Celebrity blog reveals my fraternal loss!

I know I haven't blogged in a good while but today I felt compelled to write after visiting a celebrity blog site, Bossip.com, that I frequent. This morning I was skimming through their many posts that are usually inspired by and derived from the daily happenings in the lives of the most popular celebrities of today and years past. However, I came across one post that truly disturbed me, simply because it wasn't about a celebrity. It was about a couple who I am unfamiliar with on a personal level but am connected to fraternally. My fraternity brother and soror were carjacked and murdered at 3 a.m. this morning. My heart is faint in light of this disheartening news. I don't know this this young couple...but I grieve and mourn the loss of two members of my fraternal family. I promise you! TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED!!!

Just hours after friends joyfully toasted them at their engagement party, a couple lay dead on a Jersey City street this morning, shot during what police said was a possible carjacking.

College sweethearts Michael Muchioki, 27, and Nia Haqq, 25, had planned to marry next April, those close to them said. On Saturday evening, the couple celebrated their engagement with friends and family at Delta’s, a soul food restaurant in New Brunswick, and then at a larger gathering at Perle, a club and lounge also in the Middlesex County city. Afterward, a friend said, they begged off going to a diner, opting to return to Muchioki’s Jersey City apartment in Haqq’s Honda CRV. Police said the couple were shot around 3 a.m., a few doors from Muchioki’s home.

CLICK TO CONTINUE...

http://ChristophJenkins.blogspot.com

Please keep my brother in your prayers while God heals his body!

I ask that you lift my frat brother in prayer as he recovers from a severe stroke. We already claim his healing right here, right now! We just have to be patient and let God work! Below are a few emails from some of the older brothers from my chapter who know him very well. I never met him but had the priviledge of being in his presence at homecoming this year. I found this out when I was sent a picture of him at homecoming...and I was in the picture. That's wild!

I'm the one in the army fatigue shorts holding up a pic of one of our recently deceased brothers, Bro. Arthur Smith, and Bro. Kilroy is to the right of my in the all black with the A Phi A shirt.

Brothers of E Pi,

Tony (KILROY) Hall, who pledged in the Fall of 1981, suffered a severe stroke yesterday in his home outside of Houston. He is paralyzed on the left side of his body and this morning became non-responsive. Doctors say he has massive blood flow on his brain. His wife, Amanda, is there by his side and asks for prayers. Let's not let her or Kilroy down.
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If you know Kilroy, you know he's one of the finest and most genuine brothers of any walk of life. He suffered a more mild stroke a few years ago, but rebounded well and not too long after returned to one of his passions of basketball. "This one is bad," Amanda said to me.

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So, let's pray and pray hard for Kilroy and his family, which includes four children. I will keep you informed on his status.
Peace and blessings,

BUNN
Fall '82
Curtis Bunn

http://www.curtisbunn.com/

Bro. Kilroy is in the upper right

Brothers of E Pi:

Just spoke with Amanda, the wife of Anthony (Kilroy) Hall. Here's the latest: Kilroy went through two surgeries yesterday...They told Amanda to go to see Kilroy, that the surgery was successful. Amanda was relieved and headed that way. When she got close to the recovery room, she saw a team of personnel rushing him back into surgery... So, they had to go back in and clap some vessels and provide blood flow for others. He slept well last night, Amanda said. Doctors sent her home this morning. She said nurses indicated he has been responding some, not so much verbally but through sounds and expressions. Kilroy remains paralyzed on the left side of his body. The prognosis and/or recovery at this point is unclear.
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Amanda sends so much thanks and appreciation for all the calls, text messages and prayers from E Pi. She said nurses at the hospital were asking, "Is he famous or something," so many people bombarded the Hermann Hospital at Texas Medical Center. It is one of the best hospitals in the country, which is a blessing. We know Kilroy loves life and is a fighter (he pledged E Pi, after all). But let's not let up on the prayers. We know prayer works!!! Thanks for all your support. Amanda said she will call me when there is more news and I will relay that to you. Peace and blessings,

BUNN

Fall '82

Curtis Bunn

http://www.curtisbunn.com/

Bro. Kilroy and his lovely family

Greetings Brethren of EPI,
Everything happens for a reason and now that this awesome power amongst the EPI bretheren has risen once again, we'll utilize this power in prayer towards the speedy recovery and the healing of Kilroy. For such a time as this. Ecclesiastes 3 verse 1 says, 'To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.'
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God has done marvelous things. The last few weeks have been a temendous blessing in witnessing the manfestation of God's will take place. That will being the reunion of brothers heart and soul. He has brought each and every one of us from a mighty long way and has resurrected the God in us all to reach out to one another with love and respect.
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Bretheren, this is our time. Let us all lift Kilroy and his family up in prayer and expect the praise report that everything is going to be alright.
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Let Brotherly Love Continue,

R.B
Black Magic
Trouble Fall '80

http://ChristophJenkins.blogspot.com

It's a bitter-sweet day for my LB, Bo Jackson. So I share his joy and his pain! "To be as one!"

