Roderick McClure: From a Birmingham Janitor to a Hollywood Power Player

January 23, 2025

Birmingham's Roderick McClure has added filmmaker to his decades of experience that includes sales, organizational management, philanthropy and ministry leadership. (Provided Photo)

By Je’Don Holloway-Talley | For The Birmingham Times

Growing up in Birmingham’s Powderly neighborhood in the 1970s, the idea of becoming a filmmaker felt as distant as the movie sets of Hollywood for Roderick McClure. While attending Powderly Elementary School, he found solace and inspiration in the images portrayed on screen.

“My exposure actually came from watching movies,” he said. “That’s when I discovered there was a world outside of the community I lived in. Watching movies piqued my interests, broadened my horizon, and enabled me to dream about a life outside of the community I grew up in.”

McClure has gone from watching movies to producing them. McClure is now CEO of RodFather Productions, and teamed up with his son-in-law, Joshua Ferrell, for their first feature, “Both Eyes Open,” which hit theaters on January 17.

The film is a psychological thriller that stars Gail Bean, known for her role as Wanda in the FX television series “Snowfall,” and veteran actor Taye Diggs, celebrated for his work in “The Best Man” franchise and the CW network’s “All American.”

“Both Eyes Open” not only showcases McClure’s ability to assemble top-tier talent but also reflects his lifelong passion for storytelling.

“They call me ‘The RodFather’ for a reason—I know how to get things done. I know how to make things happen. I know how to pull people together. From one lunch meeting in November 2023, [our team] successfully cast everyone we wanted to appear in the movie, got everybody locked in, and signed cast and crew. By April 2024, we were shooting the movie. We filmed in Atlanta, [Georgia],” McClure told The Birmingham Times.

Both McClure and Ferrell, who founded RodFather Productions in 2024, are credited as executive producer/producer on the film, according to IMDB.

“Rise Above My Circumstances”

Life in Powderly wasn’t easy, McClure recalled: “There was a lot of crime, a lot of drugs, and a lot of hardship. But, at the same time, there was a strong sense of community, a lot of churchgoing people. We had our share of struggles, but there was still hope.”

He went on to attend and graduate from West End High School but admits that he hadn’t mapped out a clear plan for his future after graduation. Though he had written a ninth-grade paper envisioning a move to Atlanta and returning to uplift his hometown, life initially took a different turn. After high school, McClure found himself working as a janitor.

“I took a job at West End Hospital mopping floors,” he said. “When all my friends went off to college after high school, there was a moment in time where I was just kind of lost because I had not made plans for the next phase of my life.”

McClure worked in environmental services at the hospital for two years before deciding enough was enough.

“There was a lot of hardship around me, but I was determined not to be impacted by what was happening in the community,” he said. “I had a dream, and I knew that one day I was going to rise above my circumstances. … I decided to move to Atlanta in the early 1980s, and things started to gain traction. It wasn’t easy, but it happened.”

Climbing the Corporate Ladder

The Birmingham native has decades of experience in sales, organizational management, and ministry leadership.

He began a career in sales mostly to outearn his then-law-student girlfriend, Terri, now his wife of 35 years, he said. His drive enabled him to become a top sales account representative for several brand name companies, including former camera manufacturer Minolta and consumer electronics company Panasonic.

“I was never the smartest person in the room, but I was always the hardest worker and I had no problem outworking everybody,” said McClure. “I have a saying, ‘If it’s to be, it’s up to me.’”

McClure’s career reached a new peak at Pitney Bowes, a technology company specializing in shipping and financial services, where he was named the top regional sales manager in the country. In 1998, he launched his own business, DocuPro, a document management company that provides litigation support services for law firms and corporations, marking the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey. But that led McClure to another phase in his life.

In 2007, he sold his company and went into the ministry.

“I just had a desire to serve God. I wanted to take some time away and serve God in ministry [locally] and abroad,” said McClure, who is part of Birmingham’s prominent McClure family. His brother is Pastor Mike McClure Sr. of Revelation Church Ministries, and his nephew is Stellar Gospel Music Award-winning artist and pastor of The Rock City Church, Mike McClure Jr., renowned as “PMJ.” His sister is well-known Birmingham activist Cara McClure, Executive Director of Faith and Works Statewide Civic Engagement Collective.

Philanthropy

Birmingham’s Roderick McClure. (Provided Photo)

Of all the things he’s been part of, McClure said ministry is the most important “because of my relationship with God.”

“I gave my life to Christ after I moved to Atlanta, and that changed everything,” he continued. “My desire was to walk with God and live a life that’s pleasing to Him. … I was so grateful for the blessings I received and for God answering all my prayers that I wanted to serve the Kingdom and my community.”

McClure earned a bachelor’s degree online in Bible/Biblical Studies from The Theological University of America while serving as pastor of Power in Christ Ministries in Atlanta. Part of his ministry is a promise to his teenage self to reach back and uplift his native community.

“[Through this ministry], millions have been donated [to support] other ministries, nonprofits, and missions work, including in various countries in Africa and around the world,” said McClure, who added that his hometown is at the top of his list with donations to the Faith and Works Electoral Justice Project, an advocacy group addressing state policy and the needs of disenfranchised communities to build Black political power and Democracy Trailblazers, an organization dedicated to inspiring future leaders new to civic engagement and the democratic process.

