Obituaries/News
L. Mozell Williams, 1920-2012
Mayor Proclaims Working
Kirk Day, Offers Help
H
A memorial service will be held in honor of our loving mother,
grandmother and great- grandmother on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2012 at 1
p.m. at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 3725 N. Gantenbein Ave.,
Portland, OR 97227.
Mozell was born in Mississippi, married to Johnie S. Williams and the
mother of Johnny Williams and Nathalee W. Barnett. She was a devoted
50 + year member of Bethel A.M.E in Portland, sang in the choir for 40
years, and 10 year member of Bethel in LA.
Mozell will be missed by all concerned, but she had a blessed, long and
beautiful life.
Page 8 The Portland Skanner December 12, 2012
undreds attended the
memorial for Kirk
Reeves on Nov. 18,
which was proclaimed as
Working Kirk Day by
Mayor Sam Adams.
Last week Adams again
honored ‘Working Kirk’ for
his contribution as a street
performer who entertained
thousands with his music
and balloon tricks. However
Adams also took the oppor-
tunity to again publicize
Portland’s new suicide
counseling hotline.
As the new Wikipedia
page for Kirk Reeves says,
“Despondent over his set-
backs as an entertainer and
his health problems, Reeves
committed suicide on the
weekend of November 3,
2012 in the Smith and
Bybee Wetlands Natural
Area in North Portland.”
“Rain or shine, Kirk
devoted his time to playing
trumpet and cornet solos
and performing magic tricks
in his signature white tuxe-
do and Mickey Mouse hat
with the goal of making
people smile and making
Portland a little better place
that day,” Adams said in a
statement last Friday.
“Kirk will be dearly
missed, but his passing
gives us an opportunity to
address a significant but
preventable problem in our
area: providing resources for people experi-
encing a mental health crisis or
contemplating suicide.
“Lines for Life is a local organization that
operates a 24/7 hotline for those facing the
challenges of suicide and mental health
crises, and their crisis counselors are wait-
ing for your calls,” Mayor Adams said.
“You can reach these services by calling
1-800-SUICIDE or their new local phone
number 503-97-23456.”
Personal friend Wanda Broadous thanked
the Portland community for coming out to
the memorial as well as a celebration after-
ward at the Billy Webb Elks Lodge.
“I want to thank you for getting the word
out about his name, his diligence in our
community and accomplishments,” she
said. Broadous also thanked Mt. Olivet’s
Eastern Stars Chapter; St Joseph’s Masonry
Men; Portland Community Media,and Po’
Folk Community Needs for Justice Founder
Apostle Cecil Hatchet.
Supporters are collecting funds for a
memorial to the street artist, to be placed at
the foot of the Hawthorne Bridge where he
often performed. For more information on
that, go to www.GoFundMe.com and search
for ‘Memorial for Kirk Reeves The Trumpet
Man.’