SHIRLEY GAVIN FLOYD “CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORIAN / RESEARCHER”

SHIRLEY GAVIN FLOYD was born March 5, 1953 in Birmingham, Alabama.  She was 10 years old in 1963 when the protest demonstrations, sit-ins, and marches were active in Birmingham, Ala. One day, a group of students from Wenonah and Ullman High schools came to Brunetta C. Hill Elementary School on their way to A. H. Parker High School, encouraging school students to leave school and march. Shirley joined the crowd and followed them to A. H. Parker High School. After leaving Parker High School, she followed the crowd down 8th Avenue North as they were making their way to Lincoln Elementary School. When she reached the YWCA, which was located on 8th Avenue North and 5th Street North, she spotted her mother standing in front of the YWCA demanding her to get out of the line and come home at once! Being an only child, Shirley had to obey and was removed from the crowd.
Throughout her life, she felt a void when it came to the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham. Her parents never explained what the protest was all about and as a result, she found herself clueless and ignorant concerning the cause for which so many were fighting. Her interest overwhelmed her and she began to seek out anyone who knew about the movement and especially those who participated in it.
In the year of 2002, Shirley retired from Lawson State Community College after 27 years of service. Two months after her retirement, she went into an office building located on 4thAvenue North called the “Civil Rights Activist Committee: Home of the Foot Soldiers Headquarters.” There she found Mr. Tommy Wrenn, a Foot Soldier who had been employed as a “Field Staff Worker” under the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  When she introduced herself and asked him what a Foot Soldier was he sat straight up and started telling her about the Civil Rights Movement. Shirley was so overwhelmed with what he said, she decided to come back the next day and talk to him again. Proud of the interest that Shirley had and seeing the hidden talent that she possessed, Mr. Wrenn asked her to take part in the upcoming 1st Annual Foot Soldier Grand Reunion by lending assistance to the Project Director, Mrs. Flo Wilson-Davis. After the reunion, Mr. Wrenn hired Shirley in the Civil Rights Office as the Business Manager and the rest is history!
Shirley began to study the history of the Civil Rights Movement and through Mr. Tommy Wrenn, was able to meet and interview such Civil Rights icons as: Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth, Rev. James Bevel,  Rev. Tony S. Cooper, Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev. and Mrs. Joseph and Evelyn Lowery, Mr. Davis Jordan, Mrs. Amelia Boynton, Mr. James Armstrong, Rev. James E. Orange, Dr. C. T. Vivian, Mr. Ralph Worrell, Mr. Frederick Moore, Mr. Colonel Stone Johnson and a list of others, too numerous to name.  It was at this time that she realized the importance of their various horrid and brutal encounters throughout the civil rights struggle and decided that these stories needed to be published and preserved. She asked for permission to interview and publish the stories of as many Foot Soldiers as she could and Mr. Wrenn authorized her to do so with his consent and support. She founded a civil rights newspaper which she titled: “The Foot Soldier Informer.” The newspaper was designed to tell the stories of the “unnamed and ordinary” Foot Soldiers in their own words. Presently, there are seven volumes of this 21 page document published and it is also preserved in the archival section of the Birmingham Public Library. Mr. Wrenn is credited with teaching Shirley most of the civil rights movement history and exposed her to areas and regions where the crucial and bloody battles were fought. In the year of 2004, he took her to Selma so she could be knowledgeable about “Bloody Sunday” and the horrid and infamous brutal attack on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the year 1965. That same year, at her first  “Bridge Crossing Jubilee,” Shirley was selected to lead the march by Rev. James E. Orange and has led the march yearly since that time. The following year, in 2005, she walked the 57 mile historic route from Selma to Montgomery in appreciation of the pilgrimage made in 1965 by those courageous voting rights protestors. To her credit, she has walked that same historic route three consecutive times.
Besides being dedicated to the Civil Rights Foot Soldiers, Shirley also holds the position of President of the Smithfield Neighborhood Association where she has been active in this civic role since the year 2000. There she dedicates her time to making sure the neighborhood is viable with the necessary businesses and entities that will enhance and instill pride in all of its citizens.
When not engaged in civic duties, she takes the opportunity to offer condolences to bereaved families as she is employed with Davenport-Harris Funeral Home as a Funeral Attendant and Limousine Driver and has been employed there since 2002.
Shirley is working on her 5th Civil Rights Documentary which will be released in the year 2015. Due to copyright laws, the title of this documentary cannot be revealed at this time but is proving to be as great or greater than the ones before it.
This is just a snapshot of the works of Birmingham’s own: Shirley Gavin Floyd. She is committed to the struggle and we are proud of her accomplishments. Best wishes to Shirley in all future endeavors. She is truly, BIRMINGHAM’S OWN!

