the Jubilee that worked her way up to the board of directors by giving service. The Jubilee’s founder and members of the first board of directors were men and women that were well established and held high stations in the Memphis community. Mrs. Poe was simply willing to give of herself her time, energy, and family members in order to make the Jubilee’s programs a success. for not only himself and his family, but for all black people living in Shelby County. “I wanted to fight then,” said Reed talking about the racism he had faced both in and outside of Memphis. “But I had to fight the fight, not my fight. I had to fight the fight of the people. The fight of the Lord, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.” Reed knew what he had to do. He knew what had to been done. He was an instrumental force in organizing the Whitehaven Civic Club which was a member of the Bluff City & Shelby County Council of Civic Clubs that fought for civil advancement of all people. As a member of the Whitehaven Civic Club, Reed called a meeting with George H. Barnes who, at the time, was the Superintendent of the Shelby County Department of Education. “I was so angry,” said Reed. “I told the Board of Education that if they thought that their children were going to get a better education than my children, that I’d fight them until hell freezes over.” The next day the entire ordeal was written up in Introduction There are many short versions of the history of the Memphis Cotton Markers’ Jubilee, Inc., hereto referred to as MCMJ and/or Jubilee, that were prepared by persons from the outside looking in. These individuals had limited insight into the facts as they actually existed. As an official member of the MCMJ from (1966-2019). I felt compelled to document the history of the MCMJ to make sure there is one complete version on the rich history of this, one of a kind, organization and celebration. This is a documentary on who, how, and why the Jubilee was organized and what it took to make it great. At different times this documentary will refer to our race as, “Colored,” “Negroes,” “Black,” or “African American.” There is no actual correct terminology. However, there may be a politically correct terminology, depending on who is talking and to whom they may be talking to, or with. [This disclaimer is interjected at this point, so readers may understand the terminology used referring to people of African descent living in America, which will coincide with the terms commonly used during that era.] Additionally, it is my belief that the myth in the minds of many Black people, that their involvement in cotton, is something they should be ashamed and should be dismissed. Rather, the Black community should come to realize that cotton is a valuable product that is woven into the fabric of all communities in the world. I realize as a people, we were exploited and taken advantage of in the early years during the period of enslavement and the aftermath of that period. This should not mean the Black community should divorce themselves from such a valuable product. Cotton is referred to as “White Gold,” internationally because of its great value. Today, the Black community should put their heads together and devise plans wherein we, as a people, can reap the proper financial benefits from the production and marketing of cotton. The MCMJ was founded to seek dignity – today we should be seeking financial equity. Contrary to many beliefs, the MCMJ was promoted by people of color that wanted to uplift the sights of black people, both the youth and adults that needed to be inspired to see themselves as important to society and themselves. I hope this documentary will dispel the notion that the people that worked to promote the MCMJ, did not do so in hopes of personal financial gain. Rather, these spirited Negroes did so by devoting a lifetime, giving of their time energy, and money to perform a community good. Today we should give our time, energy, and resources directed toward performing a community well and receiving our fair share and our peace of the pie (from cotton). This documentary will also tell the story of the MCMJ, its good times, successes, bad times, and failures. 34 the paper and Reed began to pray to God to show him how to maneuver through this situation that was occurring in Whitehaven. These were the days when The Commercial Appeal was the morning paper & the Press-Scimitar was the evening paper. “The Press-Scimitar was very outgoing,” said Reed. “They weren’t as racially biased as The Commercial Appeal. The Commercial Appeal refused to call a black woman Ms. or Mrs. at that time. So being a member of the Bluff City & Shelby County Council of Civic Clubs we were able to take them on.” This was about the time that several young black lawyers: R.B. Sugarman, A.W. Willis, B.L. Hooks, H.T. Lockett, and J.F. Estes had passed the bar and were able to practice law in the city of Memphis. “They all worked for us pro bono,” said Reed. “We took The Commercial Appeal on during the time they refused to call black women Ms. or Mrs. When we got through boycotting the paper, The Commercial Appeal gave in and told us they would call black women anything we wanted, they just wanted us to buy the paper again! It’s been a situation where it just goes on and on and on.” The Board of Education was angry and they had joined forces with the Park Commission. The focus of this group was to stop Reed sooner rather than later, so they decided they would take the land belonging to all the Reed family members, the Hyman’s, Johnson’s, Sinclair’s, and other prominent black families residing in the area. By this time, Reed happened to be the Whitehaven Civic Club’s spokesperson. “I just praised those people for giving us a place because we didn’t want our children playing in the William Henry Reed and Leola Glover Reed were married In ???? The couple had 3 children (from left) Atwyn, Edwin, and William Bernard Pictured on their land in Whitehaven is a young William Henry Reed (center on George, the newly purchased mule) and William’s grandfather, William “Papa Dick” Henry Reed (front center) as he tugs at Dan the mule (on the left) and Lawrence “Bill” Johnson (far right) holds one of George’s reigns. 3
