First Grocery Store to Open in Fairfield in Nearly a Decade Will Close After 12 Months

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August 16, 2025

CarverJones 1 — Carver Jones Market, LLC will establish a new full-service neighborhood grocery store in the Heritage Park Towne Center. (File)

The Birmingham Times

Carver Jones Market in Fairfield, Alabama, the city’s only grocery store and the first one to open in nearly 10 years, is closing.

In a statement to WBRC News, James Harris, owner, wrote in part: “I appreciate the people of Fairfield for giving us a chance and sorry things didn’t work out. Love the people and grateful for the opportunity.”

The minority-owned grocery store opened July 31, 2024 to provide the Fairfield community and surrounding areas with access to affordable, fresh foods and other key resources.

Senior Pastor Alton Hardy of Urban Hope Community Church, which owns the building the store occupies, said the community originally helped raise around $3.5 million to renovate it into a grocery store and help eliminate the food desert.

However, Hardy shared the store has been losing money. “We missed a lot of important benchmarks,” Hardy said. “That didn’t give it a good chance of doing what it was supposed to do.”

Part of the church’s Manifold Vision ministry is to generate commerce in the area and the church is stepping up to fill the void, said Hardy, who added that the grocery store will remain but under new leadership. They plan to announce a new name soon.

“I have 100 percent confidence by my Lord that the grocery stores not only going to remain open, but it will thrive,” said the pastor.

Cherith Glover Fluker Unveils Birmingham’s Hidden Treasures in Newly Released Book

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Birmingham Times

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August 16, 2025

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Cherith Glover Fluker recently released her book, “Secret Birmingham: A Guide to The Weird, Wonderful and Obscure.’’ (Provided)

By Chanda Temple | City of Birmingham

In 2020, Cherith Glover Fluker started blogging about her travels across Alabama.

There was Gulf Shores, Muscle Shoals and Huntsville.

But as her travels expanded across the South, so did her vision for storytelling. Fluker realized that she was missing out on writing about Birmingham, which is where she did public service through her sorority, the Birmingham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and she served on the board of directors for the Greater Birmingham Auburn Club. She pitched an idea to a publisher and settled on the concept of writing about the hidden gems in Birmingham. What would she call it? “Secret Birmingham: A Guide to The Weird, Wonderful and Obscure.’’

In it, she explored the familiar and not-so-familiar locations in Birmingham. For example, Oak Hill Cemetery, which was created when Birmingham was founded in 1871, is the final resting place for more than 11,000 people, including civil rights trailblazer, the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. The cemetery is also known to have been unsegregated during the height of segregation in Birmingham. Fluker wrote that veterans of the Civil War, World War I and World War II are buried at Oak Hill, which is located at 1120 19^th St. North. It is diagonally across from the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

“I didn’t know they did tours there until I started doing my research,’’ said Fluker, 46. “Who knew?’’

It took Fluker a year to write and research the book, which was released on Aug. 1. Already, it’s turning heads.

Last week, Fluker inboxed entrepreneur, actress and author Tabitha Brown, sharing that she met Brown while attending Brown’s book signings in Birmingham and Opelika in 2024, and today, she’s an author. This week, Brown shared Fluker’s message to Brown’s Instagram account, which has more than 4 million followers. In more than a day, the post generated hundreds of likes and thousands of views.

“One lady said, ‘I live in Chicago, but I will be going to Barnes and Noble to get your book,’ ‘’ Fluker said. “Another person said, ‘I don’t even live there, but I’m getting a book and planning a drive down.’ ‘’

Fluker is excited that the book has touched people beyond the bounds of Birmingham.

“I want people to be proud to the tell the stories of Birmingham,’’ she said. “I want locals to love this city, but I want other people love it, too.’’

Throughout the fall, Fluker will host a series of book signings at several places mentioned in the book to increase awareness about their existence. Her first book signing will be Saturday, Aug. 30 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the House Plant Collective, a brick-and-mortar store and a greenery shop on wheels, 3621 Fifth Ave. South, for “Pages and Plants.’’ There, attendees will be able to learn more about the book and do a plant-themed craft.

“I felt like a history buff writing this book,’’ she said. “I really had to dig and read other books, talk to people, make sure that the information was correct, as opposed to just going around taking pictures and relying on word of mouth,’’ she said.

Researching is hungry business, so, during her writing and reflection, Fluker visited several popular food and beverage destinations such as Gus’ Hotdogs, Dread River Distilling Co., the Market at Pepper Place and Niki’s West. They are all in the book, as is the General, a quaint sandwich and coffee shop in Forest Park, which is where Fluker ordered a cup of black coffee and a blueberry scone as she sought reassurance from a friend to write the book. The next day, Fluker signed her book contract.

It took Cherith Fluker a year to write and research her book about Birmingham, which was released on Aug. 1. (Provided)

Fluker started out with a list of 150 places to include in the book. But her publisher at Reedy Press encouraged her to cut it to 84. So, within 169 pages, she touched on a variety of locations, including Vulcan Park and Museum, Sloss Furnaces, the Japanese Garden at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, Frank’s Table Sculpture on the Rotary Trail and Joe Minter’s African Village in America near Elmwood Cemetery. The city’s civil rights history is also highlighted, including Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, which is where four little girls were killed after segregationists planted a bomb under a set of steps in 1963; and the Historic Masonic Temple Building, which was built in 1922 and served as a meeting place during the civil rights movement.

