Ride Sharing

If anyone is flying into Norfolk Friday night between 7-9 p.m., please let UNews know. Several classmates are looking to share the cost of transport to the Crowne Plaza.

Congrats to Lil Kim!

Congratulations to Kim Bullock Williams who will be honored with the 2009 Education Award from the Newport, R.I. branch of the NAACP. Dr. Bullock will receive the award at a black-tie dinner on Nov. 7 at the Hyatt Regency/Goat Island.

20oct 09

HOMECOMING NEWS

It's hard to believe that 30 years ago we were preparing for our last homecoming as seniors at "Hampton Institute"! We hope that you will return to Homecoming '09 to re-connect with classmates and reminisce about the old (good and bad) times. Please note that the official Ubiquity Homecoming Headquarters will be the Crowne Plaza - Hampton Marina (formerly the Radisson, just across the bridge from HU). Please join us in the Hospitality Suite Friday evening starting at 7:00pm! Bring something old and something new to share at the Hospitality Suite.

After the South Carolina State game (and perhaps a nap), the action continues at the world famous Strawberry Banks Saturday night. Ubiquity, Ogre Phi Ogre III (Class of '79) and Eminence (Class of '81) are planning the old school party (with a new twist) that will yield all of the fun and none of the drama from back in the day!

Andre DeBose, class leader

Details For REO's Dad's Homecoming

The Memorial Service for Richard Owen, Rhonda's father, is on Friday, October 9, 2009, at 11:00 a.m., at James H. Hunter Funeral Home, 126 Ridge Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712.

Condolences can be sent to:

Mildred Owens

2109 Greenwood Avenue

Neptune, New Jersey 07754

(mother of deceased)

Rhonda Owen-Smith

2916 Old Court Road

Pikesville, Maryland 21208

(daughter of deceased)

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