street because that was wrong,” said Reed. “I told them we would accept their offer as long as we had a say in where we wanted to be relocated.” The History of the After having the map enlarged to see more of the nearby undeveloped land, the area Reed chose was up near the bank and what is now the Southland Mall area. It was a beautiful, tree-lined area, just the ideal place for a park. When Reed told the Park Commission that this was the location the Whitehaven Civic Club had chosen for their park, the meeting ended and Reed never heard from Bonds or his group again. There were many other challenges Reed faced as a child and as an adult. As a young adult of some 8 to 12 years of age, Reed would ride to the cotton gin with his grandfather where he witnessed his grandfather’s cotton, and the cotton belonging to some other poor white people, being syphoned by the workers at the Hilderbrand gin for its owner. “My grandfather and grandmother were farmers,” said Reed. “They raised some cotton and corn on some rented land. He would always tell me to ‘Put some extra piling on there for the man,’ but I didn’t know what he was talking about at the present. When we got to gin, grandpa would tell me to get down off the wagon because he didn’t want them to weigh me in. Like most youngsters, I would wander around inside the gin where I would hear the people who were sucking the cotton out of grandpa’s wagon say, ‘Well Reed, you got a good bale here.’ This was almost like a microphone telling the people who were upstairs to divert grandpa’s cotton to Mr. Hildrebrand’s gin for free.” Reed helped to organize youth including Josephine Bell, Mary Hyman, and other members of the Whitehaven Junior Civic Club to stage sit-ins at Crescent, Woolworth’s and other locations that refused to serve blacks. And after Reed had the plans drawn for his present home, he visited a bank in the city of Memphis for funding. The white banker who waited on him told him that, ‘A nigger had no business living in a house like this,’ but that didn’t deter William Henry Reed either. “This was a long time before they built Alcy and Lakeview Gardens,” said Reed. “I just said ‘We will get the house built. We will get the house built like we want it built’ and we did by the Grace of Almighty God.” William Reed has been a member of Mt. Joyner Baptist Church, 5113 Hillbrook Road, in southwest Memphis, all of his life. He remembers when the church sat on Tulane at Windsor Road where its cemetery still sits across the street from its original location. “After a short length of time, I became an officer, a Deacon - at Mt. Joyner Baptist Church, where Rev. Champion was the Senior Pastor,” said Reed. “There were those who were around me who saw something within me that I didn’t know about. So, they started me to teach Sunday School, the Bible, which was very important. And during that time, I was able to help a great many young people who came through the teaching in which I taught from the Word of God. There are so many of them, I would be amiss to try to name them all, but I will name a few of them. There is the new Shelby County Mayor, Lee Harris, Esq. and the University of TN at Martin, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Dr. Mark McCloud. I can’t even keep up with all of the young men and young women.” “We don’t need to run to Southaven or Arkansas to have a decent place to live, for with the per capita, they tell me, within Whitehaven, we can have anything we want here.” “So, I challenge the young people to try to keep the per capita here, in Whitehaven, to make Whitehaven what it should and ought to be or what they want it to be.” “It’s a fight, but it’s a good fight. It’s not a fight with guns and bullets and what-have-you. It is a mental, a physical, a spiritual fight that we must fight, the good fight.“ “I’m just blessed, I’m blessed in so many ways. I’ve had a good life here in Whitehaven and it’s been a productive life. I’ve lived here practically all my life, even after I got married, I was still here.” “To God Be the Glory,” said Reed speaking of his life and Mr. William Henry Reed and the late Mrs. Leola Glover Reed times, family and children, experiences and leadership, and his ability to still be living and doing mostly well. “It has been a blessing for me to be a part of what is Whitehaven now, but I call it Blackhaven because there’s nothing here now but blacks.” 4 Mrs. Pauline Poe If the most outstanding of the above as a standout member, it would be Mrs. Pauline Poe. Her most outstanding contribution would be that she had three daughters to serve as the Adult Queen, two of which served two different years. Mrs. Pauline Poe was found supporting every phase of the celebration. One of Mrs. Poe’s passions was ceramic artifacts she designed and donate to the Jubilee each year that were sold as souvenirs. She made items such as coffee mugs, goblets, pyramids, and other novelties. Mrs. Poe would not allow the Jubilee to reimburse her for any of the items she created for 10 years, which totaled over 900 items. Shown below are a few of the items Mrs. Poe created. The goblets were sold by Mrs. Poe in support of the Dr. R. Q. Venson Scholarship Foundation. The coffee mugs were sold by Mrs. Poe I support of the Adult King and Queen programs. The pyramid created was sold by Mrs. Poe to help fund the Jubilee’s name change from “Memphis Cotton Makers’ Jubilee” to “Memphis Kemet Jubilee.” The name Memphis Kemet Jubilee was used from 1999 to 2008. Kemet was the name of Egypt before the country’s name was changed to Egypt. If there were copies that went unsold, she gave them as gifts to individuals attending Jubilee events or she donated them to be used as table center pieces at different events. When Jubilee board members were asked to sell tickets to different events, Mrs. Poe always sold her share of tickets. When asked to sell advertisement space in the Jubilee’s souvenir program, she sold add spaces. When it came time to decorate for a banquet or a coronation ball, she was always on hand to do her part. Mrs. Poe never wavered when it came time to get the job done. For these and other reasons, Mrs. Pauline Poe in the writer’s view stood head and shoulder above other board members. 33 Memphis Cotton Makers’ Jubilee, Inc. 1936-2019 Followed with the Rebirth and Passing of the Mantle 2019 By Clyde R. Venson Dedication I dedicate this documentary to members of the MCMJ that served on the Jubilee’s Board of Directors for twenty years or more or until their death. These men and women are: Dr. R. Q. Venson, Mrs. Ethyl H. Venson, Professor Nathaniel “Nat” D. Williams, Professor Robert “Bob” Morris, Mr. Clifton Satterfield, Mrs. Calverta Ishmael, Mr. Eddie Hayes, Sr., Dr. B. F. McCleave, Mr. Joe Lee Nelson, Elder Blair T. Hunt, Mr. L. O. Swingler, Mr. Frank T. Scott, Atty. B. L. Hooks, Mr. Robert Henry, Mr. Elmo Berkley, Mr. Elmer Henderson, Mr. Melvin Conley, Mrs. Susie P. Hightower, Mr. John Arnold, Jr., Professor Edward Gray, Mrs. Kattie Johnson, Mrs. Lillian Dunlap, Mrs. Valois Perry, Mr. Clyde R. Venson, Mrs. Verna Mae Lemons, Ms. Inez Brown, M. Willie E. Lindsey Jr., Mrs. Emma J. Carpenter, Mr. William H. Wheeler, Mrs. Pauline Poe, Mrs. Julia Ross, Ms. Louise Smith, Mrs. Silvia Sherrod, Ms. Melody Poe, Mrs. Catherine Doggett Hernandez, Mr. Chester Phillips, Mr. Michael Marsh, Mr. Michael P. Sadler, Rev. Lorenzo Caldwell, and Mr. Lorenzo Jones. The above mentioned members of the Jubilee’s Board of Directors served 20 years or more, twelve of which served for 50 years or more. This is a record for the Jubilee, compared to other organizations.
