Alabama State Opens Men's Basketball Practice; Announces 2013-14 Schedule

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October 9, 2013

Alabama State Opens Men’s Basketball Practice;
Announces 2013-14 Schedule

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Alabama State University men’s basketball coach Lewis Jackson led the Hornets on to the court on Friday to begin preparations for the 2013-14 season, his ninth as the Hornets’ head coach.
“To hear the ball bouncing and shoes squeaking and to have the guys making noise here in the gym is very exciting for us,” Head Coach Lewis Jackson said. “We are just so excited we have additional days to come in and work now. Normally we don’t start until Oct. 11, but with the relaxing of the rule we are able to get in here now and we are truly excited.”
ASU has four players returning from last season led by sophomore Jamel Waters who played in all 32 games last season and started 23 games at point guard. Junior Luther Page has started several games during his two years on campus, including 17 last season. Devonte’ Neal returns at the center position and the other returner is Bobby Brown who played in 30 games and started six last year.
ASU will work on blending in 12 newcomers with the returners this season as they begin working toward their season opener on Oct. 31 when they host Huntingdon College.
“When you have a lot of new guys like we do in the program you have to go back to the basics, teaching things you want the guys to do in the games and in practices,” Jackson said. “The teaching part is going to take some time but the good thing about that is we have additional days where we can get in, take our time and give the guys the information they need.”
This year’s schedule is made up of 31 games. Sixteen of the games will be played in Dunn-Oliver Acadome while 14 of the games are on the road and one opponent will be played at a neutral location.
After opening the season hosting Huntingdon and Fort Valley State (Nov. 5) in exhibitions, ASU will begin the pre-conference portion of their schedule with road games at Illinois (Nov. 8) and Bradley (Nov. 10) as part of the Global Sports Invitational. ASU will return home for their first regular season home game when they host Mobile (Nov. 13).
The Hornets will end their play in the Global Sports Invitational with a road game at Jacksonville State (Nov. 16) and a return engagement from Chicago State (Nov. 18), where the Hornets played a road game last season.
ASU will begin December action when they travel down the road to face Troy (Dec. 7). After nine days off the Hornets will come back home to host Western Illinois (Dec. 16).
For the third consecutive season ASU will participate in the Tulane Classic (Dec. 21-22) where they will face host Tulane on the first day and then play Wisconsin-Milwaukee on Sunday before taking a break for the Christmas Holidays.
After the Holidays, ASU will end the non-conference season when they host city rival Auburn Montgomery (Dec. 28) and host the final non-conference match up with Thomas (Dec. 30).
ASU opens 2014 in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) action when they hit the road to play at Grambling State (Jan. 4) and at Jackson State (Jan. 6).
The Hornets will return to Montgomery to host three consecutive conference games; Mississippi Valley State (Jan. 11), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jan. 13) and Alabama A&M (Jan. 18).
The final four games of the first round of conference games will be split. The first two will be on the road at Alcorn State (Jan. 25) and Southern (Jan. 27) before ending at home against Prairie View (Feb. 1) and Texas Southern (Feb. 3).
Mississippi Valley State (Feb. 8), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Feb. 10) and Alabama A&M (Feb. 15) will start the second round of conference action, all on the road. That will leave four of the final six games coming at home beginning with Alcorn State (Feb. 22) and Southern (Feb. 24).
The final two road games of the regular season will be at Texas Southern (March 1) and Prairie View A&M (March 3). ASU ends the season hosting Grambling State (March 6) and Jackson State (March 8).
“Our schedule in the preseason has always been brutal,” Jackson said. “We try to go out and schedule some high major teams so our guys can see how the major teams play, but we tried to relax that a little bit this year and get some more home games so our fans can come out and see us play. It is kind of favorable to us, but we will go out and compete and get them one at a time.”
The SWAC Tournament has moved to Houston, Texas this year and will be played Tuesday-Saturday, March 11-15.