Even though Fluker grew up in Talladega, she has strong ties to the Birmingham area. She worked for the Jefferson County Board of Education for six years; and her father, the late Willie C. Glover, sold cars at Edwards Chevrolet on Third Avenue North. On pages 36 and 37, she wrote about how the dealership, which opened in 1916, is a testament to resilience and tradition.

“That was a way for me to have a part of him in the book. I don’t mention his name, but I say my father worked there,’’ she said. “Even when I drive by there today, I look back at his corner office to see if someone is in there. He didn’t spend a lot of time in his office because he was always out on the lot, selling cars.’’

“I think he would just be proud that I’m creating a legacy in that book,’’ said Fluker, who is a travel writer with an undergraduate degree from Auburn University and a doctorate from Samford University.

“He would be happy that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone because I had talked about writing a book for years. I wished I had done this sooner.’’

For more information about Fluker’s book tour, visit www.cherithfluker.com.

Retired Jeffco Judge Carole Smitherman Named Dean of Miles Law School

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Birmingham Times

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August 15, 2025

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Smitherman1a — Carole Smitherman retired from Jefferson County in January after 13 years as a circuit court judge. (File)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Miles Law School on Thursday announced that retired Jefferson County Judge Carole Smitherman will become the school’s new dean.

Smitherman retired from Jefferson County in January after 13 years as a circuit court judge.

“Serving as Dean of Miles Law School is an honor. It is also a great responsibility. As an alumnus of Miles Law School, I have firsthand knowledge of the things that make our academic experience distinct. And as a jurist, I know the value that Miles Law School’s graduates bring with them to the legal field,” said Smitherman.

Established in 1974, Miles Law School has a long list of notable alumni including Jefferson County DA Danny Carr; Bessemer DA Lynneice Washington; State Sen. Rodger Smitherman, and Jefferson County Judges Brendette Brown-Green and Patricia Stephens.

“Continuing Miles Law School’s legacy requires growth. I thank President Bobbie Knight for being a willing partner in our efforts to increase enrollments, advance alumni engagement, and attract distinguished professors to teach our students,” said Carole Smitherman.

Miles College President Bobbie Knight said Smitherman’s selection as dean “is evidence that the school’s leadership understands the importance of continuing its impact in the community. We are all anticipating great things as Judge Smitherman raises Miles Law School’s impact, and extends its legacy.”

A 1979 graduate of Miles Law School, Carole Smitherman served as a Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge, and later as the 31st Mayor of the City of Birmingham. She served for years as a City Councilor in Birmingham.

John O. Hudson, III, Chairman, Miles Law School said Smitherman is the best person for the job. “Her accomplishments as a jurist, a public official, and as a lawyer in the private sector has given her the ability to lead with empathy as she offers mentorship to the next generation,” he said. “She also has the unique ability to convene some of the brightest minds in Alabama’s legal community — a gift that adds value to Miles Law School’s already special academic experience.”

Smitherman retired from Jefferson County in January after a distinguished career that included being the first Black woman hired as a deputy district attorney in Jefferson County and becoming Birmingham’s first Black woman municipal and circuit court judge. She was also the first female African American President of the Birmingham City Council and first female mayor of the City of Birmingham.

Smitherman first stepped into the Jefferson County Courthouse in 1976 when she was hired as a legal clerk in the Circuit Civil Clerk’s Office. In 1979, she began her legal career as a Deputy District Attorney becoming the first Black woman to serve in this capacity in the history of Jefferson County, and remained with the DA’s office until 1987.

In 1991, Republican Governor Guy Hunt appointed Smitherman to the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court Criminal Division Court where she served until 1992 and was the first Black woman to serve as a Circuit Court Judge in Alabama.

In 1997, she began teaching Constitutional Law at Miles Law School and continued for almost 30 years. In 2001, she was elected to the Birmingham City Council for District 6 where she served until 2013, and as President of the Birmingham City Council from November 2005 to November 2009.

In 2012, Smitherman won successful election as a Circuit Judge to the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court, she was re-elected in 2018, and has served continuously, with distinction, until her recent retirement from the bench in January 2025.

Ronita Jackson’s Transplant Journey was Long and Complex. At UAB, She Got a New Chance at Life

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Birmingham Times

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August 15, 2025

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Bell_of_New_Beginnings_rings_out_for_life_02 — UAB Medicine patient Ronita Jackson, whose transplant journey was long and complex, was diagnosed with both chronic kidney disease and diabetes by age 19. (UAB)

By Adam Pope | UAB News

When kidney transplant patients at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Transplant Institute celebrate their first year after transplant, they ring a bell. The bright tone of the “Bell of New Beginnings” resonates throughout the clinic, marking the first anniversary of a journey toward a new chance at life.

UAB Medicine patient Ronita Jackson, whose transplant journey was long and complex, appreciates the significance of the phrase “new beginning.” Jackson, now 42, was diagnosed with both chronic kidney disease and diabetes by age 19. CKD is a medical condition that leads to a gradual loss of kidney function over time. As the disease gets worse, waste material can reach high levels in the blood and cause high blood pressure, a low red blood cell count (anemia), weak bones, poor nutritional health and nerve damage. CKD also increases the risk of heart disease.

Jackson says she experienced almost every symptom and complication of diabetes and CKD, and she spent two decades of her life constantly managing her condition.

Nonstop Doctor Visits

For years, Jackson’s care routine consisted of multiple hospital visits, checkups, lab tests, and progress reports with her endocrinologist, nephrologist and other clinicians. This also required a busy network of communication among all of her providers.

