March 16th 2011
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CARRIE MAE JOHNSON
Carrie Mae Johnson, 67, died Saturday, March 5, 2011.
Funeral services were Saturday at Shady Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Welton McKay officiating. Burial followed under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Ms. Johnson was born Nov. 12, 1943 in Doddsville to the late Simon Johnson Sr. and Myrtle L. Johnson.
She was preceded in death by her father, Simon Johnson Sr.; two brothers, Joseph Johnson Sr. and Simon Johnson Jr. and longtime companion Harold George Randolph.
Survivors include two sons, Calvin Johnson Sr. and Stanley Johnson; a daughter, Timika Johnson; two brothers, John A. Johnson of Detroit and J.B. Johnson of New Orleans; two sisters, Ruthie L. McCarvey of Beaumont, Texas and Willie J. Crain of New Orleans; six grandchildren; and a host of other relatives and friends.
DOROTHY RIVERS
Dorothy J. “Dot Jean” Rivers, 72, died Tuesday, March 1, 2011.
Funeral services were Saturday at Tulane M.B. Church with Elder William Wright officiating. Burial followed at Oak Grove Cemetery in Holly Bluff under the direction of Scott Memorial Funeral Home.
Mrs. Rivers was born Feb. 10, 1939 in Holly Bluff to Willie Mae Kimble and Herman Thomas. She attended Cobie Elementary in Hally Bluff and Yazoo Training School No. 2 in Yazoo City. She worked for Joey and Helen Simpson for over 10 years before gaining employment with Ed and Beth Jordan in Carter for 18 years until her retirement. She also provided quality care to many families in Holly Bluff.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert Lee “Bae” Luckett Sr.; her father, Herman Thomas Sr.; and a granddaughter, Natika Deshun Thomas.
Survivors include her mother, Willie Mae Kimble Johnson of Yazoo City; husband, Elder Earl Rivers Sr. of Louisville, Ky.; two brothers, Herman Thomas Jr. and Dexter Thomas of Chicago; a sister, Bernita Bishop (Morris) of Chicago; five sons, Billy Ray Thomas (Ethel) of Pearl, Robert L. Luckett Jr. of Worcester, Mass., Henry Luckett (Debra) of Ridgeland, Herman Luckett (Michele) of Benton, Texas and Rodney Luckett (Mary) of Clarksville, Tenn.; three daughters, Mary Thomas of Killeen, Texas and Gloria Shields (Jessie) and Patricia Luckett of Yazoo City; three stepsons, Johnny Blackmon of Pittsburg, Calif., Earl Rivers Jr. of Chicago and Ronnie Rivers of Pittsburg, Calif.; four step-daughters, Phyllis Rivers, Geraldine Rivers and Joyce Rivers, all of Merced, Calif. and Paulette Bradford (Kenneth) of Pittsburg, Calif.; 34 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Serving as pallbearers were Joe Luckett Sr., Willie L. Jones Jr., Carl Cowans, Samuel Earl Luckett, George Curtis Luckett and Benjamin Luckett.
Honorary pallbearers were Marneko Thomas, Lorenzo Thomas, Tremazes Scott, Cordero Thomas, Rayden Smith, Jessie Shields, Marcus Luckett and Michael Luckett.
J.D. WOODS Jr.
J.D. Woods Jr., 77, died Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 at River Region Medical Center.
Funeral services were Saturday at St. John Church with Rev. Robert E. Toombs officiating. Burial followed at Glenwood Cemetery.
Mr. Woods was born Aug. 2, 1933 in Humphreys County to J.D. Woods Sr. and Susie Mae Woods. He was retired from the Federal Compress and a member of Saint John M.B. Church.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Valerie Woods; and two brothers, Wesley and Anthony Woods.
Survivors include a daughter, Angela Woods of Memphis, Tenn.; sons, Alvin Woods of Memphis, Tenn. and R.T. Rankin of Chicago; brother, Booker McQuarter of Yazoo City; sister, Melven Clark of Yazoo City; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends.
Dear Editor,
The decision by the present school board not to renew the teaching and coaching contract of Mr. Archie Carlyle was a planned and calculated act of politics. This kind of thing has been happening for years.
They didn’t follow policies or procedures in this matter. The state’s report on the district asked the board to stop interfering in this kind of situation, but it seems they didn’t get the memo.
My mother always put her 11 children first in making decisions for their futures. It is clear this board did not do that.
Mr. Carlyle’s only crime was putting his students first. I feel like Jesus, when he told the people at the well, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I and the 800 people who have signed the petition calling for Carlyle’s return can find no fault in his dedication to our community. We are being laughed at across the state, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Our community is losing faith in our ability to work in a productive and successful district. The Yazoo Herald’s sports editor called it a “travesty.” I ask the question, where are all those Christian folks, his co-workers, his pastor and his fellow church members?
Where are the athletes, past and present, and most of all where are the parents? He has mothered and fathered when you were unable to make it to a game or on the road, giving your children heart-to-heart talks of motivation and encouragement both in the halls of our schools and on the streets of this community. Now he deserves your support in this critical matter.
This affects us all, black and white, because the future of our community is at stake. I am asking everyone to show as much concern about this matter as they do during election time.
Mr. Clifton Jones, I sat on the school board when you and your wife in a 3 to 2 vote were denied what you rightfully deserved. When you first ran for alderman you were the only politician I ever spent an entire day with, walking the streets because I believed in you. When I ran for mayor as an independent, I endorsed McArthur Straughter in the primary. Many people thought I was crazy, but I was exercising my rights.
Mr. Aubry Brent Jr., I followed you from Vicksburg to Belzoni and saw people commit perjury to defeat you. When citizens support a candidate, they want something in return. As a citizen with the 800 petitioners, we are calling in our wager. Just get the record of the board of that decision, which is public record. Check the timeline of the action, and you will be amazed. Next month you will appoint or reappoint a board member, but before you do we deserve answers.
If you find me wrong I will come back and sit before you and the school board and give a public apology. Everyone deserves their day in court, and Mr. Carlyle certainly does.
What you do or don’t do will determine the caliber of teachers and coaches willing to come into our community and work with our children.
Johnny Staples
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