Above: William H. Reed is pictured with the one and only, Floyd Harold Flake, one of the many important individuals who he has enjoyed having a personal relationship with during his lifespan. Below: William Henry Reed’s oldest son, William Bernard Reed (seated, first row, fourth from left), was the first black person and the first black male to finish school at Whitehaven High School. His brother, Edwin, was the third black person and the second black male to finish high school there. Advertising corner Call 901.396.6300 4 rates! 32 “I refused to let the boys go back to Geeter,” said William Henry Reed. “My daughter, Alwyn, God bless her soul, it was so tough on her that she had to go back to Geeter. Then she realized that she was missing out on something and she went back to Whitehaven High on her own. She had to be the first black female to finish high school at Whitehaven. 5
Bob’s Birthday Bash and Business Anniversary Party! Atty. Bob Huddleston (above) hosted “Bob’s Birthday Bash and Business Anniversary Party,” to celebrate his 52nd birthday and one full year of business as a practicing senior partner at Midsouth Advocates, PLLC, at Highpockets Pool & Billiard Hall. Bob “Bobnoxious” Huddleston Jr. looks and acts like your average, ordinary guy. But looks can be and often are deceiving. Bob spent some 25 years of his life working in several trades. He is skilled as a truck driver, general contractor, skip tracer, collection agent, carpet cleaner, and as a professional disaster mitigation representative specializing in water, fire, and smoke damage, and mold remediation. Bob’s determination to be successful is certainly nothing to sneer at because suddenly, at age 43, Bob took on a totally different idea for his future employment endeavors. “I went back to school at the age of 43 and earned a degree in Legal Philosophy,” said Bob, now 52, and a practicing senior partner and attorney at Midsouth Advocates, PLLC, 4151 Ridgemoor Avenue, a law firm he founded in 2017. “Midsouth Advocates was started with the idea that everyone deserves legal representation. The legal system is exceedingly complex, mostly for a good reason, and a lawyer is the best qualified person to help guide a person through it.” Continued on Page 7 Order your favorite team blanket! Email: Memphis.Meetings@gmail.com Subject: team appeal Include Your order & contact info. Above: Barry Hall (left) and Bob Huddleston, Esq. take on a game of pool during the birthday bash and business anniversary party. Right: Bob Huddleston Sr. racks the balls in preparation for a friendly game of pool at Highpockets Pool and Billiard Hall, 5099 Old Summer Road. 6 31
Alternative & Holistic Health Services Bob received a Juris Doctorate degree with a Certificate in Advocacy from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2017. He specializes in family law, employment discrimination, criminal defense (juvenile delinquency, misdemeanors and felonies), and cases involving home improvement contractors, but these areas of practice are not exhaustive of the legal issues lawyers at Midsouth Advocates can address. “I have worked in the real world for decades and I won’t look down my nose at anyone who needs help,” said Huddleston. “I see my job, primarily, as being two-fold; first, I’m here to represent you, your family member, or friend zealously, and second, to provide meaningful counsel and guidance in navigating complicated legal situations through a confusing legal system.” The proof that Bob is an ordinary, fun-loving regular type of guy was revealed from 7 PM until Midnight on Saturday, ORDER HERE (800) 403-7155 Congratulations! On Your New Venture, Wishing You Well! - Lmec-xi nus January 12, 2019, when he invited family and friends to join him at HighPockets billiard hall, 5099 Old Summer Road, for “Bob’s Birthday Bash and Business Anniversary Party. About 35 or 40 people stopped by throughout the night to buy Bob a beer. Some even played a game or two of pool with him. Barry Hall and his son Jayce Ray Hall were among those who dined at HighPockets and enjoyed the event. “Bob and I grew up in Indiana,” said the senior Hall. “I came to Memphis to work in the carpet business with Bob and his father, Bob Huddleston Sr., because Bob told me that it never gets cold here. I believed him up until the night we got a call from a fire. It was so cold that night, the carpet was frozen to the floor from all the water damage from the firemen!” Bob rented a couple of pool tables at the west end of the pool hall for that night’s party. Everyone who was playing pool sat closer to the pool tables watching the action. A few others gathered at a nearby table to talk. Bob was having a great time moving between the table of guests and the pool tables. He took on University of Memphis graduating student Waleed Naser, Huddleston Sr., the senior Hall, and others during the night’s events, winning a couple of games of pool. CFC #46643 Above: Bob Huddleston’s long time friend, Barry Hall’s son, Jayce Ray Hall (seated left), watches as University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey School of Law, May 2019 Juris Doctor Candidate, Waleed Naser, calls a shot during one of the many games of pool he played during the birthday bash and business anniversary party for Attorney Bob Huddleston held Saturday, January 12, 2019, at Highpockets Pool & Billiard Hall, 5099 Old Summer Rd. 30 7 CLICK HERE TO VISIT US ONLINE
“He is a cool guy,” said Cameron Donovan, who grew up friends with Bob and Angie Huddleson’s children, Brandy and Shane. “I’ve known him for a long time and I like him a lot!” Congratulations to Dr. Yvonne D. Nelson and NEWSCENE newsmagazine! Above: Atty. Eric Williams (from left seated) Ann Donovan, Angela Huddleston, Cameron Donovan (standing from left), Barry Hall and Roy Tyler enjoy the fun. Below left :(from left) Bob Huddleston Sr., Bob Huddleston Jr. (center) and Waleed Naser discuss the game. Below right: Cameron Donovan gets in on the fun at the event held Saturday, January 12th. 8 29
The Three Things I know for Sure By Brady Henderson There are three things I know for sure. First, I know that God only created two types of men. The first type of man He created was a Spiritual Man; the second was a Living Soul Man. Man himself, exercising his free will, created the other two types of men: Fallen Man and Intellectual Man. The exhibit below shows these four types of men alone with the Biblical passages that explain them. ENTHUSIASTIC CONGRATULATIONS on your inaugural publication DR. YVONNE D. NELSON. Be encouraged that you are EMPOWERING with INFORMATION and KNOWLEDGE. Sisterly, HENR I E . BROOKS The second thing I know for sure is that of all the people who have come to America, African-American are the only ones who have come unwillingly; all others have come of their own free will looking for a better life. This point is important, because of all the people in America, African-Americans have been continuously targeted for social control efforts. In fact, there have been four levels of control specifically directed towards AfricanAmericans. These levels are: Physical Control (Slavery) Legal Control (Jim Crow/Segregationist Laws) Psychological Control (Inadequate educational opportunities and access to information) Spiritual Control (More dependence upon luck than faith) The third thing I know for sure is that a committed triangular relationship between Jesus, man, and woman is one of the best tools a couple can use to stay and grow together. When both the man and woman in a relationship humble themselves before Jesus and look to Him as their example of perfection, they cease placing the onus on their mate and instead work on their own shortcomings. After all, we’re all guilty of falling short of our own greatness. However, a commitment to follow Christ and a willingness to assist his/her mate in doing the same, will not only invigorate a man/woman relationship, it will also prosper the two of them beyond anything either of them could have ever imagined. Below is a visual representation of the triangular relationship: Finally, as we move further into the 21st century with all of our technological advances, we must be careful to not allow technology to stifle our development as human being on this planet we call home. So, I leave you with this question, “Wha t are t hree th i ng s you know for sure? ” 28 9