Others include Ethan’s Heart, a Birmingham-based organization committed to advocating and supporting people experiencing homelessness. The McClures have also donated $100,000 to Central Park Christian School and given away nearly 1,000 turkeys to the Powderly community over the last nine years.

Family

The Powderly Community is important for McClure, 62, because that’s where he grew up in a two-parent household with five siblings. He and his brothers and sisters thrived on laughter, sports, and faith.

“We spent most of our days playing basketball or football in the streets or up at the park,” he said. “And through God, I discovered how to be a man, how to be a father, how to be a husband. It’s all due to my relationship with Him.”

McClure and his wife, Terri, have two daughters: Kirstin Ferrell, 32, who works for Delta Airlines and is married to Joshua Ferrell (McClure’s son-in-law turned business partner), and Morgan Kokaram, 29, who is an Atlanta-based attorney and mother of 2-year-old Riley Kokaram.

McClure said he’s been able to become the man, father, and husband he is by focusing on four core principles—faith, family, finances, and fitness.

“With fitness, I ride my bike 120 miles a week around the city of Atlanta. I have ridden my bike as far as from Atlanta to [the Alabama state line], 115 miles,” he said, adding that cycling gives him time for meditation and evaluation.

“It gives me the opportunity to reflect on the blessings I have received, commune with God, enjoy nature, and escape from the things that are happening in the world, which are not always pleasurable,” said McClure. “Sometimes we need an outlet to escape and think and plan for the future.”

The Third Act

Filmmaking is a passionate hobby of McClure’s, and it’s much better than a never-ending vacation, he said: “I’ve always felt like early retirement was overrated. This is the next chapter.”

“Both Eyes Open” centers on Ally (Bean), a woman who emerges from an abusive relationship hoping for a fresh start. Haunted by persistent hallucinations of her abuser, she begins to receive mysterious messages that suggest her tormentor may still be lurking in the distance. As the cryptic messages escalate and the ground beneath her starts to crumble, Ally discovers that the answers she seeks may lie closer to home than she could have ever imagined.

In addition to Bean and Diggs, McClure was able to secure other television and film actors, including Joy Brunson (NBC’s “This is Us”), Michael Oloyede (“This is Paradise,” streaming on FuboTV), Tristan Mack Wilds (films “Red Tails” and “The Secret Life of Bees”), Carla Fisher (film “Trouble with the Curve”), and Christie Leverette (Tyler Perry’s “Sistas” on BET+).

Asked how a brand-new independent film company could score such talent, McClure said it’s all about the script, which was written by Ariel Julia Hairston (films “The Comeback and “Boxed In” and television series “Outlandish,” streaming on Peacock), who also is credited as the director and an executive producer on the film.

“It takes a really credible script in order to attract a cast of that caliber,” McClure said. “We presented the script first to [Bean], and once we received word that she liked the script we knew we had a key piece toward building the cast.

“And then I had a good friend of mine—Jack Carter, CEO of Freeli TV—who had recently done a movie with [Diggs]. We asked [Carter] to cast [Diggs], who liked the script and agreed to the role, as well. [When] we landed [Bean] and [Diggs], it was just pretty easy from there to cast the other actors,” McClure explained.

“Both Eyes Open” will be available for viewing in nearly 50 theaters across the country and locally at Regal Trussville, AMC Patton Creek 15, and AMC Classic Lee Branch 15 theaters. Check out the trailer at final teaser.mov and follow on Instagram @botheyesopenmovie. You also can follow Roderick McClure on Instragram @rod.mcclure and @rodfather_productions.

Updated at 12:07 a.m. on 1/24/2025 to include another family member.

Birmingham’s 99 Neighborhood Associations are Not Only Relevant, But Essential

Birmingham Times

January 23, 2025

EricHall 1aa — Neighborhood association meetings offer a level of accessibility that city council meetings simply do not, Eric Hall writes. (Provided)

By Eric Hall | Special to The Times

An Opinion

In response to Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams’s opinion article, “Birmingham’s 99 Neighborhood Associations No Longer Serve Residents,” published January 22, 2025 on birminghamtimes.com, I must express my deep disagreement.

As a former Neighborhood Officer for the Central Pratt Neighborhood Association and a dedicated community activist, I firmly believe that our neighborhood associations are not only relevant but essential to the upliftment of our 99 neighborhoods and 23 communities.

Williams’ assertion that these associations have lost their effectiveness overlooks the systemic challenges they face. Our neighborhood groups can only thrive if they are provided with the necessary resources to tackle immediate needs and pressing issues.

Unfortunately, over the years, elected officials have systematically defunded these associations, imposed restrictive spending guidelines, neglected crucial public/private partnerships, and dismissed the voices of community members. This has resulted in numerous instances where neighborhood associations have opposed certain businesses or projects, only to see them approved through backdoor agreements, often to the detriment of our communities.

Moreover, neighborhood association meetings offer a level of accessibility that city council meetings simply do not. Most city council meetings are scheduled during typical working hours — 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, for example — making it nearly impossible for the average working resident to attend.

