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He Proposed Without a Ring But Said, ‘I Want to Make This Happen’ … She Said, ‘Yes.’”

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

RODNEY & KATINA TURNER

Live: Clay

Married: June 28, 2014

Met: September 2008, at Miles College in Pearson Hall, the campus music building. Katina, then a sophomore, was a work study student in the piano lab, and one day Rodney, who was a freshman, was jamming on a piano.

“I was trying to close down, and he was holding me up. I started [hollering] at him trying to get his attention and he just kept on playing on the piano, jamming with his headphones in,” Katina said.

“And finally, I looked up, and I saw her pointing her finger at me like I was in trouble, and I moved my headphones, and she said ‘Hey lil boy, it’s time to go’, Rodney said. “And I played for the choir too [which Katina sang in the soprano section], and I saw her again…”

“I didn’t say anything to him then, but we kept running into each other because he was always in there [the piano lab] playing the piano,” Katina said. “And [we have a mutual friend named] Dre, and he would always tell me ‘Rodney like you, he don’t even like your friend’. But I wasn’t looking at him like that, because I had a boyfriend and my best friend, Miracle, did like him… But one day after choir rehearsal, [Dre] said, ‘let’s go to CiCi’s Pizza [on Green Springs Highway], and that’s when we had our first real conversation… I still had a boyfriend at the time, so we were just friends.”

“I basically held on strong for a while,” Rodney said.

Eventually, Katina broke up with her boyfriend and hadn’t seen or talked to Rodney for a while. But during Christmas break 2009, Katina called their friend, Dre and asked for Rodney’s phone number.

“She was all the way in Memphis, Tennessee thinking about me and gave me a call out of the blue,” Rodney said. The pair talked over the break and when they got back to campus went on their first date.

First date: February 2010, at King Buffet in Midfield. “That was the go-to Chinese spot for everybody,” Rodney said. “I picked her up after she got done with her classes and we just hung out and talked … and then we went to the dollar movie [theater] in Hoover. We pretty much spent the whole day together.”

Katina remembered having a good evening. “We just laughed the whole night and talked about school and class…”

The pair began hanging out “every day, all day”, and Katina began accompanying Rodney to his rehearsals and playing gigs at churches around town.

The turn: Two weeks later, in February 2010. Rodney called Katina and told her they needed to make it official.

“We had just started spending so much time together, and I grew up in a holiness church, and we took dating seriously … you can’t just be courting for no reason,” Rodney said. “And I was thinking that I had been trying to lock her down for a while, and now was the perfect opportunity to go on and call it a relationship. So I called her and said, “Tina, we been hanging out a lot, and I like you and I know you like me, so why don’t we go on and make it official?’ And like we always do, we both busted out laughing.”

“I’ll never forget the day after he asked me to be his girlfriend… We avoided each other for a whole day and then ran right into each other at the end of the night at choir rehearsal,” Katina said. “I was trying to play it off (we both were) and we were like ‘I ain’t seen you all day, how ya been?’.”

The pair got the jitters out of the way and have been inseparable ever since. “We only broke up one time in our relationship and that only lasted an hour,” Katina laughed. “We called each other back and apologized and got right back together.”

Rodney and Katina Turner met in September 2008 at Miles College. The couple married in 2014. (Provided)

The proposal: On Katina’s birthday, June 16, 2011, at her apartment on Green Springs Highway, Rodney took her to J. Alexander’s in Hoover, for a birthday date, and to the dollar movie theater afterwards. Rodney had planned to propose when they got back to her place.

“We got in [from the date] and Katina went to the bathroom, and I got straight down on one knee. And when she walked out, she started laughing when she saw me and said I knew you was about to do this… and I told her ‘I don’t have a ring yet, but I want to make this happen, and I’m gonna get you one. Will you marry me?’, and she said ‘yes’.”

