Good health care (81 �), job
training and employment oppor­
tuniti (78%), and high-quality
public chools (78�) and pre­
school programs like Head Start
(75%) topped the list ofstrategi
Black adults feel would improve
children's liv . Black adults also
tressed returning to traditional
moral and religiou values
(73%), more after-school activi­
ties and job for youth (70�), and
tougher gun control laws (68%)
as important trategie to help
children.
"THE POLL CONFIRMS
that the Black child crisis, one of
the worst since slavery, is real,"
said CDF President Marian
Wright Edelman. "The disturb­
ing news is that this is just the
tip of the Ameri n iceberg of
pervasive child and family ne­
glect and the disintegration of
spiritual, community, and family
values acros race and clas .
Th hopeful news is that the
African American community is
mobilizing to do something about
it nd is calling on he nation to
do i part for our children and
all children. Without adequate
inv tment injobs for youths and
parents, we can neither end vio­
lence nor welfare as we know it.
This nation has got t stop im­
prisoning rather than educating
.. Ed 1-
RICHMOND, VA. - The Rev. T.J. J mi on, pre Ident of the N -
tional Bapti t Convention, USA," Inc., (NBC) center join hand
with David Jefferson, AT&T consumer ale and ervice vice
pr id nt, left, Marta Brown, AT&T African American consumer
�\III}I)(}rl
Our
/\(h 'crtiscrs
OBITUARIES
The Rev. EII}ah Wright, 81, of Ben­
ton Harbor died July 8, at his home.
The funeral was held July 12, at
Wright's Temple Church of God In
Christ, Benton Harbor, where he was
the pastor. Additional services was
held July 16, at St. John Temple
Church of God in Christ, Loranger, La
Burial was In St. John Temple Ceme­
tery, Loranger. Local arrangements
were made by Falrplaln Chapel, Florin
Funeral Service, Benton Harbor. Ar­
rangements In Loulslanna were made
by the Richardson Funeral Home,
Hammond, La.
The Rev. Wright was born June 29,
1913, In Folsom, La. He was the pastor Virgie
and superintendent of the Wright's
Temple, which he founded In 1986. He Rob I· nson
was also a retired bus driver, from the
Eau Claire Transportation Depart-
ment. He was a resident of Benton. Virgie Robinson, 71, of Benton Har-
Harbor since 1965. bar died July 11, at Mercy Memorial
Survivors Include: his wife, the for- Medical Center, St. Joseph, after a
mer Evlrgia Woods; eight sons, Woo- long Illness.
drow Wright of Loranger, Elijah Wright, The funeral was held July 15, at the
WIllie Wright and Monroe Wright, all of Fellowship Baptist Church, Benton
Eau Claire, Joseph Wright of Inde- Harbor, where she was a member.
pendence, La., John Wright of Benton . Burial was In North Shore Memory
Harbor, Henry Conley of Pontiac, Gardens. Arrangemenfs was made by
Mich., and Larry Woods of Granger, Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Ben-
Ind.; twelve daughters, Lela Moore and ton Harbor.
Geraldine Burton, both of Eau Claire, Mrs. Rob nson was born Septem­
Clalretta Hili, Char1ene Lee, Theresa ber 4, 1922, In Luxora, Ar1<. She was
Yates, Marlon Rice, Patricia Rivers, all formerly a elf-employed beautician
of Benton Harbor,. Ella Ruffin of Inde- and seamstress for Mercy Memorial
pendence, La., Leanna Conley of Pon- Medical Center.
tlac, Mich, Sharon Malone and Joyce Survivors Include: a son, Melvin
Williams. both of Atlanta and Delores Robinson- of Benton Harbor; four
Richardson of Hammond, La.; a daughters, Patricia Brown, Prlcilia
brothe�Lou�WrlghtS��Hammond, ��������������������������
La.: 126 grandchildren; and 107 great­
grandchildren. He was preceded In
death by his first wife, the former Dore­
tha McGee.
