No. 106

HOMECOMING NEWS

It's Almost That Time!

Homecoming '09 is almost here and from what I'm hearing it looks as though it will be well attended by the Class of '80.

If you don't have a place to stay I'm told that the class hotel, the Crowne Plaza, is oversold. There are other options but as you know the prices have been jacked for homecoming. If anyone is giving up their room, please let me know ASAP so I can post it.

The hospitality room will be at the CP and open to the classes of '79 (please let them enter first since they'll probably need some assistance moving about--OK, that was wrong!), '80 and '81. The days of the free and flowing drinks with Andre at the bar are gone as we were not allowed to bring in our own liquor this time. There will, however, be a buffet dinner setup for those who are hungry. The room will open up at 7 p.m.

The Saturday night jam at Strawberry Banks will go from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. and again the cost is $20. That's a bargain for the fun you'll have. And speaking of money, the reunion committee is hopeful that classmates will make good on their pledges during this time. Class treasurer Michael Byrd was looking into different options to collect funds during homecoming weekend. So, bring your dancing shoes and your check book.

CLASS NEWS

Our Own Cover Girl!

Congratulations to T'Leen Moody Campbell whose recent accomplishments were chronicled in Fayette Woman magazine. T'Leen was among the first five women to graduate from Clayton State Fayette's MBA program! Check out the article here:
http://fayettewoman.com/women-graduate-clayton-state-fayettes-mba-program.html

She's Taught Them Well

Congratulations to Brenda Barnett Torrence, who attended a special book signing with journalist Gwen Ifill with a special guest. One of Brenda's second grade students from Rose Hill Elementary, Alicia Moya Dominquez, won a writing contest and the opportunity to have her prize presented to her by Ms. Ifill. The event was hosted by the Northern Va. chapter of AKA and Alicia, who was tops in the elementary school division, won a $100 savings bond and other goodies. Tell her to hang on to that Bren!

Birthdays

Donna Thomas Keating, Oct. 13

Karen Collins Avery, Oct. 20

Carleton Badger, Nov. 1

Phyllis Ingram Luciano, Nov. 2

Angela Goode, Nov. 2

Adriana “Peaches” Bethel-Hibbler, Nov. 18

T’Leen Moody Campbell, Nov. 18

Joyce Cole, Nov. 20

Alphonso Holloman, Nov. 23

Andre DeBose, Nov. 26

Julie Loftin McKay, Nov. 27

Carl Coleman, Nov. 28

Darlene Fuller Parham, Nov. 28

HAMPTON NEWS

Marching Pirates Need Your Help

We all know how good our band is, now the world needs to know. The Pirates need your vote to attend and compete in the 8th Annual Honda Battles of the Bands at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Jan. 30, 2010. Click this link to vote: http://www.hondabattleofthebands.com/

An Ogre Needs Our Prayers

Many of you might know or remember Willie Marshall from the Class of '79. Willie has recently been diagnosed with cancer and started chemotherapy treatments today. Willie is asking for your prayers as he faces the toughest challenge of his life. He's not taking calls but you can reach out to him through his friends--Billy and Connie Copeland--at 757-825-2490.

Email For Life

If you'd like to get a Hampton U. email address, which would allow those of you on Facebook to be part of the Hampton network, all you gotta do is this. Click this link and sign up: http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/membersonly/HPT/permemail/permemail.cgi
Check it out!

Sept. 4

Arrangements for Russell Murray

Here are the homegoing plans for Russell Murray, husband of Dot Lee-Murray.

Wake

September 10, 2009

4-8PM

St. James Church

588 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

Newark, NJ 07104

Funeral

September 11, 2009

10AM

St. James Church

588 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd

Newark, NJ 07104

Send Cards to:

Dorothy Lee-Murray & Family

21 E. Burgess Drive

Piscataway, NJ 08854

Do not send flowers to the home address. Dot is allergic to flowers. Fruit baskets are preferred.

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! :-)

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

July 16, 2009

Classmates, the death angel has been busy this summer. UNews is sorry to report that Alfonso Holloman lost his dad, Alfred Lee Holloman, last week. Mr. Holloman died from complications of a debilitating stroke he suffered nine years ago.

Al would personally like to thank those of you who knew about his father's illness and showered him with love and concern.

"During these past nine years I have learned many lessons," Al says. "Among them are the healing powers of love and the strength in collective thought. I wastched how my father responded to love when when he couldn't express himself through words."

