NO 1 ISSUE 22
BRINGING YOU ENLIGHTENING, EDUCATIONAL, EMPOWERING, INSPIRING, THOUGHT-PROVOKING INFORMATION
IN MEMORIAM John Mervin Marsh, Jr. 1929 - 2012 John Mervin Marsh, Jr. was born to Mervin Sr. and Agnes Marsh in Weeks Island, LA. on August 19, 1929. He married Barbara Sennette and they would have celebrated their 64th Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday, January 31. Mervin, known to friends and family as “Slack” served in the U.S. Army in the early 50’s and returned to join his Dad working as a Longshoreman for ILA Local #1504. He retired as the Business Agent for the local Union. Mervin was an active member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church. He was affiliated with the Knights of Peter Claver and The Sportsman Club. In his younger years he played on an All Black Semi-Pro Baseball team. He was an avid golfer, a league bowler and was involved in many other Civic and Community Organizations. In 2006, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (bone marrow cancer). After Hurricane Ike, he relocated to Dallas to have access to the best medical care. Even in his illness, Mervin touched the lives of many people with his friendship and generosity and maintained his trademark sense of humour to the end. After a stay at the Traymore Rehab Nursing Facility, he was placed on hospice on Jan. 17, and passed away peacefully at the home of his daughter one week later. He is preceded in death by his parents Mervin Sr. and Terry Marsh, Lumis Sr. and Agnes Marsh Beyonce, and one brother: Andre Marsh of Galveston, TX. He leaves to mourn him – his faithful wife of 64 years - Barbara Sennette Marsh. Children: Jackie Marsh Shepherd of Wylie, TX, Cynthia Marsh Ratcliff (Billy) of Dallas, TX, John Marsh, III (Angela) of Lewisville, TX, Ray Marsh (Deanna) of Flower Mound, TX. Other Children: Beonvia Maxey (David) and BoReese Maxey of Austin, TX. Sisters: Selena Marsh Rittenhouse of Galveston, TX, Florence Beyonce Bowers (Jimmy) of LaMarque, TX, Tina Beyonce Knowles (Matthew) of Houston, TX, Sharon Marsh Allen (Michael) of Clear Lake, TX Brothers: Roland Beyonce (Jeanette) of Austin, TX, Larry Beyonce of Houston, TX, Lumis Beyonce, Jr. (Cynthia) of Clear Lake, TX, Brandon Marsh of Galveston, TX, Steven Marsh (Jessica) of Galveston, TX and sister in-law Adair Marsh of LaMarque, TX. Special Cousin: Shirley Franco of Brooklyn, NY. 12 Grandchildren, 16 equally-treasured Great-Grandchildren and countless nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends who were blessed to know him.
David Peaston March 13, 1957 – February 1, 2012 David Peaston's huge, bombastic voice reflected great family roots; his mother Martha Bass was one of the Clara Ward Singers and a great gospel performer, while his sister Fontella Bass has equally distinguished gospel and soul credentials. Starting his career as a teacher and after being laid off in 1981, Peaston moved from St. Louis to New York. He began doing session work and auditioned for a role in the gospel musical Don't Get GOD Started. He also auditioned for a spot in the Apollo's famous Amateur Night competition. He became a featured attraction on the PAGE 18 !
syndicated Showtime at the Apollo in 1988 and eventually landed a deal with Geffen Records. His 1989 LP Introducing...David Peaston was among that year's hottest and most soulful releases, and he also toured with Gladys Knight in America and Gerald Alston in England. Peaston moved to MCA for the 1991 release Mixed Emotions, another truly underrated soulful album. Since 1991, Mr. Peaston has toured in numerous Gospel and stage musicals. After many years of being on recording hiatus Peaston also suffered from a diagnosis of diabetes which caused the amputation of both his legs. Somewhat Shattered but not dismayed Mr. Peaston uses prosthesis and still performs in stage musicals, just recently he starred in hit musical Shelley Garrett's "There's Nothing Like A Mother's Love" which also starred Grammy Award Winning recording artist Ann Nesby and The Funk Legend Larry Blackmon (lead singer from the hit selling funk group Cameo). Mr. Peaston died from complications of diabetes on February 1, 2012. A Tribute to the Legacy of David Peaston will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 11 at Shalom (City of Peace) Church (5491 N. Highway 67). Mourners are asked to send condolences to address: PO Box 210732 St. Louis, MO 63121
Angelo Dundee August 30, 1921 - February 1, 2012 Angelo Dundee’s real name was Angelo Merena. He was born on August 30, 1921 in Philadelphia, PA. He learned the intricacies of the boxing science while watching the great trainers at Stillman's Gym in New York in the late-1940s. The first world champion he worked with was Hall-of-Famer Carmen Basilio, who held the welterweight and middleweight crowns. Dundee, along with his brother Chris, a Hall of Fame promoter, eventually moved to Miami Beach and he was the chief trainer at the world-renowned Fifth Street Gym. While in Miami, MR. Dundee's career thrived. In 1960, Dundee was hired to train Muhammad Ali and he remained in Ali's corner until his fight with Larry Holmes. Mr. Dundee, a quick thinker and master motivator in the corner, helped Ali get through some of his toughest fights. “Any fighter that didn't like Ali should have his head examined, because Ali did so much for boxing”, Mr. Dundee once said. Angelo Dundee’s name has always been intertwined with that of Muhammad Ali. After a 21-year partnership which impacted the far reaches of the world, both names will forever be indelibly linked. In 1976, Mr. Dundee was asked to help shape the career of Sugar Ray Leonard. Again, Dundee was a genius in building a boxing legend and hall-of-famer. Few boxing fans could ever forget his "You’re blowing it, son" talk to Leonard just before he knocked