Coach Freeman-Jackson and the Lady Hornets Basketball Team Releases 2013-2014 Schedule and Begins Preseason Practice

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 2013-2014 Women’s Basketball schedule has been released and the team has begun their road to the crown with preseason practice at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
This season’s schedule will showcase non-conferences match-ups against in-state schools Faulkner (exhibition), Troy, Stillman, Samford and the University of Mobile.
The Lady Hornets will also take on powerhouse Mississippi State, Florida A&M, Mercer, Bluefield, and Savannah State. Alabama State will close their non-conference schedule with a tough matchup against Georgia Tech for a two day tournament in Atlanta, Ga.
“Preseason has always been tough, especially playing teams like Mississippi State and Georgia Tech,” said head coach Freda Freeman-Jackson. “We use preseason competition to help us see where we are as a team and where we need to go in preparation for conference play. We have a lot of experience coming back to help, so we should fair pretty well in these preseason match ups.”
November 5th kicks off the season for the Lady Hornets as they host Faulker University for their home opener at 6 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in an exhibition contest. For the remainder of November the Hornets will host a cluster of home games as Troy comes to the Dome on the 8th, Stillman on the 12th, and Bluefield State on the 16th and finishing their home November games against the University of Mobile on the 19th.
“We decided to play Bluefield State this season because of James Oliver, Jr. who is the head coach of Bluefield and whose father’s name is on the Acadome floor. This is where coach Oliver (J.J.) started his career as a student and then as an assistant coach here at Alabama State. We look at this as a homecoming for him as well as we felt that this would be a good match-up,” said Freeman-Jackson.
In December, ASU will play Samford in the Acadome on December 4th, then travel to Starkville, Miss. for a 5 p.m. showdown against Mississippi State. The Lady Hornets will head back home to Montgomery for match-ups against Florida A&M on December 17th, Mercer on Dec. 20th, and Savannah State on Dec. 22nd before ending their non-conference schedule against Georgia Tech tournament December 29th and 30th in Atlanta, Ga.
The Lady Hornets will open up SWAC play on the road against Grambling State January 4th, before heading to Jackson State on January 6th. Both games are slated for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off. The Lady Hornets will then come home for games against Mississippi Valley State (Jan.11th), University Arkansas-Pine Bluff (Jan.13th) and then will host in-state rival Alabama A&M on January 18th at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
Alabama State will then be on the road to face Alcorn State January 25th, and then head to Baton Rouge, La. to face Southern Jan 27th. February will be the halfway point of the season as they travel to Mississippi Valley (Feb.8), Arkansas Pine Bluff (Feb.10) then head up to Normal, Ala. to face rival Alabama A&M (Feb.15).
Upon returning home the Lady Hornets will host Alcorn State (Feb.22) and Southern (Feb.24), then head to Texas for a two game swing first against Texas Southern (Mar.1) and then take on Prairie View A&M (Mar.3).
Alabama State will host another pair of home games as Grambling State visits the Dome on March 6 and then Jackson State comes on the 8th to close out regular season play. This year’s SWAC 2014 basketball tournament will be held in Houston, Texas March 11-15.
With the schedule set, the Lady Hornets start preparations for their preseason games with the first day of practice. Alabama State finished their off season conditioning in full stride as they get ready for their showcase on October 11 for Late Night Madness.
“The transition from off season workouts to the opening of preseason practice was pretty productive,” said Freeman-Jackson. “We made sure that we had the ladies do a lot of distant running up to at least three miles to assist with their endurance. It’s always good to come in tip-top shape before we start practice and I think that my staff did a good job of that. We are an up-tempo team so it’s important for the ladies to be ready to run the ball.”
“I felt today was a good day with practicing early this morning working on fundamental items and then going to the weight room working their upper bodies and finally coming to an afternoon practice working on team oriented plays. The ladies were really receptive with what we were trying to get done today, before getting the season on the way.”

For all information on the Lady Hornets basketball team and all other Alabama State sports, can be found on bamastatesports.com. We can also be found on Twitter.com (ASUbuzz) or Facebook.com (ASUbuzz).

Birmingham Auto Painting Grand Re-Opening

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Birmingham Times

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October 8, 2013

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Birmingham Auto Painting is having their Grand Re-Opening October 9, 2013 10:30 am at 3115 3rd Avenue South.

PAINT SPECIALS $349.95!

Contact 205 322 1705 for more info.

INSIDE THE STATEHOUSE

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Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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By Steve Flowers

Believe it or not the 2014 state elections are only eight months away. This gubernatorial year, which usually portends a plethora of interesting and exciting races, is shaping up as a ho hum year.

Gov. Robert Bentley appears to be on a path to breeze toward reelection to a second four-year term. Bentley has done a good job as governor and folks seem satisfied with him. Bentley’s stratospheric approval ratings stem from his likeability and trustworthiness. When asked about those two traits his numbers shoot off the charts. Folks simply trust him the way people trusted their family doctor. To put it into layman terms or country jargon, he fits like an old shoe. Bentley is a plow horse, not a show horse.

Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey will also have an easy course to reelection. This job does not have the power it once had. Therefore, very few special interest groups care who is lieutenant governor because the post has very little influence over public policy in the state. It would be difficult for any challenger to raise any money. For that matter, it is tough for the incumbent to raise campaign funds.

In contrast, the Attorney General’s office has immense and extensive power. It is the second most important job in state government. Luther Strange has done a good job. He should breeze to reelection. However, because he has faced a myriad of issues during his term he has stepped on some powerful toes. This race could get a surprise financially backed candidate but that is unlikely.

Young Boozer should win reelection to a second term as State Treasurer maybe without opposition. He has done a good job, especially having to deal with the beleaguered PACT program.

John McMillan should coast to another term as Agriculture Commissioner. He has done a good job despite having to deal with budget restraints.

Secretary of State Beth Chapman quit with 17 months left to go on her term. Gov. Bentley appointed former Secretary of State Jim Bennett to fill the remaining time of Chapman’s term. The Governor could not have picked a more appropriate person to serve through 2014. Many Goat Hill observers believe that Jim Bennett was Alabama’s best and most diligent Secretary of State in modern times.

There are three very qualified men seeking this post, a former probate judge, Reese McKinney of Montgomery, a sitting probate judge, Jim Perdue of Luverne, and State Representative John Merrill of Tuscaloosa. There may be other entrants. This is shaping up as the best state race thus far. Although, it will not be that interesting because the job is essentially a clerical post and it is difficult to raise any money for this race.

Most people are not aware that our Junior U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions is up for reelection next year. It has gone completely under the radar screen. Sessions is very conservative and that equates to him being very popular in Alabama. We in the Heart of Dixie are by most counts the most conservative state in the nation. Therefore, it is only fitting and proper that we have the most right wing Senator in the U.S. Senate representing us in Washington. Sessions may even escape opposition. It would be futile for a challenger to try him.

Our seven congressional seats are also up for election next year. All seven should be safe bets for reelection. Due to the advantage of incumbency most congressmen win reelection. The six incumbent Republicans have recorded solid conservative voting records. Little more is expected of them. The lone Democrat, Terri Sewell, has turned in a completely liberal record that should placate her constituency.

The real races next year will probably be for the Legislature. All 105 House seats and all 35 State Senate posts are on the ballot. Special interests have a keen interest in who sits in these seats. You will probably see some intraparty battles within the GOP in June. The super majority Republican control will more than likely remain in place. However, which Republicans sit in these seats may change.

It will be interesting to see if the AEA plays in the GOP primaries. This is their best chance to regain some of their lost power. This herd of Republican elephants has stomped on them for four years.

All in all it is shaping up to be a dull year.

See you next week.

Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His column appears weekly in more than 70 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.

CROSSING THE STREET SAFELY

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Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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Walking to school can promote both healthy living and independence among children. However, it comes with a few dangers that you and your kids need to be aware of. Wednesday, Oct. 9th is International “Walk to School Day.” Children’s of Alabama wants your kids to reap all of the benefits and joys of walking to school while staying safe. Here are a few safety tips for you to share with your kids who walk to school:
•   Go over traffic safety information. Stress the importance of crossing at the crosswalk (never between parked cars or in front of the school bus), waiting for the bus to stop before approaching it, and understanding traffic signals and signs.
•   Map out a safe route. Help your child to pick the quickest, safest route to school. Routes should be visible from the street while avoiding as many busy intersections as possible.
•   Look both ways. Teach your children to always stop and check for traffic in both directions before crossing a street, leaving a driveway, an alley or a curb. Kids should never assume that a car will stop.
•   Watch traffic closely. Be sure that your children are awake and alert before sending them on their route. Kids should keep a good eye out for turning cars or cars leaving driveways when on the street.
•   Set a good example. One of the best ways to help kids learn how to walk to school safely is to set a good example by following the rules of the road yourself. Walk the route to school with your kids a few times so you can show them what safe road rules look like. It’s also a great way to stay active as a family and get valuable together time that you’ll all enjoy!
•   Know emergency contact information. Make sure your kids know their home phone number, the cell phone numbers of parents and any other trusted adult who’s supervising, and how to call 911 in case they get lost.
•   Play it cool. Make sure your child understands that it’s never OK to accept rides, candy, or any other type of invitation from strangers. Avoid clothing with your kids name on it; kids tend to trust people who know their names.
•   Stay in front of a bus. When they walk in front of the bus, kids should walk on the sidewalk next to the bus for at least 10 feet (about 3 meters), make sure the bus driver acknowledges them, and then cross the street.
•   Don’t disappear. A child who drops something while crossing in front of a bus or car should never bend over to pick it up. This makes the child invisible to the driver. Instead, teach kids to tell the bus driver or car if they drop something.
For more information on this or other health and safety topics, please visit www.childrensal.org.

Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast Hosts Annual COPD Day Screenings  to Raise Awareness of COPD — the Nation's 3rd Leading Cause of Death

By

Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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Birmingham, AL — Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast, PC will host their 6th annual COPD Awareness Day featuring free screenings on Wednesday, Nov. 13. This event is in conjunction with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI’s) COPD Learn More Breathe Better® campaign in observance of National COPD Awareness Month.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a serious lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. COPD, also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, recently surpassed stroke becoming the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million are likely to have the disease and don’t even know it.
“Unfortunately, many people who are at risk for COPD dismiss early symptoms as a normal result of aging or being out of shape. This year during National COPD Awareness Month, Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast is providing free screenings and testing to help individuals who may be at risk for COPD recognize the signs and symptoms in themselves or their loved ones,” said Debi Waldrup, Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast Administrator.
This year’s free screenings will take place at the offices of Pulmonary Associates located at 800 Montclair Road, Professional Office Building 880, 1st Floor. This is located on the Trinity Medical Center campus. Spirometry, a test for COPD, and Alpha 1, a test for emphysema, will be provided at no-charge from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. There will also be information and education on lung disease as well as snacks, give-a-ways, and door prizes.
Anyone can have trouble breathing once in a while. But for people who have COPD debilitating symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath can seem relentless. As COPD progresses, symptoms tend to get worse and cause more damage to the lungs. Through the Annual COPD Awareness Day event, the physicians of Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast are working to help people who suffer from COPD understand that with proper diagnosis and treatment they can breathe easier and enjoy an improved quality of life.
“COPD is a common disease that affects one in five adults over the age of 45, but COPD is a treatable disease,” said James Kiley, Ph.D., director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health. “If you or someone you know is exhibiting the symptoms of COPD, we encourage you to take time during National COPD Awareness Month to listen to your lungs and talk to a health care provider about your symptoms. By taking a simple breathing test called spirometry, you can be diagnosed and begin receiving treatment that can help make daily activities easier.”
For more information, visit www.pulmonarydocs.com or www.COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov.

Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast Hosts Annual COPD Day Screenings  to Raise Awareness of COPD — the Nation’s 3rd Leading Cause of Death

By

Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

0

Birmingham, AL — Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast, PC will host their 6th annual COPD Awareness Day featuring free screenings on Wednesday, Nov. 13. This event is in conjunction with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI’s) COPD Learn More Breathe Better® campaign in observance of National COPD Awareness Month.
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a serious lung disease that makes it difficult to breathe. COPD, also known as emphysema and chronic bronchitis, recently surpassed stroke becoming the third leading cause of death in the United States. More than 12 million people are diagnosed with COPD and an additional 12 million are likely to have the disease and don’t even know it.
“Unfortunately, many people who are at risk for COPD dismiss early symptoms as a normal result of aging or being out of shape. This year during National COPD Awareness Month, Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast is providing free screenings and testing to help individuals who may be at risk for COPD recognize the signs and symptoms in themselves or their loved ones,” said Debi Waldrup, Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast Administrator.
This year’s free screenings will take place at the offices of Pulmonary Associates located at 800 Montclair Road, Professional Office Building 880, 1st Floor. This is located on the Trinity Medical Center campus. Spirometry, a test for COPD, and Alpha 1, a test for emphysema, will be provided at no-charge from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. There will also be information and education on lung disease as well as snacks, give-a-ways, and door prizes.
Anyone can have trouble breathing once in a while. But for people who have COPD debilitating symptoms such as chronic cough, wheezing and shortness of breath can seem relentless. As COPD progresses, symptoms tend to get worse and cause more damage to the lungs. Through the Annual COPD Awareness Day event, the physicians of Pulmonary Associates of the Southeast are working to help people who suffer from COPD understand that with proper diagnosis and treatment they can breathe easier and enjoy an improved quality of life.
“COPD is a common disease that affects one in five adults over the age of 45, but COPD is a treatable disease,” said James Kiley, Ph.D., director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health. “If you or someone you know is exhibiting the symptoms of COPD, we encourage you to take time during National COPD Awareness Month to listen to your lungs and talk to a health care provider about your symptoms. By taking a simple breathing test called spirometry, you can be diagnosed and begin receiving treatment that can help make daily activities easier.”
For more information, visit www.pulmonarydocs.com or www.COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov.

2013 Lexus LS 460, Life Is Good

By

Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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By Cheryl Eldridge

I got a $86,784 surprise last week. Not only did the surprise make me feel as if I was on the top of the world, I’m thinking about purchasing such a dynamic power- filled automobile.
The 2013 Lexus LS 460 was definitely a sight for sore eyes. Many people even thought that it was a Mercedes, that is until when the lights turned on, they were in the form of the letter “L.”
Another amenity that I enjoyed was the Navigation System. You don’t have to store the information in while locating your next destination. You can just simply push the voice command, which connects you to a live operator, which links to the car to your address in a matter of seconds. Now that’s being a bit spoiled. The LS 460 is also a serene, quiet and comfortable drive.
On a more technical side, the 2013 Lexus LS 460 is a full-size luxury sedan available in regular and extended (LS 460 L) wheelbases. Both seat five people standard, but the L is available with a four-passenger configuration that includes a special center console in the rear.
Standard equipment on the LS 460 and LS 460 L includes 18-inch wheels, adaptive automatic xenon headlights, LED foglamps and running lights, auto-dimming and power-folding mirrors, automatic wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, a sunroof, power door closers, adjustable drive settings and keyless ignition/entry. Interior features include cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, power front seats (12-way driver with four-way lumbar; 10-way passenger with two-way lumbar), front seat memory functions, leather upholstery and a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel.
Electronic features include the Lexus Remote Touch interface, a 12.3-inch central display screen, a navigation system, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, Lexus Safety Connect emergency communications and the Lexus Enform suite of smartphone-integrated apps. The 10-speaker sound system includes a CD player, HD radio, iTunes tagging, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack and an iPod/USB audio interface. The Comfort package (standard on the 460 L) adds a power-closing trunk, heated and cooled front seats (with climate control-linked automatic setting), and a power rear sunshade.
Stand-alone options include 19-inch wheels, summer tires, LED headlights, an adjustable air suspension (includes enhanced steering, ride height adjustment and additional drive settings), a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control with an enhanced pre-collision system, upgraded leather upholstery (includes a faux-suede headliner), a heated steering wheel and a 19-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound audio system.
The All Weather package adds headlamp washers and a wiper de-icer. The Ultra Luxury package adds four-zone climate control, six-way power rear seats (with heating, cooling and massage functions), rear-seat side airbags and rear audio controls.
The regular LS 460 can be equipped with the F Sport package. This includes 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential (rear-wheel drive only), a sport-tuned air suspension, sport-tuned steering, sportier adjustable drive settings, unique exterior and interior design elements, transmission shift paddles on the steering wheel and rev-matched downshifts.
The long-wheelbase LS 460 L can be equipped with the Executive-Class Seating package. This includes the Ultra Luxury package’s backseat upgrades, but enhances them with a two-seat configuration, a center console (includes enhanced controls, a cool box and added storage), a power passenger-side ottoman, power rear side sunshades and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system with a power drop-down screen. Extended leather trim throughout the interior is included with this package.
The 2013 Lexus LS 460 is powered by a 4.6-liter V8 that produces 386 hp and 360 pound-feet of torque when equipped with standard rear-wheel drive. It produces 360 hp and 347 lb-ft of torque with optional all-wheel drive. An eight-speed automatic transmission is standard on every LS 460.
Lexus estimates that the rear-drive LS 460 will go from zero to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds, while the all-wheel-drive version will do it in 5.9. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 19 mpg combined with rear-wheel drive. It drops to 16/23/18 with AWD.
On the safety side, every 2013 Lexus LS 460 comes standard with antilock brakes, traction and stability control, front knee airbags, front side airbags, side curtain airbags and a rearview camera. Also standard is Lexus Safety Connect, which includes automatic collision notification, an emergency assist button, enhanced roadside assistance and a stolen vehicle locator.
There are several safety options which I enjoyed. The blind-spot warning system includes a rear cross-traffic alert system. The adaptive cruise control system includes a pre-collision system that preps various vehicle systems when it detects a possible collision. The Advanced Pre-Collision system includes a driver-attention monitor and can actually take evasive action if the driver fails to do so. Rear seat side airbags are also available.
The previous Lexus LS interior was beautifully constructed, but when it came to design and material choices, it just didn’t feel as elegant or special. All this changes with the 2013 LS 460. Soft leather or leather-look vinyl now covers most interior surfaces, and it’s complete stitching that lends a feeling of customization. Wood trim is now more artfully applied, and in general the look is much more modern.
The Remote Touch electronics interface is a part of that look, but more importantly, it controls most cabin functions. This is essentially a mouselike device that allows the user to navigate among a variety of icons on a centrally located video screen. I found it to be a competent control interface for the increasingly numerous and complicated gadgets found in flagship luxury sedans. However, it can still draw too much attention away from the road, and you may find that a tech interface as seen in the cars of some competitors will suit you better. This is definitely something to test thoroughly at a car dealership.
Front seat comfort is exemplary, and the backseat can be even better. Spacious in regular form and very spacious with the long-wheelbase L, it only gets nicer when you start sampling from the options list. Frankly, there isn’t a more indulgent or relaxing backseat than the one included with the optional Executive-Class Seating package. Even a Rolls-Royce or Bentley doesn’t give you as many toys. Trunk space is a generous 18 cubic feet.

Until next week, drive safe, buckle up, and please don’t text and drive, it’s the law.

Evelyn Gibson Lowery: 1925-2013

By

Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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By Michelle E. Shaw and Ernie Suggs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It was a very rare occasion that Evelyn Lowery wasn’t at the side of her husband, the Rev. Joseph Lowery.
As he rose to prominence as one of the country’s leading figures in the civil rights movement, she was a constant companion, whether it was at a rally, march, news conference or in church. Conversely, as she established herself as a leader as founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference/WOMEN, her husband was a steady presence.
With one notable exception: It was in Decatur, Ala., on May 26, 1979.
Joseph Lowery was leading a march of nearly 2,000 in support of Tommy Lee Hines, a mentally disabled Black man who was accused of raping a white woman and convicted in October 1978 by an all-white jury. Sensing the threat of danger, Lowery had his wife ride behind the marchers in the couple’s pale green 1977 Buick.
“The Klan had threatened violence,” Evelyn Lowery said in a 1985 interview with The Atlanta Journal Constitution. “I usually walk beside my husband, but he said I better not this time. So I drove the car.”
The car and the marchers were met by a mob of Klansmen. Several shots were fired. She barely escaped; two shots hit the Buick.
One bullet left a hole in the window frame on the driver’s side. The other shattered the windshield and lodged in the dashboard.
“I could hear them yelling ‘Kill ‘em all!’ ” she said. “It lasted probably about 10 minutes, but it seemed like an eternity.”
The Buick still sits in the Lowerys’ Atlanta garage as a reminder.
Evelyn Gibson Lowery died Thursday morning at her home from complications from a stroke. Lowery, 88, was hospitalized Sept. 18 after suffering the stroke at her home. She returned home from the hospital Wednesday.
The family shared a celebration of Evelyn Lowery’s life with the public in two events this week.
On Monday, there was be a public viewing from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Cascade United Methodist Church, 3144 Cascade Road in southwest Atlanta.
On Wednesday, there will be a viewing from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel on the campus of Morehouse College. Her homegoing celebration will begin at 11 a.m. in King Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to SCLC/Women Inc., Evelyn G. Lowery Civil Rights Heritage Educational Tour, 328 Auburn Ave., Atlanta, GA 30303, or to the Joseph E. Lowery Institute, P.O. Box 92801, Atlanta, GA 30314.
“My beloved Evelyn was a special woman, whose life was committed to service, especially around the issues of empowering women,” Joseph Lowery said in a prepared statement. “She was a wonderful mother and wife, and I thank God that she didn’t suffer any pain and that I was blessed having her as my partner, my confidant and my best friend for close to 70 years. I will miss her each and every day, but as a man of faith, I know that she is with her God.”
Born in Topeka, Kan., the former Evelyn Gibson was introduced to a life of activism by her father, the Rev. Harry B. Gibson, a Methodist preacher. He served at various churches across the country, including a stop in Birmingham, Ala., where he was also active within the NAACP.
While her parents lived in Birmingham, Evelyn Gibson moved to Atlanta to attend Clark College. In 1947, her younger sister set her up on a blind date with a young Birmingham preacher. Evelyn Gibson and Joseph E. Lowery dated for a year and then married April 5, 1948. Three daughters followed.
“She was a faithful supporter of the movement and supporter of the leadership of her husband,” U.S. Rep. John Lewis said. “She was one of the women who was there with Mrs. (Coretta Scott) King and Dr. (Martin Luther) King and Mrs. (Juanita) Abernathy and Ralph Abernathy, so out of that group, the three [wives] … Mrs. Abernathy is the only one left.”
Juanita Abernathy said she met Lowery in the early ’60s.
“She was always by Joe’s side,” Abernathy said. “They were always a team. My prayers go out to Joe and the whole family.”
Evelyn Lowery often said she assumed she would officially go into social work after she graduated from college. She admitted later that as the wife of a preacher, she ultimately filled that role.
On Oct. 18, 1979, two years after her husband became president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Lowery formed SCLC/WOMEN (Women’s Organizational Movement for Equality Now) to give women more of a voice. Although women like her, Coretta Scott King, Juanita Abernathy and Diane Nash had been active in the movement, the roles of women were traditionally diminished. No women, for example, spoke during the March on Washington.
“It was apparent women were coming into our own around the country, in leadership roles,” she told the AJC. “Women have been supportive of the civil rights movement all through the years, but not in leadership roles. This was the beginning of not only being active in leadership but also vocal.”
Initially a branch of the SCLC, the women’s group eventually split from the civil rights organization. In the late 1990s and early 2000s SCLC/WOMEN branched out into several areas, including AIDS awareness, historic documentation and preservation, health and welfare, and programs aimed at strengthening Black families. In 1980, she created the Drum Major for Justice Award, which honored people for their contributions to the cause of freedom, equality and achievement.
In 1984, along with women’s rights activist Judy Goldsmith and then-U.S. Rep. Louis Stokes, Lowery was arrested outside the South African Embassy in Washington for protesting against apartheid.
Over the years, Lowery continued to raise awareness of past struggles. She routinely organized bus trips to Alabama to visit sites in Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Lewis said.
“She was a very strong supporter,” he said. “She organized it herself, busing people. So she’s going to be deeply missed.”
In 2004, Lowery was inducted into the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.
At the time of her death, Lowery was in the process of helping plan a fundraiser and 92nd birthday celebration for her husband, which is scheduled for Oct. 6 at the King International Chapel at Morehouse College.
Along with her husband, Lowery’s survivors include her daughters, two sons, a sister and grandchildren.

Bennett, Smith Receive Player of the Week Honors

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Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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Amber Bennett

Rachel Smith

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Amber Bennett and Rachel Smith of the Alabama State University volleyball team have been named the defensive and offensive players of the week by the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) office.
Bennett, a sophomore middle hitter from Baton Rouge, La., led ASU with 19 blocks including nine solo blocks and 10 block assists in being named the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Week. She recorded a career-high five solo blocks against Cal Poly. She leads the Lady Hornets with 40 blocks (10 solo blocks, 30 block assists) for the season. It is the second time Bennett has received the weekly award this year.
Smith led ASU in kills last week with 35 and was named the SWAC’s Offensive Player of the Week. That includes a game-high nine kills against Arizona State, the 18th ranked team in the nation. A sophomore from Riverside, Calif., Smith recorded her season-high of 14 kills and added a double-double with 12 digs against Louisiana-Monroe. It was her first double-double of the season. At the completion of the Arizona State University Marriott Invitational she was named to the All-Tournament Team.

BlackBizFunding Launches Campaign to Raise $1,000,000 to Give Away to Black-owned Businesses Funding Black businesses empowers communities and builds wealth

By

Birmingham Times

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October 3, 2013

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CINCINNATI, Ohio – (BLACK PR WIRE) – BlackBizFunding, a national company that assists in providing funding for Black-owned startups and businesses, announces the launch of its campaign to raise $1,000,000. The drive will officially begin on Tuesday, October 1, 2013 on the company’s website, BlackBizFunding.com. The grassroots campaign asks supporters to chip in one dollar or to “Give a Buck for a Biz.”
Proceeds of the campaign are to be gifted, as in not to be repaid, to Black-owned startups and viable businesses. A panel of judges will narrow the finalists; contributors will assist in selecting the funding recipients. Funding amounts will range from $2,500 to $250,000 and will be distributed in the geographical areas in which they are collected.
Black business ownership is the key to empowering Black communities and creating wealth. BlackBizFunding strives to leverage a portion of the $1.3 trillion buying power of African Americans to re-invest in Black startups and businesses.
Small business expert Cherlyn Carroll, President and Founder of BlackBizFunding, states “If Black America were a country we would be the 11th largest. It is unthinkable, unforgiveable, that high unemployment, poverty, crime and poor schools are still prevalent in many of our communities. Even as the biggest consumers in the nation a dollar earned by an African American stays in the Black community for only six hours before being spent in other communities! And what do those ‘other communities’ do for us? Our issues belong to us and can be solved by us if we pool our money and work together. We have the earning power to be self-supportive – it starts with supporting and creating Black businesses. I am committed to ensuring that Black startups and businesses have access to capital.”
Contributions can be made at BlackBizFunding.com. Staff will participate in Black conferences, expos and festivals around the country to invite participants to chip in a dollar.

Cherlyn Carroll is a serial entrepreneur who has studied small business owners for more than three decades. Among her accomplishments include Volunteer of the Year for SCORE, appointment to Ohio Gov. Taft’s Ohio Women’s Business Advisory Roundtable (OWBAR), and founding of the Black Business Expo.