Johnson and Starbucks Work "Magic" with Scholarship Donation

Earvin “Magic” Johnson, chairman and CEO of Johnson Development Corporation (JDC), along with representatives of Starbucks Coffee Company, presented $2,000 to Johnson C. Smith University on July 21, 2006. The donation will enhance the JCSU scholarship program for business majors.

The check presentation took place during the grand opening for the Urban Coffee Opportunities (UCO) joint venture Starbucks located on Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte.

“The Wilkinson Boulevard Starbucks is our first joint venture location in Charlotte. We are proud to have opened a store in this community,” said Johnson. “Through our relationship with Starbucks, we will continue to make a difference in communities across the country.”

Starbucks and JDC formed UCO in 1998 to develop stores in ethnically diverse neighborhoods across the country. The Charlotte coffeehouse is one of 99 UCO locations through the United States and the first one in North Carolina.

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Class Notes

Class of 1940

Vivian E. Irving has been inducted in the Raleigh Hall of Fame. Inductees were listed in the April 22, 2006 edition of The News & Observer. Irving, along with her father Charles Irving, Sr. was noted for their advocacy on behalf of social justice, as well as for their service as community leaders in the civil rights movement for most of the 20th century.

Class of 1947

"Unveiling A Life," the Winona Lee Fletcher Collection is on display in the Center of Excellence for the Study of Kentucky African Americans at Kentucky State University. Dr. Fletcher's theater work includes directing, costuming, designing, producing, and acting. Her collection includes both a theatre series and teaching series, publications, photographs, drawings, posters, speeches, audio-visual material, and museum and textile pieces. She was honored for her 27 years of teaching at Kentucky State University and 16 years at Indiana University.

Class of 1962

Shirley Vaughn-Hammond has published a Christian book titled Glory! Glory! Pieces of God's Story. To purchase a copy of the book online, visit the website www.thegloryplace.com (type the book title in the box), or call toll free, 1-800-381-2665, Ext. 109.

Class of 1963

Glenn Chavis was presented with the "Walsh Award" for his volunteer work and history research for the new African American Exhibit, as well as donating artifacts for the exhibit. The event was held on May 23, 2006, at the High Point, NC Museum. The award is given to volunteers that contribute the most to the museum on an annual basis.

Class of 1968

The Rev. Dr. Beverly G. Rose, who is the assistant vice chancellor of Student Affairs at Winston-Salem State University, was invited to speak at the 41st annual NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on May 20, 2006. Rose, a native of Charlotte, is also an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church.

Class of 1971

On May 2, 2006, Vennie Dease-Moore lectured at the Hobcaw House, Georgetown, S.C., about her latest book, Home: Portraits of the Carolina Coast. The book, available for purchase at Hobcaw House, Harborwalk Books and Litchfield Books, chronicles Dease-Moore's field research along the coast through journal entries, poems and black-and-white photographs. The book also features contributions from renowned Low-country author William Baldwin.

Class of 1972 and 1976

Krystle Coles, the daughter of Vanessa Coles ' 76 and William "Bill" Coles ' 72, recently became a member of the Charlotte Bobcats Cheerleading Team.

Class of 1973

Lawrence Everett received his doctorate of education (Ed.D) from Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J on May 8, 2006.

Class of 1977

Marilyn Moore Watkins celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary to Sam Watkins on June 29, 2006.

Class of 1978

Dr. Emanuiel Cooper has joined the staff of CareSouth Carolina at its Bennettsville site. He holds professional memberships with the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, South Carolina Medical Society, American Chemical Society, and American Red Cross. Cooper brings to CareSouth more than 23 years of combined experience in many broad based competencies.

Attorney Larry D. Hall, candidate for N.C. House District 29, won the primary election and received the endorsement of the N.C. Association of Educators PAC. Hall has been active in the Durham community for over 20 years.

Class of 1980

Marla Rae Davis recently served as a panelist for Tavis Smiley's Covenant with Black America Town Hall Tour held in Philadelphia, PA. The Covenant with Black America is a collection of essays written by African Americans and examines such issues as education, healthcare and economic development. Ms. Davis is the Chief of Staff for the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and is a radio talk-show host on WURD-900 AM in Philadelphia.

Vivian Patrick gave a presentation on Career Guidance and Development Facilitation, "Working Hand-in-Hand," at the 2006 South Carolina Business Summit for S.C. educators. Patrick is a guidance counselor at Cheraw High School in Cheraw, S.C.

Class of 1981

The Southern Faith, Labor, and Community Alliance Conference will be held July 27 - 29, 2006, in Memphis, Tenn. The conference is open to all who want to work together for social and economic justice. Elders who helped to fashion the 1968 Sanitation/King Movement in Memphis will gather with union organizers, labor activists, clergy, and people of faith. For more information about the conference, contact Dr. J. Herbert Nelson at (901) 678-2789, jhnelson@memphis.edu, or visit www.wordandworld.org.

Class of 1989

Kim Jones is the site coordinator for East Mecklenburg Communities in Schools program, a nonprofit organization that provides services to at-risk students in 24 Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. This academic year marks the twentieth anniversary of CIS in Charlotte. Jones has been at her post for four years, overseeing 65 students in a job that combines social work, teacher, and mother figure.

Lynnette H. Harris married Hugh D. Scott ('90) on April 28, 2006. The couple will be residing in the Philadelphia, Pa. area.

