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The Oxford Family Newsletter www.oxford9.com "LOOK HOW FAR THE LORD HAS BROUGHT US" December 2005 Number 68
JEANNE MARIE FORDHAM
1955-2005
“On November 4, 1955, God loaned an angel to John and Stroma Pollard. Jeanne blessed the world with close to fifty years of charity and cheer. Jeanne Fordham served the Orange County Health Department for twenty-four years as a clerical supervisor. She blessed the Independent Free Methodist Council as, Secretary of the Board, and Treasurer of the Missionary Society. At the same time she served her own church as Treasurer. She raised two beautiful children, Andre and Andrea to be strong loving human beings just as she was.
She continued a long friendship with her ex husband Lawrence Fordham. On October 14, 2005, the Lord looked down on His angel and said “well done thy good and faithful servant,” and then called His angel home. He stood at the gates with her wings in His hands.
She leaves a loving mother, Stroma Pollard, Apopka, Fl; Two sisters Alfrieda Pollard and Juanita Sapp, Orlando; brother Ronald Pollard (Sophia), Orlando; son Andre Apopka; daughter, Andrea, Altamonte Springs; two grandchildren, Haley and D’Andre; four nephews, three nieces, and a host of great nephews, nieces, and other relatives and friends.”
Her homegoing services were held at Macedonia Independent Free Methodist Church, Apopka, FL. Interment was in Memorial Cementery, Apapka, FL.”
CARTER G. WOODSON SCHOLARS MEDALLION HONOREE
By Angela Renae Alexander
The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, inaugurated the Carter Godwin Woodson Scholars Medallion in 1993. The Medallion is presented to a scholar whose career personifies the Woodson legacy - to ensure a firm foundation for the continuance of African-centered education through dedication and commitment to African-American history.
The Woodson Medallion symbolizes excellence in research, writing, scholarship, and achievement in African-American culture, life and history. As such, the recipient must be a trained scholar and must have made a contribution to the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. In addition, the recipient must have published in the field of African-American life and history, continuing to correct the deficiencies in American history where African-American history is misrepresented or distorted.
What manner of man do we, the Oxford Clan, congratulate and give kudos to? A man not unlike Job, our own distinguished and humble Monroe Fordham, Ph.D., Lh.D., Professor Emeritus. Throughout Monroe's distinguished career, he has untiringly pioneered numerous initiatives aimed at preserving state and regional African-American historical sources. As well, he worked with numerous community groups in the development of records management and record preservation programs.
Following his retirement, and in recognition of his work in both regional and community history, Buffalo State College established The Monroe Fordham Regional History Center (2002).
We should not take for granted this living legend that roams freely among us, yet to which countless others outside our family fold have only limited or no access. We must embrace him and the knowledge he so lovingly and freely gives. We must accept and acknowledge that we cannot rely on documentaries and writings of other than those researched and learned African-Americans, and others committed to accurately authenticate our history, to educate, enlighten and correct misconceptions and misrepresentations of our history as well as our undeniable contributions to the history of all other races and ethnicities. We must take pride in who and what we are and maintain the value and uniqueness of our being and likenesses with dignity, determination and perseverance.
A very humorous and revealing story is told about a group of white people who were fed up with African-Americans, so they joined together and wished themselves away. They passed through a deep dark tunnel and emerged in sort of a twilight zone where there existed an America without black people. At first these white people breathed a sigh of relief...at last, they said, no more crime, drugs, violence and welfare. All of the blacks have gone!! Then suddenly reality set in...the "NEW AMERICA" was not America at all - only a barren land, because:
Now, isn't that something? What would this world be like without the contributions of Black folks? Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "By the time we leave work, we have been dependent on half the world. Modern America is created by dependencies on the inventions from the minds of Black folks." Black history includes more than just slavery, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey and W. E. B. Dubois, it includes Monroe Fordham and YOU!
Do not undermine your worth by comparing yourself to others. It is because we are different that each of us is SPECIAL...
FAMILY NEWS
CONTRIBUTORS TO OXFORD SCHOLARSHIP
The 5 children of Arie D. Fordham Jackson (Mancefield, Evelyn [Williams], Lawrence, Vera [Thomas] and Monroe), and their families, recently contributed $10,000 to the Mance and Sarah Oxford Scholarship. According to Monroe Fordham, manager of the scholarship fund, “The money has been invested in a low risk mutual fund which will earn enough interest to fund one $500 scholarship per year.”