Bo and his Granny who recently past. R.I.P!

Me and Bo at our Graduation in 2006

Dale, bo, and I at our Caberet

Torrey, Dale, Bo, Me, Kevin, Jason

We all cam back together for Homecoming '04! Where is Smoke and Wiggy?!

Lunchin! Gettin ready for a party!

My line brother's birthday was the other day, November 13, 2009, so naturally I was excited for him. In the middle of the day, I was on Facebook and I figured I'd go to to his page and write on his wall before I texted or called him for his birthday. Then I saw his status! :(

It read...

Bo Jackson is thankful for my 25th bday! But I'm glad you lived to see 88! I LOVE YOU AND WILL MISS YOU GRANNY! thanks for raising Bo Jack! 7-8-22 to 11-13-09 R.I.P.20 hours ago

As soon as I read his status, my heart became heavy. My boy who I met in college even before we crossed A Phi A together had to go through something so tragic on his 25th birthday. I immediately began to think about how good life could be one day and then the during that same day life can send you on a rollercoaster of emotions.

So first, I prayed for him and his family and then I began to think of all the good times Bo and I had in college. Here area few pictures to show how much fun we have when we get together. Bo and I crossed A Phi A in Fall of 2003. I'm the 7 and Bo is the 5 of our line.

I remember one time when I got mad at Bo. I had some Mrs. Fields chocolate cookies that I had saved and stashed at my other line brother, Roc's house. My entire line frequented Roc's house often for one common reason and one common goal. '06! So anyway, when I was in class, I couldn't wait to get to Roc's house to open my bag of cookies. Everybody knows about Mrs. Fields cookies. Oh boy... when I got to Roc's house and opened that kitchen cabinet and so that there were only like 3 cookies left....whew!!! I already knew who to go after! I couldn't killed Bo! I was so mad!

But then...the phone rang, sounding that God awful ringtone that we all dreaded hearing! Then it was time...if you are in a fraternity or sorority, then you know what phone call I'm talking about. Well, let not assume you know...some have never heard that call before!

Happy Belated Birthday Bo!

No facial hair! lol

Bo was the Dean of this Line!

My LB, Jason's wedding

A beautiful Homegoing Service for our beloved Bro Tracy Stokes was witnessed by Bro Roderick Bell

One of my older frat brothers, Bro Roderick Bell, was one of the multitude of brothers who attended Bro. Tracy Stokes funeral. After leaving the funeral, Rod sent an email to our chapter's email listserve to give an account of how the funeral turned out. Below is the message

Click to View Obituary!

Brahs,

I just left the Funeral Service for Brother Tracy Stokes. It was truly moving. There were a lot of people in attendance. The weather stop some from making the trip, however they were there in Spirit. There were about 6 people there from BET, Tracy's Class of 1990 from his high school, members from his church in Clinton and also MD, NSU representative, old classmates, childhood friends, family and of course Alpha Phi Alpha, we all sat together.

Some selected members of the audience were allowed to say a few words about Tracy. This went from the Class of 1990, The Community, The Family (his two cousins), The Churches he attended, BET News and his Parents. Not listed on the Obituary, were his LB's from FALL 93 (John, Q, Bush and Derrick). They all went up to say a couple of words about Tracy and the impression that he left of them. It was a very emotional moment. Derrick telling stories of the birth of his child and how Tracy song "Eye is on the Sparrow" to him and his wife while they were in the hospital, Q quoting Tracy with one of his favorite sayings "Now how about that", John telling everyone how Tracy got them out of trouble and how they both were the singers of the line. Then Bush, this really hit me when he started reading the poem that their Dean sent, via cell phone. That was a tear jerker. From my angle they were all in line with Tracy's casket, it was a sight to see.

Then Tracy's parents got up to say a couple of words. His dad went first, and the one thing that he said that will stick with me was "If a tree falls in the woods, and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a sound. Tracy was the tree that fell, and he made a huge sound. You can tell this by all the people that were there to pay their last respect". That was heart warming.

