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‘He Asked Me to Marry Him … Put the Ring on [My Finger] and We Just Cried’

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

RODERICK AND VANESSA BESTER

Live: Forestdale

Married: Aug. 18, 2001

Met: On a Sunday evening in February 2000, over the phone. They were introduced by Vanessa’s cousin Kim, who is a close friend of Roderick’s family.

Kim was visiting Roderick and his family “when she called to see if I was home,” Vanessa recalled. “She was staying with me at time and Roderick, being the big mouth that he is, hollered out ‘Who is that, who you talking to?’ and I said, ‘Who is he?’, and then he hopped on the phone.”

Vanessa gave Roderick sass, and he liked it. The two conversed until she got another incoming call. “…Vanessa said she would call me back, but I didn’t wait for her to call. I called her 30 minutes later and asked her if I could come over and watch a movie,” Roderick said.

Despite Roderick being a stranger, Vanessa said yes because of his close relationship with her cousin, Kim. “When I went over to watch the movie, Vanessa’s daughters Chanter’a and Yunitka (5 and 7 at the time) came in and asked [their mom] for a kiss goodnight and [seeing that interaction] just melted my heart and made me fall in love with them,” Roderick said.

Two days later, Roderick made a move that would make Vanessa fall in love with him.

“It was a Tuesday, and I was working as a manager at McDonald’s and he called the store phone for me. I told him I was having a real hard day because I had some call-ins, and I couldn’t talk…,” said Vanessa. “An hour later some roses and a card showed up at my job, and it said, ‘I hope this makes your day better’ and that’s when I knew he was different, ‘I said this man is for me’ and he called me later and we set up our first date.”

First date: That Saturday, they went to see a movie at Wildwood Movie Theater on Lakeshore Dr. They can’t remember what they saw but do remember going to dinner at O’Charley’s afterward.

“I felt so good with him. When he picked me up and I came out the door he told me how good l looked and I had butterflies the entire date. It was so genuine and he always knew just what to say,” Vanessa said.

“I was just catering to her needs… it was new, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression and I wanted to show her who I was and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Roderick said.

The turn: May 2000, after church at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and a visit to his grandmother’s home in Fairfield for dinner.

“I had just gotten my five-year service award pendant for being on my job at Acipco and that was something I normally would’ve given my grandmother, but I gave it to Vanessa and she wore it to church that day and my grandmother spotted it around her neck at dinner,” Roderick said. “And Grandma asked why Vanessa had it on, and I said, ‘Because Grandma, she’s who I want to be with,’ and that made it official,” Roderick said. “I was raised by my grandmother, and nobody was good enough for me to her, but she accepted Vanessa.”

“For me, it was the love that he’d shown me and my girls in that short period of time. I was happy and felt like I found my person. And at the dinner at his grandmother’s house that day, I heard his mother tell his grandmother that I was the one for him,” Vanessa recalled.

The proposal: July 2000, at Vanessa’s apartment on Birmingham’s west side, during a family karaoke night. All of their closest family and friends were in there.

“When it was my turn I came out wearing a white dress and heels, singing Jagged Edge’s ‘Let’s Get Married’…. [after my performance], I asked her if she would marry me but I couldn’t get down on one knee because I was in that dress and heels,’ Roderick laughed. “But she said ‘yes’.”

“He sang the whole song and did a dance, I was tickled and emotional at the same time,” Vanessa laughed. “When he asked me to marry him, I said ‘yes’, and he put the ring on me and we just cried. And my daughters [Chanter’a, 5,  Yunitka 7 at the time] came up behind us and we just hugged and cried as a family.”

Roderick and Vanessa Bester met over the phone in 2000 after being introduced by her cousin. They married in 2001. (Provided Photos)

The wedding: At First Baptist Church Kingston, officiated by Reverend T.N. Miller. Their colors were lavender and silver.

Most memorable for the bride was a moment she shared with her uncle before walking down the aisle. “My uncle gave me away, and after everybody went in, he pulled my veil over my face, and he said, ‘Baby girl, you’re going in as an ‘Enge’ [her maiden name], and you’re coming out as a married woman, and he kissed me on my cheek,” Vanessa said. “Oh, and at the reception when his Grandma Louise said ‘I done paid thousands and thousands of dollars for this wedding…’ I heard her say it to her close friends who were at the wedding, and I couldn’t do nothing but laugh, that was grandma,” Vanessa said.