The daughters and granddaughter of Nannie Mae Telafare, Josie Johnson, Ozzie Alexander, and Angela Alexander recently contributed a total of $3,000 to the Oxford Scholarship. They are regular contributors to the scholarship fund and they urged other family members who are able to do likewise. “Our grandparents, Mance and Sarah, were givers and we should follow their example and give to encourage our youth.”
Kemmetrice “Kim” Oxford, recently contributed $100 to the Oxford Scholarship. Kim is a former recipient of an Oxford Scholarship. She is the daughter of Marilyn Oxford Elliott, and granddaughter of the late Annie Lee and Adolphus Oxford, Sr..
Since the time of its inception in 1990, the Mance & Sarah Ann Oxford Scholarship has distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships.
The following story was taken from the Orlando Sentinel Jeff Kunerth, Sentinel staff writer
(Editor’s Note: Katherine Hodges and Bessie Cobb were sisters of Lois Hall’s late mother—Lucy Oxford, wife of the late John L. Oxford).
The consolation prize for longevity is loneliness. Parents have passed. Siblings are dead. Spouses are deceased. Children are gone. Katherine Hodges is 106. Her sister Bessie Cobb is 95. The sisters are the last of a large family that fills a plot in Orlando's Greenwood Cemetery. "We are from a family of 15 children. Same mother and same daddy," Katherine said. "There were 15 of us, and they're all gone except the two of us."
Loneliness isn't their problem. They have each other. What they need is someone who can come by once in a while and help with the housecleaning and personal hygiene. For that, they have the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Florida, whose Community Care for the Elderly program serves 1,700 elderly residents in Orange and Seminole counties. Another 1,400 are on a waiting list. The program, which received $20,000 last year from the Orlando Sentinel Family Fund Holiday Campaign, provides personal-care workers and homemakers who do household chores that allow the elderly to remain in their homes. Some days, they are the only ones to pay an old person a visit. "They are usually very lonely individuals," said Lisa Chapman, spokesperson for the Visiting Nurse Association. "Typically, it's an 84-year-old female, frail with chronic health problems. The family is either deceased or they live up north."
Several times a week, somebody from the agency knocks on the door of the beige-and-white-trim bungalow on Westmoreland Drive where Katherine and Bessie live. The sisters were born a half-block away on Bentley Street back when all the streets were dirt and no houses had electricity. Their early childhood was illuminated by lamplight.
There is a picture of the two-story frame house in a giant framed collage of family photos hanging on their dining-room wall. In front of the house stands their father, flanked by seven of his children and two milk cows. Katherine, about 12, is standing to his right. Bessie, an infant, sits in the lap of her older sister Della. Their mother looks out from a second-story window. Katherine likes to tell the story of the day her daddy let the kids take the horse and buggy out by themselves. When they returned, she found her mother in bed with newborn twins -- Bessie and her brother Watson. Katherine asked whether she could have the baby boy, and her mother said yes. "He lived to be 9 days old," Katherine said. "Then I asked if I could have this one. She's been my baby ever since."
Every morning, Katherine swings her thin legs off her bed in the sunroom and heads in small, careful steps across the dining room to the bedroom of her baby sister. At her sister's hospital-style bed, Katherine rubs Bessie's legs and helps her get up and into her wheelchair. It has been this way since Bessie, who has diabetes, had a stroke in 1993. Katherine suffers from arthritis and emphysema and uses an aluminum walker to get around. As my mother used to say, it's no disgrace to grow old, but it's very inconvenient sometimes," Katherine said. "She died young."
Their mother lived to be 71. Their father, a minister and orange-grove caretaker, died at 84. One sister made it to 91. All but three siblings lived to see 70. Katherine has never known anyone, except herself, who has lasted this long. “Here I am, 106 years old,” she said. "I am just about shot."
In her younger days, Katherine Hodges liked to go to the movies with her husband and Sunday services at the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. Her husband, Otis Hodges, was a church deacon and a restaurant chef. There's a picture of him -- a handsome man in a light jacket, dark bow tie and broad-brimmed hat -- inside the frame of family pictures. He has been dead longer than Katherine can remember. They had one son, a boxer. His picture shows him with gloved fists above the words that identify him as "Billy Lancaster -- world's outstanding welterweight contender." He died in 1987, the year Bessie came back home to live with Katherine.
