Monday, August 31, 2009

No. 105

HOMECOMING NEWS

Just In Case You Didn't Know

When the Class of '80 gathers at our home by the sea, Oct. 23-25, please note that this isn't our official reunion. It's the 30th anniversary of our first Hampton homecoming. The official reunion isn't until Mother's Day weekend in May. So, if your funds are low and you need to make a choice, save up for May!

If you still plan on coming next month and you don't have a room, our best advice is to keep checking back with the area hotels or post a note here. That way, classmates who may be holding multiple rooms at the reduced rate, or those who are going to cancel their reservations, can offer them up to people who need accommodations.

If you are planning on attending homecoming, please leave a note in the comments section of this post so the reunion committee can start making plans for the hospitality suite.

CLASS NEWS

More Passings

Our class has been particularly hard hit by death this year. The latest person to lose a loved one is Elveeda Howell Dixon, whose father, Dr. Hannibal Howell Sr., passed recently. Dr. Howell's wake will be held this Thursday at Peebles Funeral Home in Suffolk, VA from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. His memorial service is scheduled for Friday at 12:30 p.m. at Hampton's Memorial Chapel. And his homegoing service will be held on Saturday at the Laurel Hill United Church of Christ at 8001 S. Quay Rd., Suffolk, VA 23457, also at 12:30 p.m.

Dr. Howell was a longtime HU physician. Cards and flowers can be sent to the Peebles Funeral Home at 1016 E. Washington St., Suffolk, VA 23434. Please keep Elveeda, her brother Hannibal and their family in prayer as they navigate through this difficult time. Elveeda can be reached at : chrisdix@erols.com.

Also, Cheryl Dunn Badger recently lost her beloved grandmother. Please keep Cheryl and her family in prayer.

Calendar Girl

Thanks to Dyanne Boone Baldwin for alerting UNews about the Hampton Roads calendar. Dyanne was selected to represent the '80s decade and looks good doing it. The calendar is published by the Montgomery County (MD) chapter of the NHAA. For ordering information contact Arthur Jackson at art_jackson@yahoo.com or at 301-580-6826.


Birthdays

Valerie Millsap Harrison, Sept. 2

Kelvin “Stone” Johnson, Sept. 17

Altamarie Burroughs, Sept. 18

Mary Morrow, Sept. 18

Andre Rush, Sept. 22

Danita Locks Smith, Sept. 23

Rosalind Murray-Port, Sept. 24

Gayle Burnett Heyer, Sept. 25

Karla Morris Holmes, Sept. 26

Renee Allen, Sept. 27

Vincent Bayyan, Sept. 27

October

Donna Thomas Keating, Oct. 13

Alma Collins, Oct. 20


PHOTO GALLERY


Here's a shot of Bo Layson, Mary Radden Hicks and myself shortly after my dad's homegoing service. We still fly! :-)






Sunday, August 16, 2009

Thank You


On behalf of my family I want to thank all of you for the kind words of sympathy, the cards and phone calls that helped sustain us during this last week since my father's passing. A special thank you to the reunion class committee. The floral arrangement was absolutely beautiful and the donation to Save Africa's Children was very much appreciated.

I am also thankful that I had some of you here in Cincinnati to lean on. Local sisters Bonita Layson and Nicole Lockette both attended the service and Mary Radden Hicks flew in from Richmond to be with me. Those collective gestures meant so much.

Thanks ever so much. I love you all madly.

xoxmik