Katina said she knew it was coming because she was newly saved, and they had been talking about marriage. “He basically introduced me to holiness. He witnessed to me, and brought me into the church… He played the piano at different churches and I was always with him and God started working on my heart … so at that time, I was really coming into my walk with God and started attending Woodland Park AOH [Apostolic Overcoming Holiness] Church [in the Green Springs area], and my pastor always saw us together and started asking him what were his intentions with me … we were both feeling conviction and started talking about getting married so I knew it was coming, and I was happy to say ‘yes,’” Katina said.

The wedding: The Worship Center Christian Church, at the Derby location, officiated by Pastor Dwight Kimbrough, of Woodland Park AOH [Apostolic Overcoming Holiness] Church. Their colors were teal, cream, and brown.

Most memorable for the bride was her father’s emotions while giving her away. “My daddy actually cried the whole time. And when he got me to the altar and he handed me over to my husband, he didn’t want to walk away, he just stood there,” Katina said. “And Pastor Kimbrough was like, ‘Sir, you have to go sit down now’, and he cried walking away.”

Most memorable for the groom was realizing at the end of the night that the whole day was a blur. But one memory that did stick was saluting his bride. “We’re both shy, and I was nervous, but when it came time to salute the bride, I came at her like I was going to tongue kiss her and she was like ‘don’t be trying to kiss me like that, my daddy sitting right here’,” Rodney said. “And also seeing how happy her daddy was to give her away to me. He was crying like a baby coming down the aisle with her, and it brought joy to my heart that he was so happy [with our union].”

They honeymooned in Orlando Florida, a gift from one of their friends. “We had a lot of fun. We had never been that far away together, and it was fun and relaxing getting to spend time and get to know each other as husband and wife,” said Katina.

Words of wisdom: “Being able to talk to your partner about how you feel. Being open and honest is the best advice I could give anybody. Rodney has gone through kidney failure, he was going through it for five years before receiving his kidney transplant. And the sickness part [vow] hit our marriage sooner than we thought and being there for him being his helpmate and getting each other through that taught us a lot about being patient. On the outside, he looked fine, but I didn’t understand how he felt so I had to have empathy for him and listen to how he said he felt, and keep myself in check …  It was a lot, he almost died three times, but God brought us through,” Katina said.

“One of the things I think is important that we had to understand in our marriage is that we’re both constantly changing. You’re going to forever be learning each other. The things Tina liked when we first got together are not things she likes now. Things we did when we first got together, we can’t do now. We got kids, and life and everything else is happening, so you have to find ways to reignite, and acknowledge each other as time goes on. If you don’t, you’ll end up being roommates and you don’t ever want that to be the case,” Rodney said. “You always want to have excitement in the marriage, and you have to be flexible too, because things change and so does your mindset.”

Happily ever after: The Turners attend Greater Emmanuel Temple Holiness Church in East Lake, where Katina serves as the Children’s Department president, and Rodney, who is a musician, plays the piano. They have two children: Paxton, 9, and Aniya, 7.

Katina, 37, is a Memphis Tenn. native, and moved to Birmingham in 2006 to attend Miles College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in music education, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham [UAB], where she obtained a master’s degree in elementary education. Katina works as a second-grade teacher at Legacy Prep Elementary in Forestdale.

Rodney, 36, is a Tarrant native, and Tarrant High School grad. He attended Miles College where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. Rodney works as a music director for The Star Church in East Lake and also plays at Rock City Church on Valleydale, and produced the hit gospel records: ‘Big’, ‘Guided’, ‘Impossible’ and many other Pastor Mike McClure Jr. songs.

“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.

EXCLUSIVE–Miles College Forms AI Partnership with World’s Most Valuable Publicly Traded Company

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Birmingham Times
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One of Alabama's 14 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Miles College is located in Fairfield AL, just outside of Birmingham. (FILE)

By Barnett Wright | The Birmingham Times

Miles College will collaborate with NVIDIA, the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, to integrate AI across academic programs, faculty research and community engagement on the Fairfield AL campus, the Birmingham Times has learned.