Most memorable for the groom was tending to his new wife’s needs while heading to their reception at the clubhouse at the Ski Lodge lll Apartment complex in Homewood. “Vanessa was hungry, and me being who I am, I’m always going to make sure she gets what she needs, so we stopped by McDonald’s in the Heritage shopping center on Green Springs  in our wedding clothes and got her something to eat,” Roderick laughed.

“I hadn’t eaten all day, I had butterflies ever since I opened my eyes that morning and the hunger hit me hard after the wedding,” Vanessa said.

They honeymooned a few weeks after the wedding in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and stayed in the cabins.

Words of wisdom: “Love and trust your partner and keep God in the midst and not your family,” Vanessa said. “And never go to bed angry.”

“Trust God, love each other, and please, whatever you do, always communicate,” Roderick said. “Whether you’re mad or you’re happy, let them know. You can go around being mad because you were assuming something all because y’all hadn’t talked. And always choose your battles because everything ain’t worth a fight.”

Happily ever after: The Besters attend First Baptist Church in Fairfield and are a blended family: Chanter’a, 31, Yunitka, 29, Roderick Jr., 29, an adopted niece, Julissa, 18, and 3 grandchildren.

Vanessa, 54, is a Chicago, Illinois native who relocated to Birmingham, her mother’s native city, in 1990. Vanessa owns a cleaning company called ‘Spotless By V LLC’, where she offers residential cleaning in Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

Roderick, 49, is a Fairfield native and Fairfield High School grad. He attended Bessemer State Tech, where he earned an associate’s degree in graphic communications. He works as an electrical supervisor at Acipco and owns Bester Electrical Services LLC, serving Jefferson and Shelby County.

“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

Did You Reach Your Financial Goal This Year? 

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Birmingham Times
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As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look back on what worked -- or where you may have gone wrong financially. Those lessons learned can help you set new goals and better manage your finances in 2025. (Provided)

Sponsored by JPMorganChase

Eleven months ago, many people set financial goals for the New Year.

Maybe you planned to buy a new home, finance a new vehicle or start a new business. Whether you made New Year’s resolutions, pasted images on a vision board or crunched numbers on an official balance sheet, you had every intention of achieving those goals in 2024.

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to look back on what worked — or where you may have gone wrong financially. Those lessons learned can help you set new goals and better manage your finances in 2025.

Geno L. Gardner, a Community Manager with Chase bank in Birmingham, offers six dos and don’ts about financial planning and management that can help you achieve a fresh start in 2025 and get closer to reaching your goals.

DO create a budget

One common financial mistake is not having a budget at all. Remaining in the dark about your spending can limit your ability to save for important goals like a car, a home or your retirement. If you don’t know what you’re spending, there’s a good chance you may be spending too much.

DON’T leave your budget up to chance 

Using guesswork when trying to allocate your monthly budget can lead to overestimating or underestimating how much to allot toward each budgeting category. This may set you up for failure. Taking a month to assess and identify your spending patterns may help to establish a baseline as you’re setting your budget.

DO track your spending

Get to know your spending by creating a monthly budget tracker. You can then review your spending and track it in a monthly budget worksheet. Over time, you can adjust which budgeting categories to cut back spending on. Expenses can fluctuate month to month, so be prepared to shift gears whenever necessary.

DON’T put wants and needs in the same category

A common error beginner budgeters can make is mistaking “wants” for “needs.” Needs are essential items like utility bills, rent or mortgage payments, and groceries. These are things you need to live. Wants, on the other hand, are non-essential expenses like dining out or entertainment. It may still be possible to find room in your budget to accommodate a few luxuries, but being honest with yourself about what’s truly necessary may help you avoid this budgeting mishap.

DO keep it simple

The idea of listing every single expenditure for a month might seem daunting, but you don’t have to go that far. It can be helpful to create a budget that works for you, which includes making it manageable enough to take on in the first place. If you’re just starting out, create just a handful of budgeting categories to help keep things simple.

DON’T skip the emergency fund

Life is unpredictable and having an emergency fund to pay for unplanned expenses may help you during that time. Without it, you may have to dip into long-term savings or use a credit card if the unexpected arises. Creating an emergency funddoesn’t have to be   When you’re making your budget, include a monthly line item for emergency fund contributions. This can help build up your reserves over time. Many bank accounts even let you automate these emergency fund deposits.

