Lumberton Informer

In many ways, we take for granted each and every hour of the day and each and every moment that God gives us with anybody and in particular , our family and friends. We kind of say Hello casually, we say Goodbye casually, we say see you later casually, we get in our feelings, shut doors on friendships that we developed over the years and just walk away; not realizing the value of every moment we have with a person. It is in those moments that an exchange takes place and when a person transitions into the next dimension of eternity, we should be able to rest in the peace and assurance that we have deposited everything that God would have us to deposit into their lives and that they did the same so when we hear of their passing and prepare to bid an earthly farewell, we can be assured that we are there to celebrate their life. So let everything that have breath praise the Lord for the life of Mrs. Queen Rogers : a beacon of hope, a w...

Death is a constant reminder of the fragility of life. We must LIVE, LOVE and FORGIVE! I'm sharing a part of my friendship with Donte so my broken heart can begin to heal. People like to wait until a person die before they express how they feel. Please know, I have expressed my love and appreciation for Donte while she was able to appreciate the impact she had on my life and I will continue to show my love by being there for her family. I know there are some that read the title and wondered why I referred to Donte as a DIVA. If you noticed, I turned D.I.V.A. into an acronym. When I think of Donte I have never thought of her as a DIVA in the natural sense because she was not a temperamental or haughty woman. When I think of Donte , I think of her as a true D.I.V.A. because she was DEVOUT, INSPIRIATIONAL, VIRTUOUS, and ANNOINTED . Now, don't get me wrong, she was also a fashionista. As a matter of fact, we became friends over a pair of stilettos. I've known Donte al...

The Election Commission of Lumberton will certify the special election results today and officially declare Kent Crider the winner of an election process that was tainted from day one. Cora Rogers, who played an integral role in this election when she declared that 7 of the 12 affidavit voters did not live in the City of Lumberton, unofficially declared Crider the winner at the board meeting on Tuesday. As she made the announcement, Crider sat next to her with his head bowed and managed to squeak out a correction that he would be sworn in on Friday, January 8, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at city hall. Maybe it was just me but I would think that being elected as the next Mayor of Lumberton would have garnered a more boisterous response. Prior to this election, I was a believer of that every vote counts. Well, those responsible for the integrity of the election process showed me that is not the case. Out of the 1,167 registered voters in Lumberton, 401 voters cast thei...

On the sixth day of Creation God created man in His own image but even God knew that His work was not done until he created woman. Regardless of the might of man, there are things that couldn’t be accomplished without the caress, the wink, the unconditional love, the pat on the back, the sustenance, the maintenance of a woman. I praise God Almighty that we were bestowed with such a woman as Mary Toney, the one I affectionally called Ms, Mary. Last week, when I heard the news that she had transitioned into eternity, my heart grew heavy but the memory of her smile, her warmth and her compassion has given me comfort. I am still grieving over the fact that I won’t see her smile or hear her comforting words on this side of Glory but I don’t grieve as those who have no hope. ". . She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at things to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not...

While the loss of a loved one is never easy, even when anticipated, it is most certainly one of the hardest burdens to bear when they are taken from us too soon. Jayla was a beloved daughter, grand daughter, sister, niece, cousin and friend. She represented a beacon of hope for a better future and now that light has dimmed. The death of a child is so painful because there are so many reminders of what might have been. As other parents prepare to send their children to school, you are starting the arduous process of bidding an earthly farewell to a child you birthed and I cannot begin to imagine the heartach you're experiencing. It is said that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. It may not be this morning but someday, I hope the love that was spread by Jayla's mere presence will carry you through those difficult moments. We, the Community of Lumberton, offer our sincere condolences and deepest sympathy on your loss. May the outpouring of sympathy...

I usually don't blog on the weekend but Vanessa Underwood shared a post on my time line and I wanted to share it with you. Someone found and old newspaper clipping that featured a photograph of her mother, Mrs. Dorothy Franklin (affectionaly k own as Ms. Dot). Based on the picture, you can see she and others have their hands lifted in praise. I enlarged the photo to read the article written by Vance Evans of the Hattiesburg American . According to the article, the event was tne Second Annual Lumberton Day in the Park. Tne event was held at Wood-Hinton Park and the theme was hospitality. It was noted that several vendors were in attendance and festival goers were saying the event was headed for bigger things in the future. Vanessa said the photo took her back to a time when elected officials cared for the citizens they represented. Here's what she shared with me. "I'm not reposting this picture because its a picture of my mother. I'm posting because this pictu...

