Ennis Koonce never left a day of work without stopping by each coworker’s desk to say goodbye.

Those same coworkers now walk past the same neatly kept, now-vacant desk as a reminder of his untimely passing April 5.

Koonce had a multi-faceted career at OU. He served as an Adams Center resident director, higher education administration graduate student and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member.

Those who worked with him said he had a passion for helping others.

“He loved helping students, mentoring, just stopping and talking to people,” resident director Lauren Carter said.

Before his passing, Koonce helped develop a program intended to help transport injured students living in residence halls to and from classes, said Jennifer Doughty, Housing and Food director of operations.

Koonce’s fondness for amusing wordplay inspired him to push for the name “Lending a Limb,” Doughty said.

Colleagues said he was clever and had a sharp wit.

“He created words, he coined phrases that became parts of his peers’ vocabulary,” said T. Elon Dancy, higher education professor. “He was very creative.”

Koonce was at OU to study higher education administration, and his dissertation was focused on African American male performance in college, Dancy said.

“He saw himself in a professional role of serving this population of students, either through mentoring or broader student affairs work,” Dancy said.

Koonce practiced kindness to those around him, but in a humble manner.

“He did it in such a way that it wasn’t a big show, being kind,” Doughty said. “He was very quietly and privately kind, like leaving notes on your desk.”

Doughty said Koonce never left the office without saying goodbye to each employee, and his loss is devastating.

“It sounds like such a small thing, but it’s really meaningful when someone takes the time out from everything else that’s going on,” Doughty said. “Every single day.”

Despite his passing, lessons learned from Koonce still linger.

“Like his big heart, it’s still impacting us on a day-to-day basis,” Carter said. “He is still teaching us stuff, even though he’s not physically here.”

Koonce taught her to be honest and true to herself, Carter said. Koonce also inspired others to do whatever they could to help people.

An avid cook, Koonce also informed Carter that he made the best turkey burger, though she never had the chance to try one.

“I’ve heard nothing but good reviews of all of his food,” Carter said. “If you gave that man a kitchen, he’d make you a meal.”

Still, he taught coworkers other lessons.

Resident director Klint Neal said Koonce taught him to follow his passions and helped him plan out his own career path.

Resilience is another lesson Koonce left behind.

“He hadn’t been well for some months, and he never gave up,” Klint said. “He was still very much involved in pursuing his Ph.D. and completing his classes, on top of his work in Housing and Food.”

After graduating, he planned to work helping students. He was interested in being a vice president of student affairs, directing resident life or deanship of student life, Dancy said.

“He wanted to do work that mattered to the issues around African American male performance in colleges and universities,” Dancy said.

His leadership skills sprang from his strong sense of self, Dancy said.

“He was not the type to succumb to peer pressure,” Dancy said. “He was often the leader in groups because of that.”

This quality made people want to be mentored by Koonce, Dancy said.

He earned his undergraduate degree in his home state of Georgia and left behind a similar legacy there.

“By the time he left Georgia to come to [OU], he left behind a countless number of students who missed him very much,” Dancy said.

“He lived life, with not one bad memory,” Carter said. “I can honestly say that he served every day with great purpose.”

Mrs. Brenda Marie Young Ellison, of 184 Stribling Circle, entered into eternal rest Monday April 16, 2012 at the Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Ellison was the wife of Mr. George Ellison. She was the daughter of the late Mr. Odell W. Young and Mrs. Lillie M. Neuble Young. A graduate of Carver High School, Class of 1965, she earned a B.S. degree in Home Economics from S.C. State College in 1969. She did further graduate work at USCS and Wofford College. She was a member of Epsilon Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. She was a member of S.C. Consumer Science Organization and the National Home Economics Association. She began her dedicated teaching career at Carver Junior High, and Spartanburg High School. Due to illness she retired in June 1998. Those who knew her, knew her as a quiet person, but loving and kind. She was a previous member of SCSU Alumni Association. She was a member of the Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

Authorities found the body of missing Alabama student Charles Edward Jones III around 1:55 p.m. Friday, April 6. Jones disappeared Thursday night during a cruise on the Black Warrior River.

Jones was a 20-year-old sophomore from Demopolis and a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at UA. Tuscaloosa police confirm that Jones was the cousin of Tuscaloosa Police Chief Steve Anderson, who is currently out of the state.

Friday morning, crews resumed the search for Jones. Authorities were called around 10 p.m. Thursday when the student was discovered missing as the Bama Belle returned to dock. It had been out on a river cruise hosting a formal for the Delta Sigma Theta sorority.