Then his mom took over after that, and let me tell you, for those who never met Momma Stokes (as John M. calls her), she can go. She had everyone in there feeling it. She thanked everyone.

Tracy's casket was Black with Gold trim which was draped with flowers. Tracy did not have an open casket, due to his request that follows: Back in August, Tracy told his mom, that "I have been blessed with all these material things, however I am not enjoying them. I am tired, I am tired. Mom, if I go before you and dad, do not have an open casket at my funeral, I don't want people looking down at me...and don't bury me in the ground." This was the reason there was no open casket, and he will be buried in a Mausoleum.

As the funeral ended we were asked to exit the building, as we were waiting outside, they asked us to help carry his casket to the hearse. So Q, Bush, Derrick and myself along with others help carry our Frat brother away. Now I don't know about yall, but that was a very touching moment for me to carry Tracy away like that and say my last good byes.

I have enclosed a copy of his Obituary for those who were not able to make it.

Life is too short, Love yall dudes.

Another Alpha Man from NSU has been called home. 3 E Pi bruhs in 1 month! :(

BET.com News Producer Bro. Tracy Stokes

The Brothers of the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha at NSU have lost another one of our beloved family members. That's 3 in 1 month. We all are taken by these occurrences and have decided to use these tragic events to recognize that we cannot take life for granted. We all have vowed to tell each other and our family and friends how much we care before it'd too late. Tomorrow is not promised; so we tragically have seen in this past month!

One of the brothers from my chapter, Bro. David Lewis, sent an email to our chapter's email listserve to encourage and appeal to us all.

Bro's, I'm so distraught that there's been another death in E Pi. Tracy Stokes...Fall 93' ....Thats right brahs, 2 off one line. 3 BRO'S in little over a month. Bros, if you never heard me tell you before, I love you all. Life swoops us all up and we put each other last. I personally have had many an obstacle but my heart has always been with E Pi but we all need to make E Pi a part of our lives again. Sometimes we argue, we have differences, we have uncommon interest but as we are so harshly reminded of again, 2 morrow's not promised. I challenge all of u to find room for E Pi in your life as I have challenged myself with the same charge...RIP Tracy

Peace 06

David Lewis,
Spr90 #12
Texas Pete a.k.a Backdoor..''

Nexus'' (Lester Arnold Dp 'Fall '87)

The journalism world and Black Entertainment Television lost a true professional and friend Sunday afternoon when BET.com news producer Tracy Stokes succumbed to complications from kidney failure. He was 37 years old.

According to his mother, Lilly Stokes, a retired teacher living in North Carolina, Tracy died at 4:07 p.m. Sunday at Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh. He had pneumonia in both lungs, she said.

Despite his long bout with kidney problems, which meant steady visits to doctors and other specialists, Tracy enjoyed working, and he never used his illness as an excuse for giving less than his best.

“I don’t think most people know just how giving Tracy was,” said Mrs. Stokes. “He really believed in helping people, and he wanted to see folks loving one another. He couldn’t deal with people disrespecting each other. He liked people to be straightforward.”

For those who never had the pleasure of working with Tracy, you were likely connected to him in ways you didn’t even know. If you visited BET.com over much of the past half-decade and clicked on such popular BET.com segments as the “Bring That Week Back” photo flipbook, the annual “Those We Lost” obituary compilation or the “World Lens” section, which highlights photos of people of color making news throughout the world, you were indeed connected to Tracy. He worked meticulously on these projects, among many others, and went about his duties as a news gatherer and producer with passion and pride.

It was only fitting that many of his activities and assignments at BET.com revolved around photography. Tracy was an avid and accomplished photojournalist, who established a successful photography business, Fotos By Tracy, which he ran with V. Scott Hamilton and Rodney Turner.

Tracy landed at BET.com just shortly after Hurricane Katrina had ravaged the Gulf Coast. I was BET.com’s managing editor at the time and heard about Tracy from Retha Hill, then the vice president of content.

I hired Tracy, who had worked at ABC Channel 3 in Norfolk, Va.; NBC Channel 10 in Portsmouth, Va., and ABC in Washington, D.C., and he helped plan and execute the most comprehensive news coverage on the Internet of that tragic natural disaster as it related to African Americans. Not only did he serve as a deft photo editor, but he wrote timely, interesting articles; uploaded daily video clips; recorded and produced person-on-the-street interviews; and corresponded with students and reporters who converged in the Gulf Coast. Tracy was also a major part of BET.com’s election coverage over the years.

