ALLEN, Harold Nelson,
60, died March 17, 2012.

BANTHER, Richard
Larry, 66, died March 15, 2012.

BARDOILLE ,
Rudolph, 78, died March
15, 2012. C.L. Page
Mortuary, Inc.

BASINET, Buddy Alan,
47, died March 15, 2012.

BECKHAM, Leona
Will, 93, died March 17,
2012.

BERRY, Bernard Israel,
67, died March 19, 2012.

BOOTH, Emory Edsel,
Jr., 60, died March 13,
2012.

BROWN, Susie, 73, died
March 16, 2012.

CAMPBELL-FINN,
Desiree, died March 16,
2012.

CARBONI, Delores
Ann, 89, died March 18,
2012.

CARSON, Stephen
Howard, 59, died March
15, 2012.

CRANK, Carol Louise
Marcy, 57, died March
14, 2012.

CREWS, Edward L., 68,
died March 17, 2012.

DAVIS, Ronald Lee, 72,
died March 18, 2012.

DESMORE, Frances
Virginia, died March 17,
2012.
DOUGLAS, Laura M.,
92, died March 15, 2012.

EDWARDS, Anne
Maureen, 59, died March
16, 2012.

FUSCO, Claude E., III,
31, died March 15, 2012.

GLISSON, Ruby, 91,
died March 19, 2012.

HENDERSON, Betty
Jean, 78, died March 17,
2012.

HENDERSON, Baby
Girl Elaina Mae, 3
months, died March 14,
2012.

JACKSON, Julia H., 80,
died March 20, 2012.

JEFFERSON, Carolyn
Joyce, 61, died March 17,
2012.

JOHNSON, Erving J, Jr.,
75, died March 17, 2012.

LENZEN, Adeline, 99,
died March 18, 2012.

LYKINS, Harold B., 54,
died March 14, 2012.

MANGHAM, Virginia
Ann Jenny, 64, died
March 17, 2012.

MURPHY, Edward D.,
92, died March 18, 2012.

PAIGE, Catherine, 75,
died Marcy 18, 2012.

PARKER, Willie Clyde,
Sr., died Marcy 16, 2012.

PATRICK, Patricia Pat,
81, died March 20, 2012.

ROBERTS, Edward
Moss, Jr., 92, died March
17, 2012.

RYAN, Tim, died March
17, 2012.

SCOTT, Leonard
Bernard, Sr., died March
19, 2012.

SIMMONS, Charles
Lee, Jr., died March 18,
2012.

SOLOMON, Marlene
Stacea, 20, died March
18, 2012.

SPEARMAN, Ronald
Rock, 80, died March 16,
2012.

STUMPF, Harry, died
March 17, 2012.

THOMAS, Ruben
Howard, III, 24, died
March 18, 2012.

THOMAS, Willie A., 55,
died March 16, 2012.

C.L. Page Mortuary, Inc.
TURNER, Lyn E., 63,
died March 19, 2012.

VANCE, Gino, died
March 17, 2012.

WANLESS, Muriel, 91,
died March 18, 2012.

WILSON, Deborah L.,
58, died March 20, 2012.

ZARRELLA, Anthony
D., 80, died March 17, 2012

To view our entire paper and view the latest updates, please click here to launch our e-EDITION!

State Representative Willye F. Dennis was born in Jacksonville, Duval County, Fla., March 14, 1926. She was a Democratic Member of the Florida House of Representatives’ 15th District, 1993-99. She resigned in 1999. She was a delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida in 1996. She is a member of the NAACP and Delta Sigma Theta.

Arrangements are entrusted to: Lewis-Smith Mortuary, Inc. (6665 New Kings Road, Jacksonville, Florida 32209).

Viewing/Visitation: Friday, March 17, 2012, St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church (3738 Winton Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32208) from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Services: Saturday, March 18, 2012, Bethel Baptist Institutional Church (215 Bethel Baptist Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202), 11:00 a.m.

Angela Spears has been elevated to the role of Special Assistant to the Mayor for Community Engagement. In that role, Spears will assist Mayor Brown in his efforts to
engage citizens throughout Jacksonville on key community priorities. In July 2011, Spears was appointed as the mayor’s Deputy Director of Communications. She previously worked as a
television anchor and reporter in Jacksonville and in Waco, Texas.