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. —Alabama Governor Robert Bentley and business leaders credit State Rep. Rod Scott and State Rep. Paul DeMarco for setting the stage for creation of the Alabama Workforce Training Center in Birmingham.

Bentley joined Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Scott, DeMarco and area business leaders at the ribbon-cutting opening of the new training center, located at 3500 Sixth Ave. South.

Governor Bentley and Brian Hilson, Birmingham Business Alliance Executive Director said the process for creating the center started with the vision of Scott and DeMarco.

“This facility idea was brought to us a year ago by Rep. Demarco and Rep. Scott,” Bentley said. “Their idea for creating a facility for training fits perfectly with what we were already trying to do. I told them let’s work together to make this happen.”

Scott thanked the BBA, Gov. Bentley, and state legislators for working together with groups like the Associated Builders and Contractors to make it happen.

“Too often we talk about gridlock,” Scott, D-Fairfield, House District 55, said. “With this effort, we get to talk about partnerships and what can happen when alliances are formed. We brought the components together of education and business. The Alabama Workforce Training Center will put people back to work by teaching them the business skills they need to succeed.”

Mayor Bell stated, “This will help get young people off the streets, trained with skills and provide for their family.  Through this center, we can give hope.”

AIDT has already begun holding training classes in the facility with the AIDT Leadership Development Skills I. Those that complete the two-day course will receive the AIDT Certified Leadership I certification, and will be better skilled at communication, teamwork and motivation techniques.  The center will have 10 – 15 employees and work closely with the Alabama Community College System.  AIDT operates five training centers throughout the state – Huntsville, Tanner, Opelika and two in Mobile.

There is no cost for participants. The class is designed for team leaders, supervisors and managers, and a minimum of 10 participants is needed for each class. To register, email info@aidt.edu or call (334) 242-4158.

