John Thomas

At bit of information about the man the Cleaborn project was named after....(BTW alumni) along with Kenneth, a lot of our classmates lived in this project...

Edward O. Cleaborn a forgotten Memphis hero, this 18-year-old U.S. Army Private gave up his own life in Korea to save the lives of his company. Determined to save the lives of his buddies, some severely wounded, he left the safety of his fox hole to single-handedly man a machine gun which he fired until it seared his hands. His entire Infantry Company Twenty Fourth Infantry Regiment, Twenty-Fifth Division, retreated to cover wounded comrades. Edward O. Cleaborn was born May 2, 1932 and died August 15, 1950 as a U.S. Army private and was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. He graduated from Booker T .Washington High School where he was known as an easy-going young man who got along with classmates and teachers alike. He was one of 9 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Everett Cleaborn. They lived in a three-room home located in Bailey’s Alley. The Alley ran off Pennsylvania St. south of Trigg Ave. in South Memphis, where his father worked at the South Memphis Stockyards.

Robbin Houston (Houston)

Thanks Kenneth and all for the yellow friendship rose and the song.  Welcome back i love reading about the classmates how you encourage and inspire us with sonds and pictures of the past reunions and school. Thanks   Keep us updated and wish all to be safe and wise thru these trying times. God said@ Isaiah 41:10  Do not be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be anxious, for I am your God. I will fortify, you yes, I will help you, I will really hold on to you with my right hand of Righteousness. My The love of Christ protect our hearts and minds in these troubled times. 

Kenneth Davis

      If there were no night, we would not appreciate the day, nor could we see the stars and the vastness of the heavens. We must partake of the bitter with the sweet. There is a divine purpose in the adversities we encounter every day. They prepare, they purge, they purify, and thus they bless. ~ James E. Faust ~
 

   Goodmorning Warrior Nation….Welcome to the website Curtis Farmer. I’m not quite sure which Warrior on the Reunion Committee, or which Website Administrator is responsible for welcoming you to the website, but you’re welcome anyway. Cherlyn Harris Conner and Larry Milligan are the administrators and should assist you posting pictures or with any other concerns. Edward, thanks for breaking your silence on the website. Maybe others will take your example as a reason to also become vocal. John T thanks for the history lesson. I didn’t know that he was a graduate of BTW, but was aware he was a “Hero” and that there are many individuals from the 3^rd Ward who served in the military. Robbin, you’re welcome. Your kind words are always inspirational. So glad to hear from you too, just don’t wait another year...... I’m sure you have more to say. Stay with us Patricia ! Have a great day everyone and trust that; Not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path….Amen…

Patricia White (Watson)

Happy Belated Birthday Edward Johnson. Happy belated birthday Robin Houston and welcome back to this site. I hope to hear more from both of you. Thanks John for the insight on the namesake of our old stomping ground. Thanks Kenneth. You know I love the music selections. Everybody, stay healthy.

Patricia White (Watson)

Curtis Farmer, welcome to the site. 

Kenneth Davis

" EARLY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO BETTY BRIGHAM AND JULIA DAVIS"

"GEMINI TWINS"

     But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine.

 ~ Thomas Jefferson ~

     Happy Birthday Betty and Julia. Although she’s hasn’t  joined our website yet, birthday greetings should be extended to all. Betty here’s the Café Astrology.Com Gemini Daily Horoscope for you both today….May 21, 2020

     Others are taking a particular interest in you and could be talking about you quite a bit today and tomorrow, dear Gemini. Mercury and retrograde Venus are coming to an alignment in your sign, and conversations tend to turn to you or revolve around you. While you're a little more inclined to express yourself, someone else may be holding something back or hesitant. Alternatively, conversations or meetings can turn to unresolved matters, and you can get some strong reminders of the past. New information about an old issue can figure strongly now. While it's an excellent time for rethinking and reevaluating personal plans and projects, it's not the time to make final decisions. It may be better to consider possibilities and keep plans open since there is likely more to the unfolding story later on. Even with some signals crossing, your personal magnetism runs high, although you may not be expressing a lot of warmth in your communications, and could be focusing a little too much on the intellect. The Moon spends today in your privacy sector, and the need to unwind and decompress is strong, particularly with a New Moon about to occur in your sign.

