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Local music minister treasures experience at Stellar Awards
James Johnson did not win any Stellar Awards in Las Vegas last Saturday night, but he said it was an experience he will forever treasure. “I had an amazing time,” the minister of music at Cedar Street Baptist Church of God told the Free Press Monday after returning to Richmond. “The outpouring of phone calls, text messages and Facebook posts I received in support from everyone back home in Richmond made me feel like nothing less than a winner.”
Two new women’s groups chartered
Two national women’s organizations chartered local chapters in luncheon ceremonies last weekend. Above, 40 women were installed into the Richmond Metropolitan Area Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. The 33-year-old organization’s mission is to develop leaders and empower African-American women.
Monument Avenue race freezes out African elite runners
The popular Monument Avenue 10K looks pretty much the same as it always has — except for the runners at the very front of the pack. Approximately 30,000 runners, joggers and walkers signed up for this year’s 16th edition of the annual event coordinated by Richmond Sports Backers.
‘Bloody, but unbowed’
U.Va. student beaten by ABC agents; Gov. McAuliffe orders all agents retrained
The photo of Martese Johnson lying dazed, bloodied and bruised on the pavement is almost iconic. Blood streams like huge tears from the gash on his forehead and covers his face. His shirt is saturated with blood. The gruesome image of the University of Virginia honors student was captured in photographs and by video only seconds after he was slammed to the ground by state Alcoholic Beverage Control agents outside a Charlottesville bar last week on St. Patrick’s Day. The images, posted on the Internet, have gone viral — drawing fire from people across the nation as yet another example of unwarranted police brutality unleashed against a young black male.
Song by local music minister up for Stellar Awards
James Johnson was aboard a plane last spring bound for a recording session with the Arkansas Gospel Mass Choir when inspiration struck. “I was looking out at the clouds, at his creation, and I was thinking about just how great God is,” he recalled. At that moment, Mr. Johnson, the minister of music at Richmond’s Cedar Street Baptist Church of God, wrote the verses and the end of the song, “You Alone.”
C’evon Jones wins NCAA track title
For years, C’evon Jones trained for a moment like this. And when the moment arrived, she was ready. The Virginia Union University sprinter won the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field title in the 60-meters competition March 14 in Birmingham, Ala. The junior from Pompano Beach, Fla., was timed at 7.35 seconds. Taking second place was Winston-Salem State University’s Raven Covington with 7.42 seconds.
VCU falls in nail-biting overtime to Ohio State
Working overtime in the everyday world helps pay the bills. By contrast, working overtime in college basketball carries no guarantees and can often break your heart. For the second straight year, Virginia Commonwealth University trekked across the country only to lose its first-round NCAA Tournament game — in overtime — to an under-seeded foe. This time, it was to Ohio State University, 75-72, in Portland, Ore.
Hampton takes on No.1 Kentucky in NCAA
Hampton University is in position to make basketball history. After triumphantly clinching the MEAC title and winning its first-round game in the NCAA Tournament, the Pirates will play undefeated and No. 1 overall seed University of Kentucky on Thursday, March 19, in Louisville, Ky. Hampton is the 68th and last seed overall in the NCAA tournament. CBS will televise the game about 9:40 p.m. Thursday, March 19.
Rams win Atlantic 10; head to NCAA West
The Virginia Commonwealth University Rams regained their rhythm in New York, winning four games in four days for their first Atlantic 10 Tournament title. Now the Rams must hope their “reward,” a cross-country trip to the NCAA, won’t throw them out of sync again. VCU, 26-9, is seeded seventh. They play Big 10 Conference member Ohio State University on Thursday, March 19, in the NCAA West Region game in Portland, Ore. Ohio State, 23-10, is the 10th seed.
VUU’s Ruth C. Harris celebrated among 2015 Virginia Women in History
Dr. Ruth Coles Harris was the first African-American woman in Virginia to be certified as a public accountant. The great-granddaughter of slaves, she passed the two-day CPA examination in 1962, when fewer than 100 African-Americans across the nation were CPAs. Dr. Harris also taught in the Commerce Department at Virginia Union University for nearly 48 years and was the first director of the Sydney Lewis School of Business.