One of my special “Tracy Moments”: I arrived at BET.com one morning about 7 a.m. Tracy, who had already been there about an hour working on the day’s news, didn’t know I had entered the news room, and he was belting out the most beautiful version of the Negro spiritual “His Eye is On the Sparrow” I have ever heard.

“Wow!” I said. “Are you kidding me? You can sing like that?”

Responded Tracy: “You’d better not tell anybody!”

Of course, I couldn’t wait to tell everybody I ran into that day. I hope he forgave me.

“‘His Eye Is On the Sparrow’ was his favorite tune,” Mrs. Stokes told me today. “He would call me sometimes and sing it to me over the phone, and it would make me cry.”

Tracy was born in Clinton, N.C., but spent many of the past several years in Waldorf, Md. A graduate of Clinton High, he attended Hampton University, eventually transferring to Norfolk State University, where he graduated cum laude. He was a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society and the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

“Tracy was a good friend and trusted colleague,” said Tanu Henry, senior manager of BET.com News. “He brought energy and attitude, an appreciation for detail, thoroughness, organization and passion to everything he did in his life and at work. His contributions will be missed sorely, even as we fondly keep him in our memories.”

“Tracy Stokes has had a great impact on BET.com,” said Diana Clark-Baty, Senior Vice President of BET Digital. “I, like many of you, will personally miss the interactions with Tracy. I am enriched having known Tracy Stokes.”

In addition to his mother, Tracy is survived by his father, William Stokes Sr., a retired principal.Funeral arrangements are pending.
http://www.bet.com/News/Obituary_BET_News_Producer_Tracy_Stokes_Dies.htm

--Shelley A Simpson
Media ManagerCleanSkies.TV News

In our dear A Phi A...embued with memories fond...are the noble, the true and courageous! R.I.P. Bruhs!

Within the past two weeks, amongst the memory-filled and future focused emails that my fraternity brothers (new school and ol' school) and I share on our chapter listserve, there were two threads of emails that we were saddened to have to begin and reply to. Two of our beloved BROTHERS of our dear fraternity have passsed away but will never leave our hearts or memories! Brothers Major Franklin Blackmon of Fall '93 and Arthur Smith of Spr. '90 have now been inducted into the Omega Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Thus, a brother of A Phi A will always be a brother of A Phi A, even in death!

Brother Arthur Smith
Brother Arthur Smith was a ninth-grade English teacher. He was shot to death when being robbed Saturday night, October 4, 2009 while visiting family in Portsmouth, Va. Good brother!

http://www.13wmaz.com/news/local_story.aspx?storyid=69873&provider=email#



________________________________________________

Brother Major Franklin Blackmon

Brother Major Franklin Blackmon was felled by bacterial menengitis less than a month after getting back from a tour in Iraq. He leaves behind a wife and 2 young children. Good brother!

I'd like to take this time to let the families of our fallen brothers know that you all are most definitely in our thoughts and prayers. We, the brothers of thr Epsilon Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. have sent and continue to send up prayers with confidence in knowing that God will keep you in perfect peace during this grieving period and beyond.

When writing this post, I went to the article written about Brother Arthur Smith and read the comments that were left by some of his students, friends, and family. One of the persons who left a comment...one of his 9th grade students, acutally brought me to tears while at work. I used to be a teacher and I guess you never really know how much of an impact you have on your students. A lot of times, as a teacher, you just look at it like, "This is just what I do...who I am...I'm a teacher."

However, I heard a quote a while ago that just stuck with me. And I think it's just so profound. "Being a teacher is the closest thing to touching the future!"


bsg9108 wrote:
Wow!! Like oh my gosh...me being a student at Rutland High, a student that personally has had Mr.Smith's class, I am so shocked! And at the same time I feel bad upon my self because I cant even remember the last time I spoke to him, and I saw him everyday.

I myself thought this was a joke when I heard it last night, but when I actually found out the truth from a teacher a few hours later it hurt! And it also hit me, no matter how nice, holy, or how much of a "christian life" for say that u live bad things will always happen. Mr.Smith was the nicest person in the world and he was never purposely rude to anyone and even when he would slip up he apologized. All he wanted out of us was to be SCHOLARS and we never gave him the respect he truly deserved. It goes to show life can be cut short whenever no matter what type of situation you're in.