The Alabama Power board of directors has elected Tony Smoke vice president of the company with responsibility for Marketing, effective May 19. His election is part of a number of leadership moves, all effective May 19, that are designed to strengthen the company’s focus on providing superior services for customers.
“Tony has been a valuable member of the Alabama Power family for years,” said Mark Crosswhite, Alabama Power chairman, president and CEO. “His broad experience and strong commitment to serving our customers make him an outstanding choice to head our marketing team.”
Smoke succeeds Don Scivley, who has been named vice president of Corporate Services. Bob Weaver, who served as Corporate Services vice president, has been named vice president of Customer Services.
In his new position, Smoke will oversee all elements of marketing, including market planning, sales development and support, power contracts and power quality, and energy-efficiency programs. Smoke previously served as area manager for the company’s Birmingham Division.
Weaver, in his new role, will be responsible for integrating all facets of the customer experience, including the use of technologies and research, to enhance the company’s relationship with its residential, business, and industrial customers across the state.
Scivley, as Corporate Services vice president, will be responsible for facilities and fleet management, as well as real estate operations.
The company announced two other leadership changes focused on the Birmingham area. Foster L. Ware III has been named the area manager for the north region of the Birmingham Division, succeeding Smoke. Ashley Robinett has been named area manager for the south region of the Birmingham Division.
“These leaders bring a wealth of knowledge to their respective positions,” Crosswhite said. “They are very involved in their communities and dedicated to serving the customers of Alabama Power.”   
 Smoke has more than 30 years’ experience at Alabama Power, having held a variety of roles of increasing responsibility in Transmission Design, Substation Design, and Distribution Engineering in corporate and division operations. He has served as manager for Commercial and Industrial Energy Sales and Efficiency for the Birmingham Division. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Auburn University and a law degree from the Birmingham School of Law.
Weaver joined Alabama Power in 1980 after graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management. He has served in roles of increasing responsibility, including positions in Human Resources, Power Delivery, Engineering and Operations, Commercial and Residential Marketing, and Sales and Service. He was statewide manager of Residential Sales and the assistant to the executive vice president of Alabama Power.
Scivley began his career with Alabama Power in 1984 as a junior accountant in the Western Division, based in Tuscaloosa. He has progressed through supervisory and management posts and has served as assistant to the executive vice president, and assistant to the senior vice president of Alabama Power. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.
Ware joined Alabama Power in 2011 as an Industrial Account manager. He most recently served as Legislative Affairs manager for the company. Prior to his arrival at Alabama Power, Ware was director of Cardiovascular Solutions at Sg2-LLC and Government Affairs manager at Merck & Co. in Illinois. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Tuskegee University.
Robinett joined Southern Company, Alabama Power’s parent company, in 2001 as an engineer, providing analyses for the company’s wholesale subsidiaries. She most recently served as assistant to the chairman, president and CEO of Alabama Power and also has served as assistant to the executive vice president and COO of Southern Company. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn.

Alabama Power, a subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company, (NYSE:SO), provides reliable, affordable electricity to more than 1.4 million customers across the state. To learn more, please visit www.alabamapower.com.

Approved FEMA applications: 2,498

Individual Assistance Approved by FEMA to date:  $10,320,969
·        Housing Assistance: $8,772,849
·        Other Need Assistance: $1,548,120

Small Business Administration (SBA) Low-Interest Disaster Loans Approved to date: $1,017,000

Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the recent tornadoes and storms should register with FEMA for state and federal disaster grants and loans.
·        To apply for assistance, call 800-621-3362 or visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov .
·        If you have a speech disability, are deaf or hard of hearing, call (TTY) 800-462-7585
·        If you use 711 or Video Relay Service, call 800-621-3362
·        An individual may choose to receive SMS (Short Message Service) messaging during Registration Intake. This option allows them to have various notifications sent to their smart device regarding their FEMA application.

FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) Teams and FEMA Corps members are canvassing affected areas to provide on-site registration assistance, address immediate and emerging needs, and answer any questions specific to the registration process. Specialists can also provide referrals to additional resources.
9 Counties are eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance
Baldwin, Blount, DeKalb, Etowah, Jefferson, Lee, Limestone, Mobile, Tuscaloosa

FEMA/STATE Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) .
·        DRC’s are open Monday – Saturday    Closed Sunday
·        8a.m. – 6p.m.

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY

**THE TUSCALOOSA DRC IS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING TO A NEW LOCATON TODAY.
AN ADVISORY WILL BE FORTHCOMING ONCE IT IS UP AND RUNNING **