Crews searched by boat, ground, and air for three hours looking for Jones. Authorities then called off the search until sunrise Friday, when divers resumed searching the water. They said the water is deep and the current is strong.

Students were very emotional Thursday night, some upset the search was suspended overnight. Authorities said after three hours of searching, there was nothing else they could do until sunrise Friday.

William Jefferson Sr., age 75, of Liberty, died Tuesday, February 14, 2012, at Reid Hospital.

Born June 21, 1936, in Trenton, Ky., to Malcolm and Rosa Martin Jefferson, he moved to this area in 1974. Bill graduated from high school in 1954 and was an alumnus of Kentucky State University. He served in the U.S. Army for seven years. Bill worked for the Ford Motor Company in Louisville, Ky., where he was the first man of color hired as a salaried employee. He continued working with Ford Motor Company, which became Visteon, in Connersville, retiring after 46 years of service. Bill attended Baptist Temple in Connersville and was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and the Harley Group of Richmond.

Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He loved motorcycles and rode in 49 of the 50 states and in each province of Canada, but his biggest thrill was riding with his son, William Jr. His daughter, Lori, was his princess. Bill loved his children, but his grandchildren were his pride and joy. He had special things he enjoyed doing with each grandchild.

Survivors include his wife, Lloyce Burton Jefferson, to whom he was married July 3, 1960, in Paducah, Ky.; son, William Jefferson Jr. of Wake Forest, N.C.; daughter, Lori Allen of Connersville; grandchildren, Antonio, Ashley, and Kenny Wilson, Lloyce and Aimee Jefferson, and Tiffanni Reidy; brothers, Booker, James, Eugene, and Smith Jefferson; sister, Daisy Weatherby; an aunt and uncle; cousins; nieces; nephews and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers.

A memorial service for William Jefferson Sr. will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, February 25, 2012, at the Baptist Temple, 1380 E. State Road 44, Connersville. Doan & Mills Funeral Home, Richmond, is handling the arrangements.

Condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book atwww.doanmillsfuneralhome.com

The Lighten Family sadly lost their matriarch,Janifer Lynn Lighten, on Friday, Feb. 10, 2012.

Mrs. Lighten, who was 50 years old, succumbed to cancer. She died peacefully, surrounded by her family and friends in her New Rochelle home.

Mrs. Lighten, was a former Wall Street banker, who turned full-time wife to her husband William Lighten and mother of four, Adrienne, Alexis, Christopher and Michael. She focused her talents on serving her alma mater, Yale University, as well as local organizations in the non-profit sector in her beloved community of New Rochelle.

Mrs. Lighten was the inaugural president and CEO of the Yale Black Alumni Association. Additionally, she served numerous organizations in her community including the Board of the New Rochelle Public Library Foundation and The Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle. She and her children founded the Remington Leadership Financial Literacy Program at the Remington Unit of the Boys and Girls Club of New Rochelle. She also served on the Head of School Committee and the Executive Board of the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, her children’s secondary school.

She was a Trustee of the Jack and Jill of America Foundation and held various leadership positions with The Links, Incorporated and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

In 2010, in recognition of her community service and Philanthropic endeavors, Mrs. Lighten received a resolution from state Sen. Andrea Stewart Cousins which stated, “Rare indeed is the occurrence of such compassionate blending of strength, intellect and commitment as that demonstrated by Janifer Lynn Lighten over a lifetime of sacrifice and dedication to others…”

She was a faithful and active member of Grace Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, where she co-founded the Grace Innovation Ministry, an investment educational development ministry.

Her homegoing services will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church at 52 South Sixth Ave. in Mount Vernon.

The arrangements are as follows:
The wake will be held on Wednesday, February 15th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. and funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 16th at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Lighten Family Foundation which focuses on Education, Mentoring, Social Services, and Legal Defense for Urban Youth. Donations can be mailed to:

The Lighten Family Foundation
c/o UBS
299 Park Avenue-26th floor
New York, NY 10171
Attn: Robert Sechan

Wake services will be held at 6 p.m. Friday and funeral services will be held at noon Saturday at St. John AME Church in Marion.

Samuel was born on June 2, 1921, in Bishopville, a son and one of nine children of Robert Sr. and Mary Margaret Samuel Bradley. The Bradley home, in the Red Hill community, strongly emphasized learning wisdom from both Christian and formal education. Samuel’s parents required regular family attendance at New Zion AME Church to learn that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” among other religious instruction.