“Every three months, we monitored my condition and my progress,” Jackson said. “Life for me was hospital visits, lab results and worrying about blood sugar levels. I didn’t let it stop me from working and serving in ministry, but I will say that it was a lot to deal with. In a way, we were also monitoring my decline. The function of my kidneys decreased over the years. In my late 30s, I reached stage 4 of CKD.”

Jackson learned she might qualify for placement on the United Network for Organ Sharing list, and she underwent testing to see if she was eligible for organ transplantation.

“It was like interviewing for a job interview, but with so much more on the line,” Jackson said. “In 2023, I was on the list at UAB.”

Once she became adjusted to the idea of organ transplantation, Jackson says, she sensed she was on the proper path toward resolving her serious health issues.

“I’m a big believer in miracles, signs and wonders, so I’ve always trusted God to lead me along in that way,” Jackson said. “So many things had fallen in place for me to begin seeking a new kidney and pancreas, I surrendered to the idea of just waiting at home for ‘that call’ to inform me there was a match. It gave me a sense of peace, calm and comfort.”

A Complicated Journey

Jackson recalls the first day of her transplant journey, which began with chaotic communication.

The UAB Medicine Kidney Transplant Program began in 1968 and has remained at the forefront of the field. It averages more than 300 transplants per year, managed by highly skilled, dedicated surgeons and nephrologists and supported by active clinical and research efforts. Click here to learn more.

“The third week of March 2024, a transplant coordinator called me; but I missed the call,” Jackson said. “She called a second time, and I missed the call again. I will never figure out how that happened. I was afraid they would go to the next person in line. I called the transplant line within minutes to explain my mistake, and then the coordinator called back to say she would let me know within the hour if the available organ was a match for me. That may have been the longest wait of my life. But it was a match, so I needed to be at the hospital in a couple of hours.

“Suddenly I was doing the worst packing job ever, calling my parents, and we were trying so hard to calm down,” she said. “That all-important call came within a year of beginning testing at UAB. I received both a kidney and a pancreas on March 22, 2024.”

Like many organ transplant recipients, Jackson knew that a successful transplant is only the beginning of what may become a long and demanding path. In her case, the journey continued to grow in length and difficulty. Jackson required three surgeries over the course of several days, due to various complications. After an extended hospital stay, she continued a long recovery that required complex wound care. She also underwent occupational therapy to regain coordination and strength after being immobile for weeks.

Help From Family And Friends

Her follow-up care at home called for family support, Jackson recalls.

“I had to continue extensive wound care at my parents’ house,” she said. “They would take me to follow-up appointments, sometimes three times per week. I have immediate and extended family who have been there for me, always; a church family who have looked after me; and of course, many nurses, doctors and other staff at UAB who have been so caring and compassionate.”

“This was a complicated journey, and I made it with God and so many supporters at my side,” Jackson said. “My celebration of the first year definitely involves celebrating it. I rang the Bell of New Beginnings on March 21, 2025, and it signaled a lot of emotions, but mainly gratitude. I am not diabetic. I have organs that work. I have a new chance.”

Joy And Accomplishment

Shikha Mehta, M.D., medical director of the UAB Medicine Kidney Transplant Program, views the Bell of New Beginnings as a twofold gesture.

“Ringing the bell embraces the future at a time of hope, while recognizing the gift from donors and their families,” Mehta said. “It acknowledges the life-changing transformation that offers a new life. Sometimes when I hear that bell, I may be in another area or seeing another patient; but I pause a moment in my heart and have a smile on my face. Somewhere deep down, I also say a kind of ‘thank you’ to the donor and family who made that journey possible. The sound of that bell provides a shared sense of joy and accomplishment. It’s a patient journey, but it has a similar effect on the staff members who have been with this patient throughout.”

Birmingham Housing Program Builds Future for Young Adult Residents

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Birmingham Times

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August 15, 2025

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YouthBuild Program, operated through the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), works with local employers to help participants find jobs in those related fields upon completion of the program. (Provided)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

When nearly two dozen students donned graduation robes and received diplomas a year ago, D’Aviance Harris, YouthBuild Program Manager, was as proud as the students.

The six-to-nine-month initiative operated through the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (HABD), works with local employers to help participants find jobs in those related fields upon completion of the program.

“For a lot of our students, that was their first time putting on a graduation robe or receiving their diploma, or just being recognized for the accomplishments that they had made and the investment that they made,” Harris said.

The program provides job training and education opportunities to individuals 16-to-24 who are not currently enrolled in schools. Participants also receive a stipend over the duration of the program.

“It is not an easy program to participate in as far as the time commitment specifically our population have struggled with school and consistency sometimes,” Harris said. “It was definitely a highlight to be able to recognize them and congratulate them on what they had invested in themselves.”

The YouthBuild Program held a graduation ceremony for its participants. (Provided)

On August 15, YouthBuild will kick-off another cohort with a celebration at Smithfield Community Center beginning at noon.

“We help them to [receive] their high school diploma or GED and want to pursue careers in construction and healthcare,” said Harris. “We have a case manager on site to help resolve any barriers to employment like, childcare, transportation, mental health, or substance abuse.”

Harris said she been with YouthBuild since its beginning and has seen the growth in both the participants and the program.

“Some of it was learning what our students needed best from us… One of the biggest changes that we’ve made in the program was setting a foundation for the Housing Authority to implement this program in the future,” Harris said. “We’ve brought in additional staff to give our students immediate access to resources.