BALDWIN COUNTY

Elberta Town Hall
10352 Main St
Elberta, Alabama

Fairhope Civic Center (Delchamps Room)
161 North Section St
Fairhope, Alabama

ETOWAH  COUNTY

Sardis City Hall
1335 Sardis Drive
Boaz, Alabama

JEFFERSON  COUNTY

Maurice C. West Community Center
171 2nd Street SW
Graysville, Alabama

Kimberly Senior Center
8013 Warrior- Kimberly Rd
Kimberly Alabama

Lawson State
1098 9th Ave SW
Bessemer, Alabama

LEE COUNTY

Smith’s Station Government Center
2336 Lee Co Road 430
Smith’s Station, Alabama

LIMESTONE COUNTY

Ripley W.O.W. Hall
11281 Ripley Road
Athens, Alabama

MOBILE COUNTY

Old Navy/Marine Corps Reserve Center
4851 Museum Drive
Mobile, Alabama

18 counties are eligible for Public Assistance
Baldwin, Blount, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw,  Dale, DeKalb, Etowah,
Franklin, Geneva, Jefferson, Lamar, Lee, Limestone, Mobile, Perry,
Pickens, Tuscaloosa

The Birmingham Police Department reports that detectives have arrested and charged a second suspect in connection with a double homicide investigation. The incident occurred Friday, April 25, 2014 in the 1300 Block of 57th Place Ensley.

The first victim has been identified as:
Dekovan Harris, B/M, 36, of Fairfield, Alabama

The second victim has been identified as:
Sharday Ware, B/F, 27, of Birmingham, Alabama

The first suspect has been identified as:
Dewayne Barnes, B/M, 20, of Birmingham, Alabama. Two Capital Murder warrants with a no bond have been obtained against the suspect. The suspect is in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

The second suspect has been identified as:
Jermaine Tolbert, B/M, 26, of Birmingham, Alabama. Two Capital Murder warrants with a no bond have been obtained against the suspect. The suspect is in the custody of the Jefferson County Jail.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School will celebrate graduation of the Class of 2014 on Saturday, May 24th. Jefferson County Judge Helen Shores Lee will be the keynote speaker at the graduation, slated for 1 p.m. at Cathedral of Saint Paul, 2120 3rd Avenue North in Birmingham.
Khayla Jones, Valedictorian, plans to attend South Alabama in her pursuit of becoming a physical therapist.
“I am so excited and proud of Khayla. She has always taken her education seriously and excelled,” stated her mother, Sherolyn Jones.
Co-Salutatorian, Elijah Brown, has chosen to attend Samford University on a Presidential Scholarship, said his mother, Deloise Brown.
“I’m living in the moment. All of the hard work has paid off,” said Brown, who plans to be a biological scientist.
Co-Salutatorian, Carlton Hicks, plans to pursue an engineering degree at Alabama A& M University, according to his parents, Herschell and Patricia Hicks.
“We’re so excited about all the blessings God has before him,” Mrs. Hicks said.
One hundred percent of Holy Family Cristo Rey’s seniors have graduated and have been accepted into college since its opening in 2007.
Located at 2001 19th Street Ensley, Holy Family Cristo Rey is currently accepting applications for the 2014-15 school year. For details, call Beverly Dixon, Director of Admissions, at (205) 263-0133, email bdixon@hfcristorey.org, or go to www.hfcristorey.org. Follow the school on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Congratulations to the First Black U.S. Congressman in the State of Alabama since Reconstruction, Congressman Earl F. Hilliard, for being honored and receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jefferson County Democratic Party for his more than 35 Years of Service.

 BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Birmingham Health Care announced the appointment of Vanosia S. Faison, MD., MS., as the new Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Faison has been practicing medicine for the past seven years and has been with Birmingham Healthcare for two years, specializing in the areas of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. In addition to her duties as the new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Faison serves as the lead physician at Birmingham Health Care’s Ensley Health Center and spends time implementing the Reach out and Read program, which encourages early literacy by giving books to children starting as young as six months old, to encourage a head start on learning.
Obtaining her undergraduate degree at Fisk University, Dr. Faison continued her education at Alabama State University, receiving her Masters in Biology, and advancing on to Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan.
When asked about her plans for the future, Dr. Faison stated, “I want to have a facility where everyone can be taken care of and receive quality care, whether insured or un-insured. We want to continue to fulfill the mission statement of our practice, and continue to partner with the community to solve the problems facing underserved people.”