NVIDIA, which is investing more than $100 billion globally in artificial intelligence, will also provide access to resources, frameworks and development tools to expand the HBCU’s AI curriculum — and help train and certify faculty and students in AI and accelerated computing. The global giant will also work with Miles College to identify and position resources and partnerships to catalyze innovation and economic development for surrounding communities.

Miles College President Bobbie Knight (File)

“We’re implementing AI fluency to be a core competency for every Miles College graduate — no matter what field they’re in — so that they’re prepared not only for success in their careers, but for leadership in their communities,” said Bobbie Knight, president of Miles College. “This initiative is about inspiring innovation and expanding opportunity, not just within the walls of Miles College but throughout the state — because when our students thrive, our entire region grows stronger.”

Miles College is already implementing AI campus-wide, with nearly half of faculty regularly integrating AI into course design and student learning modules, and about 60 percent of the college’s research supported by AI.

Knight last year established the 2150 Center for Innovation, Commercialization and Growth, an initiative to champion HBCU tech and boost innovation in the region with resources to support founders and entrepreneurs and fuel successful businesses.

Knight along with the president of the University of Utah will join leaders from Coppin State University and Houston City College in a GTC Washington, D.C., panel Wednesday. The session will showcase how colleges and universities across the country integrate AI into their curricula, supporting state and regional economic goals while preparing students for high-demand job sectors.

In June, MentorPRO, a leading provider of evidence-based mentoring technology, announced that Miles was selected as a national pilot site for the MentorPRO platform, including its new AI-powered mentorship tools. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting student success and advancing innovative mentoring practices in higher education.

MentorPRO provides students, mentors, and program leaders with a secure, user-friendly environment for managing mentoring relationships, tracking progress, and accessing best-in-class resources. With the addition of MentorAI, the new research-informed AI co-pilot, students and mentors benefit from timely, personalized guidance and actionable insights designed to enhance the impact of mentoring.

This story will be updated

Birmingham Business Alliance Names Martina Winston Chief Business & Member Engagement Officer

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Birmingham Times
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Martina Winston is the new Chief Business & Member Engagement Officer for the Birmingham Business Alliance. (Provided)

The Birmingham Times

Martina Winston is the new Chief Business & Member Engagement Officer for the BBA, the economic development organization has announced.

Winston began in her role on Monday and will lead the Birmingham Business Alliance’s efforts to strengthen business relationships, expand member and investor services, and support small business growth throughout the Greater Birmingham Region.

“Martina is a connector and a builder, and I know she will excel at translating vision into action in this role,” said Steve Ammons, BBA President and CEO. “Her experience in cultivating relationships, connecting and convening key groups of people, and leading organizations in a transformational way will help us deepen our connection to Birmingham’s business and civic communities and strengthen the value we deliver to our investors.”

With more than 20 years of experience leading people and community engagement initiatives, Winston has a record of driving inclusion, workforce development and organizational growth, according to the BBA.

“Our region is full of talented people and innovative businesses that truly care about our community,” Winston said. “I’m honored to step into this role, and I’m looking forward to joining the BBA team to help contribute to its mission of advancing prosperity and building a strong, connected business culture across the Greater Birmingham Region.”

In addition to helping businesses join and capitalize on their benefits, she will lead the planning and execution of regional business engagement events that drive business growth and engagement and that connect businesses to each other, elected leaders and community stakeholders. These events include the BBA’s quarterly networking lunches and monthly First Round events, as well as ribbon cuttings, groundbreakings and other signature gatherings.

Winston previously served at Protective Life in a variety of roles from 2014 to 2025, most recently as Vice President and Head of Talent, Inclusion & Engagement. In that role, she partnered with senior leaders to drive engagement, workforce transformation, and inclusive leadership. She also collaborated with Protective’s parent company, Dai-ichi Life in Tokyo, to manage global talent programs. A former Vice President at Regions Financial and District HR Manager at Best Buy, Winston has been known as a strategic relationship builder, who bridges community, business and government with authenticity and purpose.

With BBA’s five-year strategic economic development plan set to take effect in the coming months, Winston will coordinate her chamber relations efforts to align with the region’s broader growth goals.