Class of 1993
Juana Jordan, who spent more than six years of her journalism career as a business reporter and columnist with the Tallahassee Democrat in Florida, has recently joined Moore Consulting Group, Inc., a Tallahassee public relations firm. The firm provides marketing, advertising and graphic design services. As one of its directors, Jordan manages a team of account executives and works with the firm's larger clients, helping them with their communication needs.

Class of 1995

Marico Best, founder and director of the 4th and 1 Striders Track Club, formed a summer track and field program for youngsters ages 6 through 18 in Columbus County, N.C.

Brian L. Johnson, Ph.D, was recently promoted to associate professor of English at Claflin University in Orangeburg, S.C. Johnson was named founding Director of Jonathan Jasper Wright Institute for the Study of Southern African American History, Culture and Policy. He also received a contract with Rowman and Littlefield Publishers for the publication of his second book, W.E.B. Du Bois, Agnostic. Johnson is co-organizing a conference in September 2006 titled, “Christ in Contemporary Cultures” with keynote speaker Dr. Cornel West.

Class of 1996

Chrysanthemum T. Hill recently received her master's degree in school counseling from Clemson University.

Class of 1999

Cheris Hodges has been named best Genesis Press romance author for 2005 by Shades of Romance magazine. Hodges, features editor at The Charlotte Post, was one of Shades of Romance's award winners from romance, fiction and self-publishing houses, short story authors and poets.

Class of 2002

Ebony Copeland received a Master of Social Work degree from Howard University. Copeland also gave birth to her first child, Camille Simone Nesbit,
on January 13, 2006,.

Shayla Jackson married Marc Ward on July 1, 2006, in Virginia Beach, Va. The couple will reside in New Jersey.

Edward A. Johnson received his Doctor of Medicine degree from East Carolina University on May 6, 2006. Johnson will complete his residency at Duke University in Durham, N.C.

Unique Morris recently earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Trinity College in Washington, DC. Morris now works as the Director of D.C. Programs for Junior Achievement.

Class of 2003

Kristin E. Hicks graduated on May 28, 2006 with a Master of Arts degree in communication with concentrations in public relations and entertainment from the California State University, Fullerton. Hicks' graduate research project focused on "Yvette Lee Bowser: The First African American Woman to Create and Develop a Prime Time Sitcom Series."

Class of 2004

Talece Y. Hunter received a Master of Arts degree in political science from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, June 9, 2006.

Class of 2005

Marcus Scurry has accepted a position with Alliance One Group of Philadelphia, Pa. This position will afford him the opportunity to enhance his skills and knowledge of the financial services industry.

Jonathan Perry is a spokesman and an advocate working to get people tested for HIV, more than five years after being diagnosed with the disease.

Class of 2006

John Fulton worked out with the Charlotte Bobcats NBA basketball team, and Bobby Bienaimee has practiced with the Anderson Heat (semi-pro basketball team). Bienaimee also ran drills with the Greek and Italian Scouts International basketball teams. He led the camp in scoring, averaging 22 points per game and seven rebounds per game.

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Two JCSU Employees Selected to Attend Conference

Dr. Denisha L. Hendricks, JCSU senior woman administrator, and Kristene Kelly ('02), sports information director, have been selected to participate in the NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females as announced by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.Hendricks is a native of Auburn, Ala. and serves as the university's senior woman administrator and coordinator of the health and human performance department.

Kelly is a native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and has been employed as the sports information director for the past four years.The NCAA Leadership Institute for Ethnic Minority Females was designed to address the critical shortage of senior-level women of color in athletics administration at NCAA member institutions and conference offices. The institute prepares diverse leaders through a 12-month leadership training and skills development experience.

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Alumni Deaths

Bobby J. Hill ('69), June 2006
Christine Sloan-Bryant ('60), May 2006
Ella M. Hood ('57), April 2006
Dr. Eric Ram ('59), May 2006
Mary Elizabeth Kelly ('65), May 2006
Lula Mae Edwards ('55), May 2006
Lawrence Frye ('59), unknown
Barbara Adams ('59), unknown
Rev. John D. Murdock ('48), June 2006
Nora Bell Grigg (Gooding) ('54), October, 2006
Cecile Need Stevens ('45), April 2006
Margaret R. Davidson ('47), July 2006

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SAVE THE DATE

Homecoming 2006
October 27-29, 2006
The Blake Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark Hotel)
555 South McDowell Street
Charlotte, NC 28204
Group # JC2026
704-348-4100 or 888-66-HOTEL (888-664-6835)

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2007 CIAA Basketball Tournament Room Reservation Information

It is the intent of the Office of Alumni Affairs to provide hotel accommodations for alumni interested in attending the 2007 CIAA tournament. Because of the high demands for rooms, and to give alumni the opportunity to participate, we are implementing a process for reserving rooms at our host hotel, , the Holiday Inn Center City, 230 College Street, Charlotte, NC.

Please complete the attached form, 2007 CIAA Room Application, and fax it to Billie Lotito, 704-334-9589, or email to lotitob@gfhotels.com. Each alumnus will be allowed to book a maximum of two rooms. A one night's stay plus tax of $146.42 non-refundable deposit will be charged to your credit card two weeks after booking. The deadline to make reservations is September 1, 2006.To get a copy of the room application, click here. Please note that reservations CANNOT be made via the Internet, or through the hotel's toll free number.

Once the block is full, you can call Barbara Massey ('81) at 919-872-5859, MASSEYBJ@BELLSOUTH.NET, or WWW.TRAVELSBYBARBARA.COM for assistance in finding hotel accommodations.

For more 2007 CIAA Tournament information go to: www.ciaatournament.org