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■■ NEWS
Mayor Harris asks that Ford Jr. be barred from making grants while under indictment
By James Coleman Special to The Tri-State Defender
Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris is asking the Shelby County Commission to bar indicted member Edmund Ford Jr. from making grants following his arrest on bribery and tax evasion charges late last week, according to a statement released Monday, March 3.
The arrest stems from a series of grants the commissioner and former Memphis City Council member allegedly pursued for nonprofits in exchange for purchases at Ford-owned businesses.
“Considering these allegations of criminal corruption, it is appropriate for the commission to stop Commissioner Ford from making additional grants and participating in the county grant-making process while the prosecution is ongoing,” the statement read.
Harris, a former University of Memphis law professor, also plans to have discussions with legal authorities in the coming days to see what additional steps can be taken to prevent Ford from engaging in the practice as his case develops.
“The federal indictment of Commissioner Ford is devastating news for the residents he serves and for all of Shelby County,” Harris’ statement read. “While there is a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, his continued grant-making as a commissioner unnecessarily taints the process.”
Money for community grants is split evenly among the 13 commissioners. They also require member approval.
Ford allegedly sponsored the taxpayer-funded grants to three unnamed nonprofits. Moreover, the practice reportedly occurred during his time on the city council, which ended in 2018. Ford briefly served on both bodies concurrently after being elected to the
county commission that same year.
The three nonprofits that received amounts on the dates named in the indictment appear to be Memphis Women Aiming Higher Inc., Prime Time Parenting and UCAN of Memphis, according to reporting and an analysis of records by The Daily Memphian. The unsealed indictment says a total of $629,500 in grants was awarded between 2018 and 2022.
Laptops were allegedly purchased from the Ford-owned E&J Computer Services and Repair as part of the
quid pro quo, or other payments were disguised.
The Shelby County Commission has no policy that permits the body or its chair to remove or suspend another member. In the past, Shelby County commissioners accused of wrongdoing have remained in their seats as their cases have progressed. The charter states that a commissioner can be removed in accordance with state law.
In contrast, the chair of the Memphis City Council has the power to suspend a member awaiting trial while under indictment.
The commission’s ethics policies are currently being reviewed by Chairman Michael Whaley.
President Calvin Anderson Editor Stephanie R. Jones
Edmund Ford Jr.
Feagins-MSCS lawsuit shines light on transparency in Memphis government
By Judith Black Moore Special to the Tri-State Defender
Dr. Marie Feagins’ lawsuit filed against the Memphis-Shelby County Schools after her firing last month from the superintendent’s position calls into question the level of transparency with which public officials conduct business.
Feagins received community support at the same time the district’s board of education voted 6-3 on January 21 to end her contract. She claims board members engaged in private discussions that should have been conducted publicly, depriving citizens of their legal right to transparency and participation. Her lawsuit challenges the integrity of governance within MSCS and raises broader concerns about decision-making in one of Memphis’ most influential institutions.
Deborah Fisher, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, explained that concerns about open meetings often arise when people feel decisions were made before the public had a chance to be involved.
“We have had some advances in open meetings laws in the past couple of years, but when there are concerns, the concern is that some decisions were made outside the public eye. And when [citizens] got to the public meeting, members of the government did not fully explain what was going on. [Citizens] then feel that some things were decided, locked up in a back room, and speaking at the public meeting had no impact because decisions were made before the public even got there,” said Fisher, whose nonpartisan, nonprofit organization advocates for transparency in government.
What the Lawsuit Alleges
Feagins’ lawsuit contends that MSCS board members held meetings in undisclosed discussions, failed to provide
adequate public notice for meetings and made decisions without transparency. The Tennessee Open Meetings Act, also known as the sunshine law, mandates that governmental meetings be publicly announced, open to citizens and allow for participation when required.
Feagins’ legal team argues that by conducting business behind closed doors, the school board not only violated the law but also betrayed public trust. If her lawsuit succeeds, it could set a precedent for greater accountability across all levels of Memphis and Shelby County government.
Memphis’ Track Record on Transparency
The City of Memphis and Shelby County are bound by two major transparency laws: the Tennessee Open Meetings Act and the Tennessee Public Records Act. These laws require that government meetings be open to the public and that government records be accessible upon request. However, enforcing these laws has often been difficult.
Challenges include: delayed or denied records requests without valid justification; meetings being closed to the public under broad “legal exemptions;”
and lack of public awareness about how to access government information.
Fisher said one of the biggest transparency issues in Memphis is excessive delays in fulfilling public records requests.