A native of Chicago’s South Side, Winston lives in Pelham with her husband, Corey, and their children, Jada and Jordan.

What Sheriff Mark Pettway is Saying After JeffCo Jail Not Required to House Birmingham Inmates

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Birmingham Times
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The Alabama Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision in favor of Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway. (File)

By Heather Gann | hgann@al.com

The Alabama Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the dismissal of a lawsuit by the city of Birmingham against Jefferson County Sheriff Mark Pettway, upholding that the Jefferson County Jail is not legally required to accept city inmates without a valid warrant.

The dispute began in Feb. 2024 when Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin filed a complaint claiming Pettway was obligated to house city arrestees in the county jail.

That claim followed the termination of a memorandum of understanding between the city and the county to temporarily house city inmates, according to a recent news release from the sheriff’s office.

The agreement ended after both sides could not reach terms on compensation and operational responsibilities, it says.

Although the Supreme Court found that Jefferson County Circuit Court’s reasoning for dismissing the city’s complaint was procedurally incorrect, the decision was valid because there is no state law that requires the sheriff to accept city arrestees without a warrant, according to court documents.

The court concluded that arrestees detained by the city for violations of state law can remain in the city jail until a magistrate issues a warrant.

“This decision affirms what we’ve maintained from the beginning, that the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office operates under the rule of law, not political pressure,” Pettway said in the release.

“We have always been willing to work with the City of Birmingham, but any agreement must be fair to Jefferson County taxpayers and follow proper legal standards.”

“My priority is to keep our facilities secure and our operations transparent, so that every resident of Jefferson County knows we’re doing things the right way,” he continued.

Representatives for Woodfin said he was unavailable for comment Sunday afternoon.

750,000 Alabamians at Risk of Losing SNAP Benefits after Nov. 1

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Birmingham Times
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Alabama's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have been paused. (Adobe Stock)

By Bria Chatman | WBRC

The Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) announced on Monday, Oct. 27 that SNAP benefits will be suspended for November.

Any SNAP benefit recipients who still have benefits left from October, you must spend them before the week is over.

All of this comes as the government shutdown stretches into nearly a month. Lawmakers are working to keep SNAP funded, but in the meantime, families in our area are worried.

A mother with a newborn baby told WBRC that her SNAP benefits are already gone, and she doesn’t know how she’ll feed her child. Another man, 63, said that without these benefits, he’s not sure where his next meal will come from.

“The babies have to eat. Something has to be done. Something’s got to give. We got to eat,” said one SNAP recipient who didn’t want to show his face or share his name.

He said he’s worried about how the government shutdown will affect his SNAP benefits after the news of November’s benefits being suspended was shared.

“It’ll impact me because I won’t have enough money to get by every month. Social Security can only go so far,” he said.

More than 300,000 Alabama households depend on SNAP benefits — including over 300,000 children. With more people turning to food assistance, organizations like the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama say they’re already feeling the strain.

Nicole Williams, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, said the government shutdown is creating a crisis for families.

“Honestly, the government shutdown is a crisis for many families. We expect to see longer lines and more people needing food. Earlier this year, the USDA cut about three million pounds of food — that’s two and a half million meals we can’t provide in 2025. We’ll probably be feeding fewer people this year,” Williams said.

Adrian Anderson, SNAP coordinator for the Community Food Bank, echoed that concern.

“A lot more people will go hungry without those supplemental benefits to help them budget for food each month,” Anderson said.

Both women say the shutdown could create a crisis for thousands of Alabama families.

Today, Senator Katie Britt announced her support for the Keep SNAP Funded Act, a plan to keep benefits flowing during the shutdown. “My team and I will stay in touch with state officials as we work toward solutions that ease the pain countless Alabamians and Americans are feeling due to Democrats’ selfishness.”

Recipients say help can’t come soon enough.

“They’re playing games in Congress, from what I understand. One side wants one thing, and the other wants something different. I’m sure they’ll compromise, but when? Who’s going to start?” another recipient said.

Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell also weighed in on the suspension, “The bottom line is that the Trump Administration does not need to cut off benefits for November. They are choosing to do so instead of releasing the billions in SNAP contingency funding that Congress made available for situations like this. They are choosing to let families go hungry.”

How Birmingham’s Portia Lawson Healed After Heart Surgery and Bladder Cancer in Same Year

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Birmingham Times
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Portia Lawson recently celebrated with her fellow survivors and sisters during the annual Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies Sistah Strut at Legion Field. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

Portia Lawson, who lives in Birmingham’s Ensley community, recalls the phone call last year from her doctor: “He told me that he found cancer cells in my urethra,” she said.

“It was quite a shock to me because I had just gotten over a quadruple bypass heart surgery that same year,” she continued. “I was back in the gym, and here comes the cancer bomb. I did the natural crying. I just had to suck it up and knew I had to be strong. … I had to accept it. It was hard, but I did accept it.”

There were a lot of tests, appointments, and a lot she didn’t understand when she was first diagnosed with urethral cancer in September 2024, Lawson said.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Urethral cancer is a rare cancer. … [It] is a condition in which cancerous (malignant) cells form tumors in the tissues of your urethra. … Your urethra is the tube that lets urine, a waste product, leave your body.”

“Although my mom died with ovarian cancer and two of my [seven] sisters had mastectomies, I knew a little [about cancer] but not enough,” she said. “[There was] so much to deal with. … I was told the cancer was rare and very aggressive,” Lawson said.

Lawson’s doctors informed her that they wanted to do cystectomy, “which consisted of the removal of my bladder, my urethra, my uterus, and everything,” she said.

Portia Lawson was first diagnosed with urethral cancer in September 2024. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)

Ray of Hope

Though she was prepared to undergo a procedure, Lawson got a ray of hope.

“God made it so that I didn’t need the surgery. They decided to give me radiation and chemotherapy,” she said.

From there Lawson went through various treatments, including a suprapubic catheter that she had to wear for four months.

“A hole was in my lower stomach, a tube was placed there then run into my bladder, [and] a bag was wrapped around my leg,” she explained. “I was really uncomfortable, but I had to endure it. I went through with what I had to go through in order to get better.”

Last month, on Sept. 5, Lawson learned she was cancer free. Four weeks later, she celebrated with her fellow survivors and sisters during the annual Brenda’s Brown Bosom Buddies (BBBB) Sistah Strut at Legion Field.

“I called Mrs. Brenda [Hong, founder of BBBB] and asked her if it was fine if I participate because I have bladder cancer. I wanted to see if we could celebrate [a survivor of] bladder cancer while we celebrated breast cancer survivors,” said Lawson, 73.

Hong said her organization is designed specifically to improve health conditions for anyone in the wider community.

“We don’t block any awareness that’s going to help our community,” Hong told The Birmingham Times. “We know, first of all, that a lot of us in our community don’t like to go to the doctor. Number two, some of us don’t even have insurance. So, to be inclusive is our goal. … We don’t rule out anything or anybody because we know our community needs help.”

“Trusting In God Almighty”

Lawson credits the strength and support of family— especially her husband, Darryl Lawson — for helping her to make it through, she said.

The mother of four and retired Birmingham City Schools middle school teacher and custodian recalls the wonderful support.

“[My husband] was a huge supporter. He was so patient and kind,” Lawson said. “Even the technicians in the chemotherapy and the radiation center [at Baptist Princeton Medical Center] were a huge blessing. … From my church family at Lily Grove Missionary Baptist Church in North Birmingham, Druid Hills, to my four children — [Willie Copeland III, Valerie Copeland, Monica Copeland, and Kimberly Blue] — to my sister, Linda Alston, I had so much support.”

While the cancer fight was the “most difficult experience in my life thus far,” Lawson said, “trusting in God Almighty I was never worried, … nor was I afraid.”