During her journalism career, Spears won Associated Press awards for her reporting. She has also worked as a community liaison for DaVita Dialysis and a public information officer for the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. Spears graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned a journalism degree in 1995.

ALLISON, Ollie E., 92, died March 7, 2012.

BAILEY, Walter Warren, 64, died March 8, 2012.

BASS-CRISSMAN, Yvonne A., 58, died March 8, 2012.

BELL, David J., 46, died March 7, 2012.

BRUNNER, Larry Lee, died March 7, 2012.

BUSH, Thomas Lee, Sr., 82, died March 9, 2012.

COLE, Robert A., 67, died March 11, 2012.

CUMBERBATCH, Doreen, died March 10, 2012.

FISHER, Bruce Ira, 51, died March 7, 2012.

FOBBS, Ruth Mae, died March 7, 2012.

HARRISON, George, died March 8, 2012.

KING, Doris Holden, died March 8, 2012.

HOOPER, Barbara Lynn, 52, died March 7, 2012.

HUCKLEBERRY, Merdella M., 61, died March 7, 2012.

KELSEY, Virginia, died March 6, 2012.

LEVY, Jermaine Elliott, died March 7, 2012.

MAINOR, Ruby, died March 7, 2012.

MARTIN, Lakia N., died March 6, 2012.

McNEELY, Mary, 87, died March 9, 2012.

MERCER, Larry Don, 61, died March 8, 2012.

MIXON, Bonnie, 61, died March 6, 2012.

MUNDEN, Mildred Marie Dickinson, 85, died March 9, 2012.

NEWSOM, Delores Shields, died March 8, 2012.

PADGETT, Juanita Sellars, died March 9, 2012.

PERRY, Claude A., died March 9, 2012.

RHEUARK, Leland, 62, died March 6, 2012.

SANDERS, Joann Jones, 76, died March 6, 2012.

SCOTT, Teresa Eleanor, died March 8, 2012.

SHABAZZ, Malik Ali, died March 8, 2012.

THOMAS, Mary, 54, died March 8, 2012.

THOMAS, Reginald Leroy, died March 9, 2012.

TODD, Michael Ray, 52, died March 6, 2012.

UNDERWOOD, Landon Roosevelt, 75, died March 9, 2012.

WHITEHEAD, Rupert, Sr., 75, died March 6, 2012.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Certified Concealed Weapon License (Permit) Course Satisfies Florida State Statute 790.06 for Application to Lawfully Carry a Concealed Weapon. 1 Hour Course, $35.00 by Appt. in Callahan, Nassau County, FL. Call Gary Belson (904) 491-8358 for Information.

“Certified Basic Pistol & Advanced Defense Tactics and How Not to Go To Jail Course,” 8 Hour Course Saturday, March 17, 2012 from 7:45 AM to 5:00 PM in Callahan, Nassau County, FL. CWP Training Certificate. Call Gary Belson (904) 491-8358 for information.

INVITATION TO NEGOTIATE #1
The First Coast Workforce Development, Inc., (DBA WorkSource), will release an Invitation-to- Negotiate on Monday, March 12, 2012 for Professional Employer Organizations to provide Human Resource and payroll/benefits services to be performed July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 with an annual option to renew for up to four years.

A copy of the request will be available beginning Monday, March 12, 2012 at http://www.worksourcefl.com/partner_vendor/request_for_proposals.aspx or at 1845 Town Center Blvd., Suite 250, Fleming Island, FL 32003. For additional information contact: D. Nevison 904/213-3800, x-2010. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 11:00 AM (EST) April 16, 2012.

INVITATION TO NEGOTIATE #2
The First Coast Workforce Development, Inc., (DBA WorkSource), will release an Invitation-to-Negotiate on Monday, March 12, 2012 for Disaster Staffing Services to be performed July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2013 with an annual option to renew through 2017.

A copy of the request will be available beginning Monday, March 12, 2012 at http://www.worksourcefl.com/partner_vendor/request_for_proposals.aspx or at 1845 Town Center Blvd., Suite 250, Fleming Island, FL. 32003. For additional information contact: D. Nevison 904/213-3800, x-2010. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 11:00 A.M. (EST) APRIL 2, 2012.

