February 2 , 200Ü
Page B3
ÿlortlanh ffibeerucr
/Religion
Portlanb
Community attempts to better metro area
CONTBIBUTEDSTOBY
Policy makers, community-focused
nonprofits and members o f the faith
com m unity w ill g ath er on the
University o f Portland campus on
Sunday, March 5 to share experiences
and form creative partnerships in
addressing the issues o f affordable
h o u sin g ,
g e n trific a tio n ,
transportation, natural resources,
econom ic ju stic e and changing
demographics in the Portland metro
area.
Called “Moving from Consensus to
Community: Jubilee Justice in the
Metro Region,” the 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
conference will include presentations
by Ellen Lowe, former public policy
director o f Ecumenical Ministries of
Oregon; Tasha Harmon, executive
d ire c to r o f the C o m m u n ity
Development Network, and the Rev.
Dr. Hector Lopez, Central Pacific
conference minister o f the United
Church o f Christ.
“It will be a time to pray, envision,
connect and share in ways we have
not imagined,” said Andrea Vargas,
EMO’s Jubilee Oregon coordinator.
EMO’s Jubilee Oregon and Interfaith
Network for Earth concerns are co
sp o n so rin g the event w ith the
Religious Outreach Working Group
o f the Coalition for a Livable Future in
partnership with the University o f
Portland’s Campus Ministries.
The day will begin with a short
in te rfa ith service, follow ed by
presentations by speakers and small
group workshops. Participants will
have opportunities to share their
c o n c e rn s and su g g e stio n s for
regional cooperation. The event will
close with community sharing and a
brief service. Thecost, which includes
lunch, is $15 for the general public
and $10 for students and seniors.
The Coalition for a Livable Future is
a n e tw o rk o f m ore th an 50
o rg a n iz a tio n s in the P o rtla n d
m etro p o litan area that share a
c o m m itm e n t to c re a tin g ju s t,
a ffo rd a b le
and
su sta in a b le
communities.
One o f those 50 organizations, EMO
is a statew ide association o f 15
Christian denominations including
Protestant, Orthodox and Roman
C atholic denom inations w orking
to g e th e r to m eet the needs o f
Oregonians.
overcame racism and emerged from a
poor lifestyle.
“As poor as we were, my mother
helped me struggle to get through,”
she said. “When I lived in the country
and white people treated me so badly,
I said I was not going to let them get
to me. I would ride to the top. Nobody
ever gave me a lot o f encouragement.
I decided I was not going to be poor
or become and outcast.”
After earning her pharmacy license
in 1951, Mrs. Christian was hired as a
pharmacist manager at the Rocky
M o u n tain A rsen al, w hich w as
engaged in making chemical warfare
weapons. They included mustard gas
(the gas that her father was exposed
to in World War I and eventually led
to his death from TB), Phosgene gas
and eventually nerve gas.
She m arried C onrad Nagel
McConnal in 1950 and moved to
Portland, OR., with her son Conrad
“Pete” McConnell in 1957,latertobe
joined by Mr. McConnell.
Mrs. Christian worked as a staff
p h a rm a c ist for the V e te ra n ’s
Administration Outpatient Clinic,
becom ing the first female black
p h a rm a c ist in O reg o n . M r.
McConnell, also a pharmacist, and
Mrs. Christian were among the few
black pharmacists in the state at that
time.
The couple dreamed o f starting their
own drug store in Portland, but soon
real ized that the median income in the
black communities was about $4,000
ayear. “That’sw hyw edidn’toperate
a drug store: we didn’t think w e’d get
enough business,” she said.
Mrs. Christian also worked at
Crestview Convalescent Hospital
before returning to the VA. She
received two superior performance
awards from the FA in 1963 and 1974,
with bonuses. During her 39-year
career as a pharmacist, Mrs. Christian
im p lem en ted ideas to im prove
efficiency in the workplace.
She left the VA in 1979 because o f a
disability and worked part-time until
1984.
While pursuing a career, begin a
wife and mother, Mrs. Christian also
was active in local and state affairs.
She served on the board o f directors
o f the Portland Urban League from
1970-78, and presided as the league’s
first female president in 1977-78.
She also was a member o f the
Portland School Board advisory
committee, appointed by Oregon Gov.