out Thomas Hearns to unify the welterweight crown. Dundee had such a great respect for Ray Leonard. After Muhammad Ali, the sport of boxing had a void. Ray Leonard was a little welterweight who took up that void. There came a little welterweight that picked it up because everybody needed that. Boxing needs a star at the forefront for the public to stay interested. And if you lose that, you're in deep trouble. Boxing should not be quiet - the worst thing in the profession is silence. You've got to have some noise; you have to let people get excited. We don't have that right now. Ray Leonard handled it all by himself back then. In addition to Ali and Sugar Ray, Mr. Dundee has trained champions Jimmy Ellis, Luis Rodriguez, Sugar Ramos, Ralph Dupas,
FEBRUARY 10, 2012
becoming the first African American to be licensed in the state of California to own a public relations firm. She joined the Los Angeles Sentinel, where she wrote about food and religion for 50 years. She co-wrote and edited the “Black Family Reunion Cookbook,” which was commissioned by the National Council of Negro Women. More than 250,000 copies of the book were bought and it was included on best-seller lists in 1991. At 94, she came to the Sentinel last October and said, "I want my press pass for 'Taste of Soul,'" according to Brenda Marsh-Mitchell She thoroughly enjoyed reporting positive stories about African American life. A grateful public and readership honored her with many awards and accolades during her lifetime at the Los Angeles Sentinel. She left pleasant memories and accomplishments that will be forever cherished by a grateful populace.
Patricia Stephens Due December 9, 1939 – February 7, 2012
Willie Pastrano, and George Foreman. Actually one of Dundee’s great feats was when he was in Foreman’s corner as he knocked out Michael Moorer to win the heavyweight title.
Libby Clark January 2012 Services for Libby Clark, a trailblazing Black female journalist, food and religion writer for the Los Angeles Sentinel for 50 years and editor of the “Black Family Reunion Cookbook” were held Jan. 30 in Los Angeles, where she died of Alzheimer’s disease. She was 94. A native of Chester, Pa., she was a graduate of Columbia University where she was one of four Black journalism students. She was the first Black woman to write for the Chester Times and later worked for the Pittsburgh Courier’s west coast bureau. A syndicated food writer whose work
(Courtesy Photo/Michael Riddick, Net.Profiles)
appeared in 150 papers, she came to Los Angeles in 1949 with a journalism degree from Columbia but was repeatedly rejected in attempts to land a reporting job with the Los Angeles Times and was turned away from attending an event at the then-segregated Los Angeles Press Club. Following rejection from the mainstream press, she turned to public relations, !
Civil Rights activist Patricia Stephens Due died of cancer in Atlanta Tuesday. She was 72. Born in Quincy, Fla. on Dec. 9, 1939, to Lottie Mae Powell Stephens and Horace Walter Stephens, Patricia Stephens would later lead students in the nation's first jail-in. Patricia Stephens was a student at Florida A&M starting in 1957. During her time at FAMU, Patricia Stephens and her sister, Priscilla Due, organized the Woolworth sit-in. Student went and tried to order from the "Whites only" lunch counter and on March 17, 1960 the students were found guilty and were told they had to pay a $300. Eight of the students, including Patricia Stephens and Priscilla, spent 49 days in jail refusing to pay the fines. This was the nation's first jail-in. While the students were in jail they received support from Martin Luther King Jr. through a telegraph. Patricia Stephens received her degree from FAMU in 1967; she was later awarded an honorary doctorate degree from FAMU. For her work as a civil rights activist, Patricia Stephens was awarded the Eleanor Roosevelt Award for Outstanding Leadership, the Ghandi Award for Outstanding Work in Human Relations and the Florida Freedom Award from the NAACP. "We are deeply sadden by the death of Mrs. Due and have lost one of the nation's foot soldiers for social justice and civil rights movement," said FAMU President James H. Ammons in a statement to the press. “It was the work of Mrs. Due that inspired generations of Rattlers to stand up and fight for their beliefs. We will never forget her contributions to this city, state and nation, which spurred a national movement. She was a courageous woman and we are proud to call her a FAMUan.” A memorial service, which will be held at Lee Hall at FAMU, is being scheduled. !
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