She added that 67 students have enrolled in the program since its inception, with 60 percent now working, in college, or pursuing advanced training programs.

For more information on YouthBuild visit habd.org.

How Birmingham Youth Choir is Preparing to Return for an ‘America’s Got Talent’ Encore

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Birmingham Times

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August 14, 2025

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Choir4 — Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir will appear on the live shows on 'America's Got Talent' beginning tomorrow night. (Trae Patton, NBC)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

The secret was out — and the whole world was in on it.

Before an international audience in July, the Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir (BYYAFC) won the “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) Golden Buzzer — which allows a participant to skip the rest of the judged rounds and go straight to the fan-voted quarterfinals. The choir will return for the next round of NBC’s televised talent show in September.

The group’s audition was taped in March, and since then “we’ve been holding in this big secret,” Choir Director Ahkeem Lee told a video team from Birmingham City Schools (BCS), of which he is a graduate.

But now that the surprise is out, Lee is pleased by what the performance and response meant for his hometown.

“We didn’t just go up on the show and sing, we wanted to represent where we were from,” he told The Birmingham Times. “We wanted to show that there are young people in the city doing positive things, and we made sure to highlight our city.”

That’s why the choir chose “an inspirational message,” he said of their performance, which was a mashup of the traditional “Hymn of Joy” (also called “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee”) and Pharrell and Voice of Fire’s modern 2023 spin on the track “Joy (Unspeakable).”

Mason Webb leads a solo for the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir at 16th Street Baptist Church. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

“We sang ‘Joy,’ and that was exactly what we were intending to do — spread joy,” Lee said. “There’s just so much that goes on in the world right now. … We wanted the opportunity to really show something good because it could spread joy in the hearts of people.”

On August 24 at the Heights Event & Entertainment Center, the choir, which has 41 members ranging in age from 9 to 29, will hold a Raise the Praise event that will feature guest artists, vendors, and a special performance from the choir, as it continues to raise funds to support the journey back to California for “AGT: Season 20” live shows next month with the finale September 23 and 24..

International recognition couldn’t have come at a better time for the group, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

“Ten years ago, we never thought we would see the day where we would be here,” Lee said during a concert at the 16th Street Baptist Church, where he is a member. “It’s been a tough 10 years, but it has also been a great decade of praise, of dedication, of love, of faithfulness.”

The director said he was pleased that several choir members attend BCS, which opened for the fall semester last week.

“It’s amazing to give [students] an opportunity to get outside of Birmingham and go to California. A lot of them had never left state of Alabama, and even if they had left the state they had never been to California, so it was a very unique experience for them,” said Lee, a 2015 Ramsay High School grad. “Just giving them the opportunity to be exposed [to the travel] was quite incredible.”

Braylen Malone, who attends Huffman High School and has been a member of BYYAFC for the past eight years, said he always watches AGT, and it took a while to process what the group was able to accomplish.

“I was like, ‘I’ll never be on that show ever in my life. … Who I look like going out there doing it?’ And it’s crazy! I did it, and it was like, ‘What? … I was just watching it, but now it’s me.’”

Payton Marbury, who attends W.J. Christian K-8 School, said, “It was crazy. Like, I always dreamed about being on [AGT]. I was nervous because I was the first person to come out. … I’d never sang in front of thousands of people, so it was different, but it was exciting because it was a new journey for us.”

On August 24 at the Heights Event & Entertainment Center, the choir, which has 41 members ranging in age from 9 to 29, will hold a Raise the Praise event. (Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship, Provided Photos)

Untapped, Unrecognized Talent

The BYYAFC has always been blessed to find skilled members, Lee said.

“It could be something as simple as someone may see us on social media, reach out, and inquire about how to join. Or, over time, I’ve met people like the original choir, which came from personal connections. We didn’t make a clarion call to anyone. It was simply, ‘Hey, do you have church members who want to be a part of this?’ ‘Hey, do your classmates want to be part of this?’ We were just blessed to have those types of people,” Lee said.

But that has now changed.

“Up until 2024 we didn’t do any auditions. We would let any choir member or young person who wanted to be part of the choir join. If you had a voice, you wanted to sing, and you wanted to be a part of something great, we’d let anybody in.”

Now, Lee added, “you have to have the ability to stay in a choir. You don’t have to be a soloist, but you’ve got to be able to hold a note. Yes, there’s a lot of untapped and unrecognized talent in the city, and my prayer and hope is that this choir will provide a platform for other young people to be part of something great, … to be exposed to things they wouldn’t get an opportunity to experience if they hadn’t been in the choir.”

Live Shows

Before appearing on AGT, the BYYAFC rehearsed once a week, alternating between Wednesdays and Sundays. Since March, that’s increased to twice a week on those days.

“I noticed that with us having two hours of the week, we’ve been able to learn more music and the choir members’ voices have become stronger and more mature,” said Lee, also assistant director of student engagement and enrichment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). “We have more time we can dedicate to truly developing their voices. … We rehearse twice a week: for about an hour on Wednesdays and a half to two hours on Sundays.”

And there’s more than just music.

“We try to make sure the young people have fun, too, so I try to give them a break to interact, talk to each other. … We sometimes do youth development workshops to give [choir members] an opportunity to talk about some of the things they have going on in school—peer pressure and things like that. I believe that a big component of growth in the choir goes along with how we help them develop outside the choir,” said Lee, adding that the choir has helped him grow as well.

