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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 27, 2018)
June 27, 2018 The Page 3 INSIDE Week in Review C ALENDAR This page Sponsored by: page 2 page 6 page 7 M ETRO photo by M ark W ashington /p ortlanD o bserver p ublisher Rosemary Anderson High School Principal Joe McFerrin (right) presents a proclamation to the family of Pearl Smothers Mashia, honoring the late and beloved attendance secretary for her 22 years at the school. Attending the ceremony last Wednesday were (from left) Linda Mashia-Jones, Donna Jean Harris, Pearl Thomas, Anita Craig, Lucy Mashia and Eric Mashia. A Role Model’s Impact Rosemary Anderson honors late ‘Grandma Pearl’ Arts & ENTERTAINMENT A beloved staff member and role model for an alternative high school serving Portland’s black community, who passed away in January, has been honored post- humously for her life’s work and dedication to students, families, staff and others. Pearl Smothers Mashia was an attendance secretary for 22 years at Rosemary Anderson High School on North Killingsworth Street where she got to know stu- dents and their families and came to be affectionately known as pages 10-11 D anny p eterson t he p ortlanD o bserver Family members of a Portland murder victim, Leonard James “LJ” Irving Jr., whose death re- mains unsolved seven years after the fatal shooting, are urging any- one who may have information leading to an arrest to speak up. Last Saturday marked the anniver- sary of the night of June 23, 2011 when Irving was shot four times in the back after trying to calm an by pages 12-13 pages 14 “Grandma Pearl.” “She learned the circumstanc- es that caused barriers to student attendance and proactively helped identify and implement solutions,” read a resolution from the school in gratitude to the long time staff member that was presented last Wednesday to her surviving fam- ily members. Grandma Pearl came to Rose- mary Anderson High School Cold Case Turns Seven Years Family tries to break silence on murder O PINION C LASSIFIEDS Pearl Smothers Mashia through Multnomah County’s Grandparent Program, but offi- cials said she became everyone’s grandma, making the school and its co-program Portland Oppor- tunity Industrialization Center a home for all. The resolution noted how she was devoted to welcoming stu- dents each morning and how her calm presence changed the atmo- sphere of the entire building by cultivating trust and respect. “Grandma Pearl made Rose- mary Anderson High School a bet- ter place by bringing out the best in people, their best behavior, their best attendance, their best work,” said the proclamation signed by RAHS Board Member Amy Angel and the school’s principal, pres- ident and chief executive officer Joe McFerrin II. to not be a “snitch.” Irving was 34 when he died and is survived by three children, his mother, and a sister. “It is heart-wrenching for me and my family,” said Irving’s mother, Lucy Mashia. “L.J.’s murder was witnessed by many people in our community and yet our community remains silent. My heart is broken, my grandchildren have no father. It has been seven Leonard James “LJ” Irving Jr. years. Please, if you know some- argument outside a northeast Port- thing, please come forward.” Since Irving’s death, Mashia land bar. Irving’s family says they know has became an active member there are witnesses who have more of Enough is Enough Portland, a information they’re not telling po- C ontinueD on p age 5 lice, but are keeping silent in order