“I have seen it with journalists who have had to wait two to three years and have had to go to court to get the city to turn over records that should have been turned over a lot earlier,” she said.
Fisher added that subject matter also can make records particularly difficult to obtain.
Dr. Marie Feagins is suing Memphis-Shelby County Schools over her firing last month, alleging board members held secret meetings and made decisions without proper public notice, violating Tennessee’s Open Meetings Act. (D’Angelo Connell/Tri-State Defender)
From Page 3
■■ PERSPECTIVE
“Some records are harder to get than others, such as police records or records related to controversy. Records related to schools are also sometimes harder to get,” she said.
Katherine Burgess, a government accountability reporter for MLK50, says that in her time covering government in Memphis and Shelby County, she has found that state and local laws sometimes fail to align, leading to a lack of clarity that can hinder access to public records.
“State law, in particular, only mandates that public records be provided to residents of the state,” she said. “Many government entities require a Tennessee driver’s license to prove residency. This can block journalists who have recently moved to Tennessee or who live just across state lines (from obtaining records).”
The Fight for Stronger Transparency Laws
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government has advocated for stron-
ger transparency measures, including expanding the “agenda law” to apply to all governing bodies.
Fisher explained that when the law was passed, it only applied to local governing bodies, such as city councils and county commissions. It was expanded last year to include state boards and commissions.
“Now what we are trying to do is make it apply to all governing bodies, which would include school boards, public utilities, planning and zoning type boards and industrial development boards,” she said.
Fisher noted that before the agenda law, government entities were only required to provide the time and place of a meeting. There was no requirement for an agenda to be shared in advance. Now, the law requires an agenda be made public beforehand, and it must clearly describe the actions being taken so citizens understand what is being discussed.
“In other words, they can’t just say ‘action on public works contract number 234’ when what they are really going to do is build a new high school or tear down a library. They must rea-
sonably describe (an agenda item) in a way that the public has some idea of what it is.”
How Lack of Transparency Impacts Black Memphians
For Memphis’ Black community, government secrecy has direct consequences. Many of the city’s most pressing issues — education, policing, housing and economic policies — are debated in spaces that should be open to public input. When meetings are held behind closed doors, it often results in policies that do not reflect community interests.
Rachael Spriggs, power-building policy director and advocacy equity leader at the Equity Alliance, underscores the effects a lack of transparency has on Black Memphians.
“The systemic lack of transparency leaves Black people in Memphis vulnerable. It leads to things like overpolicing and government overreach that deepens inequity and limits social advancement in our community,” Spriggs said. “When government is transparent, I can decide to sit or stand up for the greater good. Without it, we feel not a
part of the process,” Spriggs explained.
How
Citizens Can Hold the Government Accountable
If Feagins’ lawsuit is successful, it could reinforce citizens’ ability to challenge government secrecy. But beyond the courtroom, all Memphians can take steps to demand transparency:
– Attend public meetings to stay informed on school board, city council and county commission decisions.
– File public records requests to access critical government documents.
– Engage with advocacy groups such as TCOG that help citizens understand and fight for transparency.
Fisher encourages citizens to use TCOG resources.
“Our website includes news about open government in Tennessee. During the legislative season, we track bills that might change the open government laws – to the good or the bad,” she said. “We try to keep the public informed about those. We also have an email newsletter that you can sign up for to get even more updates.”
For more information, visit TCOG’s website at tcog.info.
Robert Clark, Mississippi’s first Black lawmaker after Civil Rights era, dies at 96
By Emily Wagster Pettus Associated Press
LEXINGTON, Miss. — Robert G. Clark, who was elected in 1967 as Mississippi’s first Black lawmaker of the 20th century and rose to the second-highest leadership role in the state House of Representatives, died Tuesday at age 96, his son said.
Rep. Bryant Clark, who succeeded Robert Clark, said his father died of natural causes at home in Holmes County, north of Jackson.
A teacher and descendant of slaves, Clark was ostracized during his first years at the state Capitol, relegated to sitting solo at a two-person desk in the House chamber and ignored by white colleagues at social events.
By the time he left office 36 years later, he had served as chairman of both the House Ethics Committee and the powerful Education Committee. In a state where nearly 40% of residents are Black, he saw more Black candidates win seats as voting rights were enforced and more majority-Black districts were drawn, sometimes under court order.
Clark also won the respect and support of colleagues, Black and white, who elected him in January 1992 to House speaker pro tempore, a position he retained until he retired in 2004.