In contrast, neighborhood association meetings are typically held in the evenings, at times that allow working individuals to engage in discussions about the issues that affect their communities. However, due to the constraints imposed on these meetings, they often devolve into forums where residents merely report crime statistics or receive updates from police and fire departments, rather than engaging in meaningful dialogue about community needs.

The bureaucratic red tape surrounding community funding is another significant barrier. To access essential funds for neighborhood projects, associations must submit proposals three months in advance. I vividly recall a time before my tenure as a neighborhood officer when our association allocated $1,000 to Jackson Olin High School. It took over a year for the funds to be transferred from the city to the school board—an unacceptable delay that undermines our ability to effect change swiftly and effectively.

As volunteer leaders, we are driven by a commitment to our communities, unlike some elected officials who may prioritize their paid positions over genuine community engagement. Many of our community servant leaders are retired individuals and homeowners who continue to serve, because they are invested in the community where they live work and play. These are the last few that haven’t migrated over the mountain or other thriving municipalities. We remain hopeful, yet neglected!

It is clear that our current system is broken, but it can be remedied. We need leadership that is committed to collaborating with neighborhood leaders, rather than viewing us as mere tools to be utilized at their convenience.

Here are several actionable solutions to rejuvenate the relationship between neighborhood associations and city leadership:

Streamline Funding Processes: We must eliminate the bureaucratic red tape that hinders our ability to access community funds. Allowing neighborhood associations to allocate funds for necessary projects without extensive delays is crucial. This would empower us to respond to the needs of our communities quickly and effectively.
Enhance Communication Tools: Neighborhood associations should have access to community registries and emergency notification systems. This would facilitate better communication regarding community concerns and meeting announcements, fostering greater participation and engagement among residents.
Invest in Community Infrastructure: Our recreation centers and community meeting spaces need modernization. Safe, accessible, and well-equipped venues will allow us to conduct meetings without worrying about weather disruptions or inadequate facilities. This investment is not just in physical spaces but in the vibrancy and involvement of our communities.
Change Meeting Times: City council meetings must be scheduled at times that allow working residents to attend. Many municipalities have successfully moved their meetings to evenings to ensure that taxpayers can voice their concerns and hold elected officials accountable. Birmingham should follow suit.
Empower Local Leadership: Recognize neighborhood associations as pivotal stakeholders in our city’s progress. We are not merely objects to be summoned for approval; we are integral partners in shaping the future of our neighborhoods. Our voices matter, and our input should be considered seriously in planning and decision-making processes.

In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” This sentiment underscores the importance of unity and collaboration in our community efforts. If we are to address the challenges facing Birmingham effectively, we must work together—elected officials, neighborhood associations, and residents alike.

In conclusion, rather than dismissing the value of neighborhood associations, we should recognize their potential as vital agents of change. By removing barriers, enhancing communication, and investing in our local infrastructure, we can empower these associations to serve their communities more effectively. Let us build a Birmingham that thrives through collaboration, where every voice is heard, and every neighborhood has the resources it needs to flourish.

Eric Hall is a former Neighborhood Officer for the Central Pratt Neighborhood Association and a Birmingham community activist.

Laila Miller, Birmingham City Schools Student, Illustrates Children’s Book for Author Ashlé Colston

Birmingham Times

January 23, 2025

Laila Miller, left, lent her artistic talents to the children’s book Strong Enough? written by another Birmingham resident, Ashlé Colston. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

When Ramsay IB High School senior Laila Miller was given the chance to illustrate for a children’s book, she did not hesitate. Art has always been a part of her life.

Miller, 18, lent her artistic talents to the children’s book Strong Enough? written by another Birmingham resident, Ashlé Colston, which was released last year by Evolve Publishing.

Colston said she came up with the idea for Strong Enough? when she gave birth to her daughter Ahlani in 2020. The series is called Ahlani Love which means “Beautiful Love.”

“I started evaluating how I had been living my life. I lived my life like my mom and my grandmother. Trying to do everything for everybody at all times. I was over being called ‘strong,’” Colston said.

Being called strong “is not a compliment,” Colston continued. For her “it’s a badge of endearment, a badge of perseverance … I wanted to create a book for my daughter that rewrote the narrative about who she needs to be in order to be valuable. She doesn’t have to pour out everything she has to add value to people’s lives,” said the author.

The book highlights what it means to be Strong Enough? in a society where ambition is cherished. This story follows young Imani as she questions the meaning of strong, and goes on a journey to determine what that looks like.

Colston said Strong Enough? was written “to free our daughters from the belief that being a strong woman is measured by how much you put out instead of how much you pour in.”

Miller said she first heard about the opportunity to illustrate the book through her mom, Nekeisha Miller, and recalled the moment her mother told her Colton was searching for an illustrator.

“I went to school one day and after I came home, my mom said [someone was looking for an illustrator for a book]. … I thought it was cool, so we set up a meeting with the [Colston]. We met at Mellow Mushroom one afternoon and the rest is history.”

“Laila was dropped in my lap at the perfect time,” Colston said. “She is absolutely amazing. She’s super talented and she’s just stepping into all that she can be. If you see her, grab her for projects.”