“I always tell people that the choir has helped me to grow as a person,” he said. “Being responsible for a group of young people at the age of 18, 19 years old when the choir started was hard work. … It required a lot of maturity, and it required a lot to develop. The choir forced me to become a leader very fast. I had to learn how to network very quickly. I had to learn how to communicate effectively. I couldn’t be a traditional college student with a choir.”

For viewers and fans who were impressed by what they saw from BYYAFC in July, wait until September, Lee said.

“These would be live shows, so its not a pre-taped audition. … I’ll definitely say we’re going a little harder, putting more effort into the process, more energy. … If everyone enjoyed what they saw most recently, they’re definitely going to enjoy what they’re going to see in the fall.”

To learn more about the choir and donate, visit here.

The Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir performs for a tenth anniversary celebration and back to school benefit concert at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. (Will McLelland, WMcLelland@al.com)

After ‘Golden Buzzer’ Surprise, Ahkeem Lee Prepares His Birmingham Youth Choir for the World Stage

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Birmingham Times

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August 14, 2025

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Ahkeem Lee 2 — Ahkeem Lee, director, Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir, at 16th Street Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

It’s been a year of anniversaries for Ahkeem Lee, founder and director of the Birmingham Youth and Young Adult Fellowship Choir (BYYAFC) which won the “America’s Got Talent” (AGT) Golden Buzzer in July. That came during the shows 20th season and allows the choir to skip the rest of the judged rounds and go straight to the fan-voted quarterfinals. The choir will return for the next round of NBC’s televised talent show in September.

That achievement also came during the 10th year commemoration of the choir which was founded by Lee and two friends.

“Ten years ago, we never thought we would see the day where we would be here,” Lee said during a concert at the 16th Street Baptist Church, where he is a member. “It’s been a tough 10 years, but it has also been a great decade of praise, of dedication, of love, of faithfulness.”

And now Lee is getting ready to travel back to California for an encore performance on AGT.

Ahkeem Lee, director, Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

On August 24 at the Heights Event & Entertainment Center, the choir, which has 41 members ranging in age from 9 to 29, will hold a Raise the Praise event that will feature guest artists, vendors, and a special performance from the choir, as it continues to raise funds to support the journey back to California for “AGT: Season 20” live shows next month with the finale airing on September 23 and 24.

Perfect Pitch

Lee, 28, who grew up in Center Point, Alabama, with a sister and a brother, has always loved gospel music, especially choirs like the famed Mississippi Mass Choir.

“And when I say that’s my favorite, that’s my favorite choir to this very day,” he said. “I probably have all their albums, all their VHS tapes and memorabilia. They are so special because they are a large choir, … [but] they remind you of the average Sunday morning choir at your own church. … When you look at them, you see yourself in them. You see familiarity in the Mississippi Mass Choir.”

While growing up and listening to those choirs, Lee never knew he had perfect pitch — the ability to name a note or sing it accurately without hearing another note first.

“When I got older, I found out [I had perfect pitch] from some musicians who had to tell me I had that gift because I didn’t recognize it. I think I was in college when I found out, … but as a child I could always pick up on music. I can hear very well,” he said, adding that he has always loved music and collected gospel songs.

He also paid “close attention to choir directors and what they were doing,” he said.

Lee started attending BCS’s Smith Middle School as a seventh grader. From there, he went Ramsay as a ninth grader, which is when he told himself that he wanted to have a choir one day.

“I was in a choir at Ramsay, and my choir director really made a huge difference in my life and in my music and helped me recognize my talent,” said Lee, who didn’t take his dream to be a choir director seriously until after he graduated from high school and enrolled at the now-closed Birmingham Southern College (BSC).

“When I graduated [from Ramsay], two friends and I decided that we wanted to do a concert to give back to the community,” Lee recalled. “At that time, I had a singing group, and I didn’t really like the idea of three of us doing a full concert because I didn’t think people would come and support it. … I thought that if we put together a choir presentation to bring together friends, family, and other young people in the city then we would get more traction and we could make a better impact.”

“Youth ‘N’ Praise”

On July 24, 2015, the choir held its first “Youth ‘N’ Praise” Back to School Concert, where more than 200 school supply bags were given to students in and around Birmingham. Initially, the choir was organized for the one-time event, but after overwhelming acclaim the Birmingham Youth Fellowship Choir was born.

“During our first year, in 2016, we were invited to perform at the Gospel Music Workshop of America [GMWA] when it came to Birmingham,” Lee said, speaking about the renowned international music convention founded in 1967 by gospel great Rev. James Cleveland.

“We also had the opportunity to travel to Pensacola, Florida, to open up for Bishop Marvin Winans that year. That was when I started to really notice that there was something special about the choir,” he added, noting that he had also started directing choirs at area churches at the time.

“I started to really develop my skill set outside of simply just my choir,” he said. “I worked at two Birmingham churches for some time, and then in 2018 I was permitted to become director of the [BSC] gospel choir director when the previous director left. They allowed me to be the interim student director, and I retained that role even after I graduated from the school. … I held that position for about three years,” said Lee, who earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from BSC and a Master of Education degree from the University of West Alabama.

Sommitt Carter leads a solo for the Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir at 16th Street Baptist Church. (Marika N. Johnson, For The Birmingham Times)

Home Church

One church that has been significant for the choir director is the 16th Street Baptist Church in downtown Birmingham, where he’s been a lifelong member. The historic church also serves as the BYYAFC’s rehearsal home and main concert location.

