Greetings- This week’s newsletter is going to be shorter. I’ve come out of retirement, and have taken a lovely part-time job as a food preparer or food prep. I’m one of two workers: we prepare foods for cooking, and two other ladies, one who is the owner, cooks it! It is a lovely home-spun family restaurant called “Madea’s,” located on James Road and Overton Crossing in Memphis. Since I’m only there three days- off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (because they’re closed)- I have my longest day on Saturday, this way I get to still go to church. At first, I was to work on Sunday, too, but God’s hands were in it from the beginning. There are enough people to do the Sunday work, so I get to go to church! Whenever you’re in Memphis, around 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., come in and enjoy some good soul food with me at Madea’s. Everything’s made fresh daily; there are no left overs, ever! Happy birthday this week to my sister and my best friend, Irene Harvery, of Jamestown. She’s celebrating beginning on her day, which was on Tuesday, May 21. You go girl! You are still looking good, and like we always say it, “we always will!” If there are others celebrating at this fence, hope yours is all that it can be! We are praying for our sick and those asking for prayer: Jennie Stewart; Joseph Heaston Sr.; Isaiah Burton, Sr. and family; Ruth Alston; Louise Mason; Darlene Alston; Nadine Granderson; Mary Ballard; Rudolph Boykins; Katarene Harber; Gladys Miller and family; Minster Pink Sherrill Jr.; Ruby Coe; Jessie Lawson; Flossie Woods; Beaulah Wakefield; Doris King; Connie and Christine Brown; David and Charlene Sneed; Carlotta Jones; Eula Culbreath and family; Menola Holland; Wayne, Jerry, Robert and Darcus Smith; Percy and Allie White; Thelma Nicoles and family; Andrew Jackson and family; “Pop” and Ella Jones and family; Johnnie Thompson; Ruth Griffin; and Mary Burton and Annette Burton. The alumnus of George R. Ellis are planning a train trip from Memphis down to the “Big Easy,” New Orleans, next year. For more information, you may contact Jessie Cooke and Calvin “Scooter” Butler. It’s time again for yearly dues, which are only $25, for Jamestown Community Health Organization (JCHO). Contact either treasurer Mary Burton, assistant treasurer Jesse Cooke, or president Rev. Pearl Andrews, as the monies are sorely needed to go towards the upkeep of Dickens Cemetery, college scholarship funds and, especially, to enable JCHO to erect a badly needed meeting facility. This is all for now. Once again, congratulations to all of our graduates: Xavier Andrews from U.T. Knoxville, son of the reverands Romel and Pearl Andrews; Quineshia Robinson, from Craigmont High School, daughter of Beverly Sherrill Cobbs Robinson; and Sherrie Williams, from Covington, daughter of Debra Williams, also of Covington. Congratulations also to Kenny King, formerly of Jamestown, now of Los Angeles, granddaughter of LaRue Albritton of Jamestown; on May 11, she received her Juris Doctorate in Baton Rouge, La. The lovely home of Jolly Corteria club member, Katarene Harber of Jamestown, was the place for the club’s May meeting, on Friday at 1 p.m. A lovely repast was enjoyed by all, except for members Annette Lake and Dollie Boykins whose absence was missed. The club presented toiletries to Covington Manor earlier in the week. June 8 will be JCHO’s health fair at Carey Chapel AME Church, Jamestown, starting at 10 a.m. Free blood pressure screenings, as well as other healthful information, will be offered. There will also be a “grocery giveaway” that day; the JCHO members are selling tickets for $1. Contact any of them for your tickets and hopefully we’ll see you at the health fair! The community picnic will be the last Saturday in May (annual Memorial Day picnic) at 10 a.m., also at Carey Chapel AME, Jamestown. Foods will be sold at the picnic. Please come and help our community’s effort. There will be fun and games for all ages. Contact president Rev. Pearl Andrews, all JCHO events. All for now, remember, “Being nice pays off big time, plus it’s free!” Until Next Time--

Staff and service recipients went to: the Sportsplex to get some exercise and to workout; the library to check out some books and to socialize; and then, the National Day of Prayer in front of the courthouse. Friday May 3, we cleaned the center, and then we watched a DVD of movies. Some of our former service recipients, Terry and Jerry Bouwman, and their house parent, Ms. Edith B., came by to see us. It was good to see them. On Monday, May 6, service recipients delivered Meals on Wheels to elderly shut-in residents. We also played a game of Wheel of Fortune. The staff and service recipients want to thank David’s parents, Mr. and Ms. Strahan, for the donated supplies for the Friday, May 10 bean dinner. Different people from the community and county came out for the bean dinner, including service recipients from the Ripley center. Everyone had a nice time. The bean dinner was greatly appreciated. We will be doing it again in the fall. The staff and service recipients played different games on Friday, like UNO and Operation. Staff and service recipients delivered Meals on Wheels on Monday, May 13. Afterwards, we went to Cobb-Parr Park and had snacks. We played a game of Arthur on the computer, and also went to the Sportsplex to get some exercise and work out. Staff and service recipients decorated the cafeteria for Heather Wright’s birthday on Tuesday, May 14. We want to thank Heather Wright’s grandmother for the delicious pizza, cake,and ice cream. We want to officially welcome Ms. Gwen Clark as site supervisor, here at the Tipton County Adult Developmental Center. Both centers will be going to the health fair in Halls, at the Lauderdale County Commission on Aging, on Friday, May 17. Staff and service recipients are looking forward to playing putt-putt golf in Memphis on Wednesday, May 29. Until next time, Floyd Columbus.

Carlos Williams, who graduated earlier this week from Covington High School, has received his fair share of media attention the last 12 months. He turned some heads at a couple of national amateur baseball player showcases last summer, committed to play baseball at Ole Miss a few months ago and has been written about on some national websites. But last week he received the most prestigious media attention an athlete can get when he was featured in Sports Illustrated. “I didn't even know about it,” Williams said with a smile. “(Teammate) T.A. (Watson) called and said, 'Did you know you are in Sports Illustrated?' I thought he was kidding.” He wasn't. In the May 20 edition of Sports Illustrated, Williams was included in the "Faces in the Crowd" feature, which highlights up-and-coming high school and college athletes. He was honored for setting the state record in stolen bases (185) and consecutive steals (121) and the national record for being hit by a pitch (60). The article also noted that he was a wide receiver and defensive back for the Covington football team that advanced to the state title game last fall. “I definitely look at Sports Illustrated,” Williams said. “Seeing my face in there is different … It's real special to be in the same magazine as guys like LeBron (James) and Kobe (Bryant).” Williams hit .446 this year with seven doubles, six triples, a homer and 18 RBIs. He also stole 42 bases in 32 games and had a .548 on-base percentage. He will attend a New York Yankees showcase camp in Tampa from June 3-5. Covington head coach David Sage said there's a chance Williams will be chosen in the Major League Baseball draft, which will be held next month. Williams said, if he's drafted, it's “about 50-50” whether he will go to Ole Miss or enter the professional ranks.