The bottom line

Give yourself grace if you fell short of your financial goals this year. As you prepare for 2025, remember that budgeting can be a powerful tool to help you build better financial habits.

Start tracking your spending now to set up your budget for next year and be aware of common budgeting mistakes. It’s never too early – or too late – to get back on the road to financial freedom.

How Hurt Coleman Became One of Birmingham’s Most Influential Wrappers  

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Birmingham Times
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Hurt Coleman, 42, started his business, Birmingham-based Wrap It Up Customs LLC, in 2019, after taking his personal vehicle to get a vinyl covering. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

When Hurt Coleman is described as one of Birmingham’s most influential wrappers, there needs to be some context. It’s not “rapper,” as in hip-hop, but “wrapper,” as in the owner of a widely successful business that creates custom vinyl print wraps for almost anything— vehicles, buildings, even caskets.

Coleman, 42, started his business, Birmingham-based Wrap It Up Customs LLC, in 2019, after taking his personal vehicle, an Aston Martin Rapide, to get a vinyl covering.

Car wrapping consists of covering a vehicle’s exterior with vinyl film to change its appearance.

“The price they quoted me, I was wondering why it was so high, what made it so expensive,” Coleman recalled. “I began researching, and the more research I did, the more videos I saw, the more information I found, I got quite interested.”

Vinyl printing has become a popular choice across various industries, from advertising and marketing to crafting and personalization. It offers a wide range of possibilities for creating vibrant graphics, signage, custom apparel, decals, and much more.

Creating a Lane

Coleman began taking classes around the United States, in places like Georgia and Texas, and paid for training to increase his skills as a wrapper to attract his own clientele. He eventually received certifications from three respective companies.

“I started in my garage [in 2018],” he said, adding that what began as ” playing around, grew to customers here and there.”

“I developed a talent and a knack for it,” Coleman said. “I saw myself getting progressively quicker and better. Also, the market in Birmingham wasn’t a large market. It wasn’t something very known or very big.”

In Black and brown communities, “we are normally the first to make something a little bit more popular,” he said. “Other cultures kind of mimic what we do. I saw that we didn’t have [vinyl car wrapping] in our neighborhoods, in our cities, in our streets, but we own and operate the car community. We have car shows, we have lots, we have the races, we have the burnouts, [the act of spinning your car’s wheels while staying in place]. …. I just saw myself being able to create [the car wrapping] lane for us.”

“I just threw myself out there, and it just clicked,” he added. “And when I say it clicked, it clicked hard.”

Coleman found a market that was all his. “I was No. 1. I was a pioneer. I was the guy that brought it the attention that it has now,” he said. “If there’s a wrapper out there or somebody doing it in a garage or the back alley or down the street, they probably watched my videos first.

“They saw me do it on car hoods and things like that first, especially during [the COVID-19 pandemic], when people were bored and didn’t have much to do. Things like tinting windows or taillights, painting rims, or painting calibers are very known in a lot of other markets, like Atlanta, [Georgia], Los Angeles, [California], or Miami, {Florida]. … But in central city, meaning Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and those little areas, [car wrapping] wasn’t readily available.”

Hurt Coleman, 42, started his business, Birmingham-based Wrap It Up Customs LLC, in 2019. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Love and Compassion

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Coleman grew up as an orphan and ward of the state of New York.

“[Coming] up the way I did had a major impact on me, negatively and profoundly,” he said. “The absence of trust or regard for self, based upon other’s foresight into me or about me, the not wanting to get close because of abandonment issues, the fear of being let down tossed to the side, all of that made me desire to have true and solid connection and give the best of myself to people and situations.

“I have often messed up or caused riffs, et cetera, but I still love and show compassion to a feverish point, … making me hold on to what I have and those I have,” he said.

Because of his background, Coleman, who moved to The Magic City in 2015, is very guarded about his personal life.

“I came down here for business opportunities when I was still in corporate America, and I just kind of landed here,” he said. “Coming to Birmingham, I did not know a single soul. It was a blind experience for me, but I mastered it along the way with business relationships and venturing into the city.”

You can find Wrap It Up Customs LLC on several social media outlets. Coleman started making content of his work for Facebook, but then he expanded to Instagram and TikTok.

“I have yet to make a YouTube page,” he said. “Creating content often takes longer than the job itself, but I do my best when I am able.”

Hurt Coleman started making content of his work for Facebook, but then he expanded to Instagram and TikTok.. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

The Vinyl World

In the billion-dollar vinyl printing industry, Coleman realized he could do more than wrap cars.

