O ctober 18, 2000 Page B2 (Die JiJo rt lattò (Observer BMetro/Religion Compassion Sabbath Engages Oregon Faith Obituary Portland activist Josiah Hill dies at age 61 Hill fought for a better life for his community B> B r EM U lSbBLKCLR W hether battling racial p rofiling by p o lic e o r te stin g to d d le rs for lead po iso n in g , the co m m o n goal o f Josiah H ill's co m ­ m unity activ ism w as a b e t t e r lif e f o r P o rtla n d ’s A fric a n A m ericans. So it num bed that com m u n ity to learn o f H i l l ’s d e a th T h ursday, O ct. 12, from a h eart a ttac k he s u f fe re d w h ile shopping at N a tu re 's N orth w est in N o rth ­ east Portland, He w as 61. “ It’s a terrible loss for the c o m m u n ity ,” sa id sta te R ep. Jo A nn B ow m an, D- P ortland. “ S om e a c tiv ists are very co n fro n tatio n al. H e w as ju s t very g en tle.” F riends describe Jo siah H ill III, a form er p hysician assistan t, as a tire­ less w a rrio r k n o w n fo r the g en tle, d isa rm in g a p p ro a ch he b ro u g h t to a b ro ad array o f co m m u n ity c o n ­ cern s, ra n g in g from h e a lth care to so c ial eq u a lity . “ I can c lo se m y ey es now and see h im sittin g at the ta b le an d see his sm ile,” said L o len zo P oe, ch a ir­ m an o f the C oalition for B lack M en. “ I know as an o rg an iz atio n w e ’ 11 all m iss h im b ec au se he w as such a sta b ilizin g force. H e w as a w ise eld er." G ov. Jo h n K itzh ab er ch o se H ill to serv e on a sta te w id e co m m ittees studyin g en v iro n m en tal ju stic e and racial an d e th ­ nic h ealth is­ su e s. A s a m em ­ b er o f the C o a­ lition for Black M en and a b o ard m em ber o f P h y sician s for S o cial R e­ s p o n s ib ility , H ill a n d D r. R ic k B a y e r p o k ed the fin ­ gers o f an e s ti­ m ated 700 chil- d ren to ch eck th e ir le a d b lo o d le v e ls. T he resu lts o f the free m o n th ly sc re en in g s h elp ed the sta te H ealth D ivisio n track lead p o iso n in g rates in P o rtla n d ’s h ig h -risk n eig h b o r­ h o o d s. “T he day before he died, w e w ere ta lk in g ab o u t how the goal at our clin ic w as try in g to d riv e o u rselv es o u t o f b u sin e ss,” B ayer said. N ow , B ayer is unsure w hether the screen ­ ings w ill c o n tin u e a fter y e a r’s end, saying H ill’s ab sen ce “ is ju s t a big h u rt.” P o rtla n d P o lic e C h i e f M ark K roeker dedicated M onday ’ s m eet­ ing o f the C h ie f s Forum — a group o f co m m u n ity lead ers w ho m eet reg u larly w ith the p olice c h ie f — to H ill’s m em ory. H ill w as c o -c h a ir­ m an o f the forum and rec en tly sat on the c h i e f s b lu e-rib b o n c o m m it­ tee ex am in in g the issu e o f p o lice profiling. H ill also m en to red fo u rth - and fifth -g rad ers at H um boldt E lem en ­ tary S chool and o ffe re d m ed ical h e lp to th e N o rth w e s t A frik a n A m erican B allet, o c c a sio n a lly ap ­ p ea rin g in its an n u al h eritag e c o n ­ ce rt as a v illag e elder. “ It w as a p erfec t ro le fo r h im ,” sa id his w ife, M arth a C a rte r H ill, w h o m he m a rrie d D ec. 12, 1987. “ H e ’s alw ay s b een so n u rtu rin g to e v e ry b o d y .” H ill w as b o ra Feb. 20, 1939 in W a sh in g to n , D .C . H e grew up in S eattle and graduated from the U ni­ v ersity o f Iow a. H e w o rk ed in A l­ b a n y for a y ea r b efo re jo in in g the m ed ical team o f the M in n eso ta V i- k ings. H e retu rn ed to P o rtlan d in 1973 and w o rk ed as a p h y sic ia n a s sis­ tan t fo r K aiser P erm an en te fo r 23 y ears, sp