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In Memoriam: Donna Kay Aron Laid to Rest

“If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face. And turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.” -2 Chronicles 7:14 KIV Donna Kay Aron was laid to rest on Saturday, August 19, […]
The post In Memoriam: Donna Kay Aron Laid to Rest first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

8 months ago

August 23, 2023

Forward Times Staff

-2 Chronicles 7:14 KIV

Donna Kay Aron was laid to rest on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at Silverlake Church in Pearland. She was 68.

Donna Kay was born November 25, 1954, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Zenobia Davis and Roosevelt Aron, Sr. When her family relocated to Houston, her spiritual development was initiated when she attended and was baptized at Wesley AME Church at an early age by Rev. W.D. Williams. Her formative years were guided by Rev. E. E. Coates, and Donna participated in the Sunbeam Choir, the Youth Choir, and the Youth Usher group. As a very active member of the Young Peoples Department, Donna participated in various activities of the 10th Episcopal District at the local, conference, and district levels. Later, in her adult years, Donna joined Holman Street Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Manson Johnson. In October 2021, she united with Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. Marcus Cosby, whose spiritual leadership inspired Donna to further develop her study of the Word.

As a student scholar, Donna Kay attended schools in the Houston Independent School District in her beloved Third Ward. She was a happy student at Douglas Elementary School. She then matriculated to Ryan Junior High School, where she was an honor student and participated in extracurricular activities. She went on to attend and later graduated from Jack Yates High School (Class of 1972) with honors. She attended Houston Community College, where she received her associate degree, and Donna culminated her education at LeTourneau University with a BBA in 2002. Donna worked in Payroll and Accounting with several companies, including Seltzer and Sons, Houston ISD, Majic 102 FM Radio Station, and most recently with Aries Building Systems. She was also a certified mediator and a realtor.

Donna Kay truly enjoyed going to open houses to stay updated on the current market and to network with other realtors. She lived a vibrant life, and one of her favorite ways to spend time was to exercise with friends with early morning walks in Hermann Park before starting her workday. Donna always reported to work earlier than her scheduled time to make certain that all her tasks were finished ahead of time. She was very thorough in checking the quality of her own work as well as the tasks of others. She was known for her “sharp eye” to catch any situations that countered policies and procedures, and she insisted that the mistakes be adjusted.

Donna Kay loved to travel with her brother Carl Davis. They would cover the country, and some of their most memorable trips were to the Democratic National Conventions at Boston in 2004, at Denver in 2008, at Charlotte in 2012, and at Philadelphia in 2016. Donna met Ann Whitehead in Boston, who lived in New York at the time, and they connected for every convention to volunteer or just hang out together. She and Carl shared a love for attending the AME General Conferences and AME Lay Biennial Conventions. She met Barbara Tellis, whose husband was a delegate with Carl at AME meetings, and they would connect at General Conferences at Indianapolis in 2004, at St Louis in 2008, at Nashville in 2012, and at Philadelphia in 2016. The Lay Biennials were held at New Orleans in 2003, at Houston in 2005, at Washington, DC in 2007, at Little Rock in 2009, at Atlanta in 2011, at Charleston in 2015, and at Columbus, Ohio in 2017.

Donna Kay was a doting mother and grandmother to the loves of her life – her son, DeUndre, and her grandsons DeShaune (deceased in 2022) and Trevor, whose presence lit up her life whenever she spent time with them. She loved to take cruises with them at Thanksgiving and she would allow them to select the cruise destination. Donna Kay was a true servant who gave of her time to Volunteer Houston, whose mission is to connect individuals, groups, and companies with nonprofit agencies to transform the Greater Houston community. She thoroughly enjoyed meeting people and learning about the organization’s mission and opportunities to help others. She was a strong advocate for blood donations to the Gulf Coast Blood Bank to help sustain the lives of those who needed blood. She always wanted to make a difference in someone’s life. She received numerous awards and accolades for her tireless efforts to impact lives and to improve the quality of life for all in her community. Donna was always looking for a new adventure that would stretch her, so she joined the Houston Fire Department Citizen’s Academy. She spent 12 weeks in training to learn about fire strategy and tactics, to observe firefighters in action, and to learn basic lifesaving skills. Donna loved to go with her Aunt Walter Dell to jewelry shows and with her special friends to shop, eat and try new cuisines. She also supported the fine arts by attending plays and jazz concerts.

Donna received a divine invitation to return to her Father in Heaven on August 9, 2023. She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson DeShaune Aron; and her sisters Barbara Davis and Delores Aron. Those who are left to cherish the memories of her rich and loving life are her devoted son, DeUndre Ramon Aron; her grandson Trevor Aron; her brothers Carl Davis, Roosevelt Aron, Jr. of Dallas, Texas; and Howard Watson; her sisters Emma Aron, Bobbie Aron, and Idella Aron Brown (Emmett) of Topeka, Kansas; her numerous nieces and nephews; her cousins Carolyn Land, Michael Green, DeAdrienne Smith, and others; and her close childhood friends Dolly Jefferson Jeffries, Hazel Cato Riles, Patsy Muse Southern, Marsha McGruder Oliver, and Beverly Arrington Houston.

The post In Memoriam: Donna Kay Aron Laid to Rest appeared first on Forward Times.

The post In Memoriam: Donna Kay Aron Laid to Rest first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.