The youngest child, Bessie was the first in the family to graduate from high school -- Jones High, Class of 1927. She moved away, studied interior decoration, married a hotel bellhop, and worked sewing and upholstering furniture. "I loved going into different houses and different towns. Back then, I got to see the countryside," she said. Her husband, Nathaniel Cobb, died in 1972.
The two sisters have lived together, taking care of each other, for nearly 20 years. The house they live in, the one built by their father, still has their maiden name -- Lancaster -- on the front door. Outside that door, the neighborhood is sometimes a dangerous place. Katherine and Bessie were watching the end of a Magic basketball game 15 years ago, when a man who was shot while fleeing a drug deal crashed his car into their front porch. Almost every week, there's some commotion outside -- police sirens, flashing lights, angry words. "You see everything. Young people cursing and fighting," Katherine said. "Their parents are so busy, they can't be bothered with them."
But all around them, like an invisible shield, are people watching out for Katherine Hodges and Bessie Cobb. A pastor and his wife take care of the lawn and do their grocery shopping. A neighbor brings fried chicken. A church provides some meals. And every few days, workers from Community Care for the Elderly come by to look after the sisters' home and their bodies. The sisters' pleasures are simple: a hot bowl of grits in the morning from Katherine, a sheet of peanut-butter cookies baked by Bessie. They watch television together and monitor each other's health. Some days, it's Katherine who is too tired to get up. Other days, it's Bessie who isn't feeling so well.
When she sleeps, Katherine sometimes dreams of her
husband. She sees him as a young man again, sitting on the edge of a lake in
a blue shirt. They don't exchange words. He doesn't even see her standing
there watching him. When she awakens, the feeling of the dream is still in
her bed. At her age, every day is a reminder of what is lost and what
remains. She thinks about the dead and then gets up to check on her
95-year-old baby.
Copyright (c) 2005, Orlando Sentinel
MANCE & SARAH ANN OXFORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
This is to announce that the Mance and Sarah Ann Oxford Scholarship for 2006 is now open for applications. The scholarship awards, in the amount of $500 each will be made in June, 2006. The purpose of the award is to encourage and assist high school graduates who are descendants of Mance and Sarah Ann Oxford.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicant must be a descendant of Mance and Sarah Ann Oxford. 2. Applicant must be a high school senior who plans to attend college or a trade school following high school graduation.
PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING(!!!! IMPORTANT, PLEASE DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING !!!!)
(Letter of application MUST include the following)
APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE ABOVE WILL BE INELIGIBLE
Send all of the above to:
Mance & Sarah Ann Oxford Scholarship 49 Calvert Blvd. Tonawanda, NY 14150
GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDSOxford descendants who have been accepted, or are enrolled, in a graduate school are eligible for a one time graduate student award of $500.
Deadlines for applications are the same as the above. Applicants should submit a copy of their letter of acceptance to graduate school, or a copy of their most recent grades for graduate courses. Applicants should also explain their education goals and list their major course of study.
MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR
Monroe & Pam Fordham 49 Calvert Blvd. Tonawanda, NY 14150 716-633-7058
The Oxford Family Newsletter www.oxford9.com "LOOK HOW FAR THE LORD HAS BROUGHT US" October 2005 Number 67
SUMMARY OF FAMILY REUNION, 2005The 120+ persons who attended the recent “Oxford Family Reunion”, came from 10 states (Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Florida, Michigan, California, Virginia, Georgia, New Jersey, and North Carolina.). It was probably the best reunion that we’ve had to date. Mckinley Bradley and his Georgia committee did an outstanding job of organizing and planning the two day affair. The food was delicious and plentiful and the accommodations were excellent. The first activity was the “meet and greet” gathering in a large meeting room at the Albany, Georgia Courtyard Marriott. The meeting opened with prayer. The opening session is always an emotional time where relatives, some of whom hadn’t seen each other for years, exchange stories and share recollections about family. It was a time of taking photos, and introducing young children. Brad and his crew gave out the attractive reunion t-shirt, copies of the 10 page Mance and Sarah Oxford descendants report, and copies of the program and directions for the next two days. The official session lasted for two hours (6-8), but many of those present had rooms in the hotel and hung around talking long after the meeting ended. On Saturday morning, family members who had rooms in the hotel met informally during and after the buffet breakfast (which featured ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, grits, waffles, fruit, cereal, etc.). Some planned to visit the church and cemetery in Parrott. Others went shopping, and some visited relatives who lived in southwest Georgia. Some just spent time with grandchildren and other relatives in the hotel. There were lots of eating places near the hotel, some went out for lunch, others ordered pizza and other fast foods to be brought to the hotel. Saturday evening was the first big event of the reunion. The organizers planned an informal dinner where everyone wore the official reunion t-shirt. The dinner was held at the Albany