Benefit Concert:

Grand Rapids Times
6-13-2008

Student Hopes Fundraiser Helps To Pay For Studies

MCMAAH Hosts Middle Passage Exhibit Featuring Renown Poet, Artists

Muskegon – Before the year ends, Mursalata Muhammad would like to have reached 200 showings of a traveling exhibit that she developed to commemorate the 200 years since the end of legalized trans-Atlantic slave trading.

The goal is to achieve 200 showings and then have the contents auctioned with proceeds donated to charity.

The goal will be one stop closer when The Muskegon County Museum of African American History displays “Haiku Middle Passage,” through August 2008.

The Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was abolished in 1807 by an act of British parliament and then in 1808 in the US.

“Every aspect of this project serves to remember the intertwining effects the slave trade has had and continues to have on humanity,” stated Mahammad “Just as the human auctions of the past served as mere moments in the lasting effects of the slave trade, the exhibit’s auction also serves both an ending and beginning to the commemoration.”

“Haiku Middle Passage,” reflects the impact and residual effects of the slave trade by presenting haiku poetry, accompanied by visual and musical artistic interpretations.

The poetry is that of Mursalata Muhammad, associate professor of English at Grand Rapids Community College.

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Pilgrim Rest To Install New Pastor

The Grand Rapids Times
6-13-2008

Grand Rapids – On June 26 – 29, 2008, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 510 Franklin SE Grand Rapids, MI., will convene a series of services concluding with the official installation of it’s pastor, Rev. Arthur Lee Pearson, Sr. Rev. Pearson will be the sixth (6th) pastor in the church 81-year history. June 29 is declared as “Shepherd Day” with the actual installation taking place at 3:30pm. Rev. Eula Gaddis, pastor of Prince of Peace Baptist Church will deliver the installation message. Thursday, June 26, 2008, 7:00pm, Rev. Howard Earle is Gospel Messenger. Friday, June 27, 2008, 7:00pm, Rev. C. Rhodes is Gospel Messenger. Many local and out-of-state guests will be in attendance. The public is invited to attend.

Michael Henry Fuller Passes

Grand Rapids – Michael Henry Fuller dedicated 20 years of his life in service as a Head Custodian with the Grand Rapids Public Schools.

He always took time out to share his knowledge and experience with the children in his life. Michael died June 9, 2008. He will be fondly remembered for his impact on the youth at South East Academy, formerly known as Sigsbee Elementary. Several of the young men dubbed themselves “Mr. Fuller Boys” and of this he was very proud.

One young man “Montreal Walker” even took the time and wrote a book about Michael Fuller. The book detailed how he and his friends looked forward to and cherished the loving interaction provided by Mr. Fuller on a daily basis.

Michael Fuller touched many lives in his time with a kind and loving spirit. “He often provided guidance and support to young people all over the city. He was a wonderful example of a father to his own children, as well as those, like me, who had no father to look to.” said Victor Williams.

Michael Henry Fuller was born February 8, 1947 in Richmond, CA. He was raised by his grandmother in St. Louis, MO. It was there that he met and married his best friend and the love of his life Frances “Willie Jean” Fuller. They shared 40 years in marital bliss. They later moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan to raise their six lovely children.

Michael enjoyed life. He learned that with God all things are possible. Family will greet friends at the visitation Friday June 13, from 1– 5pm at Gillespie Moody Chapel. The celebration service will be held at II:00am on Saturday June 14, at Bethel church.

Dean Urges Congress to Extend Federal Unemployment Benefits

lPlan provides up to 59 weeks of federal payments for struggling workers

The Grand Rapids Times
6-13-2008

Lansing - In order to provide more help to Michigan’s struggling working families, State Representative Robert Dean (D-Grand Rapids) urged the U.S. Congress on Tuesday, to extend federal unemployment benefits for workers who have lost their jobs in Michigan’s struggling economy.

“Michigan workers are going through some extremely tough times due to our struggling economy, and are barely making ends meet through no fault of their own,” Dean said. “As we work to create goodpaying jobs now and improve our economy, we must support our workers who have lost theirjobs to downsizing and outsourcing, and are struggling with the highest unemplo3,ment rate in the nation.”

The U.S. Congress is considering legislation that calls for unemployment benefits to be extended by up to 20 weeks in most states. States with high unemployment rates - including Michigan - would see unemployment benefits extended an additional 13 weeks. Michigan residents currently get up to 26 weeks of unemployment benefits. The plan in Congress could provide unemployment relief for Michigan workers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own for up to 59 weeks.

A resolution was introduced in the Michigan House, Tuesday, urging Congress to approve the federal extension. The resolution was adopted on a vote of 106 to 0.

With jobs hard to come by, the unemployment rate in Michigan has been hovering around 7 percent for months. Over the past year, 156,000 Michigan residents have exhausted their unemployment benefits and another 72,000 are expected to exhaust theirs in the first half of this year, according to a June 7 article in The Detroit Mews.

“Many workers have nearly exhausted their unemployment benefits and are struggling to provide their families with necessities like food and medicine,” Dean said. “The federal government needs to help support our workers during these trying economic times. I urge my colleagues in Congress to follow our lead and pass this plan quickly.”

Father’s Day Faxes, Letters, Phone Calls

Chris Sain II Graduates from Wayne State

[Click Here to download Page 8 from the Grand Rapids Times]

Hasani Hayden Wins Computer

[Click Here to download Page 9 from the Grand Rapids Times]

Marshae Freeman-Huntt Dies

Grand Rapids – Debbie Freeman and family members will greet friends, Saturday, June 8, 2008 at 10:00 AM at Gillespie’s Funeral Services before funeral services begin for her daughter, Marshae Freeman-Huntt.

Expected to be among those in attendance are many of the local clients she served as a manicurist at “Pretty Hands Pretty Feet” on Lake Drive before she moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2003.

Marshae died Thursday, May 29 at the University Medical Center In Las Vegas, Nevada.

An honors graduate of Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills High School, she attended Clark University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she studied Sociology and Cosmetology.

In Las Vegas, she was able to fulfill her passion for makeup artistry.

She was a best-selling artist of MAC Cosmetics and eventually launched iCandy Makeup Artistry with her dear friend Jamita McClure.

Being conscious of health and fitness, Marshae recently became Office Manager and Physician’s Assistant to Dr. Pam Gabriel, Holistic Specialist of Health, Wellness and Weight Loss.

She enjoyed one week of marriage to Renaldo “Rick” Huntt before her death on May 29, 2008.

She is survived by her husband, Rick; step-children Jeffrey, Christopher and Jasmine; mothers-in-law Idona Huntt and Mildred Atwater; and mother, Debbie Freeman – all of Las Vegas.

Also left to cherish her memory are her brother, Roger Freeman; two nieces, Dominique and Cassandra; nephew, Wade; uncle, Dwight Beasley; one aunt, Harriet Hobson (husband, Norman)- all of Grand Rapids; one aunt, Joyce Brooks of Atlanta; a great-aunt Corinne Threalkill of Phoenix; two special father figures: Justin Byrd and Robert Davis of Grand Rapids and a host of friends and relatives.

In lieu of flowers, monetary contributions would be appreciated. In her honor, an account has been set up at Fifth Third Bank.

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