“In the vinyl world, it’s not just vehicles. There are walls, buildings, billboards, brick, glass. … [There are] commercial vehicles, [too]. When you see FedEx trucks, they have vinyl on the side of their trucks. There’s vinyl on police cars.”

From wrapping cars and creating different vinyl prints, Coleman added coffins to his repertoire because of his then location: “One day, I was sitting across from W.E. Lusian Funeral Home in Southwest Birmingham and [noticed] caskets being taken in and out,” he said.

“[At the time], I was tired. I was burned-out,” Coleman remembered. “It had been a very long day [of work], and I said to myself, ‘I wonder if I could wrap a casket.’ I talked to that funeral home director about getting a casket from him and asked what he thought. He laughed in my face. His exact words were, ‘Wrapping a casket. That’s more ghetto than a T-shirt.’”

That was 6 years ago—and now, Coleman said, “I’ve done [thousands of] caskets, and 17 caskets at [at one local funeral home] alone.”

“We use whatever is requested by the deceased family: teams, alma maters, cartoon characters, music album covers, their city, or their favorite things in life,” he said. “It only takes one person that knows how to design to create the layout for a casket. We apply mostly vinyl, but we also customize the interior and handles with paint that is used specifically for the long-term durability on the casket. I wouldn’t say I am an artist, but I would say I have a vision that brings art to life.”

Hurt Coleman has devoted part of his business to wrapping caskets. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Not About the Money

Coleman recalled the first time he was asked to wrap a casket. “It was in 2020, [and] I was not allowed to release [the photos] because it was a very well-known person in New York,” he said. “He was part of the New York Giants, … and I wasn’t allowed to show visuals. I have it on my wall here at the shop, but I haven’t released it publicly online because I want to respect the family and their privacy.”

That same year, Coleman did his first casket wrap in Birmingham for Antonio “Toni” Bass, a very popular young man in the city who was murdered at the age of 29 … His friends and family were like, ‘Can you wrap his casket?’”

For Coleman, wrapping caskets for clients isn’t about the money: “It’s about empathy, sympathy, and condolences,” he said. “In their worst moments of despair, [there’s] something I can actually give.”

Most of Coleman’s contracts go beyond wrapping caskets. Today he has multiple deals with businesses like the Southeastern Conference (SEC), Nike, Hibbett Sports, and others. He’s also done wraps for the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority.

“I’ve been all over the country doing jobs. The sign at Protective Stadium that says, ‘Welcome to Birmingham,’ that’s my job,” he said, adding that he has more than 113 corporate clients on the books.

“Some fall and fade, while others come in based upon their needs and requirements from our company. The largest I have done is maybe the subway system (in New York) or a few large building murals,” Coleman said. “I don’t have favorites per se, but caskets are my thing. Seeing those faces light up with delight in the midst of grief, that brings me joy and pleasure.”

WrapItUp Graphics, LLC is located at 137 W Oxmoor Rd #407, Homewood, AL 35209. Phone: (205) 703-4911

Updated at 10:17 a.m. on 12/3/2024.

Alabama A&M Fires Head Football Coach Connell Maynor

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Birmingham Times
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Alabama A&M has parted ways with its head football coach Connell Maynor. (Alabama A&M Athletics)

By Steven J. Gaither | HBCU Gameday

Connell Maynor’s time at Alabama A&M is done.

The school announced on Monday that it has “relieved” Connell Maynor of his head coaching role after seven seasons at the helm.

“We want to thank Connell Maynor for his seven seasons at Alabama A&M University,” AAMU AD Dr. Paul Bryant said. “We wish him well in all his future endeavors.”

Mayor went 40-32 during his tenure at Alabama A&M. He led the team to one SWAC title during the abbreviated spring season in 2021.

He had four winning seasons in a row to start his career, including the abbreviated spring season. However, the program has gone 15-19 since 2022, including a 6-6 record during the 2024 season.

Maynor arrived in Huntsville in 2018 following a four-year stint at Hampton University.

In 2014, Maynor was hired as the head coach at Hampton University, where he guided the Pirates in their final years in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) before the program transitioned to the Big South Conference. During his time at Hampton (2014–2017), Maynor led the team to a competitive record and helped develop talent while navigating the challenges of conference realignment.