Art Museum and we had the entire museum to ourselves for the evening. There was fish, bar-b-que, chicken, shrimp, etc. There was more food than we could eat. Families were introduced and descendants of the children of Mance and Sarah Oxford were acknowledged. Also present were some of the descendants of Alfred and Dennis Shepherd (brothers of Sarah Ann Shepherd Oxford) The program was a combination talent show and “open mike”. One of the highlights of the evening was an original oration on “family” by Tanisha Fordham, a first year student at North Carolina A&T. All in all, it was a fun evening. Sunday morning, some family members met informally during the buffet breakfast before driving the 20 to 30 minute distance to Macedonia Baptist Church in Parrott. Church services began promptly at 11 A.M.. The church was packed. In the church, one could fell an emotional connection with the past. The pews, the walls, the pulpit, and the choir stand were all fixtures some 65 years ago when our forbearers occupied the space. The devotion style and songs was much the same as it was in the 1940s and 1950s. Deacon Otis Oxford (son of the late Adolphus and Annie Lee Oxford) led the devotion. Rev. Lucious Mitchell preached a powerful and spirited sermon. It didn’t take long to see that the church service was the most important part of the Oxford reunion. The church service offered a window to the spiritual and emotional power that our forbearers were able to plug into and survive the segregation, economic exploitation, and racial violence of the early part of the century. The spiritual power that was unleashed in Rev. Mitchell’s sermon, and the songs and prayers offered a parallel vision of then and now. Today we are trying to raise our families in a world that is as violent and as dangerous as the world of our ancestors. Drugs, materialism, deterioration of moral values, and the general lack of respect for life is as much of a threat to our well being as slavery and segregation ever was. The difference is that we recognized slavery and segregation as bad, and we armed ourselves with religion and the teachings of the church to protect ourselves. On the other hand, today’s vices and the unbridled appetites of a material culture seem like progress, and instead of being leery of excesses, we welcome the negative aspects of the “modern world” with open arms. If we pay close attention to the spiritual message that Macedonia offers up, we may see solutions to many of today’s challenges. In the church service, in the same space that our ancestors occupied more than ¾ of a century ago, there is a likelihood that we may feel a spark of their presence. Walking through the cemetery where many of our ancestors were laid to rest, may touch us at some emotional level. And that should be the main point of a family reunion. It is as though we were in the presence of our invisible ancestors, and plugged into the same spiritual force that sustained them. A family reunion should charge us up and give us a perspective that should renewed our hope and optimism as we leave and go back out to face the modern world. The final official event of the reunion was the post-church dinner back in Albany. The post-service dinner was relaxed and informal. There was plenty of food. The food items included, chicken, ham, turnips, sweet potatoes, peach cobbler, banana pudding, etc. In fact they urged us to fix extra plates and take food home. After dinner there was opportunity for people to reflect on past reunions, and to share their feelings with the group. There was also an opportunity take group photographs. People were asked to express their opinions about future reunions. The reunion ended with prayer by Deacon Otis Oxford. A FINAL WORD FROM BRAD I want to thank everyone who helped to make our recent family reunion a success. At our final dinner, those present agreed to hold our next reunion in the Albany area. They also suggested that it should be scheduled for 2009. I have talked with some of the local participants and some felt that 4 years was too long to wait. My personal suggestion is to schedule it for 2007. I'm thinking about June 29th, 30th, and July 1st of 2007. This will be a 3-day event on Friday, Sat., and Sun. I have ideas to improve upon the reunion we had this year with more involvement from the young, as well as increasing the level of participation of all. Write or call me and let me know what you think. I am eager to get rolling with the planning process if there is no strong objection to the 2007 date. My address is P.O. Box 518, Sasser GA 31785. My phone number is 229-698-5875. Unless there is strong opposition to the 2007 date expressed by December 1, I will begin planning for the 2007 date. HELP A RELATIVE WITH LEUKEMIA; GET TESTED TO DONATE BONE MARROWAngela Alexander has leukemia. If she doesn’t get a bone marrow transplant, she faces a premature death. Angela is Ozie Alexander’s daughter and the late Aunt Nannie Mae Telefair’s granddaughter. Angela was in attendance at the reunion but had to leave unexpectedly because of illness, Angela must find a bone marrow donor with a bone marrow type that matches her type. Then that person must be willing to undergo a transplant. Since Angela is a relative, its possible that someone in the Oxford extended family has her match. If you are interested and willing to get tested and possibly help Angela, here is what you need to do: (1) Call Angela (1-404-696-5973) and find out her Doctor’s name and the name of the clinic where she is being treated, and any other information that you will need to give the National Marrow Donor Program; (2) Call the Office of Patient Advocacy (1-888-999-6743) and tell them that you have a relative with leukemia, and that you are interested in being tested to find out if you are a match for Angela. Ask them to explain, step by step, what you should do.