Tiara Pool, 21, of Jacksonville, was found dead in her apartment in July 2010 after Jacksonville Fire and Rescue responded to a call when a friend went to her home and found her there.

Tiara was the mother of two sons. Her husband, a Navy Petty Officer, Michael Pool was deployed on a ship. Tiara was described by her sister-in-law as kind, ambitious and very smart. She was taking classes and truly concentrating on school.

David Sparre, 20, of Waynesville, Georgia was found guilty of the murder. In fact, one month after a jury convicted him of first-degree murder, Sparre wrote a letter to his ex-girlfriend, stating that he planned the murder.

According to the letter, he travelled to Jacksonville with murder on his mind. He selected Tiara after responding to her Craiglist ad. In his letter, he stated that he stabbed her 89 times. “After she quit fighting, I titled her head and sliced her throat.”

Sparre said he had killed before as a gang initiation rite. However, he had never stabbed anyone and so he thought it would be a good rush, so he did it.
The jury voted 12-0 in favor of the death penalty for Sparre.

He will face the death penalty after the judge completes the sentencing phase of his trial at the end of March 2012.

All the stops were pulled out last week when Britian’s Prince Harry visited The Bahamas and Jamaica for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Both countries are a part of the English speaking Caribbean and were until the 1970’s still under British rule.

The Prince had the opportunity to take part in several cultural events and followed in the footsteps of his mother, the late Princess Diana, by making it a priority to visit with the youth of the nations. Locals and tourists lined the streets and participated in several nationally recognized events to honor the young royal.

ALFORD, Donald, Jr., 56, died February 29, 2012.
BERRIAN, Robert, 72, died March 4, 2012.
BOLDEN, Mildred Lee, died March 5, 2012.
BRYAN, Dean, 44, died March 4, 2012.
BYNUM, Sonya L., died March 5, 2012.
CLOER, Cheryl Ann, 59, died March 9, 2012.
COBB, Gary, Jr., died March 2, 2012.
CULVER, Herman Junior, 70, died March 2,  2012
DANIELS, Phyllis Abrams, died March 5, 2012.
DELEGAL, Evelyn, 75, died March 3, 2012.
DRIGGERS, Stanley, died March 6, 2012.
FOX, Russell Wayne, 8, died March 4, 2012.
GAMBLE, Catherine, 77, died March 2, 2012.
GARDNER, Early B., 87, died March 2, 2012.
GRAMM, Christine D.,72, died March 3, 2012.
HAGER, John, 77, died March 2, 2012.
HARGES, Julia E., 78, died March 5, 2012.
HARRIS, Gladys V., died March 4, 2012.
HARTUNG, Jeffrey Brock, 34, died March 4, 2012.
HORNER, Mary L., 76, died March 4, 2012.
HUGHES, Lawrence Monroe, died February 29, 2012.
JACKSON, Courtney Ann, died March 3, 2012.
JOHNSON, Sylvia Juanita, 70, died March 2,2012.
KEEPLER, Tony, died March 1, 2012.
McDOWELL, JoAnn Lee, died March 2, 2012.
McFARLAND, Sherman  P., Sr., 81, died March 4,   2012.
MOODY, Helen, 85, died March 1, 2012.
NEWTON, William Billy, Jr., 51, died March 1, 2012.
POTEE, Cressie Mae, died March 1, 2012.
READER, Jack T., died March 4, 2012.
RIVERA, Eric, 37, died March 2, 2012.
ROGERS, James S. Steve, 59, died March 4, 2012.
ROY, Jeannine T., 82, died March 1, 2012.
SCHOLZ, Frances, 86, died March 2, 2012.
SOLOMON, Darren Vance, 41, died March 1, 2012.
STALLARD, Cynthia Ann, 47, died March 2, 2012.
SWAIN, Rochell, died March 5, 2012.
TONGOL, Susan Daegele, 54, died March 2, 2012.
WILL, Richard Curt, died March 4, 2012.
WILLIAMS, Curtis, Jr., 61, died March 5, 2012.

By Farris Long

When it comes to major entertainment venues in the city, Jacksonville had three big choices on Friday night March 2- The Monster Truck Show, R&B artist Monica, and a performance by the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. Thousands of people of all cultures  filled the stands at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena to witness the legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters continue. The faces of all the kids, (and the kids at heart) lit up when the signature whistling sound of “Sweet Georgia Brown” played across the loud
speakers and the show began. Simply put, the mixture of athleticism, comedy, and theater rolled into one made it an excellent family friendly experience.