Tom McCall to serve on the American
R ev o lu tio n
B ic e n te n n ia l
Commission, and appointed by Gov.
Vic Atiyeh to the Oregon Commission
on Black Affairs.
Mrs. Christian was a lifetime member
o f the N A ACP, and was active in the
American Bridge Association. She
also was the first moderator o f the
Ainsworth United Church o f Christ
in Portland when it was formed in
1982 and was a long-time member o f
Links in Portland.
Her other affiliations were Alpha
Kappa Alpha and the Jack & Jill o f
America, Inc.
She and Mr. McConnell were avid
readers, subscribing to both daily
newspapers, black publications and
d o z e n s o f m a g a z in e s. B eing
surrounded by the wealth o f reading
material prompted the couple’s son
to pursue a career in Journalism.
Mr. McConnell died on April 6,1973,
at the age o f 44. Mrs. Christian
remarried in 1975 before divorcing in
B la c k H is to ry
The H istory o f the Church
Obituaries
In Loving Memory O f
Florine Elizabeth Britt
Sunrise December 13,1918
Sunset January 26,2000
• Florina Elizabeth Britt was bom in
• Jackson, Tennessee on December 13,
> 1918. She came to Portland in 1941,
• and she was a Public Relations person
• forKillingsworth Little Chapel of the
• Chimes Funeral Home, for about 30
• years. Florina was a member of
• E m m an u el
T e m p le
G ospel
• Pentecostal Church, and a former
■ member of Daniel Memorial Church
• o f God in Christ— under the late
• Bishop Harry Daniels.
• Florinaleavestocherishhermemory:
• Barbara Jean Newsom Daughter
• Portland
• James W. Britt Son Portland
» Joseph A. Britt Son Portland
• Howard W. Starks, Sr. Brother Detroit,
• Michigan.
• Florine was preceded in death by a
' daughter, Alice Marie Britt in about
1940...one sister, Margaret Catlett
and one brother Aaron Conley.
In Loving Memory O f
Geraldine Ashley Christian
Sunrise May 1,1929
Sunset January 24,2000
For the Beloved Geraldine Ashley
Christian accomplished much during
her professional and social life, but
she also was a wonderful wife and
mother.
In 1957, she became the first black
female pharmacist in the state of
O regon and had the honor and
privilege o f serving on two governor-
appointed commissions in the state.
She also was active in her community,
jo in in g and som etim es running
organizations aimed at improving the
lives o f others.
Bom on May 1, 1929, to Elizabeth
O w n es and F red erick D ouglas
A shley in D enver, C o lo ., M rs
Christian was the youngest o f four
children and the only daughter. As a
little girl, she moved to Oklahoma
City and returned to Colorado in 1937
to live at a farm in Adams County.
During the course o f her education,
there were no scholarships offered to
black students regardless o f their
GPAs. Instead, she competed for a
business scholarship sponsored by
IOTA Phi Lambda, a black sorority,
and earned the highest score o f 98.
H er e ffo rts led to a b u sin e ss
scholarship at Denver University.
She attended DU for one year, but
forfeited her scholarship because she
dreamed o f becoming a pharmacist.
She was drawn to that profession
through her work as a clerk at Radio
Drug Store in 1948. In June 1950, Mrs.
Christian graduated with a B.S. degree
in pharmacy from the University of
C o lo rad o in B oulder. She had
completed four years o f pharmacy
courses in three years, plus two
classes at summer school because of
monetary considerations.
Recently, Mrs. Christian recalled
that before her graduation, a math
teacher told her that she would flunk
out o f school and no one would hire
her as a pharmacist.
O ne o f Mrs. C h ristia n ’s key
accomplishments, she said recently,
was “walking across that stage and
getting my degree after all the
discouragement and prejudice.”
She recently recalled how she
Flood evacuees at the Trinity Episcopal Church in 1948.
J 980.
Because o f her illness due to cancer,
Mrs. Christian left Seattle and moved
to Aurora, Colo. In 1998 to live with
her niece, Denise.
Mrs Christian is survived by her
son, Conrade peter McConnell o f
Houston, Tex.; a granddaughter,
Jihieshia Hull o f Corvallis, Ore; and
eight nieces and nephews: Denise,
Gil. Eric, Michael, Fred and Carl
Ashley, Michele W heeler and Mari
Hammock.