     Betty I’ve read that Memphis and Shelby County is entering into Phase Two of re-opening from this pandemic. A portion of the last line from your horoscope says the need to unwind and decompress is strong. I hear you’re pushing a Trike around the asphalt these days. Maybe the weather will be in your favor for a Matt Otten kind of celebration. Make sure your tank is full for an extended day of “Cruising”…enjoy yourself and that New Moon about to occur…..stay safe…..

Kenneth Davis

Memorial Day isn't just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that's a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It's a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it.  ~Pete Hegseth ~

"Happy Memorial Day"

To those Who Served From The Class of 1970

From the Associated Press:

     According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, more than 1,000 veterans have been  killed by the coronavirus. That does not include hundreds more who have died in state-run veterans homes, including hard-hit facilities in New Jersey, Massachusetts and Louisiana.

They are among the untold number of veterans who served and survived during times of war only to die in recent weeks from the coronavirus. This year's Memorial Day will pay tribute not only to those who died on the battlefield but more recent fallen soldiers.

Stay safe my Sisters and Brothers......

Patricia White (Watson)

Sending much love and respect to all our veterans.  

Kenneth Davis

EXTENDING BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO

MARILYN BURTON WRIGHT

     Happy Birthday Marilyn! As you celebrate this milestone, may your family and friends shower you with bona fide gifts of love and attention. I say attention because “The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” Thich Nhat Hanh…During these times of protests, riots and pandemics, we all need to focus our attention on those we love. “No matter what kind of challenges or difficulties or painful situations you go through in your life, we all have something deep within us that we can reach down and find the inner strength to get through them” Alana Stewart…May your day be filled with blooming flowers, overwhelming  attention from others and that “inner strength” within, to make this joyous day a complete blessing…..at day’s end, I hope that you’ve had a “Nat King Cole” reason to “Smile”…

     I am an American citizen and feel I am entitled to the same rights as any other citizen. It's not the people in the South who create racial problems - it's the people who are governing. ~ Nat King Cole ~ 

John Thomas

Garden update: Night's Squash Plant

John Thomas

Garden update: My Squash Plant

Kenneth Davis

" VEGGIE GARDEN UPDATE "

"God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it's the purest of human pleasures". ~ Francis Bacon ~

My Fellow Esquires, true to form, you've kept your words as promised with the initial challenge. Much like you, I'm awaiting other images to be posted by our classmates. Surely we're not the only ones with a green thumb. Here's my submission. I've been blessed with the rain from Memphis and above, that migrates my way. May you both be blessed and stay safe, as you continue to till the soil and sweat from your brow.

"You have to get up and plant the seed and see if it grows, but you can't just wait around, you have to water it and take care of it".

~ Bootsy Collins ~

Kenneth Davis

This article was written by Tonyaa Weathersbee of The Commercial Appeal......

 WHEN ONE OF US ACHIEVES

THE BTW CLASS OF 1970 ACHIEVES 

     We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own.

 ~ Cesar Chavez ~

Marsha Sherrod, 67, poses for a photo in her graduation robe and honor cords at her home Friday, June 12, 2020. Sherrod is receiving her Criminal Justice Associate Degree from Southwest Tennessee Community College during a virtual ceremony to be held on June 14th. “I really wanted to get into the advocacy arena of criminal justice because there are so many voices that are shouting loud, but they are not being heard,” said Sherrod.  (Photo: Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal)

     When Marsha Sherrod marched in 1968, she was 15 years old. She joined Memphis' sanitation workers and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. as they marched for higher wages and dignity. That cause, as well as the struggles of people she encountered in her 45 years working at Regional One Medical Center, left Sherrod with a passion for seeking justice. Now 67, Sherrod was looking forward to marching in another life-changing event — across a stage in front of a live audience to collect her associate degree in criminal justice from Southwest Tennessee Community College.