Samuel’s formal education included Cooper Mill, Rosenwall School, and Lincoln High in Sumter. He started his freshman college year at Morris College in Sumter before going to Allen University on a football scholarship. He began a more than 65 year membership with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity during his undergraduate years. Before graduating in 1947 with a bachelor’s degree from Allen University, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Samuel often said that, “The best thing I got from Allen University was meeting and marrying Beulah Mae Taylor,” his wife of 62 years. She passed away in March of 2009.

Samuel and Beulah were blessed with two daughters, Deloris Bradley Harris and Cathy Bradley Page, both of whom had successful public school teaching careers like their father and mother. Residing in Marion, Samuel abundantly provided for his family via a 38-year distinguished public school teaching career involving Terrell’s Bay High School, Centenary; Lincoln High School, Sumter; and Poynor Middle School and Wilson High School in Florence. He was a faithful longtime member of St. John AME Church in Marion and served many times as a delegate to important AME church lay organizations and general conferences. Similarly, Samuel provided many years of loyal service by helping to recruit new college students to his beloved alma mater, Allen University. In 2010, he was inducted into the Allen University Athletic Hall Of Fame.

In addition to Deloris of Durham, N.C., and Cathy of Columbia, Samuel is survived and loved by his brother, Robert (Lottie) Bradley Jr. of Bishopville; his sisters, Blanche (Isaac Sr.) Joe and Lillie Mae Mickens, both of Bishopville; his grandchildren, Sonya Harris of Durham, Charles Harris II of Chicago, Ill., Samuel Murphy of Columbia, and Jennifer Harris of Durham; his great-grandson, Zion Murphy; his brother-in-law, Seabrook (Willie Mae) Taylor; his sisters-in-law, Merlene Montgomery, Lucille Taylor and Jessie Bradley; and a host of wonderful nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and friends.

Interment will be at New Zion AME Church Memorial Garden, Bishopville.

Professional services entrusted to New Life Funeral Services LLC of Bishopville.

Mrs. Otis Ruffin Colwell Douglas, 85, passed away Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, in Charlottesville, where she had been living with her daughter, Beverly “BeBe” Colwell Adams since 2008.

Otis was born Nov. 5, 1926, in Youngstown, a daughter of Mr. Clarence and Mrs. Ida (Campbell) Ruffin.

She graduated from The Rayen School, The Ohio State University, where she received a B.A. from the School of Social Administration in 1948, Youngstown State University, where she received a Teaching Certificate in 1962, and Akron University, where she received her M.A. in School Psychology in 1970.

Otis lived all of her life in Youngstown, except during college and her first job in her field of social work at Aid for the Aged in Columbus.

While working in Columbus, she met her first husband, William A. Colwell.

Returning to Youngstown, she worked as a legal secretary for the law firm of Green, Schiavone and Murphy from 1953 to 1962.

In 1957, she married her second husband, Clifton O. Douglas Jr.

In 1962, she worked as a first-grade elementary school teacher at the Kimmel Brook Elementary School. In 1969, she was the first African American female visiting teacher and in 1970, she became the first African American school psychologist in the Youngstown Public School System. She retired in 1987.

Otis was an active member of the Third Baptist Church. She served on the Missionary Board and various other church committees.

Otis pledged the Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (OSU) in 1946. In 1953, she began her lifelong membership in the Delta Lambda Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., now called the Youngstown Alumnae Chapter. Otis had been chapter president and held almost every elected and appointed position in the chapter. She was a Delta for 66 years and was honored with the Delta Sigma Theta Educator of the Year award in 2002.

Otis became a member of the Youngstown Chapter of the Links, Inc. in 1970. She was chapter president and held numerous other positions. Nationally, she was awarded alumna and platinum status in the Links Inc. in 2008.

Otis was a charter member of the Youngstown Branch of the Negro Women’s Business and Professional Club (organized by Mrs. Margaret Linton). She was a longtime member of the Socialite Bridge Club. She served on the board of directors of the Youngstown Area Urban League, Campfire Girls, Mahoning Children and Family Service Board, and Diagnostic Evaluation Counseling Center. She served as the Urban League representative for the publication of“Opportunities Unlimited” along with the Youngstown Area Chamber of Commerce. She worked also on the Urban League’s bicentennial booklet,“Rediscover of the Past” in 1976. She was celebrated as one of the YWCA Women of the Year in 1983.

Otis is survived by her daughter, Beverly Colwell Adams, Ph.D. of Charlottesville; two sons, Clifton O. Douglas III of Youngstown and Dennis P. Douglas of Florida; grandchildren, Jasmine Adams of Florida, Shawn Douglas, Samoa Douglas Haskins, Clifton Douglas IV, and Kimberly Douglas, all of Columbus, and Dennis Douglas Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.; great-grandchildren; her cousin, Alice Ruth Triplett (Clyde) and daughter, Cecilia Catley of Youngstown; and godchildren, Stephen, Cynthia, and Dean Francis, all of Columbus, who were also dear to her.