The family requests contributions
to the American Cancer society or to
the Edmundits Missions, 1428 Broad
Street, Selma, Ala., 36701 -4304.
In Loving Memory O f
Eugene Paul Hiney
Sunrise May 30,1917
Sunset January 28,2000
Eugene Paul Hiney was born in
Springfield, Ohio on May 30, 1917
and served in the Army, Air Corp
branch. Eugene came to Portland in
1927 and worked for the City o f
Portland as a Building Inspector.
Eugene retired in 1978. He was a
member of St. Johns C atholic Church.
John married Louise Hiney, maiden
name Cutter in 1937. Louise died in
August 1987.
Eugene leaves to cherish his memory:
Marta Lynne Retz Daughter Sun
River
Martin Lee Parr Grandson Bend
Darlene Leslie Parr Granddaughter
Bend
Christian Lee Parr Great Grandson
Mollala
M adison A bby P a rr
G reat
Granddaughter Bend
Anita Karstetter Companion Sun
River
In Loving Memory O f
FannieGrace Malone
Sunrise December 5,1897
Sunset January 22,2000
Fannie Grace Malone was born Dec.
5, 1897 in Perry Houston, Georgia,
she was a Domestic worker, and
belonged to Fellowship MBC. Fannie
came to Portland in the early 1940’s.
She was 102. Cause ofdeath, natural.
Fannie G race M alone leaves to
cherish her memory:
Anette Steele Franklin Daughter
Portland
Louise Edge Daughter Portland
Jannie Ott Daughter Portland
Mary Gordon Daughter Portland
In Loving Memory O f
Mamie L. Simington
Sunrise June 3, 1922
Sunset January 24,2000
Mamie L. Simington was bom in
Bradley, Arkansas on June 3, 1922,
she was a Home Maker. Mamie
married Birl Simington on Nov. 29,
1943. Birl Simington passed away on
Dec. 22,1999.
Mamie leaves to cherish her memory.
Rosie Thom pson, Janice Betty,
B arbara S im ington D aughters
Portland
Carl, Birl Jr., Sevedious, Lewis, Tony,
Sylvester, Timothy Simington Sons
Portland
Margie Nelson Sister o f Stockton,
CA
Eddie Lee Brother Little Rock, Ar.
J
Next millennium
of children’s
Advertise in
(Lbi' -Jjlortlattò
ministry
(©bsertœr
•
Where: Rolling HillsCommunity
Church ofT ualatin, Or-Portland area
•
When: Friday and Saturday
February 18,h and 19,h, 2000, from 9
AM-3 PM
•
&hat: ForK idsO nlyChildren’s
IMPERIAL COMMUNICATION
Ministry Seminar
•
Why: Friday-for professional
children’s workers, Saturday-for
everyone
•
Who:JohannaTownsend,Dean-
o Lies, K athleen Chapm an, Jay
Hostetler
For Kids Only is a nonprofit,
Christian organization which strives
to equip those who work with chi Idren
to minister more effectively, FKO,
conducts regional seminars offering
the latest training in C hildren’s
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speakers travel to each seminar site,
including Johanna Townsend, the
president and founder o f FKO, and
Dean-o Lies, head of Dean-o and the
Dynamos Christian contemporary
pop band for c h ild re n . A lso
presenting are Kathleen Chapman,
children’s drama and performance
expert, and Jay Hostetler, a Children’s
Pastor for 20+years as well as college
professor and author. Both seminar
days have been developed to help
today’s church leaders deal with the
rapid changes that are accompanying
the new m illennium , through a
discussion/brainstorming format on
Friday, and 12 Workshops to select
from on Saturday.
For additional inform ation, the
community can contact For Kids Only
at the toll free number: 888/646-4562
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Portland
2914 N. Lombard St.
503-797-0000
(Across from Kienow’s)
give yourself fife's g re a te st gift
for V alen tin e's Day!
it's better than chocolatez
and better than roses
it ' s youR health !
On Feb. 14, Planned Parenthood is offering
FREE breast and cervical cancer screenings
at all our clinics to any women who have
not had pap smears in the last three years.
Appointments are on a first-come, first-served basis!
Call 1-800-230-PLAN now for a free exam
at the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you!
o
I
Planned Parenthood
9
of the Columbia/Willamette
I