Clark was among five activists and elected officials honored in February 2018 during a black-tie-optional gala at the newly opened Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
The glitzy event was a lifetime away from Clark’s hardscrabble early days, when most of his relatives worked in cotton fields on family land in Holmes County. As a small child, he would sit by the side of the field with his elderly grandfather, William Clark, who was born a slave and shared vivid memories
of deprivation.
“He had never owned a pair of pants or shoes until after slavery,”
Robert Clark told The Associated Press in a 2018 interview.
“Their feed was poured over to them in a trough just like we feed hogs, and they had to get down and eat the best way they could.”
That grandfather’s wisdom, he said, helped give him the sense of self to become a leader.
“I’d throw a hand of corn over and the chickens would be eating. I’d throw another hand of corn over there, and chickens would leave that hand of corn and run to another hand,” Clark said.
“And I asked him, ‘Grandpa, why them old crazy chickens got corn and just run to the other corn?’ He said, ‘Young man, they’re just following the crowd.’ And he said, ‘That’s something I never want you to do.’
“And from feeding the chickens, that became a part of me — not just following the group.”
Clark went to Michigan to earn a master’s degree in education, and then fulfilled a promise he had made to older relatives by returning to the family land in Mississippi. As a teacher and coach, he often went into his athletes’ homes.
“I realized many of the parents could not help their children with the lessons,” Clark said. “And I went to the superintendent of education to ask him if he would implement an adult education program. And he told me, ‘No, I don’t think it’s in the best interest of the county to do that.’”
After the all-white local school board denied Clark’s request to start the program that would primarily help Black
Because Black people were generally not accepted in the Democratic Party that controlled Mississippi, Clark’s family had belonged to what they called the “Black and Tan” segment of the Republican Party when he was a child. With allegiances flipping in the late 1960s, he ran his first legislative race as an independent. Only later would he run, and win, as a Democrat.
adults, he announced his candidacy for that board. Maneuvering to keep a Black man off the board, the local state representative got a change in state law to make that school board appointed rather than elected. Rather than accept defeat, Clark ran against that representative, and made history by winning.
Because Black people were generally not accepted in the Democratic Party that controlled Mississippi, Clark’s family had belonged to what they called the “Black and Tan” segment of the Republican Party when he was a child. With allegiances flipping in the late 1960s, he ran his first legislative race as an independent. Only later would he run, and win, as a Democrat.
On inauguration day in January 1968, Clark didn’t know if he would be allowed to take his oath. The white candidate he defeated had filed a complaint claiming he didn’t live in Holmes County, where his family had lived for generations.
Clark arrived at the Capitol with his attorney, Marian Wright, who later founded the Children’s Defense Fund, a national advocacy group for the poor. They were standing near a statue of the late Theodore Bilbo, an arch-segregationist who had served as Mississippi governor and U.S. senator, when they were told about 10 minutes
before the ceremony that Clark would be sworn in.
The ornate House chamber, with marble walls and stained-glass windows, was filled with two-person oak desks where seatmates swapped gossip and often became fast friends. In January 1968, in deeply segregated Mississippi, the senior member of Clark’s local legislative delegation decreed that Clark would sit by himself.
The isolation extended to group dinners for legislators: “Nobody would sit with me,” Clark said.
Sitting alone at tables set for six or eight created a dilemma, he recalled: “I very shortly went up to 240 pounds. I didn’t intend to gain weight. I just wasn’t going to leave all that food on the table.”
Clark and his first wife, Essie, had two sons — Robert G. Clark III and Wandrick Bryant Clark. She died of cancer in 1977, and he raised their sons as a widower, homeschooling them and taking them to the state Capitol while the Legislature was in session.
About 19 years after her death, Clark married Jo Ann Ross. In 2003, he chose not to seek re-election, and the seat was won by his second son. Bryant Clark also continued to practice law. Robert G. Clark III, meanwhile, served as a chancery judge in four counties.
Robert G. Clark
■■ ENTERTAINMENT
The Sins of the Mothers
Book Review:
By Terri Schlichenmeyer Special to The Tri-State Defender
The Bible includes a lot of begatting. Cush begat Nimrod. Jacob begat Joseph. Abraham begat Isaac. Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed and on and on and on. You might notice that those lines are all fathers and sons, sons and grandsons, but in the new book, “Firstborn Girls” by Bernice L. McFadden, it’s like mother, like daughter. For most of her life, McFadden was followed by her “angelcestors,” who watched over her and kept her safe. They swung into action when she was a toddler trapped in a fiery car accident. They subtly stopped her many times when, as a young girl in Brooklyn, she considered killing her abusive, alcoholic father, Robert.
