Dr. Wilburn M. Cameron Jr., 88, Richmond dentist
Dr. Wilburn Macio Cameron Jr. was known as a man of few words. But he would greet you with a warm smile. He was affectionately known to family and friends as “Little Wee,” but also was nicknamed “Wee” and “Doc.” When people asked him where he got his nicknames, he just smiled, according to his family.
Personality: Dr. Phillip B. Duncan
Spotlight on cardiologist, leader of ‘Spirit of the Heart’
Dr. Phillip Benteley Duncan will go to any lengths — or to be more specific, any heights — to raise awareness about heart failure. The Chester cardiologist plans to climb the 19,340-foot Uhuru Peak on Mt. Kilimanjaro — the highest point on the African continent — in August. He’s undertaking the heart-pumping ascent in Tanzania with his daughter, Erica, and two other people to raise funds for the Association of Black Cardiologists’ (ABC) Heart Failure Awareness Project. Dr. Duncan plans to begin the climb at Mt. Kilimanjaro on Aug. 23 with guides and other support team members and hopes to complete it by Aug. 29.
Tea and testimony draws over 100
Author Casey Curry was the guest speaker at Second Baptist Church’s annual Signature Tea and Testimony event last Saturday at a Downtown hotel. More than 100 people, including many women adorned with colorful hats, attended the event that focused on celebrating women, the roles they play and the challenges they have survived.
Fight over Richmond Christian Center property on South Side continues
Henrico County-based Mountain of Blessings Christian Center still wants to acquire the property of the bankrupt Richmond Christian Center in South Richmond. In a suit filed this month, Mountain of Blessings is requesting that U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Keith L. Phillips either enforce an order he signed in December authorizing Mountain of Blessing’s purchase of the RCC property in the 200 block of Cowardin Avenue or order RCC to pay Mountain of Blessings at least $2.7 million in damages.
Samuels to run for mayor?
Is Charles R. Samuels adding his name to the list of City Council members and others eyeing a run for mayor in 2016? While the six-year council representative insists that’s not the case, others are less certain about his intentions as potential candidates begin to line up. That includes council members Jonathan T. Baliles and Chris A. Hilbert, who both have indicated they are making plans to run. There also is talk that Council President Michelle Mosby also is interested. Richmond Delegate Delores L. McQuinn and state Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar M. Stoney also are being mentioned as potential candidates.
Henrico to replace voting machines
Henrico County is joining Richmond in replacing its voting machines to comply with new state requirements. Ahead of the June 9 primary, the county inked a deal this week to pay $1.2 million to buy new optical scan machines, Voter Registrar Mark J. Coakley announced.
City Council green lights projects for 2nd Street, North Side, East End
New apartments finally could rise on the site of the former Eggleston Hotel at 2nd and Leigh streets in Jackson Ward. City Council gave a thumbs up Monday by voting 9-0 to allow the long-stalled project to receive a grant of $250,544 over seven years through the city’s Economic Development Authority. Developer Kelvin Hanson, who initially proposed Eggleston Plaza five years ago, said he hopes to have the $5.8 million project underway this summer.
Lawyer contends no justification for U.Va. student’s arrest
State ABC agents charged University of Virginia honor student Martese Johnson with public intoxication even though the agents did not believe he was drunk, according to their statements. Instead, they believed he might be using a false ID.
Schools chief calls for $ to change students’ futures
In his first “State of the Schools” address, Richmond Public Schools Superintendent Dana T. Bedden told an audience of about 300 people Tuesday night that education was “my ticket out of poverty.” “Part of my childhood was spent growing up in the low-income housing of Jordan Park in St. Petersburg, Florida,” he said in an address delivered at the Claude G. Perkins Living and Learning Center on the Virginia Union University campus.
Crusade for Voters to hold candidates forum Sunday
The Richmond Crusade for Voters is hosting a public forum for candidates vying for the Democratic Party nomination in four area state House and Senate districts. The forum will be held 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, at Hobson Lodge, 801 Prince Hall Drive.
VUU names Gilbert Lady Panthers coach
Throughout her married life, AnnMarie Gilbert has heard stories about basketball success at Virginia Union University. Now she is in position to create fond VUU memories of her own — as VUU’s eighth women’s basketball coach. Coach Gilbert succeeds Barvenia Wooten-Cherry, who resigned following a 48-85 record over five seasons.
Richmonder Aleem rising up national boxing ranks
Immanuwel Aleem may have been barely old enough to play a hand of poker — his favorite card game — at the Valley Forge Casino Resort in suburban Philadelphia on Saturday night. But the 21-year-old boxer’s fists had enough experience to floor his opponent in an eight-round bout by King’s Promotions.
Grace Street changing to two-way in Downtown
Traffic alert: Expect disruption on East Grace Street from 4th Street to 9th Street in Downtown for two months. The reason: Five blocks of Grace Street are being transformed from a one-way street to two-way, the Department of Public Works announced this week.
City registrar to seek $1.2M for new voting machines
Richmond is close to resolving its voting machine problem. Less than two weeks after the state banned the touch-screen machines Richmond and 29 other localities have used for 10 years, the city’s Electoral Board has selected replacement equipment.
Outrage over Dems Party rejection
Re “Morrissey strikes out in court,” April 16-18 edition: I am a single, African-American mother who never has been actively engaged in Democratic politics — until now. I also am an avid reader of the Richmond Free Press and give kudos to Jeremy Lazarus for his well-written story regarding the Democratic Party rejecting Joseph D. “Joe” Morrissey’s petitions and not allowing him on the ballot for the June 9 primary. I am highly offended that the Democratic Party that champions inclusivity and expanding voters’ rights would reject Mr. Morrissey’s petitions to get on the ballot.
Indifference, injustice and neglect harm mental health services for children
Since 2011, we carefully have analyzed and documented the abuse of Medicaid-funded mental health services for poor children in Richmond Public Schools.
Nation of Islam moves mosque to Downtown
The Nation of Islam has quietly settled its Richmond mosque into a new home in Downtown. Forced to give up its large, steepled space on South Side, Muhammad Mosque No. 24 currently is operating out of leased space at 408 E. Main St.
NASCAR’s big bucks stop at raceway
Twice a year, Melvin Crawley Jr., owner of Crawley’s Funeral Home on Meadowbridge Road on North Side, opens his business parking lot and an adjoining property to NASCAR fans, where they park their vehicles for race weekends at Richmond International Raceway.
Help from high court
News this week of the traumatic death of 25-year-old Freddie Gray of Baltimore at the hands of police is both dismal and emotionally bruising. Mr. Gray, whose biggest crime in life was perhaps being a “joker,” as close friends reported, was nabbed by police after he looked them in the eye and ran. Sometime between being wrestled to the sidewalk, handcuffed and dragged into a police van and being taken unconscious by ambulance to a hospital 30 minutes later, his spinal column was nearly severed and his larynx crushed.
Fourth Baptist to host special Mother’s Day service
A guest minister will keynote Fourth Baptist Church’s annual Mother’s Day program Sunday, May 10, the church has announced.