By Yvonne D. Nelson On January 1, 2019, Media Host , Ms. Loretta McNary, sponsor of the black tie and evening gown annual Kindle Awards Gala celebrating unsung heroes, inducted a new group of ladies into her Pink Diamond Mastermind group. This, the first of 12 monthly sessions, was held next door to D&L Catfish Shack, 3706 S. Mendenhall Road, a low-key eatery serving fried catfish and other seafood, plus wings, hush puppies and more, in the Legacy Hall (3712). About a dozen women, some new to the session and some returning members met with McNary to explore ways to improve themselves one month at a time. “These sessions are for women who are dedicated to making their dreams a reality!” said McNary. “Pink Diamond Mastermind participants are trained to embrace their highest levels of self-expression and expansion every day of their life. The overarching goal of Pink Diamond Mastermind group meetings is for these women to learn steps to help them unleash the aspiring ‘lady boss’ inside of them.” McNary began the meeting with a prayer and introductions followed with each person present answering the question, “What’s stopping you?” McNary instructed each attendee to write their personal response to that question by digging deep within and truthfully responding in writing. It is important to note that everyone present was required to stand when responding. “You see where you are,” interjected McNary. “Over here is where you really want to be, but what do you think is stopping you? Write it down. Now you are journaling. For this to be a success, we have to be able to measure your results and your success and that you were absolutely changed and you can prove that you were for having been here. You have to learn how to listen when you ask yourself a question because all the answers are really and truly within. They’re here. You already have them.” McNary responded by saying she has learned that someone is going to own the room and that she decided that it is up to her Holy Spirit to own the room and change the atmosphere of the room when she enters it. Responses from participants included self-doubt and fear of failure, being a people pleaser instead of focusing on pleasing oneself, procrastination and negative chatter, distraction from outside forces, filling your own plate first and letting others fill off your overflow, the fear of starting over, my overall belief system in myself and my need for validation of self instead of from others, energy draining bad money, being confused and afraid of making the wrong choice or taking 10 Top: Loretta McNary (seated left) founded the Pink Diamond Mastermind group for women who are or have been stuck on the fence about starting a business, finishing their degree or book, or what their next move in life should be. Middle: Returning Diamond Nicole Gates dialogues with new members during the first Mastermind meeting of 2019. Mastermind members are challenged to be all they can be. The Chiro Place is a family wellness center and chiropractic office that serves individuals of all ages. The mission of The Chiro Place, where Dr. Dena Granger, D.C. and Dr. Clint Rogers, D.C., practice, is to educate the community on how to live a more fulfilling life through the integration of chiropractic care. Their offices rely on state-of-theart digital equipment and extensive examinations to help the body to function at its optimal potential, relieving pain and or discomfort. Cedric Hawkins (left) and DeAndre Gant represented the company at the annual National Council of Negro Women Going Green in 2019 Fashion Show held Saturday, January 26th at the Memphis Hilton. 27
the wrong path, not receiving the same type of support as I’m giving and previously my age, listening to others who try to tell me who I am instead of actually being who I want to be, imagery, and simply not wanting it enough or being willing to work for what you want, and not accepting being able to say no. “This is where it’s probably going to get tough and this is where I’m probably going to lose some of you all,” said McNary. “That part of getting to know us for me is so uncomfortable because we all have a story. Don’t get me wrong. I am concerned about that stuff, but I’m not consumed by it because I see the bigger picture. We got serious work to do because of all this stuff we allow to hold us back. I’ve been there. I understand struggle, I understand black. Who would think I had a confidence problem?!! I do, not so much now, but I just know I keep focus on God and what he called me for. So I don’t want to spend a lot of time on that. I want to get down to the nitty-gritty. Can you tell me who you want to be? But we are going to have to keep it short, we don’t need to validate why. Just tell what it is that you want to do? How many of you have passports? I’ve got a big challenge for you all. I want every one of you to have a passport by February the 17th. Get a passport! Have one or have applied for one by then.” The two-hour meeting included more challenges. McNary encouraged attendees to stay out of the stores for a minute and go to thrift, Dollar Tree, or Goodwill. Only poor people shop off sale, drive expensive cars and live in big homes. She requested that each person spend time watching online or visiting City Council or County Commission meetings every month. The last challenge was for those in attendance to learn to ask for what they need to be successful. Do not speak negative about your life. Do not allow your own words to validate your situations. Speak the positive and not the negative into existence when you speak and always be careful with your words. The last question was for participants to discuss their biggest dream. “Pink Diamond is a 12-month obligation/commitment for you to come here once a month and to do text messaging By Yvonne D. Nelson Several members and guests of Mission Possible: Christian Outreach Service Mission gathered for the regular 1st Saturday Networking meeting at 286 S. 4th Street on January 5th. Rev. Brad Benham prayed over the food. Both during and after lunch the discussion focused on the 39th and 40th years of the organization which will occur in 2019 and 2020, respectively. The group is seeking speakers, volunteers, youth and young people as they plan for 40 years of service to the Memphis community in 20-20. The group was encouraged to help plan and to encourage others to volunteer time or to donate funds to the event. The organization will hold a Christian Service Summit in 2020. Individuals interested in serving as Intercessory, Registration, and/or Publicity committee members can call (901) 458-HELP (4357) for more information. Additional discussions included information about a free, live, new internet hair and skin care program that airs every Monday night at 8:30 PM CST at wifdradio.com. The show is sponsored by Herman and Emma Adams daughter, Trichologist Angela McGhee. “Ads in the booklet will be $400 a page in memorial of the 40 years, but we are asking people to pay $500 and the other $100 will give them a VIP pass to the event,” said Mission Possible founder Thelma Nelms as advertising sales have already begun. Mission Possible: COSM is located at 2400 Poplar Avenue, Ste. 428. Visit missionpossiblecosm.org. 26 and emails,” said McNary. “I want us to get a taste of how brainstorming works. So you take something that you want to do in the next 12 months and you identify it and you let the table know what it is. You have to take extensive notes because this is we are going to hold you accountable for as part of this whole group. You have to think about one or two smaller things that you want, that you don’t currently have. Whether it is to go your business or to become the highest level of expression and then let us help you brainstorm on how to get you there and the steps you should take.” Afterwards, the entire group took a short break and some individuals ordered from D & L’s before breaking off into smaller groups led by one of the experienced members. After a short brainstorming session with the new members, plans were made and targets were set for the next meeting. Interested participants should contact Loretta by calling (615) 567-3812 or you can email Loretta@LorettaMcNary.com. The session ended like it started, in prayer, and each person left charged to make a difference in their life in 2019. We will keep you posted on some of their individual progress in future editions of NEWSCENE, the NEW SCENE where NEWS is SEEN! Smaller group sessions allowed returning members to coach new members on how to reach their short-term goals. 11