She was never sure why her mother, Vivian, stayed with Robert. Maybe it was because Vivian’s mother, Thelma, had loved abusive men, and other women in the family had had man-problems, as well. McFadden’s matriarchal tree was riddled by that kind of thing — domestic violence, hasty marriages, early death and early pregnancies. In addition, it seemed like every firstborn girl in McFadden’s lineage ran away at age 15. And yet, for McFadden, there were a lot of saving graces through her life.
As a child, she spent time every year in Barbados, summering with extended family. There was always family around for support. Neither of her parents graduated from high school, but she did. In fact, because of the car accident, she was able to escape her father’s abuse and attend a private high school in Pennsylvania, and then college, later. And she kept tucked away a dream of being a writer.
When she was still quite young, McFadden cried when the main character on TV’s The Waltons published his first book. John Boy was a white man, though, and she didn’t dare think the opportunity was there for a Black girl. But she grew and learned, watched and learned some more. She began to understand that knowledge is just another kind of seed, and seeds can grow into stories.
Have you ever accidentally eavesdropped on a stranger in a public place, and before you know it, whatever she’s saying makes you want to lean in and hear more? That’s what it’s like to read “Firstborn Girls.” You’d gladly give up your afternoon or skip your bus or train stop because you simply have to know what’s next.
When you do, it’s unbelievably satisfying. McFadden’s style invites her readers into her life, even in — especially in — the messy parts. Her candor is casual and comfortable without a speck of overwrought embellishment. It
“Firstborn Girls: A Memoir” by Bernice L. McFadden c.2025, Dutton
$30.00 400 pages
will make you feel as though you were there, right with her, in every event. She’s funny and gossipy and relatable, which is exactly what you want in a memoir.
If you’re a fan of McFadden’s novels, “Firstborn Girls” is a peek inside the making of a writer, and it plainly proves why Black authors are important. If you just want a great memoir from a firstrate storyteller, you should be getting it.
Local comedian Wild Beale shares stage with national comics
By Ancelious Meeks Special to The Tri-State Defender
As a star-studded lineup of comedians took the stage at the Landers Center in Southaven, Mississippi, among them was an unannounced guest whose reach hasn’t stretched around the country … yet.
The “We Them Ones” comedy tour brought together renowned comedians Mojo Brookzz, Tony Roberts, Mike Epps, Lil Duval and Karlous Miller this past weekend.
Epps, host of the tour, kicked off the laughs with his offering of impersonations of himself from movie characters he’s played. Then came the surprise. The crowd erupted in waves of cheers when Memphis’ own Wild Beale walked on stage.
The comedian is well known around the Memphis area, but this was a big deal. Still beaming with excitement after the show, he explained how it came about.
“Henry Welch (comedian) hit me up and told me Mike Epps’ manager was looking for a comic in Memphis, and I’m the only name that came to him, so he set it up!” said Beale, whose given name is Wilder Thomas.
He fit right in mingling backstage with other comedians after the show.
“Mane, really I was just chilling. Mojo talked to me for a minute. … He asked how it felt up there,” Beale said. “I told him it was a dream come true.”
Wild Beale faced his largest audience to date. “Yup. The Minglewood Hall had like 2,500; I’m pretty sure Landers holds way more,” he said. Landers Center’s capacity is 8,400.
Being on the stage felt amazing, he said “I honestly can’t even explain the feeling. I just knew I envisioned it a long time ago.”
His sights are now set on an even bigger stage. “Can’t even lie, I gotta do it for the city and get to the FedEx Forum!”
■■ COMMUNITY
Memphis leaders push back against state takeover:
‘Memphis
By Lee Eric Smith Special to The Tri-State Defender
With growing speculation over whether the state of Tennessee might take control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a coalition of local leaders, faith groups and community advocates gathered at the National Civil Rights Museum to send a clear message: Memphis can handle its own schools.
“We don’t need the state stepping in to dictate how we educate our children,” said Shelby County Commissioner Miska Clay-Bibbs, a former school board member. “Memphis voices make Memphis choices. We must keep this conversation about what’s best for the kids, what’s best for the parents.”
Organizer Ron Redwing, CEO of The Redwing Group, brought together a broad coalition of voices recently pushing back against proposals for state intervention. Shelby County Commissioner Shante Avant, another former MSCS board member, emphasized the need to center the discussion on students, rather than political maneuvering.
“We are talking about what adults are doing but not about the needs of the students we serve here in Memphis-Shelby County,” Avant said. “A state takeover would not be in the best interest of our children. We’ve seen this before with the Achievement School District (ASD), and we know it didn’t work.”
