VOL. 62, No. 31
August 1 - 7, 2013
www.tsdmemphis.com
75 Cents
LOIS M. DeBERRY 1945–2013
Friendship rules as ‘Lady D’ shares life with the ‘girls’ kajanaku@tri-statedefender.com
by Karanja A. Ajanaku
Being a ‘Natural’…
Laracheal Jones smiles with excitement during her big chop by A Natural Affair stylist, Olga Williams. Also known in the natural hair community as “BC,” removing chemical-treated hair is the beginning of the natural hair journey for many women. “I just wanted to start over,” says Jones. (Photo: Nicole R. Harris) See related story and photos in Lifestyle, page 8.
- INSIDE • Entrepreneurship: Stepping out on faith. See Business, page 6. • Miller time again as Grizz add familiar sharpshooter. See Sports, page 10.
Corey Maclin
• Crash claims Corey Maclin; former wrestling promoter. See Community, page 11.
MEMPHIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
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CNN
by Kevin Bohn CHATTANOOGA – On the face of it, picking Tennessee as the next stop on President Obama’s job tour was an unusual choice. In the last week he spoke in two states that were clearly in his column last year: Illinois and Florida. He, however, lost Tennessee in 2012 by almost two to one in the popular vote. During his event at Amazon distribution center in Chattanooga, he even acknowledged it: “I know that the politics for Obama aren’t always great in Tennessee.” The state is represented by two conservative GOP senators – Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, and Chattanooga is part of the 3rd Congressional District, which has long
REGIONAL TEMPS LITTLE ROCK NASHVILLE JACKSON, MS
Friday H-93 L-75 H-91 L-69 H-95 L-73
Saturday H-93 L-74 H-90 L-71 H-94 L-73
Sunday H-94 L-74 H-86 L-69 H-93 L-73
Services Saturday for ‘Community Champion.’ See page 2.
Now, she said a mouthful and got nothing but, ‘Amens.’ “Lady DeBerry,” said Mitchell, was “a wife, mother of one son and Tish Towns, as her very own daughter. She was a friend to many, a champion for women in leadership, and a loyal and committed servant for this commuSEE DeBERRY ON PAGE 3
Special to the New Tri-State Defender
President Obama speaks in Chattanooga about the ʻGrand Bargain.ʼ The stop was an unlikely one seeing that the president lost Tennessee by a nearly 2-to-1 margin in the 2012 election. (Photo: Pool/CNN)
sent a Republican to the House of Representatives. Currently, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann represents the district. All three were invited to the president’s speech at an Amazon center
that processes and fulfills online customer orders, but they all declined citing other commitments. There were several elected DemocSEE OBAMA ON PAGE 5
Students pose questions, offer advice to new Supt. Hopson Special to The New Tri-State Defender
by Deidra Shores
Recent changes to the Memphis and Shelby County school systems may only appear to be affecting students and parents, but Shelby County School District Supt. Dorsey Hopson clearly knows otherwise. Hopson came to the summer journalism camp at the University of Memphis on Monday (July 29) and had a chance to hear from some of the students who will be a part of
The second African-American woman elected to the Tennessee General Assembly, Rep. Lois M. DeBerry was first elected in 1972. (Courtesy photo)
Mayor Wharton: Unfiltered
‘Volunteer State’ an unlikely stop on Obama’s jobs tour
iTeen Report H- 9 3o - L - 7 4o H- 9 2o - L - 7 4o H- 9 0o - L - 7 3o Partl y Cl oud y Scat. T-Storms Scat. T-Sto rms
For State Rep. Lois M. DeBerry and two of her very best friends, time well-spent included moments when they were “just women having fun being ‘girls.’” Rep. DeBerry – the first female Speaker Pro-Tempore and the second African-American to hold that position – died Sunday afternoon at Methodist Hospital South after a bout with pancreatic cancer. She was 68. Known to many as “Lady D,” Rep. DeBerry’s waves of influence were felt near, far and often. And close to her within that sphere were Gales Jones Carson and TaJuan Scott Stout Mitchell. The three shared myriad interests. “Almost every night ‘The Good Wife’ was on we were glued to the television for one hour. Later, we added ‘Scandal’ to our list,” said Mitchell. “We would get on a three-way conference call to talk about the show and sometimes on text messages. We could be in three homes or three parts of the country, we met by phone or text to talk about our shows. Just women having fun being ‘girls.’” On one show, Mitchell said, “Alicia asks Peter to make a promise...one that we doubted he could keep. We wanted Alicia to dump Peter and go with Will. Gale said, ‘Well Wise One, how could she even think about trusting him or taking him back?’ “Lois laughed because we admired Alicia and couldn’t believe this move. Then, she replied, ‘Because tough times never outlast strong women.’
Deidra Shores
Dorsey Hopson
the upcoming unified school system. “Everyday there is something to
worry about… like 20 tests in one day,” said Hopson, in an attempt to convey to the students the difficulty he faces on the job. Hopson said he will be reaching out to the Memphis community and listening to what people want. Every student in the room understood that Hopson was genuinely concerned with each question and the advice given to him. After all, many of the students have been a part of the school system for 11 years and know the in’s and out’s. Roughly 70 journalism SEE HOPSON ON PAGE 12
The New Tri-State Defender periodically provides newsmakers with an unfiltered forum to address current affairs. Readers can then dissect the offered viewpoints, comparing and contrasting what they read to what they have heard and/or thought. This week, Mayor AC Wharton Jr. is at the plate. With the flak recently directed his way, the TSD was particularly interested in knowing what he thinks is up with that.
Q: You’ve taken a lot of criticism throughout the budget process from Council members, union leaders and city employees, and citizens slamming you for lack of leadership, not AC supporting emWharton Jr. ployees, pandering to big business and doing nothing for small businesses. How do you respond to the criticism? A: I don’t mind criticism. It motivates me to work harder to prove the critics wrong. I just wish the critics would tell the truth and make sure they have the facts before they criticize. Instead of responding to every negative comment, I remain focused on the strategic priorities of my administration: creating safe and vibrant neighborhoods; investing in our youth; providing opportunities for economic prosperity for all citizens; promoting SEE WHARTON ON PAGE 12