Florida Sentinel Bulletin

The Middleton High School Class of 1954 held its 57th Anniversary last month. The theme was “The Way We Were.” On Friday, June 24, 2011, the class gathered at a local steakhouse for the banquet dinner. Class members in attendance on the front row, left to right: Juanita Cooper Yeoman, Ella Mae Mitchell Martin, Grace Richardson Jones, Irene Ferrell Harris, Eddye Jean Johnson Swain, Ossie Lee Hendrix, Elouise Bradley Byron, Gloria Collins (Los Angeles, CA), Ethel Bellamy Ward, Josephine Brodie Hubbard, Barbara Batchelor Johnson, Geraldine Spearman Boatwright (Cocoa, FL) and Victoria Williams Brown. Second row, from left: Marcelina Milian, Ruben Yeoman, Herbert Bolen, Alma Rhea Purify, Alphonso Williams, Robert Bodden (San Diego, CA), Edmond Morgan (Springfield, MD), Joseph Young Harris, Andrew James, Willie Mae Buggs Burney, Ruth Houston Cage (Nashville, TN), Idella Allen Foster and Robert Earl Sharpton (Miami). Not shown, Shirley Davis Thompson, Ruby White Brown and David Jacobs (Salina, Kansas). (Photography by Brunson)

Jasmine Alexandria Oliver, daughter of Leonard and Belinda Oliver of Brandon, is a recent graduate from South Carolina State University. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. Jasmine graduated summa cum laude with a grade point average of 3.75. Her activities at SC State included: Honors College, Marching 101 band, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, Society of Physics Students, Sigma Pi Sigma Physics Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, and Wind Ensemble. Jasmine will be attending the University of South Florida on a teaching assistantship in pursuit of her Ph.D. in Applied Physics with Medical Physics concentration. A dinner was held in Jasmine’s honor at her church, Allen Temple AME.  (Photo by Lomax McIntyre)

Walmart Foundation held a check ceremony Thursday morning at Metropolitan Ministries where Tampa-based nonprofit organizations received a total of $160,000. The contributions were awarded through the Walmart Foundation’s State Giving Program. The H. E. L. P. Ministry received $25,000. This ministry is dedicated to providing the citizens of the Greater Tampa Bay Area with free meals, confidential ministering and professional job counseling services. The organization services approximately 500 individuals or families on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings.  Michelle Salisbury, left, Market Human Resource Manager for the Tampa Bay Are, presented the check to members of the H. E. L. P. Ministry: James Cobb, President of H. E. L. P. Ministries, Inc., his daughter, Jamesha Cobb and his wife, Toynetta Cobb. Checks were also presented to the Crisis Center ($50,000), Red Cross of Tampa Bay ($25,000) and Metropolitan Ministries ($60,000). (Photography by BRUNSON)

The Tampa Metropolitan Section of the National Council of Negro Women presented Certificates of Appreciation to the program participants during its recent 75th Anniversary Luncheon Celebration. The event was held overlooking the ocean at the Rusty Pelican. From left to right are: Belinda Womack, jazz singer; Dr. Gwendolyn Stephenson, keynote speaker; Janette Spencer Davis, Isaac Ruffin, musician; and Teresa Morning, 1st Vice President and Program Chair. Electa Davis is President of the Tampa Metropolitan Section. (Photo by Streets Photography)

On Wednesday evening, members of the Prime Time Sister Circles, an organization under the auspices of the nationally recognized, Healthy Together Program, held their graduation ceremony. The goal of the organization is to empower African American women over the age of 40 and to teach them to give attention to their own body, mind, and spirit. During the graduation ceremony, the organization recognized Ms. Lashawnda Gissendanner as its 300th graduate. Among those in attendance at the graduation ceremony were from left to right: Ms. Jeannell B. Burney, Ms. Sigrid Tidmore, Ms. Mae Allen, Ms. Gissendanner, Ms. Dianne Blyler, Ms. Satura Smith, and Ms. Marian Lauria Davis. (Photography by BRUNSON).

The Middleton High School Class of 1966 held its 45th Class Reunion June 10-13. There were a variety of activities, including Hospitality evening, breakfast prepared by classmates, Hawaiian-style fish fry hosted by Carolyn Alexander, and worship service.  Luvator Nelson was the Reunion Chair and Tyrone Brown was her Co-Chair. These classmates are: front row, left to right, Ophelia Ball, Jackie Dupree, Minister Leatricia Williams (Class President), Carolyn Brooks, Annie Robertson and Eva James. Standing, Cynthia Few, Louise Holder, Carolyn Williams, Carolyn Watkins, Doris Addison, Luvator Nelson, Gloria Carter and Carolyn Alexander. In the rear, Rubin Padgett, Bennie Holder, Ben Padgett, Robert Davis, Maurice Hall, Estelle Clark, Linda Roberson, Kenneth Ashe, Mildred Philips, Curtis Walker, Tyrone Brown, and Ronald Anderson.

Albert Lee, Managing Principal of Heights Capital Group, LLC, and Consultant to Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation, though it would be a great idea to pull together African American business owners to network and share information and ideas. It worked. Lee says he’s very pleased with the success of the First African American Business Summit. The event was held June 23rd at the Howard Johnson Plaza, Downtown Tampa. In attendance from left to right: Thomas Huggins, III, Frances Wimberly, President, Tampa Bay Black Business Investment Corporation; Sol Davis, Safrone Presley, Charles Young, Jr. and Albert Lee. (Photography by BRUNSON)

Last week, the U. S. Department of Labor selected the Computer Mentors Group, Inc., as one of 15 organizations in the country to receive a grant to help young offenders. During a press conference Monday, U. S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor and several members of the community gathered to announce the award to the community. The grant, valued at $1,007,149,000, is to benefit 66 young offenders with necessary training. Computer Mentors Group, Inc., was the only organization in the southeastern United States to become a recipient of the grant. Attending the press conference were from left to right: Ethan Floyd, a former student and now summer employee of Computer Mentors, Inc.; Mrs. Doretha Edgecomb, School Board Chair; U. S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor; Ralph Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Computer Mentors Group, Inc.; State Representative Betty Reed; and Hillsborough County Commissioner Les Miller, Jr. (Photography by BRUNSON).

Stu Robinson hosted his 5th annual Father Daughter Dance – “Her King, His Princess” — on Father’s Day at the Glazer Children’s Museum. More than 300 fathers and daughters attended the event. This year, Robinson received a surprise proclamation from the Mayor’s Office declaring June 19, 2011 as “Stu’s Annual Father Daughter Dance Day.” This year’s attendees heard the story of 18-year-old twins, Alexis and Alesia Jackson, who will be attending Howard University in the fall. Attendees and supporters, left to right are: Claude Etheridge, Ebony Grimsley, Glynn Hagins, Cathy Etheridge, Candice Salph, Iris Williams, Tyeisha Hariston, Maxine Brooks, Stu Robinson, Zahra Magwood, Michelle Horne, Patricia Earley and Ben Turner. (PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUNSON)