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Birmingham Therapists Share Importance of Mental Health Wellness for Black Women

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Birmingham Times
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From left: Adezza DuBose, founder, Black Mental Health: Let’s Pray and Talk; Dr. Nadia Richardson-Johnson, founder and CEO of the Black Women’s Mental Health Institute and Tiffany Storey, founder and executive director of Storeyhouse Counseling and Consulting. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | For The Birmingham Times

Dr. Nadia Richardson-Johnson is a professor, diversity consultant as well as Founder and CEO of the Black Women’s Mental Health Institute (BWMHI). She serves with a personal understanding of what mental health patients battle.

Johnson’s been vocal and vulnerable about being diagnosed with “high functioning, rapid cycling, bipolar two,” which is characterized as experiencing four or more episodes of mania or depression in a year’s timeframe.

Her diagnosis came after a collaborative conversation between her medical team – including her counselor, psychiatrist, and internal medicine physician. “I gave all three of them permission to talk to each other, and when they did, they all kind of came together (with a diagnosis),” said Johnson.

That “official” diagnosis opened the door for additional conversations with family who’d managed similar mental health struggles for years, she said.

Dr. Nadia Richardson-Johnson, Founder and CEO of the Black Women’s Mental Health Institute. (Amarr Croskey Photo, For The Birmingham Times)

Johnson and other Birmingham-area medical professionals encourage members of the Black community to be more open about their mental health. There’s still a negative stigma associated with mental illness in the Black community and that stigma is hindering our acknowledgement and healing.

Adezza DuBose, licensed professional counselor and founder of Iman Healing Journey (Iman means faith), said her tea, is “educating and we’re also advocating. We’re doing the best that we can for clients in general, especially Black people, because we are still just down at the bottom when it comes to mental health (care). We still don’t take it as serious as we need to (because) there’s still so much stigma and shame associated with it.”

What’s more concerning is that Alabama rates 50th in the nation in terms of mental health care access, according to a study by Mental Health America, said Richardson.

And that same study shows Alabama has consistently dropped in rankings compared to other states in recent years when it comes to access to mental health resources and care, she added.

Armed with this information, it’s even more important to recognize the signs of mental illness, particularly in high-achieving African American females, she said.

Subtle Signs

One of the first subtle signs, according to Johnson, is when people veer off their normal routine. “When it ventures into this space of mental distress or mental illness, it means it’s impacting their ability to go about their lives as they usually do,” said Johnson.

Watch for the person who is no longer tapping into the things they’d usually enjoy, like going to church, the gym or even family outings, she said.

To kickoff Women’s History Month, Johnson’s organization hosted a luncheon at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, featuring a panel discussion with April Simpkins, the mother of Cheslie Kryst, a lawyer, television correspondent and 2019 Miss USA who was lost to suicide in 2022.

Simpkins shared with the audience that her daughter had long struggled with depression and encouraged them to watch for signs of mental illness, like an excessive work ethic.

Tiffany Storey, licensed counselor, founder and executive director of Storeyhouse Counseling and Consulting. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Clues To Help Others

Tiffany Storey, Birmingham licensed professional counselor, founder and Executive Director of Storeyhouse Counseling and Consulting, joined Johnson and Simpkins on that panel discussion.

Storey, who reminded the audience to check on their “strong friends,” shared some clues to help others understand how and when high achievers are struggling.

“You’ll hear them negotiating when they can get sleep, or when they can have down time, or when they can squeeze things in,” said Storey. “They say things like, ‘I’m overwhelmed.’ They’re forgetting things. They’re running behind and looking tired. They’re more hidden or socially isolated. That’s the time to pay attention to them,” she said.

Storey added, “People who identify as strongest are often the most emotionally vulnerable. While meeting everyone else’s needs, they get the message their needs aren’t important.”

Storey continued, “often people in distress know they are, but they struggle to acknowledge or make the next step.”

But she added, once you recognize a friend or family member is dealing with a mental health crisis, there are a few ways you can assist to help them move forward and get the help they need.

“First, don’t use terms to make them feel bad or small,” she said. “And make sure they feel seen and heard.’

And rather than just offering to help, take it a step further and insist on making life easier by cooking, cleaning, and running errands for them.

For Johnson’s organization, the work of empowering others to help those who have challenges with mental illness is a crucial part of the healing journey.

“We do mental health first aid training,” she said. “We offer free counseling. We put on community health workshops and clinician training, and some of that includes educating and empowering individuals to self-advocate.”

Adezza DuBose, licensed counselor and founder, Black Mental Health: Let’s Pray and Talk. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Challenges For Black Women

DuBose, founder of Iman Healing Journey, said there a number of challenges for Black women not found in other communities.

DuBose said she was startled to learn “Black women are now leading in those who have died by suicide after having birth.”

Learning this gave her a renewed passion to help women, as she takes her work and her mission to heart, not only in counseling patients dealing with post-partum depression, but she counsels adolescents and couples.

The most effective personal healing begins with self, she said.

“We cannot continuously pour from an empty cup,” she said. “We have to be able to pour into ourselves and help ourselves as much as we can, so that we can pour back into others, whether it’s our families or it’s the community or wherever.”

The first question she asks in terms of those seeking help, is what their support system looks like, she said.

“Just have some type of foundation to lean on when you’re down, but that’s still not enough,” said DuBose.

“We need community. We need to seek some type of help from somebody that doesn’t know me, so I know there are no biases (knowing) I have a different place outside of my home or outside of wherever that I’m experiencing this trauma. I have somewhere else I can go to release all this mess that’s on me,” said DuBose.

Additional Resources

For more on Richardson and Black Women’s Mental Health Institute visit https://www.bwmhi.org.

For more on Storey and Storeyhouse Counseling and Consulting visit https://www.shccal.com.

For more on DuBose, visit https://www.imanhealingjourney.com.

Gov. Kay Ivey Signs Bill to Limit Public Funds for DEI in Alabama

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Birmingham Times
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Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey delivers the State of the State address on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024 in Montgomery, Ala. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector)

By | Alabama Reflector

Gov. Kay Ivey Wednesday signed a bill limiting the use of public funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and limiting the ability of public employees to discuss so-called “divisive concepts.”

In a statement Wednesday, Ivey wrote that she and her administration valued “Alabama’s rich diversity,” but she wanted to prevent people on college campuses from what she called “their liberal political movement counter to what the majority of Alabamians believe.”

“We have already taken action to prevent this in our K-12 classrooms, and I am pleased to sign SB 129,  to protect our college campuses,” the statement said. “Supporting academic freedom, embracing diversity of cultures and backgrounds and treating people fairly are all key components of what we believe in Alabama, and I am more than confident that will continue.”

The bill would prevent public teachers, along with some other public employees, from compelling others to accept or conform certain “divisive concepts,” including  “the moral character of an individual is determined by his or her race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin” and “meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist.”

The bill would also prevent public funds from being used for DEI efforts. The bill includes preventing any state agency, local board of education, or public institution of higher education to sponsor a DEI program or maintain an office, physical location or department that promoted DEI.

A person violating the act could face discipline or lose his or her job.

Opponents said the legislation could subject teachers to discipline for discussing widely-accepted historical facts and inhibit efforts to help students understand people from different backgrounds.

The bill was amended several times in the House of Representatives. The legislation originally said that nothing in it “may be construed to inhibit or violate the First Amendment rights of any student or employee, or to undermine the duty of a public institution of higher education to protect, to the greatest degree, academic freedom, intellectual diversity, and free expression, provided that none of these protected tenets conflict with this act.”

An amendment removed the final clause of the statement: “provided that non of these protected tenets conflict with with this act.”

Speaking after the bill passed Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said that the bill could have consequences, such as for higher education and major companies.

“That scares me, in terms of whether or not we’ll run other companies in the future away from Alabama,” he said.

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President & CEO, condemned the bill in a statement on Wednesday, saying Alabama government “has failed our children.”

“The ongoing assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion is part of an anti-Black agenda that seeks to revert our nation back to a time where Black students and teachers were denied adequate access to the classroom,” the statement said. “We refuse to go back. The NAACP remains committed to exploring all avenues of advocacy, mobilization, and litigation to ensure that our young people have the resources and support they deserve.”

The University of Alabama said in a statement Wednesday that its institutions “remain dedicated to our mission of providing exceptional educational, research and patient care experiences to all people, of all backgrounds, in welcoming and supportive environments that foster open thought, academic freedom and free expression.”

“Before the legislation goes into effect in October 2024, we will determine what actions are needed to ensure we can continue to fulfill our multifaceted missions and equip all campus community members for success at our universities and beyond in compliance with applicable law,” the statement said.

Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts and Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Vini Nathan sent a message to the campus community Wednesday that said the school is committed to providing support to all students, “with particular emphasis on providing access and opportunity.”

“We work hard each day at Auburn to create an environment where our faculty, staff and students are welcomed, valued, respected and engaged,” they wrote in the letter. “We remain committed to providing these exceptional experiences while continuing to support academic freedom and freedom of expression. As always, Auburn will act consistently with applicable state and federal law.”

Alan Tita: UAB professor, 2023-2024 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer

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Birmingham Times
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Alan T.N. Tita, M.D., Ph.D. is the senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health at the Heersink School of Medicine, professor in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Mary Heersink Chair for Global Health. (UAB)

By Matt Windsor | UAB News

For parents, the sound of a child’s cry can generate panic. Alan T.N. Tita, M.D., Ph.D., thinks there are few things more beautiful in his line of work. “Hearing a newborn child cry is wonderful news at birth,” said Tita, senior associate dean for Global and Women’s Health at the Heersink School of Medicine, professor in the UAB Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Mary Heersink Chair for Global Health.

Tita is a sub-specialist in maternal-fetal medicine (obstetrics and gynecology) and one of the country’s leading innovators on the topic. While he was growing up in Cameroon, his mother, Agnes, was a nurse. Her example, her interesting books and exposure to the staff at the local hospital where she worked all steered him to a career in medicine.

During training at the Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Yaoundé I he began to see the reality of the “high rates of maternal and infant mortality in Cameroon” and learned about the huge disparities in these rates between countries. “In Cameroon, women were 100 times more likely to die during childbirth compared to those in Europe and North America,” Tita said.

After medical school, Tita worked for two years at a missionary hospital in rural Cameroon, where he “faced the challenges associated with maternal health firsthand,” he recalled in an interview with the Clinical Research Forum. “When you see so many young women dying from complications of childbirth and illegal abortions, well, those images don’t just go away.”

“Area Where I Could Contribute”

Tita wanted to have an impact on these outcomes, and it was clear “this was an area where I could contribute and hopefully make a difference,” he said. That is exactly what he has done since. In 2022, Tita received one of the highest honors in science and medicine when he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine. That same year, the groundbreaking Chronic Hypertension and Pregnancy study, known as CHAP, (a nationwide collaborative effort led by Tita in association with Gary Cutter, Ph.D., and Jeff Szychowski, Ph.D., at the UAB School of Public Health) was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

CHAP answered a question that had challenged clinicians for decades: Is it beneficial and safe — for both mothers and their babies — to treat mild chronic hypertension with medications during pregnancy? The answer was yes, with outcomes improved for mothers and babies and no obvious impairments on fetal growth. The same day CHAP was published, national guidelines began to change.

More Than 350 Peer-Reviewed Publications

In 2023, CHAP was selected as the David Sackett Trial of the Year Award winner by the Society for Clinical Trials and the Herb Pardes Clinical Research Excellence Award recipient from the Clinical Research Forum, given to the most impactful study of the year.

Another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2023, led by Tita and UAB neonatologist Waldemar A. Carlo, M.D., Edwin M. Dixon Professor of Pediatrics, showed that azithromycin reduced a composite of maternal sepsis and maternal death.

That study, conducted by the NICHD Global Network for Women and Children’s Health Research with co-funding by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has also been recognized as one of the top trials of the year by the Clinical Research Forum. Tita has more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, multiple book chapters and Grand Rounds presentations at more than 30 OB/GYN departments in the United States. He has been responsible for over $70 million in research funding.

Tita’s contributions as a researcher and clinician, along with his service to UAB, have earned him recognition as the latest recipient of the 2023-2024 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Award. This is the highest honor bestowed by UAB’s academic health center on a faculty member who has advanced the frontiers of science and made outstanding contributions to education, research and public service.

“It’s an understatement to say that his research has had a transformative impact on obstetrical care in the U.S. and worldwide,” said Warner Huh, M.D., professor and chair of the UAB Department of OB/GYN. “His research literally changed how all obstetricians practice — very few people in the world can be credited that way.”

Tita, who will deliver his Distinguished Faculty Lecture at the Hill Student Center at 4 p.m. on April 29, says he is honored to have been selected. “I express my profound appreciation to the selection committee and the chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Warner Huh, who nominated me,” he said.

“This recognition by my UAB peers and community is both humbling and special. I am indebted to many, including faculty and staff colleagues, my mentees and trainees in OBGYN, and other individuals within and outside UAB who have provided a supportive and stimulating work environment.”

Making An Impact Through Clinical Trials

How did he get involved with clinical trials? “This is not what I originally set out to do,” Tita said. “When I saw the high rates of maternal mortality in Cameroon and the huge disparities within countries and between regions, I thought public health training would allow me to run large programs to address these problems.”

“When I met the people, there was no question UAB was the place to be.”

In 1998, he obtained a master’s degree in international public health from the Nuffield Institute of Health at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and came to the United States for his residency in OB/GYN.

“To stay active in the health system while applying for OB/GYN residency, I joined the Ph.D. in Public Health program, and settled on epidemiology and statistics” at the School of Public Health at the University of Texas Health Science Center, Tita said.

He went on to complete his residency in OB/GYN at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.  Tita says that, while he was applying for fellowships in maternal-fetal medicine, he did not originally have UAB on his list. “Both the labor and delivery director at Baylor, Dr. Michael Gardner — a UAB maternal-fetal medicine trainee — and the OB/GYN chairman, Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, advised me to look at UAB,” Tita said. “They knew I wanted to do OB/GYN global health work, and UAB was among the top-ranked OB/GYN departments in the country with a robust global health collaboration in Zambia. When I met the people, there was no question UAB was the place to be.”

Tita began his fellowship at UAB in 2005 and joined the faculty in the Department of OB/GYN in 2008. The next year, he received his first NIH funding award. “I am grateful to Drs. John Hauth, William Andrews and Dwight Rouse for their early mentorship and support that shaped my career path,” Tita said.

The hallmark of what he saw at UAB during his initial visit, and one that remains today, Tita says, is its collaborative environment. “UAB is open and nurturing, and the university wide interdisciplinary centers promote the kind of work that leads to health care innovation,” he said.

Looking Forward

Although the main CHAP trial has concluded, Tita and his fellow investigators have received additional funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Human Development to follow the women who participated in the trial and the children born to those women, respectively, for up to 10 years after participation. He also leads the coordinating center of the American Heart Association’s Health Equity Research Network to improve maternal and infant health, a partnership with multiple universities including historically Black colleges and universities and community organizations.

“UAB is open and nurturing, and the university wide interdisciplinary centers promote the kind of work that leads to health care innovation.”

Tita and colleagues are working on additional initiatives to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, which disproportionately affect Black and other underserved populations in the United States. One example is adjunctive treatment for peripartum cardiomyopathy, which “causes a significant proportion of deaths” during childbirth, according to a 2023 paper by Tita and colleagues. The condition is more likely to cause severe consequences in Black women.

For more on this story visit www.uab.edu

Women’s History: Dr. Valerie LaVerne Thomas: Renowned Scientist, Physicist, and Inventor

By
Birmingham Times
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As we continue our series this month spotlighting notable African American women who have helped change and shape the landscape of our country, as well as the world, we want to highlight the accomplishments of Dr. Valerie LaVerne Thomas, renowned scientist, mathematician, physicist, and inventor.

Thomas was born in 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland and reared in the historic all Black Cherry Hill neighborhood. Thomas states that her parents were her first role models and instilled in her the importance of education.

Dr. Valerie LaVerne Thomas is a renowned scientist, mathematician, physicist, and inventor. (WIKIPEDIA)

Thomas attended the all-girls public Western High School, then later Baltimore magnet school at Howard and Centre which was racially integrated under police protection in 1954. She enrolled three years later and developed a keen interest in physics, graduating in 1960. She received her undergraduate degree at a Historically Black Colleges and University – Morgan State College, now known as Morgan State University, in physics. She obtained her master’s degree in 1985 from George Washington University in Engineering Administration and her Doctor of Education Degree in Educational Leadership/Ed Tech in 2004.

She developed computer data systems to support Orbiting Geophysical Observatory from 1964-1970. Thomas later became an international Landsat Image processing data format expert from 1970 – 1981 and Thomas helped to develop the image-processing system for NASA’s Landsat, a program involving uncrewed scientific satellites designed to collect information about Earth’s natural resources. She later became the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) team leader for Large Area Crop Inventory Experiment. This position proved the feasibility of using Landsat data to predict global wheat yield.

Thomas continued her career as an assistant program manager for Landsat/Nimbus on detail at NASA Headquarters and then technical officer, earning a $42 million multi-year technical support contract. Her career continued to flourish. In 1985, she was the National Space Science Data Center computer facility manager and served as project manager for the Space Physics Analysis Network until 1990, which was NASA’s wide area network and critical part of today’s Internet. Her networking expertise contributed to the research in the Halley’s comet, ozone hole studies, and a supernova.

In 1976, Thomas became intrigued by 3-D illusions after viewing a demonstration in a light bulb that seemed to stay lit even after being removed from a lamp. The illusion was created by means of a concave mirror reflecting a second light bulb. She began experimenting.

In 1980, Thomas received a patent for the Illusion Transmitter, which could reproduce an image (holograms) at a remote site using parabolic mirrors. Her purpose for developing the Illusion Transmitter was to send three-dimensional images across a distance, making them look as if they are in front of the mirror. As late as 2022, her technology invention is still used by NASA and is being adapted for use in surgery, as well as for television and video screens.

Before retiring in 1995 from NASA, she held the position of Associate Chief of the Space Science Data Operations Office. She has received numerous honors and awards throughout her career. She has lectured at various prestigious institutions of higher education and authored numerous scientific technical reports. Throughout her life she encouraged young people, especially African Americans and girls, to pursue a science education. Thomas now resides in Prince George’s County, Maryland where she does substitute teaching. She continues to work with Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) organizations.

It May Be Time to Spring Clean Your Relationships

By
Birmingham Times
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With the dawn of spring, we normally look at or can visibly see areas of our lives that need a little dusting off. In actuality, the new season reveals it.

For instance, we would look a little silly wearing heavy coats in the spring. Or sundresses in the winter. So just as we recognize naturally when seasons change, we’d do ourselves a great service by recognizing it in other areas of our lives, too.

I can’t help but think about one recent news story of a young lady in Birmingham whose life was brutally taken at the hands of her so-called “friends.” I am not only disappointed by the vicious crime, but I also empathize with her family and sincerely wish for peace for them as they process this horrendous act. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t cause me to analyze my own circle.

We use that term, friend, too quickly and too matter-of-factly these days, when in all honesty, very few deserve it. Here’s a quick questionnaire guide to help you sort through the question of the sincerity of your friendships or relationships.

Is that person providing you with a benefit, or a debilitating dose of distraction or detraction – meaning, in some form, they are taking something away from you? Is reciprocity at the core – meaning you both give and receive something – or is it unilateral in nature, with you giving most often (or only) to another?

Do you constantly feel deprived or empty while relating to this person? Are you consistently defending yourself against insults, threats or sarcastic and snide remarks they make? Do they speak ill of you and treat you harshly around others?

These are all key questions to consider for one important reason.  No one can continue to pour into another without being refilled and refueled.  And, not knowing one’s purpose in your life can have devastating repercussions.

Givers and empaths take heed – you will need to be replenished at some point because takers have no limits. Determining whether to leave or abandon any relationship is a choice you ultimately must make. But I am asking you to take a serious look at what value your relationships provide to you.

You and I do not have an infinite amount of time, energy and resources. And as we become more mature, it is especially important that we use these all the more wisely.

And I’ve found that relationships can be one of the most draining transactions we can engage in, unless others sincerely have our best interest at heart. So please, take some time and think over your relationships and friendships.

Is it really a benefit to you?  And don’t be afraid if the answer is no. Chill out, make the adjustment or put distance in between. As they say, we are “grown grown” now, and we don’t need anyone’s permission to make decisions.

You are your most important investment, and you have the right to protect it at all costs. Again, I urge you, think through your relationships and whether they are sincerely providing any value to you.

And if not, quickly adjust.

Know that I’m cheering for you.

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

 

PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS

By
Birmingham Times
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Daniel Jose Carr (Provided)

BY GWEN DERU | The Birmingham Times

CELEBRATING WOMEN HISTORY AND BLACK HISTORY…every day!

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

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**PRAYER GATHERING FOR THE RELEASE OF CAPTIVES, 5:30 – 6 p.m. at the Temple Emanu-El.

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

**OPERA SHOTS, 6:30 p.m. at Back Forty Beer Co. FREE! Enjoy the Alabama Symphony, led by CARLOS IZCARAY and the amazing voice of Opera Birmingham Soprano KATHLEEN FARRAH BUCCLEUGH

**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.

**SKYWAY 61 & THE HEAVY STRIDES at the Nick.

**THIRST TRAP THURSDAY, 5 p.m. at 2400 7th Avenue South.

**LIVE BAND KARAOKE hosted by ELLE JAI at Perfect Note.

**KIKSTART at WaterMark in Bessemer with Free Food Boxes, 9 a.m.

**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.

**EACH AND EVERY THURSDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.

**MOVIES EVERY THURSDAY at Sidewalk Fest.

**THIRSTY THURSDAYS at D’ZIRE Bar and Lounge.

**KARAOKE, 5-9 p.m. at Courtyard Alabaster Bar and Grill.

**THIRD THURSDAY BLUES JAM, 7 p.m. at True Story Brewing.

**TASTEMAKER THURSDAY – Every Thursday at Blaze Ultra Lounge, 228 Roebuck Plaza Drive, 8 p.m.- 12 a.m. with DJ Ace Twon (95.7 JAMZ) in the mix hosted by Audio Life and GMC Promo.

**THIRSTY THURSDAY at Hookah 114 17th Street No.

**TEQUILA THURSDAY at the Vibe Bar & Lounge.

**THROW BACK THURSDAY at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge, 3801 Richard Arrington, Jr., Blvd.

**FILMMAKER HAPPY HOUR- Every 3rd Thursday, at Sidewalk Film Fest. Meet with other filmmakers and discuss your newest projects.

**EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT KARAOKE, 6:30 at Ruth’s Place hosted by LADY WOO and with DJ SHAY.

FRIDAY…
**EVERY FRIDAY DURING LUNCH – FRIDAY COUPON CHEAT DAY with HOT 107 at 1918 Catering. (Use the coupon ANY DAY.)

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**SAVANNAH DEXTER & BRABO GATOR at Iron City for all ages.

**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.

**RAMBLE TRIO NIGHT 1 featuring RUDE & TRUE at The Nick.

**TROMBONIST CORD BRADLEY at Perfect Note.

**ALEXA FONTAINE at The Margaret Bar. Alexa Fontaine singer, songwriter, is from Birmingham Alabama. She started writing songs when she was just 13 years old. She focused more on vocal melodies than guitar. The best way to describe her genre is indie/alt or indie/folk. She has a single out “Bittersweet” on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube, and new music dropping soon.

**DRAG NIGHT at The Nick.

**EVERY FRIDAY – R&B FRIDAY, at The Chandelier, 212 Cahaba Valley Road in Pelham with DJ MANISH mixing live. FREE Entry.

**EACH AND EVERY FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.

**FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY at City Hall, 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. at the short 20th Street North.

**RIPCORD, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at 4501 Gary Avenue in Fairfield.

**QUE’S BAR & GRILL GROOVIN’ on 19th Street in Ensley.

**LIT FRIDAYS WITH RIPCORD, 8 p.m. – 2 a.m. at 4501 Gary Avenue in Fairfield.

**AFRO CARIBBEAN NIGHTS (Every Friday Night) at Ash’s on 2nd, 7 p.m. until with Reggae, Afro Beats, Dancehall and Top 40 Hits.

**FIREBALL FRIDAY at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.

**FRIDAY NIGHT RAP, Every 1st and 3rd Friday at Crescent Cultural Center, 1121 Tuscaloosa Avenue, W.

SATURDAY…
**EVERY SATURDAY at BIRDSONG FARMERS MARKET, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., 2824 5th Avenue South, at Automatic Seafood.

**SATURDAY TORAH STUDY, 10 a.m.  Study with Rabbi Wright and Cantor Wittner at Temple Emanuel-El.

**JAPANESE GARDEN TOUR, 9- 10 a.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

**KAUL WILDFLOWER GARDEN TOUR, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. There are member-exclusive morning and afternoon tours on Saturday.

**WINE DOWN HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Saferoom Lounge Bar.

**EACH AND EVERY SATURDAY HAPPY HOUR, 5-8 p.m. at D’ZIRE with SPECIALS.

**EVERY SATURDAY SOLD OUT – THE SATURDAYS JUMP OFF, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 8th Avenue West.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**RAMBLE TRIO NIGHT 2 featuring DAVIS & HALEIGH at The Nick.

**TRIBUTE TO TINA TURNER featuring ELLE JAI at Perfect Note.

**RUN IT BACK SATURDAYS at Platinum of Birmingham.

**TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Margaret Bar. Taylor Hollingsworth is a gifted fingerpicking songwriter hailing from Birmingham, Alabama. With his unique blend of folk and rock, he has carved out a distinct musical niche that he affectionately calls “folk n’ roll” or electric folk.

SUNDAY…
**WORSHIP AT THE SIXTH, 9:30 a.m. at Sixth Avenue Baptist Church.

**EVERY SUNDAY – SOUL FOOD SUNDAYS, 1-5 p.m. (Every Sunday) at 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.

**SUNDAY FUN DAY at DZIRE BAR AND LOUNGE, 4120 3rd Avenue South. Call 205-266-2594 for more.

**SUNDAY FUNDAY for the grown Folks Kickback at Tha Vibe Bar & Lounge.

**EVERY 3rd SUNDAY JAZZ JAM SESSION, 4-8 p.m. at the Ferus on 41st.

**CITY WIDE PRAYER MEETING, Every 4th Sunday, 4 p.m. for one hour at Birmingham Easonian Baptist Bible College. The Lord’s Supper will be served and hosted by the Knights of Pythias & Court of Calanthe.

**TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.

**PALM SUNDAY-JOURNEY TO THE CROSS featuring HARRELL WILLIAMS & FRIENDS at Perfect Note.

MONDAY…
**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW LIVE Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday, at 4 p.m.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at the Nick.

**RNB MONDAYS, 10 p.m. at Onyx of Bham, 615 Eighth Avenue West.

**ARI SHAFFIR – WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY TOUR at the StarDome Comedy Club.

TUESDAY…
**KIKSTART at Water Mark in Bessemer, 9 a.m. with Free Food Boxes…until all gone.

**COMPUTER CLASSES AT THE FIVE POINTS WEST LIBRARY every Tuesday and Thursday.

**DIAPER GIVEAWAY every Tuesday, 10 a.m. at the Titusville Library.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**EVERY TUESDAY – SPECIAL TUESDAYS with Food, Drinks Specials at 1918 Catering, 197 Vulcan Road.

**EVERY TUESDAY – TUESDAY NIGHT TRAILS 5:45 p.m. at Red Mountain Park.

**EVERY TUESDAY is SOUL CAFÉ Happy Hour introducing the Soul Café Happy Hour, 5:30-9:30 p.m. with Soul Goodies, Soul Spirits and Soul Music including $5 Titos and Redmont, at The Vault.

**JOSE CARR’S JAZZ JAM, 7:30 p.m. at True Story Brewing Company.

**TITO’S TUESDAY at Dirty Ash’s 8 p.m. with DAVID TALLEY IV.

**CARIBBEAN NIGHTS with Reggae, Caribbean and Island Vibes, 9 p.m. – until… with DJ Serious Mixing and hosted by KJ and MANNY at The Vault, downtown.

**EVERY TUESDAY – TRUE STORY BREWING JAZZ SESSIONS, 7- 10 p.m., 5510 Crestwood Blvd.

**TASTY TUESDAYS at Platinum of Birmingham with DJ MAVERICK, DJ CUZZO and DJ JUICE with drink specials and free dinner buffet. 30+ Before 9 p.m. and 21+ after 9 p.m.

**EVERY TUESDAY – BIRMINGHAM SONGWRITER’S ROUND with Host SUSANNAH SEALES at the Nick.

WEDNESDAY…
**INTERFAITH NOONDAY PRAYER SERVICES every Wednesday, Noon, at Linn Park, in Downtown Birmingham.

**WORKOUT WEDNESDAY at Five Points West Library at 10:30 a.m. for chair yoga and other chair exercises.

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**WEDNESDAY NIGHT POOL TOURNAMENT AND KARAOKE NIGHT, 5 p.m. at Carter’s Hookah Lounge and Grill, hosted by Jo Sweetz with the Pool Tournament, at 7 p.m. and Karaoke at 8 p.m.

**EVERY WEDNESDAY, YOU, ME & RNB, 6 p.m. at 2206 Bar & Lounge, 2206 31st Street, with DJ You, Me & Playlist.

**D’ZIRE WEDNESDAYS, EACH AND EVERY WEDNESDAY with Free Mimosas, 8- 10 p.m. with DJ GORGEOUS in the Mix at 4120 Third Avenue South.

**WEDNESDAYS WEEKLY JAZZ JAM, 7- 10 p.m. at True Story Brewing Company, 5510 Crestwood Blvd. Food until 9 p.m., Music until 10 p.m. and Drink until 11 p.m.

**EVERY 4th WEDNESDAY at FACE’S LOUNGE KARAOKE hosted by ARETTA, 6:30 p.m. at 7070 Aaron Aronov Dr. in Fairfield.

**ALEX WILKERSON AND THEM at the Nick.

**KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS at Iron City.

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

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

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

**FILM – 7 p.m. at the Sidewalk Film.

**THURSDAY NIGHT WITH JOE BRANTLEY at the Nick.

NEXT FRIDAY…
**EVERY FRIDAY DURING LUNCH – FRIDAY COUPON CHEAT DAY with HOT 107 at 1918 Catering. (Use the coupon ANY DAY.)

**THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW Live Podcast with NEPHEW CLIFF and MS. DENISE, Monday-Friday at 4 p.m.

**FRIDAY NIGHT WRITES, 8 – 11 p.m. at 7611 1st Avenue North.

**GOOD LORD! THAD SAAJID & THE COMPANY, LOCAL BRAND at The Nick.

**R&B GREATS featuring SINGER ASHFORD SANDERS at Perfect Note.

CELEBRATING WOMEN…

GWEN’S SPOTLIGHT –

**MS. DENISE OF THE JOE LOCKETT SHOW – The Joe Lockett Show airs every week, Monday through Friday Live Podcast, at 4 p.m. Ms. Denise is the beautiful and sexy female with good advice, tips and laughs. LADIES …and men …LISTEN UP!! Let Joe Lockett and Nephew Cliff hear you. Enjoy!!!

IN MARCH…

FOR WOMEN…

**WOMEN IN MANUFACTURING (WAM) CLASSES at Lawson State Bessemer Campus is a six-month program where women can learn how to calibrate and troubleshoot with equipment in a manufacturing environment. Childcare is available. Upon completion, students will receive a pre-apprenticeship certification and ready to move toward an apprenticeship with area companies. The program is FREE. Contact Lawson College or YWCA. For more visit https://form.jotform.com/232966393178066.

 AT THE CRESCENT CULTURAL COMMUNITY CENTER…

**LET THE WOMB TALK Yoni Yoga Circle, 4-5:15 p.m. with Instructor MAATI SANOVIA MUHAMMAD. For more, cresentculturalcenter@gmail.com.

AT THE CARVER THEATRE – JAZZ HALL OF FAME…

**WOMEN IN JAZZ are celebrated by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame during Women’s History Month. There are iconic vocalists like BILLIE HOLIDAY and SARAH VAUGHAN to pioneering instrumentalists such as MARY LOU WILLIAMS and ALICE COLTRANE, a few women that have played an integral role in shaping the landscape of jazz music. Celebrate pioneers that shattered boundaries to contemporary artists who continue to innovate to women who have played an integral role in shaping the genre. Their talent, creativity and resilience have left an indelible mark on the world of music.

**MARCH 28 – THE KICKBACK COMEDY SHOW, 7-9 p.m. with headliner DONNELL RAWLINGS, FUNNY MAINE, MEL MITCHELL, RADIO BIG MACK for the HBCU SPRINGCOMING at the Carver Theatre.

**VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES for those that are interested. If you are ready to dive into the world of jazz and make a difference, check out the website and complete the form. Jazzhall.com.

**Look for the NEW JAZZ HALL RADIO STUDIOS. More soon!

AT THE BRCI…
**TODAY – MOMS OF THE MOVEMENT: WOMEN OF DYNAMITE HILL, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the BCRI Community Meeting Room. BARRY MCNEALY will lead a panel of sons and daughters of the Women of Dynamite Hill including JEFF DREW, THEODORA SHORES, JUDGE HOUSTON BROWN, plaintiff from Mary Means vs. Birmingham. Register.

**NEXT THURSDAY, March 28 – THE WOMEN GATHER, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the BCRI COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM & VANN GALLERY. Register.

WHAT ELSE… IN MARCH…

AT THE BIRMINGHAM BOTANICAL GARDENS…

**CELEBRATE FRIENDSHIP during the month of March with special perks for new, renewing and current members, including $10 off any new or gift membership with coupon code MM24.

**March 28 – PLANTING POLLINATORS AND KEEPING BEES, 11 a.m. – noon in the Adventure Classroom with OLIVIA FULLER.

**March 30 – SAKURA CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. FREE.

**INTERNSHIP OPENINGS – Learn more at the bbgardens.org.

**DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE – Learn more at the bbgardens.org.

FOR THE YOUTH …

**SATURDAY – PEPPERMINT PATTY DAYCARE EASTER EGG HUNT, 12 NOON – 2 p.m. at Sandusky Community Center, 1251 Pratt Hwy.

**SUNDAY – EASTER EGG HUNT, 1-4 p.m. at Railroad Park with music, food trucks, face painting and more. Bring your own basket and lawn chair. Get your photo taken with the Easter Bunny.

**ART COMPETITION FOR ALABAMA’s 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT – Congresswoman Terri Sewell is once again accepting submissions for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. This year’s theme is: ALABAMA STORY MAKERS: THE HISTORIC PEOPLE AND PLACES OF THE COTTON STATE.” THE Deadline is April 26. For more information, contact Rep. Sewell’s Montgomery Office at (334) 262-1919 or visit her official website at sewell.house.gov/art-competition. The competition is open to high school students from both public and private schools throughout Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, as well as home-schooled high school students. The winner will receive free round-trip airfare for two to Washington D.C. to attend an official reception honoring the winners from congressional districts across the nation. The winner’s artwork will be showcased in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

**MARCH 25-29 – ART PLAY SPRING BREAK CAMP, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. for ages 7 – 12 years of age at 1006 19th Street South.

**MARCH 30 – MARCH MADNESS – ROAD TO HOME OWNERSHIP – YOU NEED TO KNOW, 1:30 – 3 p.m. at 2401 CrossPlex Blvd. (5 Points West Starbucks)

**MARCH 30 – 3rd ANNUAL SAVOIR FAIRE ADULT SNEAKER BALL SOIREE at Region Field.

PLUS…

**LIFEGUARDS NEEDED- Birmingham Parks and Recreation Youth will accept applications through May 10. REQUIREMENTS: Certification is preferred. Non-certified will be trained. Must be 16 years of age on or before May 10th. Interested? Call 205-254-2189 or 205-254-2391.