     But because of COVID 19, the virtual ceremony will have to suffice for her and others who are graduating from Memphis colleges. On Saturday, Sherrod joined 1,544 Southwest graduates honored during the live stream ceremony. Southwest President Tracy Hall was one of the program speakers, as well as Gov. Bill Lee. Guest speakers included University of Memphis head basketball coach Penny Hardaway, Mayor Jim Strickland and Willie Gregory, director of global community impact for Nike and chairman of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce. LeMoyne-Owen College also held its virtual graduation for 125 students Saturday on Facebook Live and YouTube Live. It included messages from alumni, local celebrities and college officials, as well as a virtual after party hosted by Memphis DJ Stan Bell. Among the graduates, Sherrod's journey highlights her resilience and commitment to get an associate degree despite the challenges that life often presents.

Marsha Sherrod, 67, adjusts the honor cords on her graduation robe, from her home Friday, June 12, 2020. Sherrod is receiving her Criminal Justice Associate Degree from Southwest Tennessee Community College during a virtual ceremony to be held on June 14th. “Obstacles hinder you; they stop you. I didn’t see this as an obstacle, I saw it as a challenge. It was a challenge for me to learn a new technology, to learn how to navigate through the online system. There weren’t online classes when I went to school the first time,” said Sherrod.  (Photo: Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal)

     “I lived through the civil rights movement,” said Sherrod, who retired from her job as a surgical sterilization technician in 2014. “I marched with Dr. King. I was young and it was scary, but at the same time I got a boost from thinking that I could make a difference by being out there walking and letting people know that injustice was real.” Then years later, after a divorce, a son and a daughter and a successful career at Regional One, Sherrod decided to parlay her desire to fix the injustices that brought people to the hospital. “I was at the Med [Regional One] in the 1980s, when they de-institutionalized and let a lot of people out of the mental health facilities who really needed help,” she said. “So, it added up to us getting an influx of those patients because they had nowhere to go…“We became their doctor’s office…” So, Sherrod went to Southwest, where she became a member of the Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha Sigma Lambda honor societies and was named a 2020 Outstanding Honor Student in the criminal justice program. “I was appalled at some of the stuff I saw in the criminal justice system, like money being made off of incarceration,” said Sherrod, who also said that through her studies, she got a lesson on how tough it was for many ex-offenders to fulfill probation requirements because many of those requirements cost money that they didn't have.

A photo of Marsha Sherrod graduating from Booker T. Washington High School in 1970 is seen in the corner of a photo of her daughter, Deborah Sherrod Collier, as a graduate from Hamilton High School, from the family home Friday, June 12, 2020.  (Photo: Joe Rondone/The Commercial Appeal)

     Ultimately, she hopes to find a job that can put her in a position to help correct those injustices. But right now, Sherrod plans to revel in her graduation – although not in the way that she had originally planned. “I had family who was coming in to celebrate with me, and I was supposed to go to Hawaii,” Sherrod said. “That’s all off now.

 “But at the end of the day, I did get my degree.”

Accolades are there to congratulate you but also to make you understand that it's not over. You now have to continue trying to improve the craft and keep going. It's not something to rest on. ~ Joe Morton ~

Congrats Marsha!!!!!!

John Thomas

Garden Update: Jalapenos, Sweet Geen Peppers, Tomatoes about to pick...

Patricia White (Watson)

Congratulations Marsha. I know that whatever you decide to do next it will be  include helping others. Just when most of us are gettig adjusted to this new life of retirement and doing it our way you are getting ready to take on a whole new direction of service to others to make a difference for those in need. I salute you, my friend. 