KIMMETRICE OXFORD: TEACHER OF THE YEAR At the end of the 2005 school year, Kimmetrice “Kim” Oxford was selected as the “Teacher of the Year”, by a Greater Boston and southeastern Mass. parent group, “Citizens Concerned About Education”. “Kim” is the daughter of Marylyn Oxford Elliott, and granddaughter of the late Adolphus and Annie Lee Oxford. The award recognizes teachers who have “demonstrated their abilities in the classroom and are recognized by their peers, principals, students and communities to have excelled as educators.” The award will be presented at a dinner and reception scheduled for October 22, 2005. Kim is a former Oxford Scholarship recipient. She has a Masters Degree and plans to pursue a Doctorate Degree. Congratulations Kim. Your hard work and dedication to excellence makes your family proud.
CONTRIBUTION TO OXFORD SCHOLARSHIPJames Gadson, of Altamont Springs, FLA, contributed $25 to the Oxford Scholarship.SARAH OXFORD’S PHOTO ALBUM Sarah Ann Oxford owned a photo album in which she kept pictorial documents of various branches of her family. In the album were photos of her children and some of her grandchildren. The album contained vintage photos, many of which had never been seen by members of the younger generation. When Sarah died the photo album was passed on to her youngest child, Arie D. Fordham. Over the years, Arie D. added a few photos to the album. When her health began to fail, Arie passed the album on to her son, Monroe. Monroe added family photos from various relatives. Recently Monroe and his daughter Pam decided to put the pictures in the photo album onto a CD where they could be shared with the rest of the Oxford clan. The CD also contains an identification file which identifies the persons in the photos. There are 126 photos on the CD. The images on the CD can be accessed using any photo software (Microsoft Picture It, Adobe etc). We will send a copy of the CD to anyone who requests it. You can, in turn, make copies and give it to your family. It will be a good starting point for creating a family album around your family. To get a copy of the CD, simple request it and send us your address. Send the request through our WEB site, or send it to me at Fordham@adelphia.net. Or you can just give me a call (716-633-7058). Pam will put selected photos on our www.oxford9.com WEB site. She will rotate or change the images from time to time. If you have photos of your family that you want to put on the WEB site, send us the photos and we will scan them and return them to you. Be sure to identify the persons in each photo.
FAMILY NEWS FOR JANUARY, 2006Send family news stories for our next issue of the family newsletter to 49 Calvert Blvd., Tonawanda NY 14150. Share news about your family with everyone.
The Oxford Family Newsletter www.oxford9.com "LOOK HOW FAR THE LORD HAS BROUGHT US" July 2005 Number 66
OVERVIEW OF SCHEDULE
Friday August 5th“Meet and Greet” night at the Albany hotel (Courtyard by Marriott, (229)-889-8015, 3019 Kensington Court, Albany GA.31707 When making reservations ask for Karla Williams or Steve DuBois and mention the Oxford Family Reunion. The rates are $79 for kings and doubles). (directions to hotel listed below) . I will be at the hotel from 6 P.M. until 8 P.M. passing out the T-Shirts and other information pertaining to the reunion.