A failed model
The state launched ASD in 2012 with the goal of taking over its lowest-performing schools and turning them around. A decade later, the initiative failed to deliver on its promise, leaving many of its schools to either close or transition back to local control.
“State takeovers have never been successful,” said Bishop Ed Stephens, pastor of Golden Gate Cathedral. “They
voices make Memphis choices’
As speculation grows over the potential for state control of Memphis-Shelby County Schools, a coalition of local leaders, faith groups, and community advocates gathered at the National Civil Rights Museum to declare: Memphis can manage its own schools. Organizer Ron Redwing, CEO of The
“We don’t need the state stepping in to dictate how we educate our children.” — Miska Clay-Bibbs
disrupt learning, diminish educational quality and strip local communities of their power to make decisions for their children.”
Redwing echoed that sentiment, arguing that the state should be a partner, not a dictator.
“We don’t need to go [elsewhere] to find answers. We have brilliant minds and strong leaders right here in Memphis who are ready to step up,” Redwing said. “The solutions we need must come from within our own community.”
The community’s plan
As an alternative to state control, Redwing announced the formation of
a community advisory board, which will work directly with the MSCS board to strengthen governance and address systemic challenges.
“We’ve heard Nashville loud and clear,” Redwing said. “And we’re taking action. We’re forming an advisory board made up of business leaders, faith-based leaders, community organi-
zations and top educational experts to ensure this district moves in the right direction.”
He called on state lawmakers to work with local leaders, rather than imposing an outside agenda.
“This is not about us versus them,” Redwing continued. “It’s about working together for the most precious of our resources — our young people.”
What happens next
Despite widespread opposition to a takeover, state legislators, including Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis), have indicated that intervention remains on the table. Cardell Orrin, executive director of Stand for Children Tennessee, warned of the long-term consequences.
“We want to make it clear we don’t need a state takeover, that we oppose it, that the people here want to work together with the state,” Orrin said. “What we need are resources and support — not control. The state can partner with us, but we don’t need them taking over our schools.”
He also criticized the ASD as an example of why state intervention doesn’t work:
“We’ve seen what happens after 10 years of ASD and failure — no accountability, no improvements. They spent over a billion dollars and never held a school accountable by closing. So we know they don’t have the solution there.”
Redwing and his coalition remain resolute: The best path forward is one shaped by Memphians for Memphians.
“We’ve heard Nashville’s concerns, and we know we need to do more,” Redwing said. “But that work must be done by those who live, work and raise their children here — not by outsiders who don’t understand our struggles or our vision for the future.”
Redwing Group, center, led the broad coalition in opposing proposals for state intervention. (Courtesy photo)
■■ SPORTS
U of M legend Whitmore’s jersey raised to the wall
By Liaudwin Seaberry Special to The Tri-State Defender
Tamika Whitmore joined an elite group of former University of Memphis athletes as her No. 44 jersey was hoisted to the wall at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
The All-American collegiate player and WNBA All-Star became the sixth Memphis women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired at a ceremony Saturday during halftime of the team’s Senior Day contest against Tulsa.
“This is the most spectacular day of my life so far,” Whitmore said before the game. “To know that the number I wore will never be worn again and that I left it all out on the court is overwhelming.”
Whitmore, a Tupelo, Mississippi, native, played for the Tigers from 1996-99, accruing numerous accolades along the way: 3-time First team All-Conference USA, 2-time C-USA Player of the Year and an All-American nod her senior season. She also finished her final year as the NCAA season scoring leader.
The Tigers also participated in three NCAA tournaments and one National Invitational Tournament during Whitmore’s tenure.
Whitmore’s basketball journey started at Tupelo High School where her star began to shine.
Her achievements on the court at Memphis set her up for an 11-year career in the Women’s National Basketball Association. She played with the New York Liberty, Los Angeles Sparks, Indiana Fever and Connecticut Sun. Whitmore also played abroad for eight years in Spain, France, Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic.
On the field house wall, Whitmore’s jersey
during a ceremony Saturday, March 1, 2025, at halftime of the team’s Senior Day game against Tulsa. The All-American and WNBA All-Star joined an elite group of former University of Memphis athletes as her jersey was raised at Elma Roane Fieldhouse. (Noah Smith/Tri-State Defender)
will hang alongside those of previous honorees Kim Duppins, Linda Street, Betty Booker, Regina Street and Linda McKinnie. “Y’all finally have a sixth person to sub in,” she said in thanking them.