‘Do Something’ awards presented this weekend
Twenty-one people will be honored this weekend for their impact on the Richmond community. The honorees will be presented with the first “Do Something” awards from two nonprofits, The Disciples Journey and The Dream Makers Academy. The goal of the awards is “to create an awareness of organizations and people who are making a difference and to move others to take action,” said Ervin Johnson, founder and director of the two organizations.
Rovenia Vaughan, former president of Virginia NAACP
Rovenia Vaughan was a trailblazing member of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP. In 1999, she was the first woman to be elected president of the state’s largest civil rights organization. The state branch was started in the 1930s. “Once the ballots were counted, I felt the delegates had spoken and my past service to the organization was the reason I was elected,” she said when featured as the Free Press Personality in the Nov. 11-13, 1999, edition.
Selma march inspires Richmonder
Rita Willis said she was overcome with emotion when she reached the top of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., late Sunday afternoon. “I just broke down and cried,” the 65-year-old Henrico County resident said. Ms. Willis was among the tens of thousands of people from across the nation — including President Obama, his family, dignitaries and foot soldiers from the time — who assembled in Selma last weekend to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody
To the quiet heroes
Our thoughts turn to Earl Lloyd, the Virginia native who, in October 1950, became the first African-American to play in the NBA. Mr. Lloyd died last week at age 86. Growing up in Alexandria, he played basketball in the run-down facilities of a segregated high school that had no gymnasium. Basketball was played in the auditorium. In college at West Virginia State, he played in the CIAA, helping his team to championships in 1948 and 1949.
CIAA women’s competition stirred by problem
Virginia Union University’s women survived the play-in round of the CIAA Tournament’s basketball competition in Charlotte, N.C. Ashle Freeman scored 25 points and Lady Walker added 22 points as the Panthers defeated Saint Augustine’s 74-71. With the victory, the 8-17 Panthers advanced to Wednesday’s quarterfinals against Lincoln University, which Lincoln won 59-51. Women’s semifinals are 1 and 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27. The final is at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, with live ASPIRE TV coverage.
Valentine gala benefits scholarships
Alga and Earlene Evans, left, join other couples in dancing to a love song at the 16th Annual Valentine Gala of the Virginia Area Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta. The highlight of the educational honor society’s dinner-dance Saturday night in Downtown: The presentation of college scholarships to future teachers.
VSU to go all the way in CIAA tournament?
Flip a coin. That may be as good a way as any to predict the winner for the 70th CIAA men’s basketball tournament that commences Feb. 24 in Charlotte, N.C. There is no clear dominant team this winter and Time Warner Cable Arena has proven to be an equal opportunity venue since the tournament set up shop there in 2006.
3 VUU legends to be inducted into CIAA Hall of Fame
Three Virginia Union University luminaries will be inducted into the CIAA John B. McLen- don Jr. Hall of Fame. They are Dr. Allix B. James, president emeritus of VUU; James Battle, former VUU athletic director; and former Panthers basketball star Ben Wallace. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with six others during the CIAA Tournament in Charlotte during a ceremony 9 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at the Charlotte Convention Center.
Former L.C. Bird football star is college team catalyst
When Nassau County, N.Y., Community College needed big yardage this past football season, they gave the ball to Yahkee Johnson. “Yahkee was our catalyst. That’s who we went to in crunch time,” said Nassau Coach Joe Osovet. “He’s not only a dynamic performer, but also a great person.” Johnson was a ringleader this past fall in Nassau’s undefeated football season.
VUU’s Jones is burning up the track, aiming for Olympics
In years to come, law breakers will need to be in tiptop shape if they try to flee on foot from C’evon Jones. Pronounced “Say-Von,” C’evon is a junior criminal justice major and aspiring policewoman at Virginia Union University. She’s also among the fastest women in America.