Lee said on AGT, “A lot of people may know that church because in 1963 a tragic bombing happened there, and that was when four little girls were killed. While that bombing was such a tragic situation, it played such an instrumental role in bringing international attention to the Civil Rights struggle in America. … Sixty-something years later, the choir exists, so we wanted the opportunity to show that Birmingham, Alabama, has some talented young people, and we wanted to do something great for the community.”

The church is important for another reason. It’s where his mother, Valerie, was a church secretary. While she was pregnant with Ahkeem, she bumped her stomach on a pew in the sanctuary and went into labor with her son.

“I was born two months early because of my church,” Lee said.

Teaching Life Skills

Directing BYYAFC is a lot like what Lee does during his day job, where he also works with young people.

Lee is the assistant director of student engagement and enrichment at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He’s been at the university since 2021, when he began working in the Office of Off-Campus Student and Family Engagement.

Whether instructing students in the choir or on campus, it all goes hand-in-hand for the 29-year-old.

“My life’s passion is supporting young people and helping them to develop,” said Lee. “In my role at UAB, I advise the Blazer Mentorship Collective, a large peer-mentoring program for underrepresented students. I help students navigate through their college journeys and help to prepare them for the real world.”

To learn more about the choir and donate, visit here.

Updated at 9:30 a.m. on 8/14/2025 to correct Lee’s age.

Birmingham Youth & Young Adult Fellowship Choir celebrate after receiving the Golden Buzzer and a trip to live shows on ‘America’s Got Talent’ in September. (Trae Patton, NBC)

Know Your Family’s Health History

By

Birmingham Times

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August 14, 2025

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Ever been curious why your doctor’s staff has you complete a sometimes long in-depth form inquiring about your health and the health of your immediate family members before you see the doctor? This step is critical because knowing your family health history is an important part of your lifelong wellness plan.

Think of your family’s health history as your body’s autobiography, complete with plot twists, recurring characters, and potential sequels. This form becomes the key to your health treasure chest of information that can help assess your risk for certain health conditions, guide preventive care, and even influence treatment decisions. For example, knowing your maternal grandmother had breast cancer might prompt more frequent screening, potentially catching any issues before they become a best-selling drama.

It is not just about family health drama predicting doom and gloom. Your family’s health history can also unveil your body’s superpowers. Maybe your family has a history of longevity, or even you come from a line of women who breeze through menopause with very few hot flashes.

Unfortunately, in some Black communities, health care was not always available especially in the rural areas of the south and/or affordable. This may have caused some health conditions to have possibly gone undiagnosed.

There could also be instances of missing chapters in your body’s autobiography because key family members were not present. Sometimes it was not widely discussed among Black family members especially around children years ago. Children had a place back then that did not include being in “grown folks’ business.” Thereby, making this task more difficult because of these factors but, no less important.

Therefore, from a personal health safety perspective it is crucial to do the following two things:

Collect all the information possible about your family’s medical history starting with both parents, siblings and grandparents. Go back further if possible. It is important to share this information with your children as a priceless health autobiography being passed down to the next generation. Sharing this information helps protect future generations by helping them make more informed decisions about their own health and well-being.
Write down all the medications you currently take, if any, and identify what the medical condition the medication is for. Share this information with your child(ren). Also gather this same health information from your child(ren) and even grandchild(ren), if appropriate.

Collecting this valuable healthcare information can help your healthcare provider to more accurately focus on maintaining and enhancing these genetics treasures. It is a way to Keep an Eye on your health safety for you and your family.

PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS

By

Birmingham Times

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August 14, 2025

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PPT0814 1 — Actress Phylicia Rashad honored in Birmingham to recieve the 24th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award. (Provided)

By Gwen DeRu | The Birmingham Times

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS AND THE WEATHER!!!

…Now is the time to take ONE DAY – QUICK VACATIONS!!

TODAY, AUGUST 14…

**READTHE B IRMINGHAM TIMES. Catch up on the news!!!

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

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

**REE – NATTY NIGHTS: CHAYSE PORTER & HIS PALACE DOORS with BITTER CALM and TIMBER at Saturn.

**THURSDAY LATE NIGHT with ALABAMA SO & SO MACHINE at The Nick.

**3^rd THURSDAY at the Nick with RAMBLIN’ RICKY TATE at The Nick.

**JOSE CARR EVERY THURSDAY, 5-7 p.m. at the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, at 1631 4^th Avenue North.

**FILMMAKER NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m. at 1821 2^nd Avenue North

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

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

**FILM at Sidewalk Film.

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

FRIDAY, AUGUST 15…

IT IS FRIDAY…the weekend starts…

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**WILLIAMSON BROTHERS ALBUM RELEASE at the Nick with BAAK GWAI, DRUNKEN PRAYER at The Nick.

**LATE NIGHT with BITTER ROUTE, COLD PROMISE and EVA LAVANTE at The Nick.

**COMEDIAN DON “D.C.” CURRY at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**BIT BRIGADE performs “MEGA MAN X” LIVE at Saturn.

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 16…

**The 16^th Annual BOILING N’BRAGGING, 6-8:30 p.m. at Crestline Village across from the O’Neal Library.

**MOVIES ON THE MOUNTAIN is TOY STORY, 7 – 10 p.m. at Vulcan Park and Museum. Take your lawn chairs and blankets.

**ECTOVOID – 15^th Anniversary Show with MALFORMITY and FORMULUS at Saturn.

**FREE – FUNERAL PARTY GOTH NIGHT at Saturn.

**COMEDIAN DON “D.C.” CURRY at the StarDome Comedy Club.

**MUSTACHE – 90’S COUNTRY PARTY at Avondale Brewing Co.

**LEE BAINS at the Nick.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 17…

**RIDE 4 SICKLE CELL 2025, 10:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 347 in Fairfield. Call 205-780-2355 for more.