Today I attended the Day of Remembrance service at the Lumberton Public Library. While waiting for the program to begin, I was approached by Warren Byrd, District 2, Supervisor of Lamar County. At first I thought it was strange that he knew me by name and was able to pick me out of a crowd (although I do have a tendency to stand out; all this faboulosity). It just affirm what I have always known; they're reading the blog but they don't want to admit they're reading. But he was very polite and gave me his business card and his cell phone number. He want to sit and talk to set the record straight and as he said "give me the true facts." Can't wait to converse with him and get the other side of the story. I don't know why I haven't reached out to get his version of the matter but like I've always said, there's three sides to every story. As of now, I've only gotten Ben Winston's version but his facts might be tainted because Winston is...

". . She is clothed with strength and dignity. She can laugh at things to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arises and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her. Many women do noble things but you surpass them all. . .a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31: 25-31 Dignity, grace, courage, faith-filled and strength are all words that describe Carolyn Sandifer. We will miss her quiet, courageous activism and strength but her legacy and contributions are timeless. A woman whose faith allowed her to stand for what was just and right. She cried out against discrimination in the name of equality. Carolyn led a life of extraordinary courage and strength. She did not speak her convictions publicly while failing to honor them privately. ...

To have had Miss Essie as a daughter,sister,aunt,mother, grandmother or friend is to know unconditional love! Her love and memory will remain in our hearts and spirits forever--gently urging us to pursue God’s purpose for our lives. It was our unique privilege and blessing to have had her as a member of our community. We praise and thank God for her. Many of you know that Miss Essie was loving, selfless and devoted. Her life of faith, courage and commitment was a resonant sermon to the ages of the purpose and power available to all of us if we work together. Her example of reaching out to others in love and reconciliation, taught us that love is indestructible and only increases by being shared. May we all walk, as she did, with dignity, courage and confidence in the knowledge that we are all children of The One True God.

Lena Horne, the ground-breaking singer, actress and civil rights activist who, in 1942, became the first African-American performer to be put under contract by a major studio, died on Sunday, May 9, at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. She was 92.

Tonight, friends and family of Sgt. Anthony Magee will hold a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of the fallen soilder. Sgt. Magee died on April 27, 2010 from injuries he sustained in Iraq. The vigil begins tonight at 7:00 p.m. at 145 Courtland Drive, Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Everyone is invited to attend.

Dorothy I. Height's crusade for racial justice and gender equality spanned more than six decades. Ms. Height was among the coalition of African American leaders who pushed civil rights to the center of the American political stage in the years after World War II, and she was a key figure in the struggles for school desegregation, voting rights, employment and public accommodations. She was 98.

Best known for her now iconic role on television's "Designing Women" as Julia Sugarbaker, actress Dixie Carter has passed at the age of 70. I was a huge fan of Dixie Carter, and I loved her role in the "Jury Duty" episode, when she said "I'm gonna hunt you down like a dawg!"

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things,but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. – Proverbs 31: 25-31 How did you find the energy, Aunt Shirley To do all the things you did, To be teacher, nurse and counselor To all of us, when we were just kids.. How did you do it all, Shirley, Be a chauffeur, cook and friend, Yet find time to be , hairdresser, caretaker, businesswoman,and playmate, I just can’t comprehend. I see now it was love That made you come whenever we'd call, Your inexhaustible love. And I thank you for it all. We Lo...

Beloveds, now we know that we know nothing, now that our bright and shining star can slip away from our fingertips like a puff of summer wind. Without notice, our dear love can escape our doting embrace. Sing our songs among the stars and walk our dances across the face of the moon. In the instant that Michael is gone, we know nothing. No clocks can tell time. No oceans can rush our tides with the abrupt absence of our treasure. Though we are many, each of us is achingly alone, piercingly alone. Only when we confess our confusion can we remember that he was a gift to us and we did have him. He came to us from the Creator, trailing creativity in abundance. Despite the anguish, his life was sheathed in mother love, family love, and survived and did more than that. He thrived with passion and compassion, humor and style. We had him whether we know who he was or did not know, he was ours and we were his. We had him, beautiful, delighting our eyes. His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a ...

A candle-light vigil will be held Sunday, May 31, 2009 in the memory of Kewaii Rogers. The event will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Lumberton High School Gym, and will continue through Main Street and end at Wood Hinton Park. Oh Kewaii, you're now an advocate you did not die in vain. Your message is so loud and clear to stop violence again. Kewaii, as we remember you in our memory, And as you fly on eagle's wings you are now truly free.