The show was filled with the tricks, antics, and thrills that families have come to love since the early 1920′s, when the team was founded. They have a rich history of dazzling audiences in over 180 countries around the world. The Globetrotters was at one time, the home to such NBA greats as Wilt Chamberlain and Meadowlark Lemon. Over the last two years, Jacksonville’s very own, E3 Business Group, under the leadership of executive director, Anthony Butler, has played a major role in various Globetrotters games .

“E3 is a national partner with the Harlem Globetrotters helping to expose the game to a more diverse audience,” said Butler. “Our goal is to send 5,000 children to see them nationwide. To date we have helped over 1000 children and their families enjoy the 2012 World Tour.”

If you would like to give a donation and help sponsor disadvantaged children across the country to enjoy this event please call the E3 office at the number below. With ticket prices as low as $20, it was surprising to see such a low turnout of African-Americans in attendance.

Jacksonville serves as the national headquarters and Center for Entrepreneur Development for the E3 Business Group, Inc.
E3 is a nonprofit support group for over 80 local and 400 nationally based aspiring entrepreneurs…Its mission is to educate,
encourage and empower entrepreneurs to succeed in business while giving back to their community. To find out more
about E3 call 888-525-2299 x119 .

U. S. Attorney General Eric Holder has now voiced his opposition to Florida’s new voting laws that restricts voter registration drives and limits early voting.

According to reports, the Department of Justice filed court papers last week requesting a trial for new voting laws in Florida. The new laws could drastically disrupt the state’s primary election schedule. Mr. Holder said that Florida has not met its burden on behalf of its covered counties, that the two sets of proposed voting changes are entitled to preclearance under Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act.

Florida is one of more than a dozen states that have passed recent legislation that requires voters to show state-issued photo identification at the polls, places restrictions on third-party voter registration groups such as the League of Women Voters, who, bcause of the new laws, are no longer pushing early voting.

One of the things that will truly affect voters is the requirement for a state ID. When applying for a state drivers license or ID, a female, for example, must show every name change from birth. So suppose you are an elderly lady and
have had more than one husband. You were born a Jones but now is a Johnson because you have lost three husbands. In this situation, you must provide proof of every name change since birth. This will require you to pay marriage and
death record fees. A serious disadvantage for a 70 year old.

The new regulations in Florida impose burdensome administrative requirements, onerously tight deadlines and heavy penalties for mishandling or not turning in voter registration forms on time. In addition, individuals who help people register to vote must be certified by the state and must submit each completed voter registration form within 48 hours as opposed to the 10 days previously allowed. The risks under the new laws include fines and criminal charges.

Prior to the 2008 presidential election, many churches held “Souls to the Polls Campaigns.” In this situation, the church would take vans and buses with their members and other church attendees to the polling places on the Sunday before Election. This would be the last day for early voting. Now, under the new laws, early voting on the Sunday prior to election day has been eliminated.

In 2008, Florida’s large Black and Latino population went out in masses to vote. Now many voter registration drives have ceased because of the new laws.

Mayor John Peyton delivered the keynote address at this year’s Jacksonville’s annual MLK Breakfast. The event also honored one of its founders, Mrs. Willye Dennis.

The first three inductees into Florida’s Civil Rights Hall of Fame were named on February 29, 2012

Former Florida Senator Claude Denson Pepper (1900-1989), Mary McLeod Bethune (1875-1955), and Charles Kenzie Steele (1914-1980 were all inducted postmortem. Pepper sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment. Bethune created a school for black girls that later became Bethune-Cookman University. Steele protested segregation and helped organize the Tallahassee Bus Boycott.

Florida Representative Alan Williams sponsored the bill that created the state Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Florida is America’s first.

“The legacy built by these inductees is one we must carry today. We carry it now in our state’s history. We must carry it with everything that we do,” said Williams.

The text of the bill

Provides for establishment & location of Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame; provides for selection of hall-of-fame members by Governor upon recommendations by Florida Commission on Human Relations; provides criteria for such recommendations; authorizes commission to set time periods for nomination & selection of hall-of-fame members; assigns responsibility for certain hall-of-fame costs.