After learning she was cancer free in September, Lawson quoted a Bible verse: Romans 8:37 — “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”

Lawson added, “God brought me through heart surgery and bladder cancer. … What God did for me can do for others.”

And she’s even returned to the gym.

Magic City Classic 2025: Alabama State Dominates Alabama A&M

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Birmingham Times
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Alabama State University defeated in-state rival Alabama A&M 56–13 on Saturday afternoon in the 84th Magic City Classic. (ASU Photo)

From Wire Reports

Alabama State University football delivered a commanding performance in the 84th Magic City Classic, defeating in-state rival Alabama A&M 56–13 on Saturday afternoon at Legion Field in front of a crowd of 69,372 fans.

The win was the Hornets fourth straight win in the Magic City Classic. Jalil Lenore and Birmingham native Jalen Jones were named the MCC’s defensive and offensvie MVPs.

Quarterback Andrew Body led the way for the Hornets, putting together a near-perfect outing. The junior completed 19 of 24 passes for 304 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding a rushing score to pace an Alabama State offense that rolled up 616 total yards.

The Hornets’ offensive surge began early and never slowed. After Alabama A&M struck first with an 8-yard touchdown run, Alabama State answered with 21 unanswered points in the opening quarter, capped by a 17-yard touchdown run from Marcu Harris II to take a 21–6 lead.

Body threw four touchdowns in the first half, including two to Dylan Creech, one to Harris, and a 59-yard strike to Jones, who finished the day with seven receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown. Dylan Djete also added a score on an 18-yard reception in the second quarter as the Hornets built a 49–6 halftime lead.

Alabama State continued its dominance in the third quarter with a 13-yard touchdown run from Jahbari Kuykendall, who also led all rushers with 101 yards on seven carries. The Hornets’ rushing attack totaled 303 yards on 40 attempts, averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

Defensively, Alabama State stifled the Bulldogs, limiting them to just 143 total yards and forcing two interceptions while recording four sacks.

The Hornets converted on all seven red-zone opportunities and committed zero turnovers, controlling possession for more than 33 minutes of the game.

With the victory, Alabama State improved to 5–2 overall and 3–1 in SWAC play, while Alabama A&M dropped to 4–4 (1–3 SWAC).

Magic City Classic Parade

The Magic City Classic Parade, presented by Disney on the Yard, took over downtown Birmingham on Saturday morning. The event featured an array of bands, dance teams, and entertainment, including performances from Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University. Despite the weather, the parade proceeded rain or shine, starting at 18th Street N and 7th Avenue N.

Highlights included appearances by Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin, Rep. Terri Sewell and Sen. Rodger Smitherman. The lineup also featured the ASU Mighty Marching Hornet Band, the Marching Maroon and White Band from Alabama A&M, and numerous local high school bands and community groups.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of floats, including those from Amazon, Coca-Cola, and Alabama Power, as well as performances by cheerleaders, dance teams, and other local organizations. The parade was a vibrant celebration of community spirit and talent.

Birmingham Police Response

The Birmingham Police Department expressed gratitude to visitors, fans and the local community for their support during the 84th Amazon Magic City Classic.

Chief Michael Pickett highlighted the event’s success, noting it remains the largest HBCU event in the nation. “Our officers truly felt the positive energy and spirit from everyone who attended and participated in this year’s events,” he said.

The collaboration with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson County EMA was instrumental in ensuring a safe celebration. Pickett proudly reported no major incidents at Legion Field, emphasizing the city’s commitment to a secure and enjoyable weekend.

Birmingham Honors Renowned Artist Joe Minter with Prestigious City Award

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Birmingham Times
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Sculptor Joe Minter was honored during tthe City of Birmingham’s AWAKEN event, held annually during Magic City Classic Week. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times

With a theme that included the words “art,” “justice” and “creativity” the Birmingham Museum of Art was the ideal place on Friday to honor renowned sculptor Joe Minter.

The City of Birmingham’s AWAKEN event, held annually during Magic City Classic Week, was themed “Art as Resistance — Awakening Justice Through Creativity” and drew artists, art lovers, and community members to celebrate Minter’s indelible impact on the arts and the enduring role of art as a force for justice and resistance.

