Community
Odessa White, Nationally acclaimed Homemaker, Educator, 92
Odessa White, a Seventh-day Adventist and educator, died on Nov. 23. She was 91.
Born Dec. 23, 1920, she was a native of Wharton, Texas and her husband Benjamin White, was a native of Navasota, Texas.
The couple came to California after World War II. She was baptized into the Market Street Seventh-day Adventist church in 1949 and later became a charter member of the Elmhurst Seventh-day Adventist church.
While raising a family, she attended Laney College in Oakland and earned a masters degree from San Francisco State University.
She taught home economics in the Oakland Public Schools and served as director for Golden Gate Academy Pre-School.
White was a skilled artisan, a master seamstress and wedding gown designer for the community with expertise in tatting, embroidery, quilting and crocheting.
She patented broom covers at age 84 that have sold nationally and have been displayed at weddings for the African broom jumping ritual.
A highly sought after family historian, she published three books: “The Scott Family Tree,” “The White Family Tree” and “Things I Remember.”
As a community activist, she successfully advocated for sidewalks. Additionally, she launched a pilot program of mathematics and sewing classes in her home. She also was avid world traveler.
Nearly all of her eight children obtained graduate degrees with outstanding careers.
Preceding her in death were her parents Walter and Jane Pines; husband of 31 years, Elder Benjamin White, Sr.; daughter Cynthia White; daughter-in-law Bernice White; three sisters and five brothers.
Nearly all of her eight children obtained graduate degrees with outstanding careers, including an Interpreter of Languages for the United States Air Force (Alvin of Washington), a nurse/teacher (Cynthia, deceased), business management/ occupational therapist (Gwendolyn, Atlanta, Georgia), a businessman (Benjamin II of Fairfield, California), business/finance manager (Arlene of Alabama), a pianist/professor (Janise of Los Angeles), one medical doctor (David of North Carolina) and a public administrator (Karen of San Bernardino).
She leaves to cherish her memories: two sisters – Annie Mae Livingston and Bertha Grant; one brother Frank Pines; four Daughters: Gwendolyn, Arlene (Faustinus Cetoute), Janise, and Karen; three Sons: Alvin, Benjamin (Vera) and David (Felice); 20 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, and many relatives and friends.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, Dec. 6, at 11 a.m., at C. P. Bannon Mortuary, 6800 International Blvd. in Oakland.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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Alameda County
DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland
Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.
Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.
City Government
Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Special to The Post
At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.
Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.
Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”
According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.
“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”
When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.
At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”
While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.
On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.
“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.
The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.
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