**MEN’S DREAM CONFERENCE, May 25, 2-4 p.m. at 525 Bradley Road in Gardendale, Alabama, 35071 with DAVID CRAIG, JUSTIN EVANS and ALEX JONES hosted by JAJUAN WIGGINS and AHMAD COLLINS. Call 205 515-0441 for more or email: jajuan_Wiggins@ymail.com.

**GIRLS MENTORING is in person sessions for 8-12th grade young ladies for positive development. This is a YWCA Family Resource Center and Girls, Inc. partnership. Sessions are 2nd Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. It ends in April. Registration is required.

**THE MAN PROJECT is an all male mentoring program with a mission to empower, encourage and enlighten young males. It will teach them how to have productive lives, develop coping skills and take responsibility for the choices they make. The program wants to challenge them to be positive decision makers and shape them into successful young men. Register at: tmanproject.org.

MENTORS NEEDED…

**REACH & RISE THERAPEUTIC MENTORING PROGRAM – BECOME A MENTOR to 6-17 year olds by volunteering for 12 months. REQUIREMENTS: Be at least 21 years of age, complete 6 weeks of training, pass fingerprint and security screening, have a clean driving record, and commit 1-3 hours per week with a paired youth for 12 months. Apply at The Y-for youth development for healthy living and for social responsibility.

HAPPENINGS AT SIXTH AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
…SEE YOU AT THE SIXTH…EVERY SUNDAY!
**EVERY MONDAY MORNING MEDITATION WITH PASTOR CANTELOW, 7:15 a.m. Contact the church at (205) 321-1136 or (205) 321-1137.

**CHILDREN’S CHURCH & COLLISION CHURCH, each First Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for K-5th (Children’s Church), 6-12th (Collision).

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

“I want to be able to show my community that they have Black people out here in these spaces that were never designed for us.”

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Birmingham Times
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ADEZZA DUBOSE, A LICENSED COUNSELOR IN BIRMINGHAM; THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES, MARCH 21.

Birmingham Seeks $2 Million to Replace and Repair ‘Aging’ Police Vehicles

By
Birmingham Times
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The Summer 2025 Strategic Plan includes a curfew for those 16 or younger, in the City of Birmingham. (File)

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | For The Birmingham Times

With the Birmingham Police Department vehicles, on average, over the standard mileage of 120,000 and many in need of replacement, the city is seeking $2 million from the Department of Justice for the acquisition of 25 new patrol vehicles for BPD, according to city officials.

The City Council identified the “aging fleet” as one of its priorities during a trip to the National League of Cities Conference last week in Washington D.C. saying a number of the vehicles are “in need of replacement and repairs to aid with call times and day-to-day operations.”

“When we have these vehicles running three shifts a day, depending on how the shifts are working, all day, basically they rack up miles very quickly,” said City Councilor Hunter Williams on Tuesday. “We are trying to make moves where we can have the number of vehicles where some cars can sit out a shift. At the end of the day cars are not made to run 24/7 … an engine is not made to do that.

In 2023, the Birmingham Police Department responded to 442,396 calls, “putting a substantial strain” on the current vehicle fleet, according to the council.

An additional 25 vehicles might not sound like a lot but an extra $2 million can go a long way, Williams said. “…  the last thing we need to have is a police department that doesn’t have a vehicle that responds to a call … The call volume is very high for BPD … however, it’s less the call volume, it’s more of that the police vehicles are used 24 hours a 7 days a week and they don’t get a rest until they are taken in for service.”

Calls made to Mayor Woodfin’s office and BPD for comment were unsuccessful.

Woodfin Details Where Money is Spent During Birmingham’s 2024 Budget Town Hall

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Birmingham Times
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Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, with members of the City Council in the front row, speaks during the 2024 Budget Town Hall in the downtown Boutwell Auditorium. (Birmingham City Council, Facebook Page)

By Keisa Sharpe-Jefferson | For The Birmingham Times

Hundreds packed the second floor of the Boutwell Auditorium on Monday to hear Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin discuss the city’s budgeting process during a 2024 Budget Town Hall which lasted about two hours.

For the first hour, the mayor gave a detailed look at budget allocations — specifically what departments are funded and how that money breaks down and answered questions for the final hour.

The currently has a $554 million fiscal 2023-2024 budget which went into effect July 1, 2023.

Woodfin said blight removal and street paving are areas where he gets the most questions from residents.

“In six years, we spent about $60 million in street paving,” said Woodfin. “That’s probably the highest thing spent (in operating expenses) because it’s the number one consistent request over and over, every single year.”

The city’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30 and in the current fiscal 2024 more than $437 in business taxes are expected, compared to the second highest revenue source, which is property taxes, which total nearly $36 million, he said.

“The city of Birmingham, as it relates to our ability to collect taxes in return for new city services for you and your neighbors, is heavily dependent on small businesses,” he told the audience.

The city’s number one expense is personnel, which makes up 76 percent of the budget with the remaining 24 percent going toward operating expenses, he said.

Woodfin has made no secret that he’s passionate about the city’s youth programs.

Per the data he shared during the Town Hall, Birmingham Promise (a program connecting students with workforce experience and post-secondary educational opportunities) gets $2 million; conflict resolution/violence intervention, $1 million (Common Ground program); and mental health and Safe Haven programs get $500,000 each.

He also pointed to $1 million for financial literacy programs. “You may say why? … The answer is very simple,” said Woodfin. “In a considerable amount of your neighborhoods, you have predatory check cashing places. It is my desire to put them out of business because they prey on poor people in our city. Maybe the long-term play is to make the necessary investments in the next generation … they’re more likely to walk past one of those places,” he said.

Residents were mostly pleased by the presentation. Gerald Gilmore came with a wide-ranging view of the city. He grew up in Titusville, lives in South Roebuck community; graduated from Ramsay High School and Miles College (with a major in Business Administration) and retired from AT&T.