“There is something powerful about Joe Minter. We celebrate him because he is authentically Birmingham,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “We also celebrate him because he’s not afraid to tell the truth about our journey. Joe Minter knows that with creativity, with perseverance, with those things, you can rewrite your story. You can build a new village from the ground up. You can find a home.”

Woodfin presented Minter with the Putting People First Award which recognizes the sculptor’s pursuit of equity and justice.

For his part, Minter had little to say but allowed others to speak of his achievements. “I’m just a cry in the wilderness.” Minter said in brief remarks. “This is all I’m gonna say.”

Minter earned international acclaim for his profound and moving sculptural works that chronicle African American history and the ongoing struggle for Civil Rights. His was lauded for his unique artistic vision, forged from the materials and memories of Birmingham itself and has resonated with those seeking to understand the city’s past and envision a more just future.

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin presented Joe Minter with the Putting People First Award. (Sym Posey, The Birmingham Times)

His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C., and others.

Friday’s event featured a discussion panel of local and national artists that included, storyteller and craftivist Wilhelmina Thomas, visual artist Willie E. Williams, Jr. and arts administrator John Fields, senior director of UAB Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts.

Each shared stories of how Minter’s work has inspired their own creative journeys.

Gina Mallisham, the executive director of the Jefferson County Memorial Project, moderated the conversation and ended by thanking Minter for “30 years of witness, for transforming scrap metal into a sacred memory, for insisting that recognition matters. Your work doesn’t just document our history. It demands that we reckon with, and learn from it, and carry it forward.”

‘Real Progress’: Birmingham Schools Chief Gets Passing Grade from Board

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Birmingham Times
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The Birmingham School Board gave Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan a favorable review this week. (File)

dcwins.com

The Birmingham school board on Thursday gave Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan a favorable review in an evaluation that was heavily weighted to measure outcomes for students and the system overall.

School board member Mary Boehm, chair of the superintendent’s evaluation committee, said Sullivan met expectations when looking at measurable achievements in the district as well as more subjective criteria.

The board gave Sullivan an overall score of 3.3 on a 4-point scale.

Objective measurements, which accounted for 70 percent of the score, included progress tied to the system’s strategic plan, such as academic achievement, student well-being, staff effectiveness, customer service, and district accountability. More subjective measures in areas such as leadership and community relations accounted for the remaining 30 percent of the evaluation.

“This school board has a track record of focusing on results,” said Board President Jason Meadows. “There’s no denying that we have seen real progress in our schools under Dr. Sullivan’s leadership. Our students’ academic growth has been cited at the state and national level, and this evaluation reflects our confidence that we are absolutely moving in the right direction.”

Sullivan said he and the board share the same goals for Birmingham City Schools.

“We want to make sure all students can reach their full potential and achieve their dreams,” he said. “I appreciate the board’s confidence that we are heading in the right direction, and I am going to keep working as hard as I can to achieve the results we all want to see – not so that I can get good evaluations, but for the benefit of the students we serve.”

Sullivan is a product of Birmingham City Schools. He has served as superintendent since 2020 and has worked in the system for more than 25 years.

Magic City Classic 2025: Birmingham City Schools Principals Will Root for Former Students. With 1 Exception

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Birmingham Times
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Ramsay High School Principal Carolyn Russell-Walker will be Miss Magic City Classic at this year’s game. (Solomon Crenshaw Jr., For The Birmingham Times)

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr. | For The Birmingham Times

Ramsay High School Principal Carolyn Russell-Walker can be found anywhere in Legion Field during the Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola on Saturday, Oct. 25. “I sit everywhere,” she said. “I’ll sit in the box. I’ll sit in the stands. I’ll walk on the field.”

This year, Russell-Walker plans to spend some time in the royal court as she will be Miss Magic City Classic, a title she carries after being elected by the Alabama A&M University (AAMU) Birmingham Alumni Association. She earned her doctorate at AAMU after beginning her collegiate journey at that institution.