Maynor’s head coaching career started off in a big way at Winston-Salem State University. He led the program to a 45-6 record during his time at WSSU, winning back-to-back CIAA titles in 2011 and 2012, going undefeated in both regular seasons — and culminating in a 2012 national championship game appearance.

A national search for the program’s next head coach will begin immediately, according to Alabama A&M’s release.

Miles College’s Historic Season Comes to End in Division II Playoffs

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Birmingham Times
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A loss snapped the Golden Bears' 10-game win streak but did not put a damper on a season that included the school's first-ever win in the NCAA Division II Playoffs. (MILES COLLEGE)

The Birmingham Times

VALDOSTA, Ga. — The end to a historic 2024 season came on Saturday afternoon at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as No. 22 Miles lost to No. 1 Valdosta State 33-17. The loss snapped the Golden Bears’ 10-game win streak but did not put a damper on a campaign that saw the team reach several significant milestones, including most victories, most consecutive wins in a single year, and a first-ever win in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

Miles (10-3) had several opportunities early to make the game a lot closer. But the Golden Bears never got in the end zone in the first three quarters, being held to a 28-yard field goal by Roderick Smith over the first 30 minutes. After driving from its own 1-yard line to get the ball to midfield late in the second quarter, Kamren Ivory threw an interception that VSU (11-0) converted into a field goal at the end of the half for a 16-3 advantage.

The Golden Bears held serve through most of the third quarter before VSU took control. Facing a third-and-goal from the Miles 18, the Blazers got the benefit of a personal foul penalty that gave them new life. Blake Hester punched it in from three yards with 37 seconds left to extend the lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Miles was unable to recover the kickoff and VSU recovered at the Miles 13. After a penalty, Hester scored his third touchdown of the game on an 18-yard run, giving VSU two touchdowns in nine seconds and a 30-3 lead with 27 seconds left in the third.

Miles got touchdown passes from Ivory to Jaih Andrews (six yards) and Franck Pierre (20 yards) in the fourth quarter but the hole was far too steep from which to climb back even. Ivory finished with 224 yards passing, Jonero Scott was the top rusher (54 yards on 17 carries) and Jaquel Fells led the receivers with 92 yards on seven receptions.

Defensively, Jeremiah Hudson-Davis had a team-high seven tackles and Lashon Young added six stops. Jamichel Rogers (five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss) and Zion Sharpe (three tackles, sack) were strong on the line of scrimmage as well for the Golden Bears.

Mayor Woodfin Makes Two New Appointments to the Birmingham Water Works Board

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Birmingham Times
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Dr. Monique Gardner Witherspoon and Dr. Andre McShan. (Provided)

www.birminghamal.gov

Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin has announced the appointment of Dr. Andre McShan and Dr. Monique Gardner Witherspoon to the Birmingham Water Works Board. Their appointments will go into effect beginning January 1.

“The Birmingham Water Works Board performs a major role in the oversight of the utility for our residents,” Woodfin said. “Drs. McShan and Gardner Witherspoon are committed leaders in our community with a proven record of cultivating and nurturing relationships for the greater good.”

Gardner Witherspoon currently serves as an associate dean and associate professor in the Orlean Beeson School of Education at Samford University. She has a doctorate in educational leadership, public policy, and administration and has a juris doctorate as well. Previously, she served as the president and CEO of a nonprofit organization, and a regional superintendent in Charlotte, North Carolina, in addition to many other senior leadership positions. Gardner Witherspoon serves on a number of community, state, and national boards and has received several awards and recognition for her leadership and public policy interests.

McShan is an assistant professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UAB. He is the medical director of the Workplace at UAB Highlands and co-medical director of UAB Employee Heath. He is board-certified in occupational and environmental medicine with a focus on creating healthy workers, safe workplaces, and thriving environments.

McShan is a graduate of Ramsay High School. He received his undergraduate degree in biology from Morehouse College and went on to attend Meharry Medical College where he received his MD and MSPH degrees.

McShan is active with his professional society, the local medical community, and many civic organizations. He is a board member of A.G. Gaston Boys and Girls Club, The American Heart Association Southeast board of directors, Jefferson County Medical Society, Kiwanis Club of Birmingham, as well as a graduate of Leadership Birmingham.