By Yvonne D. Nelson The first 2019 meeting of the North Shelby County Democrats organization was held on Tuesday, January 8, at Olympic Steak and Pizza in Millington, TN. The featured guest was Sheriff Floyd Bonner. Since Sheriff Bonner was called outside of Shelby County on important business, Shelby County Sheriff Public Information Officer, Lt. Anthony Buckner, came in his place. The meeting was well attended by both members of the North Shelby County Democrats and visitors. Lt. Buckner was very informative and addressed each question posed by the audience. His personal agenda included discussing various topics including youth education and the Tennessee Department of Corrections, about which Lt. Buckner said an was extremely huge fact seeing TDOC officers performing compliance checks while Shelby County Sheriff officers were conducting operations in the field simultaneously. A question arose regarding a personal issue regarding a resident living in Northaven who was experiencing slow response time when calling the Sheriff’s department for assistance. “One thing that I can tell you about the Sheriff’s office,” replied Lt. Buckner, “Your ZIP Code doesn’t matter. You get the same level of service and I’m disappointed to hear that , so I want to make sure that I give you my number and I want to connect with [this person] to make sure [they] they are dialing the right number. I have to do some leg work to figure that piece out because we’ve got to fix that. That’s a broken system. It’s problem if she’s calling the wrong number and that’s an easy fix.” Another person asked for the chance to defend that statement by saying we have the Sheriff’s Department out here all the time. The person bringing the complaint restated the issue suggesting that maybe the person was conservative, or maybe felt that she needed to investigate whether there really was a problem or maybe just a conceived problem. The discussion turned to Officer Maurice who has recently returned to the Northaven community and had been extremely responsive in the area in the past. Another member stated that they had lived in the area for a number of years and had not had a problem using the non-emergency number and getting timely responses. Lt. Buckner continued to discuss additional topics and the conversation turned to new crime strategies and moving more towards predictive analysis. “There is a difference between data smart policing and predictive analysis,” stated Lt. Buckner who described predictive analysis as. “inventing programs that would help predict where the next crime may be committed. I understand that it is not an exact science, but he [Sheriff Bonner] is looking more towards predictive analysis, that’s something he’s charged all of us with. So hopefully in the next year or so you’ll see us launch some initiatives that will address that particular issue. Our crime is trending down and we’re happy about that. About a month or so ago I reported a significant decrease in crime, about 31 percent and that’s huge! That kind of tells us that we’re doing the right thing, we’re on the right path.” paramount importance to us in those days. The last one I remember was an electric blue Pontiac Grand Ville coupe, 1975 or ’76 model when they were really fly. We moved to Whitehaven shortly after that, but I got a hell of closer for you before we bring your mindset into the present day. South Parkway East was always famous for two things, the so-called big-time Negroes inhabiting the gorgeous houses it’s lined with and that dern train track at Willet. But it could be really cool sometimes because very often after concerts at the Mid-South Coliseum you’d hope you got caught by the train headed home because back then you could easily wait for what sometimes seemed like hours for the train to clear, as it would regularly stop and sit for uncountable minutes on end. On pretty nights everybody would get out and mingle, talk about the show and other things, or do some smooching if you were lucky. On one famous night, according to my friends Ed and Revis, off all people Elvis got stuck by the train one night. Revis stayed right near the tracks, and Ed further east on Kyle. They were walking back to Rev’s from Ed’s house and there was a long line of cars waiting out the train. So they were shucking and jiving with the people in the cars when they came up on a limousine. They thought it might have been one of the stars from the show, so they didn’t go knock on the windows, they just stood and stared. After a while they said the back window rolled down and a white man’s hand came out and waved them over to the car. Limo struck, plus with all the people in the world around, they didn’t hesitate, and they swore the rest of their lives it was Elvis and he kicked it with them, gave them both $100 bills to keep quiet and went on his way like everybody else when the train moved on. Call it a lie if you want to but Revis’s mother confirmed it to me and he and Ed would argue you down if you said a bad word about Elvis in front of them, and they grew up to be real gangsters for quite a long time. So I’ll close with this. If Elvis was a racist he suffered the irony of instant karma, as he became the pop era’s biggest victim of racism. Success ate Elvis alive, and the only true joy you could see in his art was when he performed music, and the few good movie roles he had. And for anybody that wants to say the man was a thief, I dare you take a look at one of those early Elvis clips. May favorite one is him dancing across the stage on on one leg, getting to the other side, grabbing one of his legs like it had just broken, plopped it down like he was resetting it, and continued busting it out on stage. You can’t teach that. That was pure soul. Tony Jones has written for several Memphis publications since high school and has worked independently as a publicist and media director for national concert tour productions. He is currently completing a memoir of State Rep. Barbara Cooper and in pre-production of his play about the social impact of Stax Records. Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Lt. Anthony Buckner (center standing), was the featured guest speaker during the January meeting of the North Shelby County Democrats held January 8, 2019 in Millington, TN. 12 25
By Tony Jones Rap group Public Enemy’s lead vocalist Chuck D. brilliantly stamped the cultural sea change hip hop was about to For those who want to help, Buckner, who can be force upon the world when his (too most of America) scarily emphatic young black voice proclaimed “F--- Elvis!” on their eponymous 1990 blockbuster single Fight The Power. But the problem is, while the sentiment and the belief behind the statement may have been emphatically honest, it does not mean it is just as emphatically true. And before any little ignorant wanna be shopping mall revolutionaries and old fossil angst eaters want to start to screaming that I need to give up my triple plated real brother pass, let me school you a bit, if you have enough moxie to let me. Oh, I shouted the line out just a loud of my fellow music lovers when the song came out. And even better, I experienced many truly embracing moments of solidarity shouting it out at several PE concerts. I had made my bones as a young music writer, and one of the first tours I ever covered up close and personal (thanks to local impresario Fred Jones) was the first Def Jam live tours, so whenever Public Enemy came through, I was in. Never got to buddy up with them, but I’ve never been into celebrities, just their work. But as much as I love Chuck D’s work as an artist and respect him as a firebrand pubic educator, just as I had to once admonish a local pundit that he had no right publicly writing that O.J. Simpson was guilty of his wife’s amous murder, Chuck D. alike was not given God’s vision to judge the actions of another man which he did not himself witness. Scream until you Tarzan movie ever hatred many black comes from rumors and into the truth of the has nothing to do with Oh, I know the ad nauseum that Elvis can’t do anything for And you can probably want to, but it’s all can find the person made to or in the In other words, Just because a rumor true. He may have for witness tesitmonials of Big E didn’t have a trying to emulate, not knew him. And it may be that one of the first forget the image of every made, but much of