"Death inevitably causes us to reflect and contemplate. I am challenging myself to give and recieve love and want you to know that I am trying even if it seems otherwise. "

Funeral arrangements for Mr. Holloman are as follows:
Wake: Friday, July 17 from 6-9 p.m.
Funeral: Saturday, July 18 at 10 a.m.

Both services will be held at the Star of Bethleham Baptist Church, 304 Spring St., Ossining, NY 10562.

july 9, 2009

Updates

Classmates, I received a note from our brother Bruno Lee this morning informing UNews that his young son Christopher has passed on. Christopher died on July 1 and his funeral will be held 9 a.m. tomorrow in Newark at:

James E. Churchman Jr. Funeral Home

345- 13th Avenue,

Newark, NJ 07103

973.242.8454

973.242.2566 - fax

Bruno asks that we all keep he and his family in prayer as they transition through this difficult time.

On a lighter note, Leah Crocker writes:

The Hampton bond is as strong as ever! Sharon Ford-Bell is in from Germany visiting us in the ATL!!! Michael Byrd found out she was here and invited us over for a 4th of July celebration at his house. Among those attending were: Renee Allen and my daughter Lindsay Watson (junior at Hampton) along with some other HBCU friends and of course our honorary Hamptonian, Gina Byrd We ate way too much food but had a great time laughing and reminiscing. That Hampton bond is amazing!!! Looking forward to our next guest, Daphne Lockett Henderson!!!!! August 21st!!!

Michael Byrd's Money Matters

Classmates: As we enter the 2009-2010 Hampton University Academic Year (1 July 2009-30 June 2010), we also enter our Reunion Year. Our class leader Andre Debose suggested we all set aside $5 a week during our class meeting at our 25th Reunion. We are 41 weeks from our 30th Reunion. If you have put away that $5 week, you would have a little over $1,000 set aside for HU. For those of us who work for corporations, you maybe able to get the company to match your gift to HU. Below, you can see how to navigate the Hampton University web page to see if your company is listed on the matching gift list. Either type the letter "A" to see all the companies participating or type the actual company name. There are over 12,000 companies listed.

Let me know what you donated during the year and if your corporation matched your gift. Those who want to participate send your check (Class of 1980) along with your company matching form to Mrs. Harriett Davis, Office of Development, Hampton University, Hampton, VA 23668. HU will process the company form directly to your corporation for the match. If you able to get a match, you get credit for the whole amount. But, please make sure that your company match gets to Hampton in Academic Year 2010 which is our reunion year. Some companies match $1 for $1 while others may possibly match up to $3 for $1.

Type into the browser: http://www.hamptonu.edu/ then click on the Giving to Hampton link;
then you link to: http://givingto.hamptonu.edu/ Then click on the Giving to Hampton link http://givingto.hamptonu.edu/giving_to_hampton.cfm then hit Matching Gifts
type in your company/corporation to see if they participate.

Simply contact your corporate point of contact to see how to proceed.

No. 104

CLASS NEWS

A Boone Is Headed To The UK

Congrats to Christine Elizabeth Boone, daughter of Kenny and Francine Boone, who recently graduated from Yale. Christine landed a job in Scotland at the University of Edninburgh's neurology lab. She'll be attending medical school next year.

The Boones hosted a celebration for Christine in Philly in May. David Stith, Brett Pulley and Pam and Kelvin Johnson were in attendance.

Reunited

Stephanie Allen Gowin and her family hooked up with Miki Turner last weekend in L.A. Steph's oldest son, Scott, will be attending the USC film school in the fall and the family came down for his orientation weekend.

Birthdays

July

Donna Wilds, July 2
Marcia Fields Milton, July 6
Donna Yancy Blanks, July 6
Joyce Wilson, July 6
Valerie Whittlessey, July 8
Chan Phillips, July 10
Charlene Alexander-Taylor, July 10
Margaret Colden-Stanfield, July 10
Rhonda Bush, July 10
Wanda James, July 16
Chuck Dortch, July 18
Kenny Boone, July 24

August

Brenda Mallory, Aug. 6
Yvette Lee Davis, Aug. 9
Gregory "Trammel" Groce
Leonard Chester, Aug. 18
Lauren Jones, Aug. 19
Pam Jones Johnson, Aug. 20
Janice Tyson, Aug. 24
Karen Randolph, Aug. 26
Donna Porter, Aug, 29

END NOTE

As you all know we lost Michael Joe Jackson last Thursday. Mike's "Off the Wall" LP (not CD!!) dropped during our junior year. What was your favorite jam?