Special Holiday Open House Planned for the Historic A. G. Gaston Motel

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Birmingham Times
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The Holiday Harmony Open House at the historic A.G. Gaston Motel will feature performances from local artists, food trucks, free food tastings, educational tours, and a marketplace of vendors and entrepreneurs. (A.G. Gaston photo)

birminghamal.gov

Birmingham – The City of Birmingham and the National Park Service will host its inaugural Holiday Harmony Open House at The Gaston on Saturday, Dec. 7. This free, public event is a special community viewing of the historic A.G. Gaston Motel, located at 1510 5th Ave. North. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the lobby and courtyard will be filled with local storytellers, performers, vendors, and entrepreneurs.

“The A.G. Gaston Motel has a history of being at the center of celebrations of culture and community,” said Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin. “The partnership with the National Park Service has enabled us to revive and restore this special place. We hope the Gaston will once again be at the heart of community gathering for all people here in Birmingham and beyond.”

The A.G. Gaston Motel is the key historic site of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, which was established in 2017 by President Barack Obama. The National Park Service and the City of Birmingham cooperatively own and manage the motel, one of seven cultural heritage sites included in the National Monument and located in and associated with Birmingham’s Historic Civil Rights District.

The Holiday Harmony Open House is made possible in part by a grant from the National Park Foundation.

“This special event will serve as a way to show our appreciation to the city, Birmingham Civil Rights District stakeholders, and broader constituencies for supporting this ever-expanding multi-year partnership,” said Dr. Rolando Herts, Superintendent of the National Park Service’s Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. “This also marks the temporary completion of the Gaston Motel lobby with new exhibits and furnishings that illuminate Birmingham’s Civil Rights legacy.”

The Holiday Harmony Open House at the Gaston will feature performances from local artists, food trucks, free food tastings, educational tours, and a marketplace of vendors and entrepreneurs—a festive way to honor our community’s support and the enduring partnerships within the Birmingham Civil Rights District.

For more information about the motel and this event, go to www.nps.gov/bicr.

Alabama A&M Player Medrick Burnett Jr. Dies Following Injury During Magic City Classic

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Birmingham Times
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Medrick Burnett Jr., 20, a football player for Alabama A&M University, died Wednesday a month after sustaining an injury during the Magic City Classic. (AAMU)

Medrick Burnett Jr., a 20-year-old football player for Alabama A&M University, died Wednesday a month after sustaining a serious injury during a football game, Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Matt Angelo reported Friday.

Burnett Jr., a linebacker who was injured during the Magic City Classic Oct. 26 in Birmingham, was pronounced dead at 5:43 p.m. Wednesday at UAB Hospital, a month after the Classic.

According to a post written by his sister, Dominece James, on GoFundMe, Burnett suffered several brain bleeds after a head-on collision during a tackle in the game, where Alabama A&M faced off against Alabama State University at Legion Field. James said that while he was in the ICU, Burnett underwent a craniotomy to reduce swelling in his brain, adding that it was “the last resort to help try to save his life.”

“Please pray he is having a tough time but we are holding on til the very end,” James posted Wednesday in the hours before Burnett died. “God give us strength so we can keep the faith.”

On Wednesday morning, Alabama A&M erroneously reported that Burnett had died, but subsequently retracted their statement after confirming that he was still alive and stable condition at that point. A university official attributed the error to being given false information.

Burnett, a redshirt freshman originally from Lakewood, California, had played at Grambling State during the 2023 season before transferring to Alabama A&M. During the season, Burnett had three solo tackles and two assists with Alabama A&M before his death.

A.G. Gaston Business Institute Presents Youth Entrepreneurship Pop-up Marketplace

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Birmingham Times
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Janaah and Jacee Summers participated in the Young Entrepreneurs Pop Up Shop in October. A.G. Gaston Business Institute will hold its final shop of the year December 8. (Tanesha Sims-Summers Facebook)

Special to The Times

The A.G. Gaston Business Institute is hosting its final Youth Entrepreneurship Pop-Up Marketplace of 2024 (Holiday Edition) on Saturday, December 7, from Noon to 4:00 PM at Innovation Depot, 1500 1st Ave North, Birmingham, AL 35203.

The marketplace offers an opportunity to shop local while empowering Birmingham’s youngest business leaders, carrying forward the legacy of the legendary A.G. Gaston.

Young entrepreneurs will be selling products they have crafted including handmade jewelry, cosmetics, sweet treats, candles, lemonade, and more. It’s the perfect chance to find unique holiday gifts while supporting the next generation of innovators.