Patricia White (Watson)

Attention brother Warrior gardeners! I am so impressed with your yield. The plants look healthy. I can taste steamed cabbage, sauteed squash, and fresh sliced tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and with a sprinkling of salt. Oh yes, a nice hot slice of cornbread. Kenneth, John, and Nightingale great job. 

Kenneth Davis

"Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of this love!" 

~ Sitting Bull ~

Thanks Patricia, on behalf of my fellow Esquires and myself! You have an amazingly healthy appetite. We're still waiting for your images to be posted with others. John, is that parsley or cilantro growing next to those banana peppers??? You guys are doing a great joy maintaining your "Green Thumbs" and eating healthy...Your gardens prove Sitting Bull knew what he was prophesying...From Memphis to North Carolina to California and back, stay safe and may your families be blessed.....

John Thomas

First Harvest. Yes those were cilantro.

Picture: Mexican Zuccchini, Sweet Basil, Tomatoes (Early Girl, Big Beef) , Jalapenos, Radishes(Crispy Crunch, Pink Beauty)

Menu: Air Fried Zucchini, home made pizza (I make my own dough) with Basil and peppers (some for pickling) and Radish for salad and tacos, tomates for Air fried or green soup. 

To God be the Glory and the Blessing for our daily bread...

Patricia White (Watson)

Beautiful John. 

Kenneth Davis

"EXTENDING EARLY BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO VICTORIA JACKSON"

     In a majority of  hospitals, in a majority of places, it is the nurses that are on the frontlines. They're the ones working every moment with the patients to ensure that they do well. ~ Deborah Birx ~

     Happy Birthday Victoria ! Ten years ago, you indicated your occupation as a Nurse. You haven't updated your profile to say that you've retired, so I'm of the belief that you're still assisting on the frontlines. If you are, thank you for your dedication! Should you not be, I'm grateful that you're not in the middle of the present pandemic. Either way, a word of gratitude is due to all of your efforts over the years. May your day of celebration be interwoven with the joys of love, compassion and the stellar spirit of an amazing grace. May they exemplify the exact same characteristics that you've extended to others under your charge. At days end, I wish you a Julian Vaughn day of "Limitless"  blessings....because "The Time Is Now"....so receive them...stay safe my friend...

Patricia White (Watson)

Happy Birthday Victoria. 

Kenneth Davis

1970 GREEN CHEVROLET IMPALA CONVERTIBLE

"BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO EDITH PEGUES WHITNEY"

     As software engineers trained to turn ambiguity into absolutes and fuzzy requirements into ones and zeros, we had a 'eureka' moment when we realized that our training had broader, real-world applications.

~ Walter O'Brien ~

     Happy Birthday Edith! Today’s the day for your family and friends to shout “Eureka” on your behalf. Another milestone achieved... Mathematician- Inventor Archimedes, while wrestling with the problem of how to determine the purity of gold, made the sudden realization that the buoyancy of an object placed in water is equal in magnitude to the weight of the water the object displaces. Shouting Eureka, he ran through the streets of his home in Greece. This pandemic won’t allow you to go running up Pikes Peak to celebrate, but there is one absolute real-world application without ambiguities. Today, you’ll be showered with love and gratuitous blessings combined with unique and personalized gifts.

     Walter O’Brien is one of the five smartest people alive today, an information technologist and businessman. Sounds much like you and your accomplishments as a self-employed Systems Architecture and Software Engineer Consultant. Congrats on your milestone achievements; nothing's fuzzy about those ones and zeros. Upon completion of your celebrations, may you have a Joyce Cooling kind of day. Put on a gold mask and take an imaginary ride in a 1970 “Green Impala”…time to get out and play while shouting “Eureka”….stay safe my friend….