Miller said she was, “nervous at first.”

“I was scared that I would not be up to standard, even though this was her first project as well. The more I got to know her, the more I got comfortable with the project itself. She really let me take the creative reins on the illustrative process.”

A lot of the inspiration [Miller] used for her drawings for the story come from a combination of Colston’s visions and Miller’s real life.

Laila Miller, 18, gets hug from proud mom, Nekeisha, after Laila lent her artistic talents to the children’s book Strong Enough? (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Miller’s love for art started from drawing pictures as a child. “Since I was four or so, illustrating has always been a part of me and a part of my life,” said Miller.

“Since about second grade, my grandmother, (Sandra Page), and I would print books for fun and use a program to make comics. We would print those out until I had the thought to draw them. My grandma was a little artistic as well. I would copy off her or copy off the pictures that would go in the book”, Miller recalled.

When her grandmother found out that she would be illustrating a children’s book, “she was smiling a lot,” Miller recalled.

She did not start taking art seriously until she reached the fifth grade by writing her own stories and “imagining the characters to go with the stories. Up until that point, art was a fun activity. I started looking at references, how to draw people and animals. Art has always fascinated me. It’s just the way you can put your imagination on paper. “

As a product of the Birmingham City Schools, Miller attended Glen Iris Elementary School and John Herbert Phillips Academy.

Miller said she has not decided what she will do after she graduates in May, but hopes to, “continue to develop her art after high school.”

“I was thinking about majoring in character design or character storyboarding … I might end up just becoming an independent commissioned artist.”

For more on the book visit AhlaniloveSeries.com and on IG at Ahlanilovebooks.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

PPT0123 1 — Mon Rovia with Oliver Hazard of Liberia, Africa performs at Saturn. (Photo Credit: monroviaboy.com)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

TODAY…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**MON ROVIA with OLIVER HAZARD at Saturn. Mon Rovia is from Liberia

**NICK DITTMEIER AND THE SAWDUSTERS with KYLE KIMBRELL at the Nick Rocks.

**THURSDAY NIGHTS WITH ALABAMA SO & SO MACHINE at The Nick Rocks.

**TRAMPLED BY TURTLES at Iron City.

**EVERY THURSDAY- THAT’S MY JAM THURSDAYS, 7 p.m. at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ Slugga.

**ALABAMA BLAZIN BINGO, 6 p.m. at Overtime Grill and Bar.

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

**KARAOKE, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

FRIDAY…IT IS Friday…the weekend starts…

**KPOP CLUB NIGHT with DJ CHEN at Saturn.

**HUSH MONEY at The Nick Rocks.

**LATE NIGHT FRIDAYS with DJ JACK BAMA at The Nick Rocks.

**GOOD PEOPLE & GOOD MUSIC WITH GOOD PEOPLE BREWING at Dave’s, 6 p.m. at Dave’s Pub.

SATURDAY…

**EXPLORE SEED SAVING AT THE COMMUITY SEED SWAP, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on National Seed Swap Day at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

**KARAOKE SATURDAYS, 3 p.m. at 3605 Gray Avenue, Adamsville, with the ALL-EN ONE BBQ with Chef Randy ”Dee” Allen and The Lovely LaToria at the 7 Angels Coffee & Smoothie Café.

** DRAG NIGHT at The Nick Rocks.

**SATURDAY NIGHT LATE NIGHT with R.1.Y.T. at The Nick.

**AN EVENING with SHADOWGRASS at Saturn.

SUNDAY…

**BIRMINGHAM JEWISH FEDERATION AND FOUNDATION’S 2025 ANNUAL MEETING, 2-5 p.m. at the Temple Beth El. Musical performance is by ARI AXELFORD.

**SINGO BINGO EVERY SUNDAY, 1 p.m. at Cahaba Brewing Company.

**EASE BACK 4th SUNDAYS, 5 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**2^nd SUNDAY WITH RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**Kyle Kimbrell Free Show at The Nick Rocks.

**GOLDPINE with The Burney Sisters at The Nick Rocks.

MONDAY…

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

**THE MOTH BIRMINGHAM STORYSLAM: RESET at Saturn.

TUESDAY…

**STORYTELLING THROUGH TOPIARY AND PROPERTY ART will be what MIKE GIBSON discusses as he takes center stage at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, 5:30 p.m. reception with the lecture at 6 p.m.

**JOSE CARR EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT at True Story Brewing.

**OSCILLATIONS: AN ELECTRONIC MUSIC OPEN MIC PERFORMANCE at Saturn.

WEDNESDAY…

**MOUNTAIN BROOK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ANNUAL LUNCHEON, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Country Club of Birmingham is honoring Mrs. Virginia Smith, the Jemison Visionary Award; Mrs. Patsy D. Dreher, the O’Neal Library Tynes Award; Ms. Lindsy Gardner, City of Mountain Brook Employee of the Year and Mr. Joseph Braswell, the 2024 Chamber of Commerce Board President.