During an emotional moment, Whitmore paused to inhale the atmosphere before addressing the crowd. Former teammate Nicole Murry passed Whitmore a towel as she composed herself. To that Whitmore responded:
“She’s my point guard. She just gave me another assist tonight.”
After retiring from professional basketball, Whitmore coached high school ball. She’s now a public speaker and an entrepreneur.
Whitmore said she appreciated the support of her former coaches and teammates throughout her career.
“Thank you all for believing in me when there were times I did not believe in myself,” she said.
Tamika Whitmore became the sixth Memphis women’s basketball player to have her No. 44 jersey retired
■■ SPORTS
Grizzlies’ rally fizzles, fall to Spurs 130-128
By Terry Davis Special to The Tri-State Defender
Jaren Jackson Jr.’s late-game heroics weren’t enough to complete a comeback as the short-handed Grizzlies dropped a nail-biter to the Spurs, 130-128, at FedExForum on Saturday, March 1.
It was the second tough loss at home for the Grizzlies in as many nights. Memphis also suffered a 114-113 heartbreaker to the Knicks on Friday.
“We can’t be urgent only when we’re losing. We have to be that way all the time,” Jackson said. “We are supposed to win. If we weren’t supposed to win, it may not feel as bad. We are supposed to win these games.”
Spurs point guard De’Aaron Fox sank a fadeaway jumper with 1.8 seconds left to end the game. The shot derailed a rally in which the Grizzlies erased a double-digit deficit late in the fourth quarter. The effort was led by Jackson, who finished with a game-high 42 points.
The All-Star power forward hit 15 of 25 shots, including 5 of 8 from deep.
However, it was his defense that sparked the run. A corner 3-pointer by Jaylen Wells, which brought the Grizzlies to a manageable 114-105 deficit, was set in motion when Jackson blocked a Jeremy Sochan dunk attempt on the other end. Jackson scored the Grizzlies’ final seven points, including a 3-pointer with 23.1 seconds left that tied the game, 128-128.
A 9-0 run by the Spurs in the final period gave San Antonio a 114-102 lead with 7:43 remaining. San Antonio would lead by as much as 16 points during the game.
Fox and Devin Vassell led the Spurs’ starting unit with 20 points apiece. San Antonio center Victor Wembanyama is out for the season due to a blood clot.
However, it was the Spurs’ shortened bench that stole the spotlight. Four reserves combined to score 71 points.
Rookie Stephen Castle led San Antonio with 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting. He
also added seven assists in 32 minutes. Jeremy Sochan added 18 points and a team-high 11 rebounds. Guard Keldon Johnson scored 15 points, and forward Julian Champagnie contributed 14 points.
The Grizzlies also started a newlook lineup. With two starters out with injuries, Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins shuffled the deck. John Konchar and Scottie Pippen Jr. were given starting assignments as Ja Morant and Desmond Bane nursed injuries. Jenkins also inserted Santi Aldama into the starting five, opting to use rookie center Zach Edey off the bench. Edey has started most of the season.
Backups Brandon Clarke and Vince Williams were also out of the lineup.
Aldama responded with a 15-point, 11-rebound stat line. Pippen chipped in 12 points and seven assists. Jaylen Wells also played well in the fourth quarter, finishing with 18 points. The rookie forward hit 4 of 10 from deep.
Edey led the bench unit with 17 points and nine rebounds after playing 26 minutes. Luke Kennard totaled 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists in
Memphis has lost four of its last 10 games and fell to fourth place in the Western Conference standings with the loss. The first-place Oklahoma City Thunder hold a league-best 48-11 record, followed by the Denver Nuggets and the L.A. Lakers.
“It wasn’t good enough. The energy wasn’t good enough. The energy wasn’t there. We can’t let teams punk us. We can’t hope the coins flip our way. We’re not that team. We normally set the tone, and we haven’t been doing that,” Aldama said.
On a bright note, the Grizzlies recaptured their missing 3-point shot in the fourth quarter. Memphis shot an abysmal 4 of 31 against the Knicks, for an anemic 12.9%. Still, the Spurs’ 38.9% shooting (14 of 36) from beyond the arc eclipsed Memphis’ 28.9% (11 of 38).
Memphis will host the Atlanta Hawks on Monday, March 3, at FedExForum. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Grizzlies will close out a five-game home stretch against Oklahoma City on Wednesday, March 5.
Terry Davis
Scotty Pippen Jr. stretches over the Jeremy Sochan for the jump shot in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 130-128 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the FedExForum. (Photos Noah Smith/Tri-State Defender)
Santi Aldama shoots a fadeaway in the Memphis Grizzlies’ 130-128 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at the FedExForum.