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

**JOSE CARR performing at JAZZ IN THE GARDEN SUNDAYS, Every 1^st and 3^rd Sunday, 5-8 p.m. at Denim on 7^th, 2808 7^th Avenue Suite105

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

**MOJOHAND, KYLE KIMBRELL AND THE FIRE CAMINO at The Nick.

**2^ND SUNDAY FREE SHOW with ZACH AUSTIN at The Nick.

**4^th SUNDAY FREE SHOW with TAYLOR HOLLINGSWORTH at The Nick.

**WIFFLE HOME RUN DERBY at Avondale Brewing Co.

MONDAY, AUGUST 18…

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND at The Nick.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19…

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**PODCASTING 101 at CREED63, EVERY TUESDAY at 5:45 p.m. Learn how to launch and create your own podcast at 1601 5^th Avenue North, Birmingham 35203.

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

**FREE – NATTY NIGHTS: POST OFFICE WINTER & DEEREST FRIENDS at Saturn.

**SUPERSTAR KARAOKE LATE NIGHT TUESDAYS at The Nick.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20…

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

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

**WEDNESDAY OPEN DECK with SUNDROP at The Nick.

**FREE – SUBSTRATE BINGO with JACKIE LO at Saturn.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21…

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

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

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

**FREE – NATTY NIGHTS: CARRELLEE with DOMESTICATRIX & THE REPLICANTS and B. CONNIER at Saturn.

**SHAKIRA CHINCHILLA with THEM IN UNIFORM at The Nick.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22….

**WEEKDAYS – IRONDALE SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER has activities starting at 8 a.m. with a Hot Lunch served for Seniors Monday – Friday, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Call 205-951-1418 for details about the FREE program.

**HIPPIES & COWBOYS with OTIS at The Nick.

**MILK AND HONEY at Saturn.

**DOWNRIGHT & THE ERIN MITCHELL BAND at Avondale Brewing Co.

**THE MOLLY RINGWALDS at Iron City.

NEWS TO KNOW AND USE – PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS TO WATCH…

**ACTRESS PHYLICIA RASHAD HONORED IN BIRMINGHAM – The 24^th Estelle Witherspoon Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony is held TODAY, 7 p.m. at the Sheraton Birmingham. Actress Phylicia Rashad is the 24^th recipient of the award given annually by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund when members meet for three-days of celebration. This is their 58^th year of cooperative development, land retention and advocacy. FRIDAY is the meeting at the Historic Rural Training and Research Center in Epes, Alabama where people from around the world gather for education, panel talks, hands-on workshops, a Memorial Legacy Project presentation, a fish fry, agroforestry tours and demonstrations. SATURDAY, the Annual Meeting starts at 8 a.m. with a Prayer breakfast and ends with a special meeting for members only and State Caucus reports. This year‘s theme is MEMORIALIZING OUR LEGACY that honors the generations who built, protected and advanced the cooperative movement across the rural South. They will honor the past, uplift the present and prepare for the future.

FOR TRAVEL LOVERS… IN THE STATE – DO A LITTLE SOMETHING!!

**AROUND BIRMINGHAM…Considered ‘Heaven On Earth in Alabama’ is RUFFNER MOUNTAIN with 14 hiking and biking trails and scenic views. You can view wildlife, fresh air, exercise and time to chat. It was once an iron ore mining site with1,038 acres of nature. Then there is TRIMTAB BREWING considered one of Alabama’s best breweries. Guests can sit indoors or outdoors, enjoy local art, hear live music and enjoy the delicious food at PARADISE CHOW. Serving Mexican-inspired dishes if EL BARRIO with nachos considered out-of-this-world and dips, salads, tacos with several entrees. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming and perfect for a group to sop in after a day of adventure. Looking for somewhere with great accommodations, then look no further than right in the downtown area at ELYTON HOTEL. It is located in the iconic Empire Building with 16-stories that was constructed in 1909. There are 111 guest rooms and six suites, in-room dining, a fitness center. The bedding is Egyptian cotton, which I know some people just love and will sleep like a baby when laying on it. Staying in downtown Birmingham is the perfect spot for shops and museums, restaurants of all kinds, the McWane Science Center, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute plus Historic 4^th Avenue shops and food including the Historic 4^th Avenue Shirts and Bridge + Root, an upscale shop.

FOR ART LOVERS…

**A SOUTHERN ARTISTS PRIZE COMPETITION – Artists from Alabama and the southern states are eligible to participate in a prize competition. The deadline is extended until September 7!!! Submit for the ‘1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art’. There is a $10,000 CASH PRIZE from the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston. The winner will receive a cash prize. A work by the winning artist will be exhibited in the museum for a full year. The museum will also invite the winner to Charleston for the official unveiling of their artwork, part of a three-day celebration honoring the artist. Artists must reside, work in or be from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. More details about the submission process at: gibbesmuseum.org/1858-prize. (Applications are accepted exclusively through the museum’s website.)

FOR MOVIE LOVERS…

AT THE SIDEWALK FILM FEST…

…DON’T MISS – AUGUST 18-24 – The 27^th ANNUAL SIDEWALK FILM FESTIVAL!!