Otis was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; and a grandchild, Nicole Douglas.

The family will receive friends today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Washington Funeral Home, where the Youngstown Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Soroity Inc. will perform the Omega Omega ceremony at 6 p.m. followed by a memorial tribute presented by the Youngstown Chaper of the Links Inc.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Third Baptist Church, with the Rev. Morris W. Lee officiating.

Interment will be at Tod Homestead Cemetery.

Condolences may be emailed to Jewashton@aol.com or faxed to 330-782-2050.

Ministry of comfort provided by J.E. Washington Funeral Services Inc.

Family, friends and the Cody High School community are mourning the loss of a long-time teacher.

The body of 33-year-old Dwyone Joiner was found in his Sussex Street home in Detroit Wednesday.

Detroit Police say he was killed from a gun shot wound, but investigators are not releasing any other details into the death.

A source with the Wayne County Medical Examiner’s Office tells Action News the case is being handled as a homicide, and no weapon was found at the scene.

Family members of Mr. Joiner say he taught English and helped with the yearbook.

He had taught at Cody for 11 years.

“We are saddened that a teacher at Cody High School has died,” said a statement from Jennifer Mrozowski from the Office of Communications at Detroit Public Schools. “We have had a crisis team to talk to students and staff.”

Read more: http://www.wxyz.com//dpp/news/region/detroit/police-investigate-cody-high-school-teachers-death#ixzz1jwX9WZM9

Johnny Gorman, 77, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

A home-going celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, at Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Niles. The visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and run until the time of service. Pastor Bryant L. Bacon Sr. will officiate. Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 16, at Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs.

Johnny Gorman was born April 12, 1934, in Marks, Miss., to the late James and Sarah (Gates) Gorman. He was the youngest of seven children.

He served in the U.S. Army. He was a science educator for 43 years collectively for Quitman County Public Schools, Long Branch (New Jersey) Public Schools, Benton Harbor Area Schools and Detroit Public Schools.

He was a member of the following organizations: Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., John W. Moore Lodge No. 42 P.H.A., Al Zabir Temple No. 81, P.H.A., Homer E. Gaines Consistory No. 112, Miriam Chapter No. 56 OES, P.H.A, NAACP, Retired Teachers Association, and National Science Foundation.

He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Eva Gorman; a son, Johnny A. Gorman of Owings Mills, Md.; a daughter, Tenisha Gorman-Henry (Paul) of South Bend, Ind.; a sister, Ruby G. Martin of Chicago; a grandson, Paul Javaun Henry; a brother-in-law, Mr. Charlie A. Thompson of Blairs, Va.; two sisters-in-law, Wylean G. Thompson of Blairs and Eva Gorman of Clarksdale, Miss.; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, godbrothers, godsisters, godchildren, and godgrandchildren and friends.

Arrangements are entrusted with Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Ken Ward, TV reporter, was set to drive Wednesday from Charlotte, N. C. to Tampa Bay, Fla. to start his new job at an ABC affiliate.

Instead, the 44-year-old was found dead early Wednesday morning at his home before the journey even started, leaving colleagues and viewers wondering what happened to the promising reporter.

His former news station, WSOC-TV, issued a brief statement Wednesday at 11:10 a.m. local time.

“We have lost a former member of our family here at Channel 9,” the message read in part.

The Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, which Ward was a member, said in a statement that the TV reporter died around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, but didn’t give other details.

An autopsy at the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiner’s Office will be performed to determine the cause of death, according to reports.

However, published reports suggested the Ward died of natural causes.

“This should have been a great day for him, and it’s sad that this has happened,” co-worker Ken Lemon, told Qcitymetro, a newspaper that covers the African American community in Charlotte.

“Ken was a very nice co-worker,” Lemon added. “He was very active in doing community events… He had a very pleasant demeanor. He was the kind of guy that anytime you saw him at work, he had a smile and a handshake – from the first day he came here until the last time I talked to him. And to know that we’re not going to see his smile or get to shake his hand again is very heart-breaking.”

Ward not only had the new job to look forward, but on Saturday, he and wife Letitia Ward celebrated their one-year anniversary.

Friends and family took to social media to express their condolences.

“R.I.P. Cousin nothing but good childhood thoughts of U!! Prayers of love and support Auntie, Sterlin, Donald and Leltia,” wrote Cheryl Ward, who currently lives in Harlem, N.Y.