Mayors from across the county convened in downtown Jacksonville for a three day-conference on ports and exports. As Chair of the Metro Exports and Ports Task Force for the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mayor Alvin Brown led several discussions on topics such as global competition for U.S. ports and port modernization.

“I think it has been good for the city to have the mayors come here and talk about an issue that is important not only for Jacksonville, but for cities all across the country,” said Mayor Brown. “It also speaks to the importance of focusing on the importance of ports and exports to put people back to work.”

Mayors, port officials, and city officials from more than 40 cities were represented. Mayors in attendance included Vice Chair of
the Metro Exports and Ports Task Force, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Second Vice President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors Scott Smith, Mayor of Mesa, and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Mayor Villaraigosa, who is also the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said he was impressed by Mayor Brown’s leadership at the conference.

“We want cities to understand the new markets are abroad. Eight out of ten markets, the growing economies, are not here,” said Mayor Villaraigosa. “They are in Asia, Latin America and other places. We have to take our goods, our American made goods, and sell them in those countries. That is going to be a big shot in the arm to our economy and Alvin Brown, your mayor, knows that.”

Paul Anderson, Chief Executive Officer for JAXPORT, said the conference will have a positive impact on Jacksonville and national ports.

“The (U.S. Conference of Mayors) understands the issue of infrastructure and the importance that will play in our country growing in a global marketplace,” said Anderson.

During the meeting, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unveiled a report that said exporting from metro areas has the potential to grow significantly by 2020. In Jacksonville, exports are expected to jump by 68 percent, from the $1.9 billion in market value recorded in 2010 to $3.2 billion projected in 2020.

AKE, Walter Maurice,
73, died February 23, 2012.

BARBER, Joseph, died
February 24, 2012.

BEBOUT, Carolyn Sue,
63, died February 26, 2012.

BLUNT, Izell, MD, died
February 19, 2012.

BOLING, Sarah Anne,
26, died February 21, 2012.

BOWMAN, Mary, died
February 22, 2012.

CLINTON, Thomas Jay,
died February 23, 2012.

CROFT, Wallace Dale,
Sr., 60, died February 20, 2012.

DAVENPORT,
Dorrance Paul, 70, died
February 25, 2012.

DAVIS, James William
“Bill,” 84, died February 24, 2012.

DAVIS, Jerome, 61, died
February 29, 2012.

DILLON, Mary E. Roush, 93,
died February 24, 2012.

ELLIOTT, Randall Larry, 56,
died February 23, 2012.

EVERS, Anne, 86, died
February 22, 2012.

FAIRCLOTH, Carlton
Glenn, 55, died February 24, 2012.

FUSSELL, Mary, died
February 25, 2012.

GADSON, Lillyan, 68, died February 24, 2012.

GAINES, Earnie Louise,
Died February 22, 2012.

GOSSETT, Delmer Lee, 92,
died February 22, 2012.

GREEN, Garrick, died
February 25, 2012.

GRIFFIN, Daniel Edward, 59,
Died February 25, 2012.

ISRAEL, Steven J., 61,
died February 27, 2012.

JENKINS, Charles E.,
died February 25, 2012.

JOHNSON, Percy, died
February 24, 2012.

JONES, Richard, died
February 24, 2012.

JONES, Robert, died
February 24, 2012.

LAHEY, Charlene
Elizabeth “Char,” 56,
died February 21, 2012.

LAMB, Danny G., 61,
died February 24, 2012.

LEVESQUE, Shirley,
died February 25, 2012.

LINK, Donald Leo, 68,
died February 22, 2012.

MANGRAM, George
James, died February 25, 2012.

McLENDON, Dwayne Allen, 50,
died February 22, 2012.

MELLINGER, John
Bruce, 64, died February 25, 2012.

PRICE, Ann Margaret,
died February 25, 2012.

PUTMAN, James, died
February 24, 2012.

REYNOLDS, Marjorie L, 85,
died February 24, 2012.

SAMMARRO, Joseph
Anthony Joe, 84, died
February 25, 2012.

SHUPTRINE, Michael,
died February 23, 2012.

SIPOS, Annie, died
February 25, 2012.

STOREY, Veronica, died
February 22, 2012.