It was always "young mr.this" and "young ms.that" and we thought it was the corniest thing in the world. lol. but hey he was Mr.Smith you had to love him. even when he walked down the hall singing "hopped up out the bed turned my swag on" I truly dont think I could ever walk past his class with the same attitude again. Its just so wierd. Mr. Smith we love you and miss you terribly. I'm so glad that I actually got the chance to know you! Being in your class was one of the best experiences I had as a freshman last year! We as your students make you the promise to always try our best to become the scholars you wanted us to be! And we have absolutely no "quarrel" with that :)

Rest in peace Mr.Smith. We love you. And I can say that the least we owe you as the class of 2012 is our respect to you! You taught us to never give up no matter what comes in the way. We will make it! R.I.P Arthur W. Smith Jr.
10/5/2009 3:47 PM EDT on 13wmaz.com

Brothers of the Epsilon Pi Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. had this to say about Brother Major Franklin Blackmon.


Brother Maurice Hakins wrote...
My prayers go out to Brother Blackmon and his family. I remember Frank as a brother with a wonderful sense of humor. He was always positive and up beat and a great representative of our beloved fraternity. "Manly Deeds, Scholarship and Love for All Mankind."

Brother Travonte Jenkins wrote...
The current brothers of Epsilon Pi send our thoughts and prayers out to Brother Blackmon's family.....

Fraternally,
TraVonte J. Jenkins
Chapter president

Stay informed...get the facts about Bacterial Meningitis!

In the United States, bacterial meningitis is relatively rare and usually occurs in isolated cases. Clusters of more than a few cases are uncommon. Approximately 80 percent of all cases are acute bacterial meningitis. Bacterial meningitis can be life threatening. The infection can cause the tissues around the brain to swell. This in turn interferes with blood flow and can result in paralysis, stroke or death.

http://www.dhpe.org/infect/Bacmeningitis.html

Science say "MS" but GOD says "TESTIMONY!"

One of my blogger friends, Tia, from "When My Thoughts Aren't On Chicago," posted her testimony on her blog and I felt so led to re-post it on my blog because people need to read this. I've learned that when you hear other people's stories, it causes you to refrain from complaining.

This is what she had to say...

Well in case you all didn't know, my life forever changed on my brothers birthday 3-6-06. I was diagnosed with MS. MS is a condition that attacks the nerves in the body. It eats away at the protective cover called Myelin Sheth (like insulation on a wire) and exposes the nerve which cause many symptoms when exposed. Back to the story at hand. I went through many tests, some painful. I've heard everything from : "you won't walk normal again", "you will get worse", and many other negative ungodly things. I have experienced vision loss, muscle weakness, and numbness in my extremities.

But the minute I heard, "you have MS', I knew there was something I was suppose to do. My life finally had purpose and a meaning that I could actually put my finger on. I am here to give God glory as well as lead as many people as possible to Him thru this story.
I had faith that God was going to do somethings for me. My faith was that one day the spots they saw on my MRI will be gone by the next one. And it was!! I said by March/April my vision will be at the point where I will drive confidently. And it is!

God is working with me and I can not let His works go in vein. I know that God didn't do this, He allowed it. He knows I am strong enough to endure it or He would not have allowed it. I know that this is for His glory and His glory only. I know it is to bring me closer to Him as well as others. Might sound crazy to some but this is the best thing that's happened to me. If I were weak and fragile would I have such a trial? Would I be able to endure the pain? No. All of my pain, trials and tribulations says that I am strong! And that this is only a testimony in the works.

Yes science says MS but God says Testimony!

Is your spirit in conflict with God? Is your world in contradiction to God's word? Is it in direct contradiction to God's plan and word He has spoken over your life? Are you or someone you know in a similar situation, science vs God? Or any testimony you would like to share? Please post your story or comment here!

If You Missed it: Michael Jackson Memorial Photos

My friend lost her mom

One of my very good friends lost her mom so I decided to write her a poem to offer my condolences and to show her how much I care.

Ozsha,

I offer you my love and support from a distance/ And with persistence, I pray your strength/ There is no length to the love that He has for you/ Right now, I pray that the pain will not last for you/ Lord God, I ask for you to bless Ozsha and the ones who love her/ Hug her with your loving embrace/ Smile upon her as she seeks your face/ Place angels around her/ And have them surround her and her family/ I lift her family on high/ So that you may cry upon them tears of peace/ And in that peace, may her mother rest/ I call Ozsha blessed in the name of Jesus.

AMEN!