L to R: Donna Williams Sutton of the Metropolitan Museum, philanthropist Sherri Bronfman and Minister Suzanne Sujay Johnson.

SCHOMBURG LIBRARY VERY BEAUTIFUL

Renovation and expansion of the famous Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, NY, is complete and the library was recently opened with great fanfare. Several divisions in the Research Libraries hold archival collections – the papers of individuals and families, the records of organizations, and consciously assembled collections of unique and unpublished material.

All issues of EVERBODY’S are in the Schomburg collection. After the death of Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, EVERYBODY’S could not find one its copies featuring the Congresswoman during her prime, so the magazine turned to the Schomburg for help and the Schomburg gladly found the copy.

Community activists and friends of Sonny Carson at ceremony naming a street in his memory.

MAYOR BLOOMBERG COULDN’T STOP THE TRIBUTE TO SONNY CARSON

Antigua & Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and Mrs. Spencer, Finance Minister Errol Cort, entertainers King Short Shirt, Ambassador Rupert “Baba” Blaize,, Barry Harvey and City South Steel Orchestra recently joined friends and family to honor a distinguished Antiguan-American, George Wade, at Lido’s, City Island, in NY.

Wade has lived in the U.S. for most of his life but throughout the years played an active role in the development of Antigua and Barbuda. The renowned Antigua Grammar School is his alma mater and he was one of the school’s outstanding football (soccer) and cricket players. In New York, he was President of the Eastern Caribbean Tourist Associates, a group organized to promote the Eastern Caribbean.

L to R: Jasmine Wade Francis, daughter of Gloria and George Wade, Gloria Wade, George Wade, Prime Minister & Mrs. Baldwin Spencer and Consul General & Mrs. McChesney Emanuel.

For decades Wade participated in the evolution of the governments of Antigua and Barbuda. Even when the governments were ruled by opposing parites, such as the Bird Family, the government and ruling party of the day admired and respected Wade for his chartable and cultural contributions. Wade’s dreams became a reality in 2004 when his party, the United Progressive Party, was elected to office.

Organizers of the gala included Consul General McChesney Emanuel, Mrs. Brenda Harris-Ephraim and Canon Franklin Reid. Mistress of Ceremonies was Mrs. Valerie Harris- Pole who administers the day-to-day operation’s of the prime minister’s office.

THREE JAMAICANS SCORE ONE CENTURY EACH

Cassandra Francis and Marian Villiers are close friends, so close that family and friends recently gave them a joint birthday party to celebrate a combined 200 years of life. Cassandra was born on April 26, 1907 and Marian on April 30, 1907. The party was held at The Blue Mahoe, a Jamaican restaurant in Manhattan.

Born at 16 King Street, Kingston, Jamaica, Ms. Francis migrated to the U.S. in 1945 where she was employed as a seamstress until retiring. She lived in Brooklyn for decades but now resides in Manhattan.

Marian attended Saint Georges’ School in Kingston. At 18, she migrated to the U.S. where she married Lester Villiers and enjoyed life as a seamstress and housewife. Ms. Villiers remained an active member of Siloam Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn for more than 60 years. She continues to be an ardent sports fan. Her favorite teams and players are the Knicks, Nets, Tiger Woods and the Williams’ sisters, Venus and Serena.

On June 9, Ena Elizabeth Schouburgh celebrated her 100th birthday. The big century was celebrated at the Bethel Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Brooklyn. Ms. Schouburgh was born on June 9, 1907 in Portland, Jamaica; as an energetic young lady, she went to Cuba where she was employed for several years before returning to Jamaica. In 1945, Ena emigrated from Jamaica to England to study nursing and arrived in the U.S. in 1953 where she has been living ever since.

As a nurse she was employed in several healthcare institutions including Maimonides, Adelphi and Brooklyn Jewish hospitals. Ena Elizabeth Schouburgh resides at a nursing home in Brooklyn where she takes every opportunity to encourage young people to do the right thing and to believe in the Lord.