Gilmore said he found the budget town hall meeting “very informative” and came “to see how the city operates and where the money is going.”

High on Gilmore’s radar are crime and education, and said he would like to more money contributed toward these efforts along with more “neighborhood and community involvement.”

Thomasine Jackson serves as the East Thomas Neighborhood President, the same community that she said she was born and raised. “As a neighborhood president, I need to know what’s going on with the budget and what’s going to happen,” she said.

Jackson said it was “a fair meeting” and added she wanted to know more about budgeting for her neighborhood.

Citing a number of questions related to Birmingham’s specific neighborhoods, in the interest of time, Woodfin and his staff assured community leaders that, rather than lengthen the town hall, someone from the mayor’s staff would contact them regarding specific questions.

As residents left the Boutwell Auditorium they were given a Budget Handbook that came in English and Spanish.

Updated at 9:14 a.m. on 3/20/2024 to include amount of 2023-24 fiscal budget.

‘He Was in Front of Our Fireplace on One Knee and Said, ‘I Love You’

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

WHITNEY AND MICHAEL NALLS

Live: Fairfield

Married: Aug. 19, 2019

Met: Feb. 10, 2016, at the 3000 Bar on the Southside. Whitney was out for a drink with some friends when she noticed Micheal and his friend occupying her favorite spot at the bar. Michael said he was trying to light his cigar when Whitney approached.

“I used to sit there all the time with my line sisters so I was a little agitated and I can be a little rude,” she laughed. “I was just trying to get to the bar to get a drink and [I saw he was having trouble with the cigar] and I said, ‘You don’t even know what you’re doing, you haven’t even cut the cigar. Can I order a drink while you figure that out?’ Michael thought I was trying to flirt but I wasn’t,” Whitney said.

“…that made me laugh and I asked her name, and we went into a conversation. She says she wasn’t trying to flirt but she gave me her number,” Michael recalled.

A few days later, Michael called Whitney to wish her a happy Valentine’s Day and asked her to dinner that weekend.

First date: Feb. 17, 2016, at Applebee’s in Fultondale. Whitney recalled Michael sitting too close for her comfort.

“I thought he was weird because he sat next to me and not across from me at the restaurant, and I remember I did not like his jacket,” she laughed. “He had on an army green jacket, and I was like ‘why does he have that on?’ But it was a nice little dinner,” said Whitney.

“I’m gonna have to bring that jacket back out,” Michael laughed. “But we just talked and got to know each other better, it was a cool first date.”

Whitney and Michael Nalls met in 2016 at a bar on the Southside. They married in 2019. (PROVIDED PHOTOS)

The turn: April 2016, during a weekend rendezvous in Atlanta. Whitney does not recall a discussion declaring their exclusivity but said the direction they were headed was evident.

“That was our first time going out of town together and I feel like we became exclusive then… that’s when we stopped acknowledging other people [because] people would call our phones and we wouldn’t answer,” Whitney said.

Michael said he could tell Whitney had become more attached to him that weekend, but that a conversation about their status as a couple followed.

“A couple of weeks later she asked me what are we doing? and it was a weird conversation for me, but I was like I guess we were together,” said Michael.

The proposal: Labor Day weekend 2018. The couple had purchased their first house together and planned what Whitney thought was their housewarming party. That wasn’t part of Micheal’s plans.

“I had the ring, I had her dad’s permission, all her [friends and family] knew that I was going to propose to her except for her mom because I knew she would tell her,” Michael laughed. “And her friends started [pushing her to go upstairs] to fix her hair, and when she came back down the stairs, we went into blessing the house and I went into the proposal from there. I got down on my knee and said, “Whitney will you marry me?’”

Whitney said she was confused. She was still trying to set up and decorate the house for the party when her friends made her stop to get her makeup done and change her clothes.

“I was comfortable in my Nike shorts; I didn’t understand why I needed to get my makeup done for a Luau [themed] housewarming party. They forced me to put the dress on that I had bought for the party, and they rushed me down telling me I was about to miss the blessing and I thought the party hadn’t even started yet and when I got downstairs I was confused because so many people [had arrived].

“It was a packed house, and I was looking around at all my [AKA] line sisters being there, family and friends driving in from other cities, and I was confused until it clicked.  Michael was in front of our fireplace on one knee and said, ‘I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, will you marry me?’ and I was so busy looking around I forgot to respond and said, ‘what you gonna say?’,” Whitney laughed. “Then I said ‘yes’, and after the proposal [the housewarming] literally turned into a house party.”

The wedding: The couple took their vows at the downtown Birmingham Courthouse and went to Urban Cookhouse for lunch afterwards and on Nov. 2, 2019, they held a ceremony at the Marriott Hotel on 280. It was officiated by Reverend I. S. Patterson, of First Baptist Adamsville, and their colors were champagne, navy, and blush. Most memorable for the bride was having her ailing grandmother in attendance.

“She had been diagnosed with dementia and had started living in a nursing home and we went through a lot to get her to the wedding. She had to have an attendant from the nursing home with her the whole time, and I was just glad that she was able to witness it,” Whitney said.

Most memorable for the groom was watching his bride walk down the aisle.

“Being up there in front of everybody and watching her walk down to me brought a couple of tears to my eyes,” Michael said. The newlyweds honeymooned in Cancun, Mexico.

Words of wisdom: “One day at a time,” Whitney said, “and don’t go to bed angry. And always remember that your spouse is your person. Even on the bad days, he’s still my person.

“I pray a lot and ask the Lord for strength. It’s patience and prayer. If you can get on one accord everything can work out much smoother,” Michael said.

Happily ever after: The Nalls are a blended family and attend First Baptist Adamsville. They have one son, Champ, 2, from their union, and daughters Mariah, 12, and Maleyah, 11.

Whitney, 33, is an Adamsville native, and Minor High School grad. She attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB], where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and works as a disability examiner for the Social Security Administration.

Michael, 36, is a Midfield native and Midfield High School grad. He attended Alabama State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business management and is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Michael works as a federal corrections officer for the Department of Justice.

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

Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Guster Law Firm, LLC

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