e cia liz in g in o rth o p ed ics an d sp o rts and d ance m ed icin e. He retire d in 1995 for h ealth reason s H ill is su rv iv ed by his w ife; m other, V irginia H um es H ill G allo ­ w ay; d au g h ters, E lizab eth V irginia S im pson and D elane K en n ice H ill; sons, Jo siah H ill IV and S hanti Bay H ill; sisters, V ero n ica K. Jones and Ju a n ita M. W ash in g to n ; and four g ran d ch ild ren . A p u b lic m em orial has not yet been sch ed u led . ‘Mama’ Served Others with Quiet Spirit A m em o rial se rv ic es w as held T uesday for H elen M. M cG ee, 64. A ffec tio n a te ly ca lle d M am a by m any, she w as b o ra on Ju ly 25. 1936 in C ro ssett, A rk., to loving p aren ts, G eo rg e and O sie C arney. M am a m oved w ith h e r fam ily to P o rtlan d in 1944 an d a tte n d e d W ashington H igh S chool. O n M arch 4, 1954, she b ecam e w ife and life p a rtn e r to R o b e rtest Leo M cG ee until he w as laid to rest in 1971. M am a and D addy w ere b le ssed w ith 11 children, 4 boys and 7 girls, including tw o sets o f tw ins. O ne son, R obertest L eo M cG ee Jr. p re ­ ced ed M am a in d ea th at th e ag e o f 9 m onths. A lso p reced in g h er in death w as h er special g randson, R ichard J. M cG ee w ho w as also b o m on M a m a’s b irth d ay , on July 25, 1986. R ishard and M am a now also share the sam e date o f g oing to their etern al hom e, O ct. 4. M am a w as a strong, living and giv in g w om en. She serv ed others w ith a m eek and q u iet sprit. She striv e d to m ake a v ery deep and spiritu al im p ressio n on h er c h il­ dren, g ran d ch ild ren an d friends. S he w as a d ev o ted m em b er o f M t. O liv et B ap tist C h u rch w here she to iled tire lessly as w elco m in g and d ed ica ted m e m b e ro fth e ush er b oard, alw ay s ex ten d in g h e r w e l­ co m in g sm ile and u p lifte d hand. She also served a c tiv e ly in o ne o f the c h u rc h ’s cell groups. M am a L oved the L ord and tru ly knew that the L o rd loved her. In 1982, M am a began her 15-year c a re e r w ith K a ise r P e rm a n e n te w o rk in g in v ario u s d ep a rtm en ts, including m edical records, en viron­ m ental se rv ic es, h um an reso u rce s and fin ally o ffic e se rv ic es, from w hich she re tire d in 1997. M am a w as a jo y to o th e rs in th e w o rk ­ pate. EMO will provide resource m a­ terials to participating congregations at a cost o f $ 10 to cover copying and postage. “O ur sponsorship o f C om passion Sabbath grow s out o f our conviction that the health care system alone fails to m eet a dying p erso n ’s need for com panionship, understanding, and spiritual co m fo rt,” said the Rev. M elinda Sm ith, director o f E M O ’s Com passionate Care and Education Division, w ho is spearheading Com - Long Time Resident Dies Suddenly Fall Revival at Allen Temple Frank R. T hom pson - B om Oct. 19, 1957, passed aw ay suddenly o f cardiac arrest on Oct. 7 w hile visiting his stepdaughters and grandchildren in Gladstone. A long tim e resident o f the P ort­ land metropolitan area, Frank enjoyed a variety o f interests w hich included but w ere not lim ited to his family, church, helping others, fishing, na­ ture, and camping. He attended G rant and W ashing­ ton High School and Irvington G rade School. Frank is survived by his m other Betty T hom pson; his com ­ panion o f 20 years, Em lyn Harris; sisters Connie, G ail, and Shama; brother-in-law Don; Stepdaughter Ronna; nephew Julian; grandsons D ’V ario and A m ando; grandniece A zaesha; and a host o f uncles, aunts, cousins, extended fam ily m em bers and