Connie F. Thomas, 53, of Amarillo died Wednesday, February 17, 2010.

Services were at 1 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2010 in Temple of Praise Community Church with the Rev. Chris Brown, pastor, and the Rev. W. Fifer, pastor of Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ, officiating. Burial in Llano Cemetery by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St.

Connie was born November 29, 1956, in Lockney to Josephine and Minuard King Jr. She was the fifth of 13 children.

After graduating from Petersburg High School, she married Lon K. Thomas. To this union, five children were born.

Connie was employed with Canyon Independent School District. She was a health care provider, beautician and a licensed instructor.

Connie served as a missionary in the Church of God in Christ. She was the former first lady of First Church of God in Christ and Hope Deliverance Church of God in Christ. Recently, she was the first lady of True Vine Church of God in Christ.

She was a loving mother, sister and nana. Connie loved spreading the word of God; always testifying that “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus!”

She will be missed by all.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lon K. Thomas Sr.; and her parents.

To cherish her memory she leaves four daughters, Latrell, DeShawn, Tamika and LaToia Thomas, all of Amarillo; a son, Lon K. Thomas Jr. of Amarillo; seven brothers, Ira King, Joe King, Johnnie King, Tracy King and Donnie King, her twin, all of Amarillo, Jack King and wife Mary of Lubbock and Jerry King of Del City, Okla.; five sisters, Nellene Campbell and husband Dirk, Carla Thomas and husband Robert, Amy King, Pam King and Sheila King, all of Amarillo; six granddaughters, Keshana, Dashyla, Jaliyah, Brandasia, LaTavia and LaTashia; and a host of nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and friends.

Viewing was from 1 to 7 p.m. Thursday, February 24, 2010 at the funeral home.

ARLINGTON - Jackie D. Capiti Minor, 88, formerly of Amarillo died Friday, February 19, 2010.

Services were at 3 p.m. Wednesday February 24, 2010 in Warford-Walker Mortuary Chapel, 509 N. Hughes St., with the Rev. James L. Collins, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church, officiating.

Jackie was born October 15, 1921, in Mexia. She was reared and attended the public schools of Mexia. Jackie came to Amarillo in 1945. She was a domestic worker. She married Kenneth Minor, a U.S. Air Force sergeant, and he preceded her in death. She was a member of Mount Zion Baptist Church.

Survivors include three grandsons, Christipher Montgomery of Las Vegas, John Walker of Euless and Winston Walker of Amarillo; and a great-grandson, Elliott Montgomery of Fort Worth.

Terry Van Gilbreath Sr., 50, of Amarillo died Thursday, February 18, 2010.

Services were at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 25, 2010 in St. John Baptist Church with the Rev. Austin Ingram Jr. officiating. Burial in Llano Cemetery by Golden Gate Mortuary, 1416 N. Hughes St.

Terry was born July 28, 1959, in Amarillo to Vurnell and the late Edward Van Gilbreath Sr. He was baptized at an early age at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church by the Rev. L.L. Gipson. He attended Hilltop Elementary and Fannin Junior High and was a 1978 graduate of Amarillo High School. He worked for Tyson Foods, Zium, McKesson Construction and upon his death he was employed as a laborer. He was a devoted son and father, and his enthusiastic conversations will be missed by many family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Edward Van Gilbreath Sr.; his maternal grandparents, Elbert and Rosie Hill; his paternal grandparents, Aaron and Katie Gilbreath; a sister, LaMarra Luster; and a brother, James Penns.

Survivors include his mother, Vurnell Gilbreath of Amarillo; a son, Terry Van Gilbreath Jr. of Amarillo; three daughters, Tenisha Gilbreath, Tedra Gilbreath and Terrikah Gilbreath, all of Amarillo; a stepdaughter, Jayden Kemp and companion Barbara “Shawn” Williams of Amarillo; three brothers, Edward V. Gilbreath Jr. of Amarillo, Maurice Gilbreath of Dallas and Orlando “Chop” Gilbreath of Arlington; and seven sisters, Dorothy Cortez-Conict, Pearlie Penns, Gloria Gilbreath, Beverly Gilbreath, Linda Perry and husband Ralph, Sheila Gilbreath and Gilda “Shan” Gilbreath, all of Amarillo.

The family will be at 1900 N.W. 13th Ave.