the people still hold for Elvis urban legends that easily fit Elvis phenomenon, but it Elvis the man. stories. It’s been repeated once spouted, “A black man me but shine my shoes.” Google up many more if you blither blather unless you to whom the quote was presence. miss me with the fribbish. spreads doesn’t mean it’s all I know, but from the eye his black contemporaries, hatred problem. He was confiscate said those who shocking to you to find out places I recommend any black tourist I meet to visit is Sun Studios. Rufus Thomas, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King regularly recorded at Sun. Sam Phillips, the man who owned Sun and discovered Elvis, couldn’t change America, but he did try. The white folks just weren’t having it. So if anyone would know if Elvis was as bad as the rest, it would be Rufus Thomas, and I talked about Elvis many times with him because I knew him for as long as I have memories. Expletives deleted, this is as close to quoting him as the English language will allow me to duplicate when I asked him about Elvis. To the best of my recollection, Rufus told me the thought of Elvis being racist was more bull crap that they have at the stockyards. Rufus told me directly that white boy had just as much talent and just as much guts as anybody playing in Memphis. He said Elvis used to hang out on Beale Street just like everybody else because he loved black music and he loved black people. He was just a po ass white boy that had it in him. And half the time they had to lend him quarters to buy hot dogs. I got essentially the same story about the face to face Elvis from legendary soul music producer Willie Mitchell. Like everyone else, Elvis called him “Pops,” and loved to have him play personal parties for him. “Yes he did,” Pop’s daughter Yvonne Mitchell confirms. “Daddy played his Christmas parties at the Club Manhattan all of the time.” Got a couple of more for you. When Elvis’s cook Mary Jenkins Langston died at the turn of the century, it bought a wistful note to my heart. I’m not certain if it was her, but there was a lady who lived on Davant Street where I grew up as a child whom we were told was Elvis’s maid, and she kept one of the freshest new cars on the street every year, a thing of 24 13 reached at Anthony.Buckner@shelby-sheriff.org for speaking engagements, spoke briefly about the Shelby County Sheriff Office’s ongoing need for mentors and employers who can provide employment opportunities. “We desperately need mentors,” said Buckner. “We need mentors to come out and sit along side some of our juveniles in custody. Whether you’re coming out weekly or monthly, every little bit counts to these young people. Having someone to simply come along and help read or help them to learn how to read goes a great distance. If you own a business or know someone who owns a business, help get this information out there and help us to provide help for these kids with some job opportunities.” There are an array of opportunities for individuals and businesses to help and Shelby County needs your help getting involved with some of these children. The mission of the Mentor Initiative Today (MIT) program in the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Jail Division is to promote public safety, a positive change in offender behavior, and to return offenders into society better than they were when they arrived. The Jail Volunteer Services program permits approved volunteer mentors to be matched with offenders to establish a mentoring relationship, to provide mentors with training and scheduled debriefings to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. The program does not discriminate against any mentor based on age, gender, race, color, religious preference, national origin or disability; however participants must be at least 21 years of age to apply and once approved, all mentors must adhere to and abide by SCSO policies, rules, and regulations. “There is no such thing as a child being born bad,” added Sheriff Floyd Bonner Jr. “I believe that some children are birthed into bad situations.” Additional information on becoming a mentor can be downloaded here. The spring training class for new volunteers will be held from 6 to 8 PM on Thursday, March 14, 2019, at the Training Academy, 993 Dovecrest Road, and the fall session will be held at the same time and place on Thursday, September 12, 2019. For the full schedule of 2019 events, click here, call (901) 222-4811 or email Mark.Berryhill@shelby-sheriff.org.
Some decisions we make in our lives are easy, while some are more difficult. For Eric R. Coleman, 45, a medically retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8), the decision to assume the responsibility of raising his only daughter was a no-brainer. There was no decision to be made, it was just the next logical step to take in his life at the time. “I recently retired from the military,” said Coleman who was running marathons before leaving his daughter to go off in deployment. “Life changes and I come back from deployment in a wheelchair. My daughter has been through a lot. It has been tough on all of us.” Coleman had narrowed his search down to three homes in Shelby County and chose one that was near an elementary school to purchase. “At the time my daughter was in elementary school,” said Coleman who was married and was able to rely on his former spouse as a support mechanism for his daughter during his deployment. “Bartlett has been our home for the past five years. I chose to move to the Bartlett community because I had found a house that was conveniently located right around the corner from an elementary school which allowed me to be able to drop by to pick my daughter up on my way home from work.” Coleman likes to be an active he served our nation in uniform, hands-on service by volunteering St. Jude Children’s Research and Literary Memphis. One of his Adopt-A-School program with a provided opportunities for support a reading program. Even knows his current and future provide enough for he and his “Because we’re blessed, I feel said Coleman when discussing receive if elected as the next Sentakes bipartisanship to make our Whitehaven resident Lorenzo Caldwell (right with arm extended) discusses the lack of need for residential units and desire to return the exodus of stable entities of family, sit-down type restaurants and entertainment needs for museums and other amenities in Whitehaven during the Thursday evening, January 24, 2019, forum session for the Memphis 3.0 plan for Whitehaven as Alexander Preudhomme of Opticous (center), District Planning staff member Angelica Carey (beige sweater), Abundant Grace Fellowship Church Communications Director Arnest Martin (far left) and entrepreneur and real estate agent Sherrill Walker (rear facing forward) listen to his suggestions. Did You Know? Whitehaven Plaza Planning into Action, a series of district planning sessions ran from April through June 2018. During those months, City of Memphis staff planners Melanie Batke and Angelica Carey were joined by Neili Jones, a local artist making themselves available to discuss concerns specific to the area that assisted them in developing a comprehensive plan. Self + Tucker Architects provided their expertise on building and design and led three district workshops. During the first workshop, residents and stakeholders identified the strong, weak, and areas of opportunity in the district. Relying on the areas identified in the first workshop, the second workshop was a community led tour hosted by the planning team and included discussions on the types of changes the community identified. Four areas of Whitehaven were identified by those in attendance as anchors. The third workshop allowed attendees to confirm the previously identified anchors and to add any additional anchors found. Discussions concerning what actions should occur at each anchor in the future and the prioritizing of the timing of which actions would move the district forward were the main topics. It was during this meeting that the Whitehaven Plaza was chosen as the anchor that would propel the most change in the area. The result, with existing building footprints remaining, included the addition of new multi-story commercial and approx. 