**REAL FUNNY COMEDY WEDNESDAYS at True Story Brewing. Sign up at 7:30 p.m.

**SUNDROP, EVERY WEDNESDAY at the Nick.

**QUALIFIER, ROUGH DREAMS (TN), & VAMPIRE MANSION at Saturn.

NEXT THURSDAY…

**READ THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**THE WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WORLD OF LICHENS, 10 a.m. – Noon with CURTIS HANSEN.

**BLUES JAM EVERY 3rd THURSDAY, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**AX AND THE HATCHETMEN at Saturn.

**BY THE WAY OF FIRE, HIRAETH & EMBR at the Nick Rocks.

**THURSDAY NIGHTS WITH ALABAMA SO & SO MACHINE at The Nick Rocks.

NEXT FRIDAY….

**MICHIGANDER at Saturn.

**OXMOOR with MAD DAY OUT at The Nick.

KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN…PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

FOR BASKETBALL LOVERS…

**SATURDAY – HBCU NIGHT 6 p.m. at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC with the BIRMINGHAM SQUADRON VS INDIANA.

FEBRUARY is full of things…VALENTINE’S DAY, MUSIC AND BLACK HISTORY MONTH …

VALENTINE’S DAY…

**FEBRUARY 14 – VALENTINE LOVE featuring ABRAHAM THE VOICE, 7 p.m. with a Candlelight Dinner by Chef Kris Hicks of Infinit Eats at Jazzi’s on 3^rd Music Gallery.

AT IRON CITY… Music in February.

**FEBRUARY 15 – COREY SMITH at Iron City.

**FEBRUARY 19 – TWO FRIENDS presents HEATWAVE: THE TOUR

**FEBRUARY 25 – PALAYE ROYALE

**FEBRUARY 26 – PALACE.

**FEBRUARY 27 – UMPHREY’S MCGEE – CRUISING ALTITUDE 2025 TOUR

BLACK HISTORY MONTH… is right around the corner. (Look for so much more!)

**FEBRUARY 8 – 2025 BLACK MALE SUMMIT at the Hilton Birmingham Downtown at UAB with discussions, workshops and networking opportunities where attendees will gain valuable tools and strategies to navigate challenges and achieve success. This summit unites students, professionals, change-makers, parents, pastors, allies, activists and community members to tackle the critical issues impacting Black males, inspire personal, collective growth to drive meaningful and lasting change. Register at Eventbrite.

**NOW through FEBRUARY 9 – JCAC SCHOLARSHIP 2025 registration. Go to www.dstjcac.org/scholarship or scholarship@dstjcac.org.

FOR YOUTH…

**INTERESTED IN A SUMMER RESEARCH INTERNSHIP – There are opportunities for high school and undergraduate students to learn how to conduct their own research. Spend the summer being mentored by the USB’s Department of Surgery through the PRISM and FUSSION PROGRAMS. For more information, contact SurgSummerPrograms@UABMC.edu.

**NOW through March 1 – BIRMINGHAM YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT FELLOWSHIP CHOIR is hosting auditions and looking for young people, ages 10-28 who have a passion for singing. For more on how to qualify, info@bhamyyafc.org.

IN IRONDALE…

**PLAY BALL IRONDALE YOUTH SPORTS registration for T-Ball, Baseball & Softball for ages 4-12 is open. This is the inaugural season at the Ruffner Sports Complex in the City of Irondale. Register at irondaleyouthsports.com. Call 205-769-0730 for more.

**FEBRUARY 13 – STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS, 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Highlands.

FOR MOVIE LOVERS…

**SO YOU WANNA WORK IN FILM – This in-person workshop, Thursday, 5-7 p.m. will give you advice and support in moving forward toward your film goals. Go to birmingham365.org for more.

AT SIDEWALK FILM FEST…

**TODAY, …

-THE LAST SHOWGIRL starring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dave Bautista and directed by Gia Coppola.

-PEDRO ALMODOVAR: PAIN AND GLORY starring Antonia Banderas, Asler Etxeandia, Leonardo Sbaraglia and directed by Pedro Almodovar.

-PEDRO ALMODOVAR: WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A -NERVOUS BREAKDOWN starring Carmen Maura, Antonio Banderas, Julieta Serrano and directed by Pedro Almodovar.

-SHOUT MOVIE NIGHT: BURLESQUE starring Cher, Christina Aguilera, Eric Dane and directed by Steve Antin. FREE

**FRIDAY …

-ANGUISH w/Q & A starring Zelda Rubinstein, Michael lerner, Talla Paul and directed by Bigas Luna.

-BAD MOVIE NIGHT. FREE.

**FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY …

-THE BRUTALIST starring Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce and directed by Brady Corbet.

-THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG 4L Restoration starring Catherine Deneuve, Nino Castelnuovo, Anne Vernon and directed by Jacques Demyl.

-VERMIGLIO starring Tommaso Ragno, Giuseppe De Domenico, Roberta Rovelli and directed by Maura Delpero.

-FROZEN II starring Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Josh Gad and directed by Jennifer Lee, and Chris Buck.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more ‘next’ time. People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send your contact info with your events, your things of interest and more to: gwenderu@yahoo.com

Safe Driving Practices During Frigid Temperatures

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

Driving during winter weather can be unpredictable and dangerous especially in snow, icy conditions and sleet. On average, winter weather directly or indirectly contributes to more than 540,000 vehicular accidents in the United States. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that approximately 120,000 police reported crashes in 2021 occurred during snowy or sleet conditions.