Your VA Benefits—What you Need to Know—What You Need to Do.
by L. Arthalia Cravin

A couple of years ago I became an accredited VA lawyer. I am one of approximately 400 such lawyers across the country, and probably one of two in the Texas Panhandle. My accreditation allows me to prepare, present, and prosecute claims for veterans’ benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA. This past Thursday through Friday a representative from the VA Regional Office in Waco was in Amarillo to discuss VA pension benefits. The seminars were held at the Park Central Retirement Community at 14th and Harrison in Amarillo. All three sessions were completely booked. I was the only African American in attendance to learn about these important benefits. Let me begin with a brief history of veterans’ benefits.

For as long as there have been wars, there have been individuals who have either died on the battlefield, died as a result of injury or disease associated with their post-military service, or suffered with disabilities or conditions directly related to their military service. Starting in 1636, the colonists provided a pension for men who became disabled because of “defense services” against Native Americans. The first federal pension for veterans was passed in 1789 by the Continental Congress to help veterans of the Revolutionary War. Subsequent laws included veterans and dependents of the War of 1812, and extended benefits to the veterans’ dependents and survivors. When the Civil War started in 1861, the nation had about 80,000 war veterans. By the end of the Civil War in 1865, another 1.9 million veterans had been added to the rolls, prompting President’s Lincoln famous lines in his second inaugural address in 1865, “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan,” later adopted as the VA motto.

Some 4.7 million Americans fought in World War I. Of these, 116,000 died in service and 204,000 were wounded. World War II war casualties included 405,399 service men and women who died, some 671,8l7 wounded, and hundreds of thousands of dependents left needy. The Korean War created new veterans on top of the millions who came home from World War II. The Vietnam War, The Persian Gulf War, Operations Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have resulted in the current population of approximately 24 million military vets, broken down as follows: 1.7 million women, 9.7 million over the age of 65, 2.4 million African Americans, 1.1 million Hispanic, 272,000 Asian, 159,000 American Indian, 30,000 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. One set of data indicates that several states have 1 million or more veterans: California (2.3 million), Florida (1.8 million), Texas (1.7 million), New York (1.2 million), Pennsylvania (1.2 million) and Ohio (1.1 million). Also, recent statistics indicate that approximately 63 million people are potentially eligible for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, or family members or survivors of veterans. What exactly are these benefits?

Read more »

by Fransetta Crow

It was 5 years ago in 2005, that the first grant application was submitted for sidewalks for North Hughes Street to the Community Development Block Grant Committee of the City of Amarillo. It was the beginning of a vision I had and still do have from 2005 when the North Amarillo Community Task Force was appointed by Mayor Debra McCartt. I wrote and presented a poem to our Mayor asking her to help clean up our community at a community meeting held at the United Citizens Forum.  My vision is to improve my community and the infrastructure of my neighborhood and make  Hughes Street a SAFE USER FRIENDLY Street for the pedestrians that have to utilize it everyday .” Changing our streets is an issue that touches on livability in a community for everyone ”, says Dan Burden, the founder of walkable Communities for everyone in the 2007 AARP Bulletin.

The effort of a few concerned and determined community active residents worked together and put together their time and skills to apply for funding , thru a grant from the Community Development Block Grant and the City of Amarillo. Those Involved were : Fransetta Crow, Diana King Smith, Dwight Cowens and other volunteers . Because of our efforts, the main Thurfare in  NortHeights Amarillo will finally get sidewalks and handicap accessible ramps to allow disabled people to travel in a safe manner along with many other people that live in the community. This project began today and the construction company has already demonstrated that they are not intendending to improve our community but intend to PIECE MILL the sidewalks and not make it uniformed and in order and compliance with government standards. Not only is this an insult to the NorthHeights residents and tax payers, but a violation of the use of Federal Dollars.

We have waited for over 80 years to get sidewalks for the first time while many parts of the city not only have uniformed sidewalks in their community but paved alleys as well . Now that we finally qualify to get sidewalks, the City has approved the half hearted botching and throwing together a poorly planned project that will not improve the appearance of our community, and will also have to be readdressed in the future if not done right. WE WANT OUR SIDEWALKS TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT NOT A PIECE MILLED JOKE. We need to call the city leaders and complain about this unprofessional mess that has been approved . In the Independent Newspaper last week  there is an article that talks about the Revitalization of Downtown Amarillo, and sidewalks are part of the plan.  I am  sure that they won’t patch up and piece mill the sidewalks while using part of our tax dollar. Something needs to be said,and the community needs to protest the intentions of the City of Amarillo and the Construction Co. that has contracted to half do a job that is long, long, long over do.