209 new residential units. Future development would include existing and new pedestrian refuge and crossings that would decrease block sizes at the Elvis Presley and Raines intersection, offer additional pedestrian safety, street trees for shade and to block wind creating a more enjoyable public space, wider sidewalks, greater access, curb extensions, bicycle lanes, and lower speeds through the addition of a median with tree plantings for a parkway designation. One to five story buildings abutting the streetscape combined with a planted median or curb extensions shrink the space to a more enjoyable human scale by creating vibrant walkable spaces where people are encouraged to stay and mingle promoting economically stable conditions over the long term for the anchor. For additional information, visit memphis3point0.com, email info@memphis3point0.com, or call (901) 636-6100. To watch videos from the final day’s presentation, visit here. 14 part of the community. Not only has he serves our community through at the Ronald McDonald House, with LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, and many efforts includes developing an local elementary school that locally stationed service members to without his active duty pay, Coleman level of economic stability will daughter to live comfortably. that blessing must be paid forward,” the additional income he would ate District 32 representative. “It government run effectively. I’m running for this position to restore balance to the legislature so all voices are represented. It is something we can do together. It’s a small salary, but it would just be greedy for me to accept it and just use it as more money to spend or more money to save. If elected, I plan to donate my salary to charity after taking out for my travel and related expenses.” The upper house of Tennessee’s General Assembly is called the Senate. Tennessee is divided into 33 senatorial districts, each district is represented by one person serving a four-year term. To qualify for election to the Senate, a person must be 30 years old, a U.S. citizen, a state resident for three years, a qualified voter, and a resident of the district in which he or she is asking to be elected in for one year immediately preceding his or her election. A special primary election for TN Senate District 32 was held January 24, 2019, and the special general election for the seat will be held on March 12, 2019. Early voting will begin February 20th. District 32 covers Shelby and Tipton County, the Metro Memphis area, and the cities of Bartlett where Coleman resides, Covington, Gilt Edge, Lakeland, Memphis, Millington, and Munford, several districts, and the towns of Arlington, Atoka, Brighton, Burlison, Collierville, Garland, and Mason. The actual ZIP Codes of people eligible to vote for the next District 32 candidate includes 38002, 38004, 38011, 38015, 38016, 38017, 38019, 38023, 38028, 38029, 38049, 38053, 38058, 38069, 38125, 38128, 38133, 38134, 38135, 38139, and 72338. “A grassroots campaign cannot survive without the help of citizens motivated for change. You are encouraged to help us achieve our goal of victory on March 12th by getting involved where opportunities arise.” For more information or to make a donation to fund this mission, click here or visit Eric Coleman online at www.ericcoleman.org. 23
By Yvonne D. Nelson Juan Self and Jimmie Tucker of Self+Tucker Architects purchased the Universal Life Insurance Company from the Tri-State Bank in 2006. “I lived on Walker Avenue, so someone who lived next door to me actually worked at the company. It’s really amazing because, as we had the opportunity to do the research and to better understand the history of the project I came across this lady named Ida Mae Walker. She was not a member of the [J. E.] Walker family, but it turns out that she worked here at the ULICO. According to my mother, who is 95 now but in great memory, this person Ida Mae and someone else, who was our next door neighbor, actually walked from Walker Avenue down to the ULICO during that period which was like around the 60’s. It’s a building, but at the same time, it has so many connections to people in the community.” Tucker mentioned that almost on a weekly basis, he runs into someone with a connection to the building and the U. For example, Melvin Burgess recently mentioned that his grandmother worked for the company and he also discussed how Dr. Walker’s name relates to the Walker Homes community in Southwest Memphis, specifically mentioned Dr. Ernest C. Withers home house where he, his wife and children lived and is now a place of designation on the National Historical Records in the State of Tennessee. “The roots and the connections that the building has are very deep and they ripple through the community, said Tucker. “Having been an architect for 30 plus years, it’s one thing to design a building, but what also is so incredible is when the building has an impact well beyond the physical nature of the structure.” Tucker is thankful that all of the history of the ULICO wasn’t lost because the building could have been torn down only to become another memory of the history of what Memphis used to be. “That was part of what we saw,” said Tucker speaking about he and his partner, Juan Self. “It would have just been such a shame if somehow all of this history would had been lost. We didn’t realize early on how important it was to try to save it [the building]. We just got a hint of it, that it was Egyptian style architecture, the McKissack’s were involved, it was the Universal Life Insurance Company building. Over time, hearing so much more about the connections, like on a daily basis—certainly weekly, someone was frequently telling one of us about a connection they had to the project.” Although it looked vacant, the building was never completely abandoned. Tri-State Bank ensured someone was regularly there checking in to make sure things were not being destroyed or vandalized. Tucker stated that operations were minimized to a skeleton-sized crew, including the building engineer, Mr. ???, who had been taking care of the building for a couple of years, but, the building was being maintained on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, after the change of ownership, the old Universal Life Insurance building clock was restored to its’ original condition. Tucker realized that the firm had to hold on to their dreams for the building, no matter how long that took. “We’ve owned the property since 2006, said Tucker. “In 2016, we finally got a commitment to fund the project. For 10 years we couldn’t get a commitment to finance and move forward with the financial business.” Those 10 years of waiting have truly paid off for the firm. They are hoping to be welcoming the City of Memphis, Business Diversity and Compliance Office to be the buildings major tenant later this year. And sometime this summer, the building, which was dedicated in 1949, will be 50 years old. There is no way Self and Tucker could let such a prestigious honor as that pass without some type of celebration. Besides, in keeping with tradition when considering the mission of the buildings founder which was grounded in helping people who could not become banked in the traditional way to make or afford large purchases, the new tenant is designed to carry forth a highly similar task. The mission of the City of Memphis’ Business Diversity and Compliance office is to increase the number of minority, women, and small business entities certified to do business with the city of Memphis and to assist these individuals and companies with strengthening their capacity to allow them to be able to better compete for opportunities for government contracts much like the way Dr. Joseph Edison Walker did when he formed the Universal Life Insurance Company and the still active Tri-State Bank of Memphis, the place you want to place your dollars if you truly want to help our communities grow. Attendees from the wrap-up session on the proposed changes to Whitehaven Plaza discuss their preferences after the meeting and presentation ended. Representatives from Self+Tucker Architects, including Jimmie Self (above left in center) and Jessica Mason (below left) who are consultants on the design aspect of the project were on hand to answer questions. Left: The former Beale Street location of the Tri-State Bank. Courtesy University of Memphis, Art Department Right: Juan R. Self, AIA, CSI, Jimmie E. Tucker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C and the SELF + TUCKER ARCHITECTS group 22 15