Of course, staying off the road is the best safety tip during harrowing winter weather conditions, but this is not always possible. So, the next best safety precaution before driving during these wintery weather conditions is preparing your vehicle. Winterizing your vehicle is an additional essential maintenance.

Here are some simple safety tips to prepare your vehicle for winter:

Check the weather before you travel — be aware of the winter risks in places you visit, from blizzards to ice storms. Check the local weather forecasts and warnings before heading out. If the roads to your destinations are in poor condition, consider postponing all non-essential travel until the roads are clear.

Consider leaving early or changing your departure to avoid being on the roads during a storm. In addition, familiarize yourself with directions and maps before you start your trip, even using a GPS. Someone should know your route and anticipated arrival time. Keep family and emergency phone numbers in your cell phone (make sure it has a full charge), including your auto insurance provider and a towing company. Visit the National Weather Service for up-to-date forecasts.

Get your vehicle winter ready — make sure your vehicle is winterized for a potential emergency by following some of these safety tips:

Test your battery, battery power drops as the temperature drops
Check antifreeze levels
Check your ignition system
Check your brakes
Check tire pressure, which drops as the temperature drops
Check your heater and defroster
Check your lights and flashing hazard lights
Check your oil
Check your wiper blades and replace them if needed
Check your washer fluid level; add wiper fluid for -30 degrees Fahrenheit
Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas lines freeze; its better to have full tank

By getting your vehicle ready for winter and using some of these simple safety tips, you can Keep an Eye on Safety when driving during winter weather.

What Area Would You Like to See an Upgrade?

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

I haven’t heard very many people talk about New Year’s resolutions in recent years. Even as the month comes to an end, have you noticed? It seems the dawn of new calendar years are taking a turn into more themes and intentions, but not necessarily people resolving to do anything.

Maybe we’ve become jaded at how successful resolutions really are. Maybe we’re simply focusing on living and enjoying our lives and being thankful in every moment. Or maybe we recognize that success is not in a timeframe, but in a committed lifestyle every day of the year, and in every season.

Either way, I still want to take a moment to tap us on the shoulder and at least remind all of us to take stock and at least aim to improve in some areas. If that is the case, in what area would you like to see an upgrade?

In 2025 and beyond, would your health, finances, career, family or self-improvement take priority? I’m not asking you to produce any action sheet or list of steps. Just asking you to take an honest look at where you could see or do better. And my second ask, start moving in that direction in small steps.

If you’d like to increase your savings, what step can you take now to start seeing results – even if you start with a minimal amount? Then define that amount. And take action to set up a process to do it continually. Fix it, or set it, and forget it. The amount is not as important as your action and intentionality.

If you’re endeavoring to improve your health, what would be your first step? Can you incorporate a few minutes of exercise 3-4 days a week? No sweeping changes but think small wins that will make it part of your routine.

And if you’d like to spend more time with your spouse or family, why not add a night once a week, bi-weekly, or even monthly if time is really tight? When bringing others along, you’ll want to cast the vision first so they can first see it in order to support you.

Explain to them what you’re looking to implement and tell them how much you’d love their input and presence — talk about curating an instant fan club! You know the area in which you’d like to see change. I’m simply your cheerleader telling you, “You got this!” And you do.

I’ve identified my area….and I am taking steps daily to make it happen. I miss the mark at times, but I’m applying gradual pressure for holistic and lasting change. I’m cheering for you to do the same. Blessings to you and remember, I’m an email away if you need a word of encouragement.

Cheers to your best year yet!

Keisa Sharpe is a life coach, author and speaker. Her column appears each month online and in The Birmingham Times. You can contact Keisa at keisasharpe@yahoo.com and visit http://www.allsheanaturals.com for natural hair and body products.

“It’s very important to do it on MLK Jr. Day of Service, this is a day where we give back. This was our opportunity to show that we care about the unsheltered, we care about this community.”

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

ART FRANKLIN, BASILEUS OF THE ALPHA PHI CHAPTER, ON HELPING THOSE IN NEED DURING MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY; CBS42.COM.

Miles College Baseball Returns to Historic Rickwood Field with Willie Mays Open

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

Rickwood 1 — Miles College will host its first Willie Mays Open during on Feb. 7-9 at Birmingham's Rickwood Field. (File)

By Mark Inabinett |minabinett@al.com

Baseball and Willie Mays will intersect at Rickwood Field again when Miles College hosts its first Willie Mays Open during Black History Month on Feb. 7-9.

Joining Miles in the field for the event are the baseball teams from five other Historically Black Colleges and Universities — Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, Alabama), Claflin University (Orangeburg. South Carolina); Dillard University (New Orleans, Louisiana), Harris-Stowe State University (St. Louis, Missouri) and Southern University (Baton Rouge, Louisiana).

The Willie Mays Open will feature three games daily and mark the return of the Golden Bears to their historic home for the first time since the 2023 season.