Russell-Walker obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and began teaching from Miles College in 2000 after initially studying at A&M. She then earned a master’s degree at Alabama State and an education specialist (Ed.S) degree at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

The Ramsay principal thus has room in her heart for the royal blue and white of the high school she has guided since 2020. She has love for former Ramsay students who align with either of the Classic’s competing institutions, and other institutions of high education that her former students attend.

“It’s dual,” she said of her loyalty. “I’m happy for [former students] and their family to be able to participate in collegiate athletics and to see their dream continue to unfold. I am excited because I had a chance to meet and know them personally.

“I will cheer for Alabama State when they’re not playing Alabama A&M, but I will cheer for my boys that play for Alabama State, if that makes sense,” Russell-Walker said. “I want to always have boys on both of those teams.”

Parker High School Principal Darrell Hudson is a proud alumnus of Alabama State University. (File)

“Representing Our Brand”

Parker High School Principal Darrell Hudson is a proud alumnus of Alabama State University Class of 1994. There is no question whether the ASU board member will be in attendance and who he supports. “But more importantly, I love to see not only the students on the football team, but in the band as well.”

Hudson joked that he’s supportive of former Parker students who wind up at rival Alabama A&M except on the last Saturday in October from 2:30 p.m. to about 6. “I’ll pick it back up after the game,” he mused. “I don’t care if they’re in the band, they’re cheerleaders, they’re the mascot. I don’t want to have anything to do with them until after that game.”

But a wry laugh revealed his deep Parker purple pride.

“I still support them, to be honest with you,” Hudson admitted. “Even when we (ASU) played UAB, we have several (former Parker) football players on the UAB football team. When those guys came over, even though I had all my Alabama State stuff on, and they hugged my neck.

“It’s a sense of joy but it’s bigger than that because, one, they’re able to go further their education and go to school free,” he added. “More importantly, they are not only students there, but they are representing our brand. It gives hope to other students, the underclassmen and the seniors here.”

Hudson hopes it’s easy for current Parker students to connect the dots. If someone who advanced from the school on Rev. Abraham Woods Jr. Boulevard can make it to college, maybe they can envision the same future for themselves.

“I love to see them – cheerleaders, band, trainers,” he said. “It’s just a very special day that last Saturday in October … I always tell them when I look in the football catalog and see [sophomore athlete] ‘Eric Tarrant, Parker High School, Alabama State University.’ It’s a sense of joy, a sense of pride. It just really warms my heart to know that they’re carrying our brand at that particular level.”

Rich History

Henry Pope, athletic director of Birmingham City Schools, has no direct ties to ASU or AAMU since he received his college education at Miles College. But he’s proud of every Birmingham City Schools product who is in college.

Pope expects to be at Legion Field for the Classic.

“I don’t go every year but we try to go, especially when we have a lot of our kids that are playing,” he said. “We have a few guys from Ramsay on their teams and a couple of guys from Wenonah. We try to get out there and see our guys. We like to see Birmingham City School kids.”

The Birmingham school system has a rich history of sending football players to top football programs. Among them are Ensley High product Cornelius Bennett, Jackson-Olin High alumnus David Palmer and Sam Shade, the Alabama A&M coach who came out of Wenonah High.

“Throughout the years, Birmingham has had a lot of talent and everyone comes to get our kids,” Ramsay coach Ronnie Jackson said. “It makes sense for you to come through here and get our kids because we definitely have talent here.”

But Pope’s pride doesn’t stop at the big schools. “We take pride in our kids going anywhere they have an opportunity to continue their education and to play the sport they love. Me being an HBCU kid myself, I definitely take pride in that.”

The 84th Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola pits the Alabama Agriculture & Mechanical Bulldogs against the Alabama State Hornets at 2:30 p.m. Central on Saturday, Oct. 25, at historic Legion Field. The game is available via livestream on ESPN+ and will air via tape delay on ESPNU at 10 p.m. Central.

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