**TODAY – WEAPONS, 2 p.m.

**TODAY – GODZILLA (1954), 2:30 p.m.

**TODAY – MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA (1964), 5 p.m.

**TODAY – RIO BRAVO.

**TODAY – FREE NETWORKING NIGHTS, 5 p.m.

**TODAY – FREE MONTHLY MOVIE TRIVIA, 7:30 p.m.

**FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY – DESTROY ALL MONSTERS (1968).

**FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY – GODZILLA VS. HEDORAH (1971).

**SUNDAY – RIO BRAVO.

FOR COMMUNITY LOVERS…

**UNITED ABILITY’s JOURNEY OF HOPE, 5 p.m., Saturday at the UAB Alys Stephens Center for an evening of fun for the family. Enjoy the Birmingham debut of OMNIUM CIRCUS, heavy hors d’oeuvres and dessert reception with complimentary valet service. Purchase your ticket and check out the silent auction to support an evening inspired by imagination, purpose and possibility beyond disability. For more, 205-944-3907 or ghyatt@unitedability.org.

**ADDICTION PREVENTION COALITION (Upcoming Events)

DATES include:

*SATURDAY – PADDLES FOR PREVENTION Pickleball Tournament, 2 -9:30 p.m. at Veterans Park – Alabaster Pickleball Courts. For more PB.Pickleball.al@gmail.com.

*September 26 – (SAVE THE DATE!!) MIND MATTERS: A CONVERSATION ON MENTAL HEALTH, SUBSTANCE USE & THE WORKPLACE at Jefferson State Community College. (Look for more.) For more, go to, apcbham.org.

**MOUNTAIN BROOK AUGUST LUNCHEON – The Quarterly Luncheon is August 20 at the Birmingham Country Club, 11 a.m. spotlighting Alabama’s growing tourism industry with an engaging panel discussion moderated by Paul DeMarco. Hear from leading voices who are shaping the future of tourism and driving economic impact across our state. Featured panelists include TAD SNIDER, Executive Director, BJCC; LEE SENTELL – Director, Alabama Tourism Department; TIFFIANY HOLMES – General Manager, Grand Bohemian Hotel and GENE HALLMAN – CEO, Eventive Sports. Enjoy networking, insight into current industry trends and a chance to connect with community and business leaders.

FOR LABOR DAY WEEKEND FUN… LAUGHTER, FOOTBALL AND MUSIC…

**AUGUST 29 – WEEK ZERO CLASSIC COMEDY JAM featuring BILL BELLAMY, hosted by NEPHEW TOMMY with Special Guest MS. VEE at the Historic Boutwell Auditorium.

**AUGUST 30 – CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY vs VALDOSTA STATE UNIVERSITY AND FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY vs UNIVERSITY of WEST ALABAMA at Legion Field.

**AUGUST 30 – BBQ FESTIVAL at Legion Field with live music and food.

**AUGUST 31 – LABOR DAY CONCERT – ONE NIGHT ONLY – A TRIBUTE TO LUTHER VANDROSS featuring JAY LAMBERT & THE BYRON THOMAS COLLECTIVE, 7 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

FOR OUR YOUTH…

**ANNUAL TAILGATE KICKOFF PARTY SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S OF ALABAMA CRITICAL CARE TRANSPORT – The 16^th Annual BOILING N’BRAGGING will be held Saturday, 6-8:30 p.m. at Crestline Village across from the O’Neal Library. Enjoy a low-country boil, live music by “THE NEXT ROUND, drink specials cornhole and kids activities as you support the children’s Critical Care Transport. For more, boilingnbragging.org.

**YOUTH LEADERSHIP BIRMINGHAM – Nominations are being accepted through August 24 for Youth Leadership Birmingham. Nominees will have until September 26 to complete the online application. They will need a reference that will need to be submitted by the deadline. Parents and relatives may nominee a student but should not write the reference. Students must meet criteria: Sophomore or junior who resides or attends high school in Jefferson County. Maintain at least a “B” average, demonstrate leadership qualities and potential for leadership, Possesses the ability to question and work with others, Expresses an interest in furthering their knowledge of the greater Birmingham area and Commits to 100% attendance at all sessions. For more, call 205-252-4496 ext.2 or Katherine@leadershipbirmingham.org.

**SAFE HAVEN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS – This program has hours Monday -Thursday, 3:30 – 8 p.m. and Friday, 3:30 – 6 p.m. for Grades K-8. It will offer reading initiatives, chess club, homework assistance, creative writing, tutoring and more. This program is offered at the following parks: Central Park, Ensley, Fountain Heights, Hawkins, Inglenook, Memorial, M.L. King. For more info, contact 205-254-2391 or www.birminghamal.gov/parks-and-recreation/

**CITY CENTER ART (CCA) is Space One Eleven’s Afterschool program designed to help young artists in grades 2-12 build visual communication skills, foster creative thinking and have fun making art. Dates are in the Fall 2025 Semester (13 weeks) beginning September 2). Enrollment is open. For more or to register visit SpaceOneEleven.org. Call 205-328-0553.

**POOL HOURS EXTENDED SUMMER Open weekends ONLY until Monday, September 1, 2025.

**YOUTH VOLLEYBALL is September 15 – October 27 for 3^rd – 8^th Grade games on Mondays at 6 p.m. Registration August 4. Game location is Fountain Heights, 1101 15^th Avenue North. Contact 205-335-0483 and 205-451-9895.

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