Saturday August 6thThere will be numerous activities on Saturday. During the morning and afternoon, everyone will have free time. This will allow people the opportunity to rest/shop/visit local relatives/and sightsee the surrounding areas i.e. Dawson/Parrott/Albany. Some may want to drive up to Parrott and visit the Macedonia Church grounds and cemetery. Macedonia was founded in the late 1800s by our forbearers. Many of our family members who live in the area still worship there. Many of our relatives are buried in the church cemetery. Some may want to ride out in the “country” where our forbearers once lived. Some may want to just relax and/or shop in the Albany Mall. We will meet at the Albany Museum of Art from 4 p.m. until. (I will give out directions to the Museum at “Meet and Greet” on Friday.) Be prepared for an evening of Fun/ Food/ and family recognition along with a great deal of socializing with each other. We also will have access to the Museum the entire time for our families to enjoy the exhibits that will be on display.
Sunday August 7thWe will worship together in Parrott at Macedonia Baptist Church. (I will give directions to the church at “Meet and Greet” on Friday.) This is where our ancestors gathered and also where some of our local relatives continue to go. After service we will come together again as a family for a good ole Sunday dinner from 2:30 p.m. until. This will give us some more time for reflecting/sharing/ and passing on. Directions will be given later.
Listed Below are directions to the Hotel:
TO THE ALBANY COURTYARD MARRIOTT For those coming from the Airport: Turn left coming out of Airport; Go 1.25 mile, turn left onto Slappey Blvd; Go 2.5 miles (Thru eight lights), and turn left on Dawson Rd; Go almost 5 miles (Thru eight lights), and make a left on Pointe North. (You will see a Home Run gas station on your left). When you make that left you will immediately turn back to your right this will be Kensington Ct. The hotel will be one block down on the right.
For those driving from Fla. and points east of Albany; Take the Liberty Expressway (Hwy 520), heading west towards Dawson/Columbus and get in the left lane that will say Downtown Albany. When you get off you will see the hotel on your right. Make a right at the light; This will be Pointe North, and make an immediate right at Kensington Ct. The hotel will be one block down on your right.
For those coming from Dawson; Make a right at the 1st light under the underpass this will be Pointe North and make an immediate right on Kensington Ct. The hotel will be one block down on your right.
For those coming South down U.S. Hwy 19: As you come into Albany take a right onto the Liberty Expressway (Hwy 520); do not go under the underpass. Go approximately 2 miles. You will see the Dawson/Columbus sign; Take the Downtown Albany exit.When you exit you will see the hotel on your right; Make a right at the 1st light (Pointe North) then make an immediate right on Kensington Ct. The hotel will be one block down on your right.
I will give directions to the Albany Museum of Art on Friday evening at “Meet and Greet” night. I will also be giving out other points of interest as well during this time. For any further questions please call me or contact me via my home or e-mail address: McKinley Bradley. P.O. Box 518, Sasser GA 31785. phone number 229-698-5875. mckinleybradley@yahoo.com OXFORD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS, 2005
There were five scholarship recipients selected for 2005, they were Marshall Pierre Baquet, Janet Telafare Baquet, Tanisha Shavonne Fordham, Ashley Katrina Key, and Lefagous Maurice White. Each recipient gets a $500 stipend and a certificate. Since 1990, the Mance & Sarah Oxford Scholarship has awarded over $20,000 in scholarships.
Marshall Pierre BaquetMarshall is the son of Janet Telafare Baquet, the grandson of Curtis and Dorothy Telafare, and the great-grandson of Nannie Mae Oxford Telafare. He is a spring, 2005 graduate of Atlanta’s Benjamin Mays High School, where he was an above average student. He was enrolled in the college preparatory course of study. His professional goal is to be a movie director/producer or a sports commentator. In the fall, Marshall will attend the University of New Orleans and major in Liberal Arts.
Janet Telafare Baquet Jan is the recipient of the graduate student scholarship. She is the daughter of Curtis and Dorothy Telafare, and the granddaughter of Nannie Mae Oxford Telafare. Jan is a second year graduate student at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta. She is pursuing a Master of Divinity Degree in the Psychology of Religion and Pastoral Care. Jan’s professional goal is to be a Chaplain at the Georgia Capital Defender’s facility which works with inmates to maintain community as they work through the process of adjusting to life under state death-row sentencing. Following the completion of the Masters Degree, in 2006, Jan plans to pursue a Doctor of Theological Degree concentrating in Pastoral Counseling.
