the village free press
Vol. II No. 11
@village_free
MARCH 14, 2018
@maywoodnews
thevillagefreepress.org
Masters of perseverance How Doctors Pierre Johnson, Max Madhere and Joe Semien went from Xavier to the top of their fields By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
Doctors Pierre Johnson, 37, Max Madhere, 37, and Joe Semien, 40, met roughly two decades ago inside of the library at Xavier University of Louisiana during their undergraduate studies. They formed a bond that helped propel them from college, through medical school and residency to the top of their respective fields. Johnson and Joe Semien are both boardcertified obstetrician-gynecologists while Madhere is a board-certified cardiothoracic anesthesiologist. The doctors recently released a book, “Pulse of Perseverance,” about their struggle, which they said is also a blueprint for African Americans, particularly males, who may be facing odds similar to the ones they confronted while growing up. They sat for a recent phone interview ahead of their upcoming appearance in the Chicago area. On March 16, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., they’ll be at Bureau Bar, 75 E. 16th St., for a meet and greet mixer and book signing. On March See THREE DOCTORS on page 6
J. BOSTON
‘GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN’: Bellwood police officers roll the coffin of their slain colleague, James Eric Davis Sr., to the hearse during funeral services in Broadview on March 10.
Bellwood officer, wife laid to rest James and Diva Davis remembered as community heroes
By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor
A sudden, collective hush seized the crowd of at least 1,000 mourners packed tightly inside of the massive first-level sanctuary
of Broadview Missionary Baptist Church, 2100 S. 25th Ave. in Broadview, on March 10. The scratchy murmurings of the Norcom police dispatch had come over the church’s sound system, unexpectedly it seemed to most people in the audience. Moments
later, a voice announced over the dispatch that the call sign of Bellwood Police Officer James Eric Davis Sr. would be officially retired. See DAVIS FUNERAL on page 5