Kenneth Davis

" BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO ALICE RODGERS BLACKBURN "

I didn't want to be an accountant; I found myself being a banker, which was a bit different. I went to university, and I was going to do a Ph.D. in the States, but I didn't get the funding for it, so I had two years where I had a bit of a wobble and didn't really know what I wanted to do, and I ended up working as a banker. ~ Owain Yeoman ~

     Happy Birthday Alice! Congratulations upon being blessed to achieve this coveted milestone. May the gifts of life, love, appreciation and virtue be overflowing today. Owain Yeoman is a Welsh actor, best known for playing key roles in TV series, such as ‘The Mentalist’ and ‘Generation Kill’. It was while he was working at a bank that he decided to become an actor, enrolling in the famous ‘Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts’ in London shortly after. Rearranging careers can be visionary.

     Ten years ago, you acknowledged that you retired from banking and enrolled in classes for Business Management. Also, your son was working toward becoming an Accountant. Perception indicates that your banking background, merged with your business acumen, will result in your hiring of a trustworthy Accountant. There wouldn’t be any wobbling with a collaboration of that nature. June 21st usually marks the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, which is the day of the year with the most hours of daylight. The weather in Milwaukee is scheduled to be partly sunny with a temperature of 81 degrees. Put a mask on, get out and soak up some Vitamin D. 

     Make it a “Larry Carlton Alone/But Never Alone”  kind of celebration. May you have nonstop “Smiles and Smiles to Go” as you rejoice in the glory of grace and mercy received this day…. “Live your truth. Express your love. Share your enthusiasm. Take action towards your dreams. Walk your talk. Dance and sing to your music. Embrace your blessings. Make today worth remembering.” (Steve Maraboli) ……stay safe my friend…

Kenneth Davis

" HAPPY FATHER'S DAY "

[ˈɡradəˌt(y)o͞od]  gratitude (noun) the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. "she expressed her gratitude to the committee for their support"

synonyms: gratefulness · thankfulness · thanks · appreciation · recognition · acknowledgment · hat tip · credit · regard · respect · sense of obligation · indebtedness

So many men have holes in their souls the shape of their fathers. You can pass that on to your kid, or you can do something about it, and I'm seeing a lot of men doing something about it. ~ Chris Gardner ~

It's very necessary, showing the positive aspect of a black father. We see a lot of black women being the head of the household and holding the house down, but I think we need to have those images because there are black fathers out there who are doing the same thing and who are the glue to the family. That's who Black Lightning is. ~ Nafessa Williams ~

     Happy Fathers Day to the men who’ve become fathers and grand fathers! May your day be as exciting as the moment your first child acknowledged you as “Dada”. Black Lightning is a super-hero with the ability to harness and control electricity. However, after too many nights with his life on the line, and seeing the effects of the damage and loss that his alter ego was inflicting on his family, he left his Super Hero days behind and settled into being a principal and a dad. Shocking depiction isn’t it!

     Chris and Nafessa have aptly described the situations above, that many of us have experienced, or know someone who has. Some of us had parents that didn’t play and we thought they had that same ability, if we attempted to walk in the darkness of corruption…Thank goodness, we saw the light. As fathers and grandfathers, let us continue to; 1. Be your child’s “First Teacher” (Proverbs 22:6) 2. Dads need to exemplify a good life (2 Cor. 3:2-3) 3. Provide for your family (I Tim. 5:8) 4. Good dads discipline their children (Proverbs 13: 24) 5. Dads spend time with their children, and it’s not empty time (Deut. 6: 6-9) 6. Compassion is a “dad” characteristic. Should we continue to maintain these guidelines, we will receive with gratitude, blessings and accolades combined with gifts of grace and mercy due to fathers and grandfathers every day of the year. Gentlemen, may you have a Steve Cole day of celebration  with honor and “Gratitude”....be encouraged and stay safe...

Marsha McMillian (Sherrod)

Henry Daniel Lester (Boomer) 68 transitioned peacefully at home on June 19, 2020.  BTW Class of 1970. Friday, June 26th @ Serenity Funeral Home. All info will be posted on the Serenity website