A press release from Miles said the event had received “the blessing” of Mays’ family, with the Golden Bears, under coach Milton Barney, hoping “to build off of the momentum of last year’s great Major League Baseball event at Rickwood Field.”

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on June 20 at Rickwood Field, after MLB and Birmingham poured millions into preparing the nation’s oldest professional ballpark for the nationally televised National League game.

The MLB contest was the crowning event of a week of activities under the banner “MLB at Rickwood: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues” that highlighted the significance of the black-baseball organizations in baseball’s history

Major League Baseball’s visit to Birmingham took on an even deeper meaning when Mays died two days before the game at age 93.

A Birmingham area native, Mays was one of the reasons that MLB chose Rickwood Field for the Negro League salute. As the home field for the Birmingham Black Barons, one of the flagship teams of Black baseball during the game’s segregated era, Rickwood was the site of Mays’ home games as a teenage professional to begin his Hall of Fame career.

The week also included a Southern League game, and the Double-A league will be back at Rickwood on June 4, when the Birmingham Barons and Rocket City Trash Pandas square off.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

Birmingham’s 99 Neighborhood Associations No Longer Serve Residents. Here’s The Fix

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

NA3 (1) — Citizens participate in one of Birmingham’s 99 Neighborhood Association meetings. (Provided

By Hunter Williams | Special to The Times

An Opinion

Our current neighborhood association process needs to be blown up — and rebuilt.

Stay with me.

We’re operating under a Citizen Participation Plan that made a lot of sense in 1975 (as did typewriters, pay phones and printing movie times in the newspaper). Just about everything in the world has changed since then. So why are we still subjecting ourselves to a legacy system that is no longer fit for purpose?

I want to be perfectly clear. Our current process is not inclusive — residents are left out of the decisions, they’re not provided with relevant information prior to meetings, and God forbid they might have a scheduling conflict for the once-a-month meeting time. A friend of mine doesn’t get off work until after 7 p.m. and they would love to vote on the issues. We can do better than that.

Every single resident of a neighborhood needs an opportunity to have their voice heard on matters that impact them, especially in this era of rapid information exchange. I know plenty of people who want to be involved, but don’t want to sit and listen to the same three people air out their dirty laundry for an hour just so they can cast their vote on a rezoning case. Obviously discourse is important, but simple accommodations need to be made for people to vote without being subjected to that if they don’t want to be.

I’m not exaggerating when I say that I’ve watched a neighborhood officer advocate for a strip club in their neighborhood multiple times. I have seen neighborhood officers say they would be totally fine with an “entertainment center” that promoters can rent out until 2 a.m. I’ve seen liquor stores get the thumbs up for opening in the middle of a neighborhood with just five or six votes. My guess is that if you polled the entire neighborhood they would not want these businesses next door to their homes.

Not every neighborhood association is the same; some have little to no attendance and others have very active participation. However, during my time as a neighborhood officer and a city councilor, I’ve seen countless examples of neighborhood associations having less than five people vote on major issues like rezoning cases, liquor licenses, you name it.

We can remedy this broken system.

A solution would be having an online platform where residents can verify their identity and have the ability to cast a vote remotely. This would have to be secure, and you would need to be able to prove your residence to be verified, but these platforms already exist — we do this to renew our car tags, passports, licenses etc.

This online portal would also allow residents the opportunity to read proposals — site maps, graphics, zoning information — to have a clear understanding of the issue before they vote.

In this hypothetical scenario (heavy emphasis on ‘hypothetical’ because this is merely my own opinion and absolutely no steps have been taken to implement this) in-person meetings could still happen if that’s what a neighborhood wanted. But the truth is having a scheduled monthly neighborhood vote where everybody could participate, regardless if they can attend in person or not, would give everyone a voice. That’s what we all want, right?

This would curb the misinformation that is typically spread online by letting residents review proposals themselves and then cast a vote. Maybe a small liquor store makes sense to serve the neighborhood, but maybe it doesn’t if there are already four or five within a few blocks. We need more than a handful of people voting on these things or else what’s the point?

Perhaps most importantly, we need a pre-authorization vote for zoning. Unfortunately, the current process brings zoning cases to the neighborhood meetings after the ball is already rolling on a development.

There is also a major issue with notification. State law dictates that only residents living within a few hundred feet of a proposed zoning change be notified by mail.

If we had a requirement for a preauthorization vote, a developer or business owner could get a clear picture of whether or not their vision lines up with what the residents want to see.

I would challenge everyone reading this to attend one of Birmingham’s 99 Neighborhood Association meetings and ask themselves: Is this the best way to gauge how an entire neighborhood feels? On a really good night, these meetings have 20 to 30 people — often the same people in a neighborhood with 2,000 to 3,000 residents. If the true ethos of a neighborhood association is grounded in having everyone’s voice being heard, in 2025, there are simply better ways to achieve that. And I think together we can make that happen.

Hunter Williams represents Birmingham City Council District 2

Updated at 10:42 a.m. on 1/122/2025 to clarify this is an Opinion column

‘When She Came In … I Took Her Hand in Mine and Asked Her to Marry Me’

Birmingham Times

January 22, 2025

BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times

REGINALD AND GWENDOLYN WILLIAMS

Live: Fairfield

Married: Nov. 30, 2001

Met: June 1998 at Fairfield Rehabilitation Center. Gwendolyn was already working in the laundry department when Reginald joined the team.