■■ BUSINESS Complete Computer Services builds a legacy
By Candace Gray Special to The Tri-State Defender
When Marcus Brown started Complete Computer Services, he had one goal in mind: provide a life and put food on the table for his family.
This veteran entrepreneur has done that and more.
An East High School graduate, Brown, attended Mary Holmes Junior College in West Point, Mississippi, before returning to Tennessee to attend Tennessee State University in Nashville, and later Memphis State University (now the University of Memphis). He studied computer science and worked at a subsidiary of Union Planters before embarking on his entrepreneurial journey.
“I was at a crossroads and had a major decision to make,” Brown said. “I chose to start my business.”
“When I talked to other successful business owners, they said ‘You’re guaranteed to do well if you do a service-oriented business,’ and I trusted them, so I went for it,” he said.
And so began a 40-plus year journey that Brown now shares with his wife, Sylvia, the chief financial officer; their son, Marcus Brown II, the chief operating officer and project manager; and their daughter, Brittany Horton, the social media manager.
The company provides computer services in-house at 3445 Poplar Ave., #10, and on-site at clients’ locations and for projects such as new builds.
Brown says one of his greatest blessings is being able to share his life’s work with his son, who will one day take his place at the helm.
“There is no greater feeling than to work beside your son, daughter or family. The family that not only prays together but works together also stays together,” said Brown.
“It’s a privilege to see the growth of your children,” he said. “But to watch them create their own lives, maintain their lifestyle and help you – there’s just no value you can put on that.”
“When a customer asks me about a computer system, that customer regards my answer as the law, so I have to know the industry, be great at what I do and grow every day.”
— Marcus Brown II
Marcus Brown II officially joined the business in 2013.
“But from a young age, I was always around the business, and loved fixing things – taking them apart and putting them back together,” said Brown II.
“Then I started to learn the network side of things, then the customer service piece and loved the idea of owning (the company) one day,” he said.
Though Brown II followed a different path, graduating from Christian Brothers High School, continuing on to Southwest Community College and earning a certification in Cisco Networking and Computers, his commitment to his craft, industry and clients
“When I talked to other successful business owners, they said ‘You’re guaranteed to do well if you do a service-oriented business,’ and I trusted them, so I went for it.”
— Marcus Brown
keeps him motivated.
“The challenge of figuring out a technical task or project, meeting people from different industries and providing amazing customer service motivates me every day,” said Brown II. “When a customer asks me about a computer system, that customer regards my answer as the law, so I have to know the industry, be great at what I do and grow every day.”
Growing with the times
In the computer science industry, keeping up with the latest technology and trends is paramount to success, as is providing exemplary customer service. Brown says their business and of-
ferings have changed throughout the years. For example, for 15 years they operated a training facility that helped people learn Microsoft products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) but don’t anymore.
“One of our biggest challenges is finding a niche, where you want the business to focus for a time,” said Brown. “And then when industries change, you have to be ready to meet clients’ new needs.”
Brown shared that technology in churches, for example, has evolved tremendously over the last 20 years. Golden Gate Cathedral Church is one of their long-time clients, along with Trust Marketing and The Carter Malone Group.
“We’ve worked with some of our clients for 30-plus years,” Brown said. “So much has changed in our industry. We must grow and evolve just as the industries and clients that we serve do.”
The father-son duo share a passion for customer service (and having fun while doing so) and professionalism. They believe that building a system that works for your business is what helps it become sustainable.
“We find out what our customers need, then create a system for it, perfect it and repeat it with new employees,” said Brown II.
Brown II suggests that entrepreneur hopefuls should glean knowledge and wisdom from those who have been where you’re trying to go.
“It’s always an honor and a privilege to tell someone my dad has been in tech for 40-plus years, and I’m taking over for him. It makes me so proud,” said Brown II.
Fun Fact: Marcus Brown believes in giving back and does so through mentorship. If he’s not at work or on the golf course, he’s mentoring young people and entrepreneurs.
Learn more about Complete Computer Services on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Website: https://completecomput. wpengine.com
Marcus Brown, right, founded Complete Computer Services to provide for his family. He calls sharing his life’s work with his son, Marcus Brown II, who will eventually take over, one of his greatest blessings. “There is no greater feeling than to work beside your son, daughter or family,” Brown said. (Courtesy Complete Computer)
PUBLIC NOTICES / CLASSIFIEDS
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000915 Big Creek Park-Phase 2B Jones-Boyd Trail Development. Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn.gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the abovedescribed Sealed Bid.