Tanisha Shavonne FordhamTanisha is the daughter of Pamela Fordham, granddaughter of Monroe and Freddie Mae Fordham, and great-granddaughter of the late Arie D. Fordham. Tanisha was a spring, 2005 graduate of the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart, where she carried an overall G.P.A. of 3.0. She was director of her high school gospel choir, and for two years she directed the school’s Black History program. She lettered for two years in Varsity basketball, and three years in varsity volley ball. She was also a national finalist for three years in the NAACP”s ACT-SO (academic Olympics). In 2005 Tanisha was the recipient of NCCJ community service award. In the fall, she plans to attend North Carolina A&T University, where she will major in Broadcast Journalism. Her career goal is to become a television news reporter and maybe eventually a television news anchor.
Ashley Katrina Key Ashley is the daughter of Leon and Dollie Mae Oxford Key, the granddaughter of Ethel Mae and the late John L. “Jaybird” Oxford, Sr., and the great-granddaughter of the late Jess Oxford. Ashley was a spring, 2005 graduate of Terrell High School in Dawson, Georgia, where she carried a cum G.P.A. of 84. She was a member of the school basketball team, a four year member of the track and cross country teams, and a six year member of the softball team. She was a member of the Future Business Leaders of America Club. Ashley was also an active member of Parrott’s Macedonia Baptist Church, where she was a junior usher. In the fall, she plans to attend Georgia Southwestern College in Americus, Georgia. She will major in Early Childhood Education.
Lefagous Maurice White Lefagous is the son of Lefagous White and Lisa Oxford White, and the grandson of John L. “Jaybird” Oxford. Lefagous was a spring, 2005 graduate of the James M. Coughlin High School. in Wilkes-Barre,PA., where he carried a 2.7 cum G.P.A. In the fall, he plans to attend Cheyney University and major in accounting. His career goal is to become a certified public accountant.
Congratulation to all of our recipients. We ask everyone to keep our high school graduates in your prayers. They have a weighty responsibility to develop all of their talents and take advantage of opportunities that their forbearers couldn’t even imagine.
Hang on to this newsletter. It is the final newsletter before the reunion in August. I hope to see many of you in Albany.
The Oxford Family Newsletter www.oxford9.com "LOOK HOW FAR THE LORD HAS BROUGHT US" April 2005 Number 65
FAMILY REUNION UPDATERemember this date!!! August 5, 6, & 7, 2005.
The following announcement is from “Brad” and the family reunion organizing committee:
To date, there has been an excellent response to our call for people to register for the next Oxford Family Reunion.The 2005 Oxford Family Reunion will be held on August 5-7 in Albany, Georgia. The organizing committee is arranging for two meals and a family reunion T-shirt. The registration fee will cover those items. The first reunion sponsored meal will be the Saturday evening banquet. The other reunion sponsored meal will be the Sunday after church dinner. The other item covered by the registration fee is the reunion T-shirt. The total registration fee for each person is as follows: Adults - $50; children ages 3-12 - $25; children 2 and under eat free + $12 only if you want a T-shirt.Money for registration should be sent to McKinley Bradley. Brad’s address is P.O. Box 518, Sasser GA 31785. His phone number is 229-698-5875. In addition to the registration fee, submit the T-shirt size for each person that is ordering a T-shirt.The deadline for the registration fee is April 30, 2005.The organizing committee has reserved a total of 30 rooms at the Courtyard by Marriott, (229)-889-8015, 3019 Kensington Court, Albany GA.31707 When making reservations ask for Karla Williams or Steve DuBois and mention the Oxford Family Reunion. The rates are $79 for kings and doubles.Families are asked to call and make their own lodging arrangements. In order to get reunion rates, reservations must be made before June 15, 2005. Directions for getting around in the Albany/Dawson/Parrott area and a list of planned activities will be included in future newsletters. In addition, there will be a “Family Reunion Update” in the www.oxford9.com WEB site. Hang on to this newsletter, the next newsletter is scheduled for July, 2005.
MANCE & SARAH ANN OXFORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
This is to announce that the Mance and Sarah Ann Oxford Scholarship for 2005 is now open for applications. The scholarship awards, in the amount of $500 each will be made in June, 2005. The purpose of the award is to encourage and assist high school graduates who are descendants of Mance and Sarah Ann Oxford.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
1. Applicant must be a descendant of Mance and Sarah Ann Oxford. 2. Applicant must be a high school senior who plans to attend college or a trade school following high school graduation.
