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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 17, 2018)
January 17, 2018 Page 7 Obituary Our Beautiful Mother Pearl Smothers Mashia A quiet and lovely lady passed our way. She shined for many years -- a beacon of light! There was so much to be done, so much to learn during her Christian journey -- family, friends to cherish. She would like to say she needed more than the 94 years she was giv- en, but she wasn’t one to be greedy. Pearl Smothers Mashia was born Sept. 3, 1923 to parents, Rosalie Haley Smothers and Will Henry Smothers in Bains, West Feliciana Parish, Louisi- ana. Surrounded by her loving family, she entered into eternal rest on Jan. 8, 2017, passing angelically as she looked up into the face of God. Mother Pearl accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior and was baptized at the tender age of 5. She loved the word of God and worked diligently in the church from childhood un- til God called her home. In 1965, she relocated her family from New Orleans to Portland (7 girls and 3 boys) and immediately joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under the pastorate of Rev. A.A. Newton. A faithful servant, she was a member of Usher Board #1, a Sunday School teacher and president of the New Hope Mothers’ Board. She was a member of the Sermonette’s singing group and served the Portland/Vancouver Gospel Music Workshop Chapter. She was a dedicated mem- ber of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Mothers and Patron- ess Club. She studied the Bible daily, completing a Bible Study Fellowship classes twice, al- ways wanting to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. A great seamstress, she worked at Meier and Frank in Ladies Alterations, retiring at age 65. Never one to sit idle, she began working as “Grand- ma Pearl” with the Foster Grandparent Program as a vol- unteer. She was an attendance sec- retary at P.O.I.C.-Rosemary Anderson High School until she was 90 years old! Mother Pearl leaves to cher- ish her memory, her children; Pearl Thomas, Donna Harris (Antonio), Anita Craig (Don- ovan), Rose Mashia-Jones, AJ Mashia (Joanie), Lucy Mae Mashia, Eric Mashia (Magd- aline), Linda Mashia-Jones, Ava Mashia and Lance Mashia (Charlene). Preceding her in death were her parents; three brothers, Henry (Gertrude), Leon and Charles Smothers; son-in-law Willie Thomas Sr.; and grand- son Leonard James Irving Jr. She leaves to mourn 24 grandchildren, 23 great-grand- children, 6 great-great children and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Home Going services will be Saturday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Viewing will be Friday, Jan. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at her home church, New Hope Missionary Baptist. Katz Public Tribute Art Museum to host celebration of life Loved ones, colleagues and ad- mirers of the late Portland Mayor Vera Katz will have a chance to celebrate her life on Sunday, Jan. 28, at 2 p.m. at the Portland Art Museum. Katz died on Dec. 11 at the age of 84 due to complications from leukemia and kidney fail- ure. Elected in 1972 to the Oregon legislature, she became the state’s first woman speaker of the house and only the second in the nation to lead a state house of represen- tatives, serving what was then a record three terms. In 1993, she became Portland’s third woman mayor, leaving office Vera Katz in 2005 after three terms. Upon her retirement from 32 years in public life, The Washington Post’s David Broder saluted the “feisty” Katz as “one of the pioneers and paceset- ters for the women’s movement, education reform, health care and urban planning.” Because his mother was known to shy away from pomp and cir- cumstance, Katz’s son, Jesse Katz, said the event will be an unpreten- tious and uplifting tribute. “Mom always said that the most important thing to her was to make a difference,” said Jesse Katz, a Los Angeles author and journalist. “Based on the condo- lences I’ve received these past few weeks, I can see just how many lives she touched—how profoundly she inspired others to do more and be better.” In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations in Vera Katz’s honor be directed to Lan Su Chinese Garden, or your favorite local arts organization or public school foundation. Boys & Girls Club Advocate Remembered Club to hold memorial service Family and friends are mourn- ing the death of Linda K White; a long time child activist and a re- tired manager of the Blazers’ Boys and Girls Club. She died peaceful- ly at home Jan. 5, 2018 after bat- tling complications from diabetes. A memorial service will be held Friday, Jan. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Blazers’ Boys and Girls Club; 5250 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Blazers Boys and Girls Club in memory of Lin- da K. White. C annon ’ s r ib e xPress 5410 NE 33rd Ave, Portland, Or Call to Order: 503-288-3836 Open (hours) Sun-Thurs: 11a-8p Fri-Sat: 11a- 9p Cannon’s, tasty food and friendly neighborhood atmosphere.