By Yvonne D. Nelson Several dozen contestants appeared in the Memphis Citywide Talent Show Reloaded held Saturday, January 19, 2019, at the auditorium located inside of Fairley High School in southwest Memphis. Sponsored by BCF, cdefilms, YRN Casino and @YourPiercingPlug, the event featured local artists wanting to chase their dreams and win some cash while doing so. Radio and TV personality, Hot Jam 98.9 FM, and AM 730 host Kenny Lee of the Kenny Lee Show, and Street Mogul/A&R Industry Executive Paul “Paul Bunyun” Tutt, joined Hot 107.1 FM radio show hosts REKO on your Radio and Shon Tezzy as judges for the night’s presentations. Participants were judged on their crowd appeal, sound clarity, overall appearance, and stage presence. Performers included Kidd Looni, A Unit, Smiley, Riko the Great, Legendary Baby, NJ3, Glorilla, Young Scooter, Cyran Lee, O-Money, Franky Arenas, Raw Gloss, Yung Boi Star, and Janele & Superstar Jaja Yates, and Yung Hunnid, who won the first place trophy in the show. “All the performers were good, said Lee, “but I can’t express the need for some of them to clean up their acts if they ever hope to get their songs on the radio. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) rules will not allow all of that cussing and profanity on the air. Other than that, they all did perform really well.” Sitting prominently on the northeast corner of Danny Thomas Boulevard and Dr. MLK Jr. (Linden) Avenue in Memphis, TN, is a historic limestone exterior building, styled in an “Egyptian Revival” architectural design featuring a repetitive look of ancient Egypt on all sides. This massive and never truly abandoned building, was built in 1949, by the renowned black architectural and engineering firm of McKissack & McKissack. Founded in 1905, the McKissack firm is the first and the oldest black-owned architectural and engineering firm in the United States. The building was built to be the new home of the Universal Life Insurance Company (ULICO), a firm founded in 1923 by Dr. Joseph Edison Walker, the father of A. Maceo Walker, and grandfather of Patricia Walker Shaw. Born in the cotton fields near Tillman, MS, in 1880, Dr. Walker became a well-known “physician, banker, businessman, civic, and religious leader in Memphis.” He was highly revered and considered to be one of the most successful black men of his time. Walker defeated the life he seemed destined to live by overcoming the poverty he was born into and working his way through college and medical school. He graduated from Alcorn College in 1903 and attended Meharry Medical College. Dr. Walker “practiced medicine from 1906 to 1919 in Indianola, MS.” He was elected “president of the Delta Penny Savings Bank in 1912” before serving in the same position for the Mississippi Life Insurance Company in 1917. To get out of Mississippi, the Mississippi Life Insurance Company moved to the Fraternal Bank building in Memphis in 1920. With 11 founding members,, Dr. Walker formed the first African-American church in Memphis, the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church in 1921 and in 1923, Walker, and five different charter members, “J. T. Wilson, M.W. Bonner, Dr. R. S. Fields, A. W. Willis, and B. F. Booth,” started the Universal Life Insurance Company, which grew to be the second black company in the United States to “attain a million-dollar-capital status (1947).” The company’s founding goal, “to build a service institution that would give jobs and financial assistance to our people, is still being achieved through its use of assets for civic improvements, educational scholarships, and mortgage funds.” By 1926, ULICO’s capital stock had doubled and was worth $200,000. This same year, the company moved into its “first home-office at 234 Hernando Street” and Walker “organized the Memphis Negro Chamber of Commerce which published directories of black businesses. He was also elected president of the National Negro Insurance Association.” In 1939, Walker was elected president of the National Negro Business League and “during WWII, 1939-1945, Dr. Walker served as the “national chairman of the War Bond Saving Club and spearheaded the purchase of $2 million in war bonds.” There were a total of nine states that hosted ULICO offices by 1946, the same year Dr. Walker and his son A. Maceo Walker “founded the Tri-State Bank of Memphis” where he served as the bank’s “first president.” Dr. Walker “groomed his son to succeed him in the organizations he established.” A very active person in politics, Mr. Walker was a Democratic Party leader, a well-known philanthropist and civic leader who “helped finance the South Memphis Walker Homes subdivision which bears his name.” In 1956, Dr. Walker was the first black person “appointed to President Eisenhower’s Person to Person Committee.” Dr. Walker was succeeded by his son, A. Maceo, at ULICO in 1952 when the younger Walker was elected president and chairman of ULICO. Dr. Walker died in 1958. A. Maceo Walker served as president and chairman of ULICO “until 1983 when his daughter, Patricia Walker Shaw, became president.” Mrs. Shaw served as president until her death in 1985. She was also very successful and she was “the first black and the first woman to become president of the National Insurance Association in 1983. Her only child, Harold Shaw Jr., currently works for the Tri-State Bank. Previously, he worked at ULICO making him the fourth generation of his family to work in that organization.” The Universal Life Insurance Company building was purchased by Self Tucker Architects in 2006. The lobby, in the front of the building located at 480 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, has a free historical presentation of the building on display during working hours. 16 21
Left: Westwood residents (left) David Gross and N.L. Joseph speak with Kris Johnson. Right: Kris Johnson discusses the ash coal plant with Westwood resident Robert Gurley. Below: Small clusters gather to discuss the future of the Allen Fossil Plant. 20 17
From 5 until 8 o’clock PM on Thursday, January 17, 2019, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) hosted a public information session on environmental activities underway at the Allen Fossil Plant at the Mitchell Community Center, 602 W. Mitchell Road. Topics of discussion included: 1) The proposed Environmental Investigation Plan (EIP) for Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR); 2) Update on current Interim Response Actions for addressing previously identified groundwater issues at the Allen Fossil Plant; and the 3) Notice of Intent (NOI) and Public Scoping for Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the closures of the Allen Fossil Plant Ash Impoundments. TVA is developing the EIP under the direction of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) regarding coal ash and other CCR stored at TVA’s coal plants all across the state of Tennessee. Representatives from TVA were on hand answering questions concerning the proposed Environmental Investigation Plan (EIP). The EIP provides details on how TVA proposes to investigate and assess the extent of impacts the coal ash mixture has had on the soil, surface, and ground water as related to the management and disposal of coal combustion residuals (CCR) at the Allen Fossil Plant. TDEC is also directing an ongoing arsenic groundwater remedial investigation at the site. TVA representatives will be able to provide information on the remedial investigation and interim action for addressing the arsenic issue. In addition to the activities listed above, TVA is seeking input on the scope of its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) evaluation for the closure of the East Ash Pond Complex, the West Ash Pond, and the Metal Cleaning Pond. The proposed actions would make the Allen Fossil Plant closure area land available for future economic development projects in the greater Memphis area. TVA will also analyze potential location requirements and associated environmental impacts associated with construction and utilization of a proposed beneficial re-use facility to process CCR materials. The EIP and EIS public comment periods closed January 31, 2019. Additional information can be obtained by clicking here, emailing mdwright2@tva.gov or by calling (901) 577-2616. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s Memphis office is located at 100 Peabody Place, Suite 850, Memphis, TN 38103. Westwood residents learn about the Allen Fossil Plant from Chad Reed of TVA 18 19
1 Publizr