PROCEDURE FOR APPLYING (!!!! IMPORTANT, PLEASE DO ALL OF THE FOLLOWING !!!!)(Letter of application MUST include the following) 1. Applicant’s name, applicant’s address, phone number, etc. 2. Statement explaining applicant’s relationship to the Oxford clan. 3. Statement explaining applicant’s vocational or professional goals in life, and listing the college or trade school that you plan to attend. 4. A copy of applicant’s high school transcript. 5. The application deadline is May 1, 2005. APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE ALL OF THE ABOVE WILL BE INELIGIBLE
Send all of the above to:
Mance & Sarah Ann Oxford Scholarship 49 Calvert Blvd. Tonawanda, NY 14150
GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDSDeadlines for applications are the same as the above. Applicants should submit a copy of their letter of acceptance to graduate school, or a copy of their most recent grades for graduate courses. Applicants should also explain their education goals and list their major course of study.
JOSIE JOHNSON: A WOMAN ON THE MOVE(taken from Crossroads: A Quarterly Newsletter of St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, Atlanta, GA) by Faye McDonald Smith
As one of the original members of St. Paul of the Cross, Josie Johnson has been a prime mover within the parish for many years. Usually her involvement is behind the scenes; yet her quiet support and generous contributions have not gone unnoticed. She was recently elected by the parish as its 2004 “Woman of the Year,” an honor most richly deserved. A native of Albany, Georgia, Josie met her late husband Charles when they were both students at Atlanta University. She and Charles were married for 47 years, until his death in January 2003. She says that Charles was extremely fond of St. Paul of the Cross, and she wants to honor his memory by continuing to contribute to the parish in whatever way possible. Josie is involved with Pastoral Care, the Jolly Bunch, and the Tuesday Bible study class. She is a faithful attendee of morning Mass and of monthly Friday adoration. She can always be counted on to support special projects, activities and fundraisers at the church. A former educator (she taught second grade for more than 30 years), Josie is especially interested in the development of the youth of the parish, and would like to see more involvement by young adults. “They need to do what some of the seniors are doing, so they can carry on,” she says. She also hopes that the church facilities will be enlarged and upgraded. “We need an educational center or some meeting space where it wouldn’t be so congested.” Josie enjoys reading and gardening, but has a special interest in travel. She and Charles used to travel extensively, visiting such places as the Vatican, British Columbia, and Niagara Falls, and going on frequent cruises. Now, she occasionally accompanies her niece on business trips, but would like to find a traveling friend who has the time and interest to explore new locations. Her philosophy: “Life is too short to not enjoy it whenever and however you can.” [Editors Note: Josie Johnson is the daughter of the late Nannie Mae Telafare].
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Most people set personal goals around competitive factors. Their goal is simply to be better than someone else, or to surpass a standard that someone has set, or to overcome some other outside obstacle. A truly “driven” person is motivated by a force from within. The core of that internal force is a strong belief in their own potential to excel, and an unyielding confidence that, through due diligence on their part, they can reach that potential. That is the quiet, unseen, force that motivates them. Being better than the competition will not, in and of itself, guarantee excellence. A team or individual can win and, at the same time, not perform very well. Being better than the competition should not be viewed as a standard of success. Ideally, we should strive to be the best that we can be. We should place high expectations on ourselves and judge our performance on the basis of those standards. When we can do that, success and failure will not be based on outward appearances, but on personal goals that we set for ourselves. Monroe Fordham
FAMILY NEWS
Lawrence Fordham had surgery on February 24. His family reports that he is doing well and was released from the hospital on February 27. Lawrence is the son of the late Arie D. Fordham Jackson. He lives in Orlando, Florida.
Mancefield “Flat” Fordham and Ida Johnson will be married on April 16, 2005. The ceremony will be performed at New Beginnings Church, Orlando, Florida. Mancefield is the son of the late Arie D. Fordham Jackson.
In February, 2005, Tanisha Fordham won the 29th Annual Carter G. Woodson Essay Contest. The contest, sponsored by the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier, chooses winners in three age group categories. Tanisha was the winner in the 10 – 12 grade category. On April 2, Tanisha took first place in oratory and first place in the written essay categories in the Western New York region of the NAACP ACT-SO competition. As regional champion, she qualifies for the national competition, which will be held in July in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tanisha is the daughter of Pam Fordham and the granddaughter of Monroe and Freddie Mae Fordham. She is a senior in the Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart. Tanisha plans to attend North Carolina A & T University in the fall.
The Oxford Family Newsletter
www.oxford9.com "LOOK HOW FAR THE LORD HAS BROUGHT US" January
2005
Number 64 FAMILY
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