friends. Services celebrating his life were held at C aldw ell’s Colonial Chapel in Portland, on Tuesday. The family w ishes to thank every­ one for their loving support, and asks that you pray for the peaceful repose o f his soul, and the consolation o f the family. ♦ hind m any w ho loved, ch erish ed and w ill m iss her, in clu d in g her p aren ts G eo rg e and O sie C arney; ch ild ren , H ow ard M cG ee, Jeffery M cGee Sr., B arbara M cG uire, Janet Rogers, Joyce M cG ee-Sm ith, Linda M cG ee-B ran ch , A n thony G eorge M cG ee. T ina M cG ee, Z ina W oods, V an essa M cG ee, M arq u ita Jones and D iana L ow ery; sisters: G eorgia M a e A n d re w s a n d N in a R u th S to rry ; b ro th e rs, T h eo C a rn e y , A lv in C arney an d M orris C arney; aunt, M abie W oods; sister-in -law , B essie C u n n in g h am o f St. Louis, M is s o u ri; a n d b r o th e r - in - la w , L eo n ard M cG ee. A lso sh arin g in h er m em ory are 17 grandchildren and 6 great-grand­ ch ildren. She w as also p reced ed in d eath by h er son, R o b ertest Leo M cG ee Jr.; b ro th er, W illiam s Lee C a rn e y an d g ra n d so n , R ich a rd Jam es M cG ee. M am a w ill also be rem em b ered by a h o st o f nieces, nep h ew s and v ery clo se friends and d ev o ted ch u rch m em bers. passion Sabbath. “ Faith com m uni­ ties can offer significant support to people who are dying or those who are bereaved.” EM O will also offer w orkshops during O ctober on A dvanced D irec­ tives and C h ild ren an d G rie f at Hopewell House Hospice Center, 7161 S.W . Capitol Highway. Plans are underw ay to further de­ velop w orkshops for clergy to offer them practical skills to enhance their m inistry to people at the end o f life. Ecum enical M inistries o f Oregon is launching a new initiative called C om passion Sabbath, encouraging congregations across O regon to des­ ignate tim eOct 27-29 to worship, pray, study or discuss end-of-life issues. C om passion Sabbath will help people focus on the role o f the faith com m unity in caring for those who are term inally ill o r bereaved. M ore than 30 Christian, Buddhist and Jew ­ ish congregations from B aker City to Roseburg have registered to partici- Funeral Tribute to Josephine James A fu n eral w as held T u esd ay at R o s e C ity F u n e r a l H o m e fo r Jo se p h in e Jam es, w ho d ied O ct. 11 at age 65. M rs. Jam es w as b o rn M arch 19, 1935, in V ic k s b u rg , M iss. H er m a id en n am e w as W rig h t. She m o v ed to R ich m o n d , C alif., as a child and w as raised there. She later lived in Los A n g eles b efo re m o v ­ ing to P o rtlan d in 1969. She w as a g rin d er for O m ark In d u stries (later B lount Inc.) for 27 years until retir­ ing in 1998. In 1972, she m arried C u rtis Jam es. S u rv iv o rs in clu d e h er h usband; d au g h ter, D onna Q u in o n es; son, K eith; m other, M arg aret T h o m p ­ son; sisters, V eara W rig h t, E ddie D avis, A lyce W eb ster an d R enee D o ck ery ; four g ran d ch ild ren ; and th ree g rea t-g ran d ch ild ren . In term en t w ill be in R ose C ity C em etery. (J efe ‘...H e shall com e unto us as the rain, as the latter and form er rain... H osea 6:3.” “The Latter Rain” is the them e o f a revival to be held over three nights, Oct. 25-27 at 7 p.m. at the Allen Temple CM E Church, 4236N . E. Eighth Ave. A rea residents are invited tojoin in the healing, deliverance and restora­ tion o f G o d ’s word. G o d ’s g ifted an o in ted h ealer, prophetess and evangelist prophet­ ess B etty Johnson o f B eaum ont, Texas will be the guest speaker. Form ore