SEALED BID I000915 DUE DATE
WEDNESDAY APRIL 2, 2025 AT 2:00 PM CST
(SB-I000915) Big Creek Park-Phase 2B JonesBoyd Trail Development
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Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.
By order of
LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
Shelby County Government has issued Sealed Bid number I000919, Qualys Vulnerability Management (Information Technology). Information regarding this Bid is located on the County’s website at www.shelbycountytn. gov . At the top of the home page, click on the dropdown box under “Business”, Click on “Purchasing” and “Bids” to locate the name of the above-described Sealed Bid.
SEALED BID-I000919 DUE DATE TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2025 AT 2:30 PM CDT (SB-I000919), QUALYS VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT (Information Technology)
Shelby County is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer, drug-free with policies of non-discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service.
By order of LEE HARRIS, MAYOR SHELBY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
LEGAL NOTICE
Request for Qualifications
RFQ Number 25-0010 INTERNAL AUDIT SERVICES
Sealed statements of qualifications] for Internal Audit Services will be received by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (Authority), Procurement Department, Memphis International Airport – Receiving Dock, 4150 Louis Carruthers Drive, Memphis, TN 38118, until 2:00 PM local time, on April 10, 2025. A listing of all proposers responding will be posted to the Authority’s website one (1) hour after the response deadline. Responses to the Request
Rates are non-commissionable and are quoted at the net rate. No refund for early cancellation. For additional information contact Sales Dept. at (901) 746-5201 or email: advertising@tsdmemphis.com.
for Qualifications will not be publicly opened and read. Packet with submittal instructions, additional data, and response format may be found on the Authority’s website on or after March 05, 2025.
A pre-proposal meeting will be held on March 20, 2025 at 1PM at the Authority’s Board Room on the Mezzanine Level, Terminal B of the Memphis International Airport, 2491 Winchester Road, Memphis, TN 38116. All attendees must register at www.eventbrite.com
All Respondents are responsible for checking the Authority’s website up to the submission deadline for any updates, addenda, or additional information. In accordance with the Authority’s purchasing policies, the Authority will give preference to businesses located in Shelby County, Tennessee when awarding contracts and making purchases, unless prohibited by law. The successful Respondent must sign a contract with the Authority that includes Federal Aviation Administration provisions, if applicable, regarding the Buy American Preference, Foreign Trade Restriction, Davis-Bacon, Affirmative Action, Debarment and Suspension, Prohibition on Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, Domestic Preferences for Procurements, and Drug-Free Workplace, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all responses to this Request for Qualifications in whole or in part; to waive any informalities, technicalities, or omissions related to this Request for Qualifications; and to reject responses on any other basis authorized by the Authority’s purchasing policies.
The Authority is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination based on the grounds of age, race, sex, color, national origin, disability, marital status, military service, or sexual orientation in its hiring and employment practices and in the admission to, access to, or operation of its programs, services, and activities.
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Terry Blue, A.A.E. President and CEO Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
Two Detroit children in a van died from carbon monoxide not excessive cold, autopsies show
DETROIT (AP) — Two Detroit children who recently died in a van in below-freezing temperatures were victims of carbon monoxide, not exposure to cold weather, authorities said Wednesday.
Police had said that Darnell Currie Jr., 9, and A’millah Currie, 2, likely died from the cold while in an unheated vehicle on Feb. 10, though they cautioned that autopsies were pending at the time.
The deaths occurred while their family didn’t have a home. There were five children and two adults in a van parked in a casino garage.
The cause of death was carbon monoxide toxicity while the manner of death was accident, said Dr. Lok-
Man Sung, the Wayne County medical examiner.
The deaths caused Detroit officials to try to learn if the family had fallen through cracks in social services.
The children’s mother had called the city on Nov. 25 to say their temporary housing was about to end, but no one followed up and she didn’t call back, Mayor Mike Duggan said.
Duggan announced policy changes last week, including in-person visits with families reporting an imminent loss of housing, a 24-hour hotline and police checks of parked cars.
“This cannot ever happen again,” he said.
Built by Southern Serenity Homes in the Manor at Hall Creek subdivision located in Arlington, TN. Estimated value: $640,000.
Bonus Prize
Get your ticket by May 16 for a chance to win the Ultimate Memphis Basketball Experience including season tickets to the Memphis Grizzlies, season tickets to the Memphis Tiger’s men’s basketball, and Peabody Weekend Getaway, courtesy of Regions Bank, Campbell Clinic and The Peabody Memphis.