“When I came in, I caught them [Gwendolyn and a female coworker] looking at my butt,” Reginald said.

Gwendolyn laughed and gave this version of what happened. “Me and another laundry attendant were sitting up there folding the laundry and he came in there for his interview wearing some black Levi jeans, and he was cute and bow-legged, and that’s why we were looking at him,” Gwendolyn said.

Reginald got the job and asked her out. “I told him no, because I didn’t date guys I worked with,” said Gwendolyn, “but eventually, I changed my mind.”

“Flowers and candy go a long way,” Reginald said, “and she gets [on me now] because I stopped with the candy and flowers … ain’t no more ‘just because flowers’, it’s only every now and then.”

“He wasn’t supposed to stop doing it,” Gwendolyn said, “I say, the way you get him is how you got to keep them.”

It took Reginald a whole year of flowers and candy to wear Gwendolyn down and get her to say ‘yes’ to a date. “That’s why I stopped buying flowers and candy. Do you know how many [bouquets of] flowers and candy I bought in that year?” Reginald laughed.

First date: Summer 1999. The pair had arranged to meet at the Krispy Kreme donut shop in Midfield, but the meetup didn’t go smoothly, and to make up for it, Reginald took Gwendolyn to dinner at Ruth’s Chris at the Embassy Suites hotel in downtown Birmingham.

“We kept crisscrossing and missing each other [at Krispy Kreme], it was hectic,” said Gwendolyn. “We were supposed to meet [at the donut shop], and I waited and waited and got tired of waiting and then went to his mama’s house in Midfield to catch up with him, and while I was doing that, he was doing the same thing. Reginald would be waiting on me [at Krispy Kreme] while I was waiting on him at his mama’s house. We did that back and forth three times before we finally caught each other at Krispy Kreme and [to make it up to me for the confusion], he said why don’t we go have a steak at the steakhouse.”

Reginald said he was a smooth guy and offered a fancy steak dinner. “I took her to Ruth’s Chris at the Embassy, and we got a room at the same hotel the same night… I more than made up for it,” Reginald laughed.

The turn: Exclusivity was established on their first date, Reginald said. “After that night, I knew there wasn’t nobody else for me, she was the one,” he said.

“I knew he was the one the day he came into work with lipstick on his collar. One of them nurses had hemmed him up in a room, and I went around looking at all the nurses trying to find out which woman had that lipstick color on,” Gwendolyn laughed. “He used to call himself trying to be so innocent acting … when really, he was a ladies’ man. But when I saw that lipstick and I went looking to find out who’s it was, I knew wanted him, and that was before we even had gone out on a date.” (Gwendolyn said she never did find whose lipstick it was.)

Reginald and Gwendolyn Williams met in 1998 while working at Fairfield Rehabilitation Center. The couple married in 2001. (Provided Photos)

The proposal: Valentine’s Day 2001, at Reginald’s apartment in Inglenook. “I had rose petals going from the front door to the bedroom, candles lit, and music going. And when Gwen came in [the apartment] I was standing up in the doorway of the bedroom, and when she reached me I took her hand in mine and asked her to marry me,” Reginald said.

“I was smiling, it was nice. I said, ‘are you for real?’ and after he said ‘yes, I want you to be my wife’, I said ‘yes’,” said Gwendolyn.

The wedding: At the Birmingham Courthouse in front of City Hall, officiated by a courthouse clergyman. Reginald and Gwendolyn wore matching black leather jackets and cowboy boots.

Most memorable for the bride and groom was a shared moment after taking their vows. “For me, it was walking back to the car and crossing in front of that big fountain as Mrs. Williams,” said Gwendolyn. “And for me, it was singing ‘I got a yooooung wife, I got a yooooung wife’, all the way back to the car,” Reginald laughed.

Gwendolyn was 36, and Reginald was 46 on the day of their nuptials.

They honeymooned in Las Vegas, Nevada, and stayed at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino. “That was my first time in Vegas, and I enjoyed being there with my new, young wife,” Reginald said. “I always used to call her ‘baby girl’, but she’s all grown up now,” he said.

“I loved the lights and the Vegas strip, and being there with him as Mrs. Williams,” Gwendolyn said.

Words of wisdom: “Never go to be angry,” Reginald said. “And I say, everything you did to get her, you gotta continue doing it to keep her,” said Gwendolyn.

Happily ever after: The Williams attend Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, in Birmingham. They have five adult children: Reginald Bonner, Kewannecca Turner, Cordaro Simmons, Hurtis Nelson, and Kiara Nelson, 16 grandchildren, and 1 great grandchild.

Gwendolyn, 58, is a Wenonah native and Wenonah High School grad. She attended Lawson State Community College where earned an associate’s degree in nursing assistance. Gwendolyn is an Eastern Star, and retired from surgery scheduling at Brookwood Medical Center, in 2019.

Reginald, 67, is an Inglenook native and Hayes High School grad. He retired from the laundry department at Fairfield Rehabilitation Center in 2000.

“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

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