information, contact Pas­ tor Dr. LeRoy H aynes, Jr. B ooks L ook A t L ife A nd E xp erien ces Speakers Help Celebrate Month-Long Event The Mittleman Jewish Community C e n ter p ro u d ly sp o n so rs Jew ish Book M onth as part o f the national celebration o f Jewish books dem on­ strating the full range o f Jew ish life and experiences. The event is spon­ sored in part by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council. From Oct. 31-D ec. 3, the MJCC and num erous Jew ish organizations and synagogues, bring to Portland a w ide range o f authors reading in ven­ ues throughout the city. In addition, B roadw ay B ooks helps turn the MJCC lobby into the largest Judaica bookshop in tow n for the month, selling Judaic books from the reli­ gious, to the hum orous, historical to great Jew ish fiction. K ids books and cookbooks, also. Perhaps since Jews have been tra­ ditionally called the “people o f the book,” it is only fitting that this month long national event, now held in ven­ ues throughout the U nited States, has becom e a m ajor force in the book­ seller world. This y ear’s Portland celebration features both national and local authors. Starting o ff Oct. 31 w ill be M im i Sheraton, form er food critic for the New Y ork Tim es and author o f the new book, The Bialy Eaters. A patron party, held at a private hom e, will feature Ms. Sheraton. This event costs $25 and is open to the public. Please call the M JCC at 244-0111 for reservations and location. Sheraton will read for the public on Nov. 1 at the M JCC. O ther national authors include: M yla G oldberg, au ­ thor o f the highly acclaim ed novel The Bee Season, and N om i Eve, au ­ thor o f the new novel The Fam ily O rchard, Nov. 30 at C ongregation H avurah Shalom; and author Seth Rogovoy Nov. 28 at C ongregation Shaarie Torah. C oncordia C elebrates 50th C hristm as C horale The Concordia Choir is already pre­ paring for the holiday season. This year is the 50th Anniversary o f Concordia University’s annual Christmas Chorale. The public is invited to come cel­ ebrate Christ with the 80-voiceConcordia University Choir and Handbells En­ semble. Selections will include traditional Christmas carols, sung by all, as well as musical selections forthe Advent C'hnst- m as season com posed by D avid Willcocks, Morten Lauridsen, John Gardner, William Mathias, J.S. Bach Randall Ihompson. John Rutter, and more. Concordia alumni and staffwill be invited tojoin the choir at the conclusion o f the program in singing the choral selection “E’en So Lord Jesus Quickly Come’’byPaulManz. The concert willbe presented at S t Michael’s Lutheran Church at Northeast Dekum and 29th, adjacent to the Concordia Campus, at 7 p m . Dec. 2. There isnoadmissionchaige, but offerings will be accepted Please call 503-280-8614formore information. aitó n 'iJ a ^ e r n a c b CPrz ten is: place. O u r M am a has g o n e on to an ­ o th e r etern al hom e an d leav es be- PROVE GOD NOW MIRACLE CRUSADE, INCORPORATED M edia Evangelistic M issionary O utreach P.O.Box 12423 Portland, O regon 97212 O NE DAY BIBLICAL FAITH MIRACLE AND DELIVERANCE SEMINAR k 7 Trusting God's Promises Beyond the Instant Tangible M inute WITH Evangelist W. Pritchett HQ l z J 1 ’/ ONE GREAT SEMINAR ON HOW TO TRUST GOD’S PROMISES In this sem inar, you w ill learn from G o d ’s word H ow to exercise faith in G od so that He will fulfill His promise. E veryone is invited!!! SA TU R D A Y — OCTOBER 28,2000 R ed Lion Inn Coliseum 1225 North Interstate Portland. O regon 97227 2:00pm-5:00pm •V & ty £ i £ O Lnnuaf Q o s p e f S o £ o ia r s £ ip an JC£f»ar