“Our mission is to inspire and equip Birmingham’s youth with the tools they need to succeed as entrepreneurs,” said Bob Dickerson, Executive Director of the A.G. Gaston Business Institute. “This marketplace not only gives these young business owners valuable exposure but also empowers the community to invest in their dreams.”

The marketplace gives you an opportunity to shop early for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, support young, local talent and be part of an inspiring community event. Don’t miss this opportunity to support the entrepreneurial spirit thriving in Birmingham’s youth!

For more information or to apply as a vendor, visit: gastonbusinessinstitute.com or contact Marketa Dickerson, Director of Programs and Events, at msdickerson@bbrc.biz.

Miles College Rides 10-Game Win Streak into Second Round of Division II Playoffs on Sat.

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Birmingham Times
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The Miles flag flies high as the Golden Bears beat their first-round Division II opponent. (Ta'Ron Williams / Miles College)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | Alabama News Center

Miles College Coach Sam Shade’s squad travels to face No. 1 Valdosta State (10-0) on Saturday at noon Central (1 p.m. Eastern) in the second round of the playoffs. The game will be available on ESPN Plus.

Miles continued a historic season last Saturday by hosting and winning for the first time in the NCAA Division II playoffs, taking down Carson-Newman 14-13 at Albert J. Sloan-Alumni Stadium.

During a press conference this week, Jaih Andrews got a chance to celebrate – his 22nd birthday.

The senior wide receiver on the Miles College football team remembered a sleepover with friends when he turned 9. This particular birthday fell on the day of the Alabama-Auburn football game and Andrews was a big Alabama fan.

“My mom, she actually went to the Iron Bowl game,” Andrews recalled. “It just so happened to be the year that Cam Newton came back from 21-0 (actually 24-0) and won the game.

“She brought me back a picture of the scoreboard because she’s an Auburn fan,” the Miles wideout said. “That’s my most memorable birthday present. I didn’t really like it and I didn’t really want it, but it was the most memorable.”

Derrick Davis, a freshman running back out of Pleasant Grove High, sings in the Miles Choir. Tuesday, he led the team in singing happy birthday to Andrews and others on the team who were born in November.

This year, Andrews shared his favorite birthday present with his fellow Golden Bears.

“I got my birthday wish already,” the Ramsay High School product said during a Tuesday press conference. “I wanted to be playing football on my birthday, so I’m very thankful for that.”

At 10-2, Miles has established a record for most wins in a season, eclipsing the 9-3 mark of the 2019 team. The team’s current 10-game win streak is the best single-season streak at Miles, surpassing the eight-game string of 1950.

Shade, in his third season at Miles, earned his first Coach of the Year award in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). Coincidentally, Shade’s first season included the only previous meeting between Miles and Valdosta State – a 55-7 home loss.

But Shade adheres to the principle that past performance is not indicative of future results.

“The thing about football (is) each team and each season is different,” he said. “That was the 2022 edition of the Miles College Golden Bears, and this is the 2024 edition of the Miles College Golden Bears. It’s two different teams.

“Some of our coaches weren’t here during that time,” Shade continued. “A number of players weren’t here. There’s really not a lot that we hang on that game. I haven’t even watched that game. Some of our coaches haven’t watched it because we’re so different now than we were then. And they’re different also. Valdosta is different.”

The coach said the bright lights and big stage of the playoffs don’t intimidate his squad.

Sam Shade, in his third season at Miles, earned his first Coach of the Year award in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and has team on a 10-game win streak. (Miles College)

“I feel like we’ve been in playoff mode for a long time this season,” he said. “When we went down to Tuskegee, we were definitely in playoff mode because we felt like we needed to win and keep winning in order to have a chance to get a home playoff game, to get at least to the fourth seed.”

And then there was the environment of the Tuskegee game, which Miles won 37-7 to take the SIAC crown.

“There were like 40-something thousand that bought tickets at Tuskegee,” Shade said. “I feel like our guys, we can go on the road and play just about anywhere. The crowd’s not going to get us. I don’t think the stage bothers our team.

“The stage doesn’t get too big because these guys enjoy it,” the coach continued. “There’s no pressure. There’s no feeling a little tight or tense. They just enjoy going out playing. I think when you get to that point, you’re past the pressure.”

Tickets to Saturday’s playoff game are available via the Miles Golden Bears website. Tickets are $8 for those 65 or older and young people from age 5 through college age. College students will need to show their school ID. General admission for everyone else is $12 with reserved seating going for $20.

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