Reverend
Elijah Wright
Lizzie Osby
Lizzie Osby, 84, of Benton Harbor
died July 16, at Berrien General Hos­
pital, Berr ien Center. after a long ill­
ness
The funeral was held July 20, at the
Israelite Baptist Church. Benton Har­
bor. The body was transferred to
'Cooley Funeral 'Home. Ba svrlle,
Miss. wher ext nded services were
held, July 23 Burial was in Ba esville
Black youth hare adult con­
c rns but remain hop ful
ed about th chil­
BI c youth
vin guna (70 );
dru (68 );
viol n in hool (66 );
droppin out of chool
(6 );
living in dan rou nigh·
borhood (64%);
involvement. with n
(63%);
involv ment with people
who are a bad influence (63%); I
having a difficult family life
(55� );
and not having enough to do
outsid of chool (52� ).
Top community concern
range from jobs to violence, teen
pregnancy, and racial prejudi e
The comprehensive national
survey of 1,004 Black adults and
421 youths (ages 11-17)wascom­
missioned by th BCCC. Con­
ducted by Peter D. Hart
Research Associates, the poll re­
veals that 73 percent of Black
adults feel it is harder for chil­
dren growing up today than it
was for them and 67 percent
think the obstacles Black chil­
dren face outweigh the opportu­
nities.
• two-thirds (67%) of Black
adults think that at least half of
all Black children will become
teenage parents;
• two-thirds (65� ) think that
halfor more of all Black children
will be denied im portent oppor­
tuniti because of racial preju­
dice;
• three-fifths (62�) think
that at least half of Black chil­
dr n will have their liv de­
stroyed by drugs;
• three-fifths (61 %) believe
that half or more of Black chil­
dren will get in trouble with the
law;
Black community begins cru­
sade for children: challenges na­
tion to do its part
�emetery. Local arrangements were
made by Robbins Brothers Funeral
Home, Benton Harbor.
Mrs. Osby was born October 10,
1909, In MississippI. She was formerty
employed as a farm worker. She was
a member of Israelite Baptist Church.
Survivors Include: a daughter, Mag­
gie Caldwell of Benton Harbor; two
sons, Willie Osby of Eau Claire and
Edward Osby of Benton Harbor; two
sisters, Alean Ellis and Mary Jones,
both of Batesville; two brothers, Martin
Flowers of Batesville and R.V. Robert­
son of Milwaukee, Wis.; 34 grandchil­
dren; 130 great-grandchildren; and 25
great-great-grandchlldren. She was
preceded In death by her husband,
Albert In 1934 and a daughter, Ida Bell
Scott In 1992.
Culpepper and Regina Robinson, all of
Benton Harbor, and Estherlena
Batchelder of Canton, Mich.: a brother,
Lexie Williams of Benton Harbor; nine
grandchildren; and two great-grand­
Children. She was preceded In death
by her husband George Jr., April 25.
Willie Miles Sr.
Willie Miles sr., 81, of Benton Har­
bor, died July 9, at Bemen General
Hospital, Berrien Center, after a long
Illness:
The funeral was held July 19, at
Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Ben­
ton Harbor. Cremation followed th
servIce. '
Mr. Mile was born October 2,
1912, In Memphis, Tenn. He was for­
merly employed as a construction
worker.
Survivors Include: a son, Willie
Miles Jr. of Benton Harbor, and six
grandchildren. He was preceded In
death by his wife, Inez, In 1976.
David Hull
David Hull, 54, of Chicago, formerly
of Benton Harbor, was dead on arrival
at the Northwestern Medical Center,
Chicago on July 13.
The funeral was held July 18, at
Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Ben­
ton Harbor. Burial was In Crystal
Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor.
Mr. Hull was born January 1, 1940,
In Marvell, Ark. He was a post office
clerk In Chicago.
Survivors Include: his wife, Betty;
his mother, Veola Taylor of Benton
Harbor; and a sister, Mattie Thompson
of Benton Harbor.
Michigan
ernet ry Manag m nt
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ard • B r 1 y, Ml 72
(800)436-6416
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Star
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tary, right, after NBC and AT&T reach agreement. Th agreement
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rev d count on AT&T long-di tance ervlc and product ,
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ichigan,
193 ,
Gl in
l" R f»1 I utf1l.
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