” When people walk out their doors, their streets should give them the option to walk, drive, ride a bus or  ride a bike “, says Bill Wilkings , executive director of the National Center for Bicyling and Walking. Commitment to  pedestrian safety is part of a project known as COMPLETE STREETS. There was a bill in 2007 in the Senate that require any road project using federal funds to meet complete standards. It is also a violation of federal and State equal access disability laws, for failing to maintain and upgrade pedestrian walkways. Improving the infrastructure of a low Income neighborhood by installing sidewalks is not only good for the disabled, Senior citizens, individuals, but the community as a whole.

If you would like more information on the sidewalks contact the Engineering Department at City of Amarillo, Issac Rangel (806) 378-9334 or the Contractor (806) 371-728.

For more information on Complete Streets:  www.COMPLETESTREETS.ORG

I AM PROUD TO HAVE BEEN APART OF A PROJECT THAT WILL BE ANOTHER POSITIVE IMPROVEMENT FOR THE  NORTHEIGHTS Community and North Amarillo. However there is rumor that there are some people that don’t feel that sidewalks are needed on North Hughes and is a waste of money. Well my reply to them is: “It might not be important to you, but it is to those who use it every day and put themselves in harmsway .” If you don’t live in a community I don’t feel you should have a voice  or power to make decisions that affect other tax payers livelihoods. We as Black people should be aware of those that are suppose to be representing us, and  or assigned or voted for to render a service for those that voted for them. Black Amarillo we need to wake up!!!

If you don’t feel sidewalks are needed on NORTH HUGHES, write me and comment on what you think. If you Want to comment on the City approving the poor construction of the sidewalks in our community and think it’s wrong speak up now we want you to stand up with us and fight for the right thing.  The next Project is to get The DEAD TREES REMOVED FROM OUR COMMUNITY. I hope it won’t take 5 more years, maybe the City of Amarillo will apply some of that Stimulus Money to accomplish that problem also.

Goodbye for Now!

Frankly Fran

Copyright 2010 - Fransetta Crow. All rights Reserved. No part of this commentary may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

Premiums, Profits, and the Need for Health Reform
by The White House

The President points to outrageous premium hikes from health insurance companies, especially those already making massive profits, as further proof of the need for reform. Looking ahead to the coming bipartisan meeting on reform, the President urges members of Congress to come to the table in good faith to address the issue.

Watch the address below:

L.J. Stenson, 81, of Amarillo died Monday, February 15, 2010.

Services were at 3 p.m. Saturday, February 20, 2010 in Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St., with the Rev. E.J. Cofer officiating.

Mr. Stenson was born November 12, 1928, in La Grange. He was a longtime farmer.

He was a former resident of Austin for 15 years and an Amarillo resident for seven years.

Survivors include a daughter, Teresa Jones of El Campo; two sisters, Betty Smith of Texas City and Joyce Stenson of Corpus Christi; three brothers, Tommy Stenson of Houston, Elroy Stenson of Brownwood and Ruben Stenson of Amarillo.

Imogene F. McCullough, 82, of Amarillo died Sunday, February 14, 2010.

Services were at 2 p.m. Friday, February 19, 2010 in Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. D.D. Fincher, pastor, and the Rev. Elijah B. Demerson officiating. Burial in Llano Cemetery by Warford-Walker Mortuary, 509 N. Hughes St.

Imogene was born June 30, 1927, in Sulphur Springs to Obia Dee and Janie Franklin. She attended public schools in Sulphur Springs and graduated high school from Patton High School in Amarillo.

She was united in holy matrimony to Foster M. McCullough in 1954.

Mrs. McCullough worked for Bernita Bivens for 22 years retiring in 1998. She united with Jenkins Chapel Baptist Church in 1948.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Obia Dee and Janie Franklin; a brother, David E. Franklin; and a sister, Georgia M. Robinson.

Survivors include a daughter, Joann Echols of Amarillo; two granddaughters, Carla B. Coffer and husband Glenn and Christal D. Echols, both of Amarillo; a grandson, Chad E. Campbell of Denton; two sisters, Mary Jones and Betty A. Devercaux, both of Amarillo; six great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.

from NewsChannel10.com