The Center Informer: Official Newsletter Of The A. M. Hunter Titus Charitable Cultural Center, Inc. 946 South Bateman Fairfield, Texas 75840-2902 Phone: 903-389-3482 Fax: 903-389-3552 E-mail: bill1919@valornet.com Third Edition September 18, 2008 Center News The Center is progressing. The third quarterly meeting was held on August 16th. In September, a storage facility was purchased from Sears. This enables the Center to store donations of articles from supporters. Because we were able to cut back the large cottonwood tree that hovered over the house, we dodged a bullet when Hurricane Ike roared through town. Many trees were destroyed or damaged. That was the extent of the damage to the town. The Center has requested financial support. Members are responding slowly. Donnie R. Shaw and Andrew Dailey each donated $100.00. Others have donated less. Others still have donated materials and services that amount to hundreds of dollars.. We appreciate everything that has been done in support of our worthy cause. The fall garden has been planted. We have tomatoes, egg plants, squash, okra, hot pepper, green and purple cabbage, spinach and collards growing. We need volunteers to assist with the cultivation. Joe Winston Rischer is Director of the Community Garden Program. Spotlight Upon Families and Individuals Glenda F. Coleman has been selected "Personality of the Month." She is an accountant for former TXU's Big Brown Mining Company who agreed to serve as treasurer of the Center. Glenda is active in the life of the community, a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church and the NAACP. Hats off to Glenda! The family of Jeremiah Titus, Jr. lost its house that was on North Bateman in Fairfield, Texas by fire in late July. Also, on July 29, 2008, Johnny Harold Titus had eye surgery. He is recovering well. Rufus and Marietta Mcgee, of Houston, Texas have evacuated to Fairfield temporarily to escape "Hurricane Ike." Melanie Cunningham was nominated by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences to receive an Emmy Award, in the category of Outstanding Individual Acheivement in a Craft: Research. Melanie is the daughter of John and Linda Nell Smith Cunnningham, the granddaughter of William and Marzie Oreatha Smith, the great granddaughter of Jimmy and Hattie Mae Titus Johnson Lee, the great, great granddaughter of Willie and Mary B. Rauls Titus and the great, great, great granddaughter of Edward "Ned" and Clora Dunbar Titus. These ancestors lived in Freeston County Texas in the Fairfield area. She was nominated for her work on the History Channel Documentary "Titanic's Acheilles Heel" in which the filmakers studied the theory that the Titanic was not felled in fact by an iceberg alone, but substandard building materials. The producers faced opposition to their theory about the Titanic's failed voyage from none other than James Cameron the director of the theatical release "Titanic" from 1997. James Cameron went so far as to get a court injunction, and convince the Russian navy to keep the filmmakers from diving the wreck site in the north Atlantic to disprove his theory that the ship was sank by an iceberg and broke in two as he portrayed in his movie. Melanie was responsible for researching, and finding an alternate way of supporting the theory of the substandard building materials. She found that the company that built the Titanic, built a sister ship at the same time, with the same materials at the same shipyard called the Britannic...which happened to sink in the Mediteranian, without threat of icebergs. It was found that this ship broke apart in the same manner as the Titanic when it sank, and upon diving the wreck site it was found to have the suspect fasteners which gave way under stress of the water against the hull at high speeds as the building plans of the Titanic indicated. The Ceremony for the News and Documentary Emmy awards will be held in New York City at Lincoln Center on September 22nd and Melanie currently works for the Lone Wolf Documentary group, and is the associate producer of the PBS summer series Nova Science Now which airs on Wednesday nights this summer. I'm very proud of my little sister." Erica Rischer, daughter of Dennis and Eva Rischer, granddaughter of Sylvester, Jr. and Lula Mae Rischer, and great granddaughter of James I Bonner and Mrs. Matilda Blair was hired to teach this fall by the Fairfield Independent School District. Helena Titus, daughter of King and Joenicey Titus of Los Angeles, graduated from USC's Passing the Mantle and Lay leader Institute. The institute was led by Rev. Cecil Murray, Sr. Pastor emeritus, First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles. The ceremony took place in the Lewis Hall Auditorium at 12 noon. Michaela Titus , daughter of Jeremiah, Jr. and Dorothy Lee Titus of Dallas, Texas graduated from North Texas State University this summer. Ora Mae Wilson, second daughter of my sister Emma D. and her daughter Barbara Ann came for a visit on August 23, 2008 and made my day. Ora is very devoted to me. Michelle Dorraine English, daughter of Woodrow and Cryssandra English, and Edward Stanton Birdow, II of Palestine, Texas, plan to marry on October 11, 2008 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church, 303 South Mount Street, Fairfield. Birthdays August Members born in August are Christina Gibbs, 2nd., Dorothy Earnestine Titus Jordan, Minnie B. Titus Toliver, Jennifer Jordan Washington, 6th., Ora Mae Wilson, 7th., DeAndre Gibbs, 21st., Denise McQuinn, 24th., Pina Bonner, 30th. September Members born in September are Jamil and Trisha McQuinn, 2nd., Delana Hunter, 11; Mark McQuinn,Jr., 22, Cortrell Gibbs, 23, Sick & Shut-ins These are the sick and shut-ins for the period. *Louie Phillips had his second knee surgery on August 25, 2008 and is doing well. *J. C. Cox had a heart attack on August 2, 2008 and is in a hospital in Tyler, Texas . *Joe Columbus Rischer, Senior and Junior are experiencing problems. *Elease Hunter Soto Emery had a foot amputated today. She is the daughter of Mack A. Hunter. Prayer is requested. Other persons who are either sick or shut-in are Vernon L Averhart, K. D. Bass, Pearline Willis Dickens, Annie Mae Gabriel, Allynda Christine Jones, Virgil and Jewel Keeton, Shirley Richard Sanders, Dorothy Lee Titus, King H. Titus, Jr., Lelia Mae Titus, Marvin D. Titus, Wilbur T. Titus, V. Mary Titus,. Tommie and Roy Canady, Ruthie Mae Jones and Lurline Sweeney. Deaths *Harvell G. Mayes on July 29, 2008 in a hospital in Tyler, Texas *Jo Ann Cook, daughter of Annie Laura Fortune and great grand daughter of James (Jim) and Charlotte Hunter Roberts died suddenly in Dallas, Texas in August. *Queen Esther Titus Deal, daughter of King Henry and Ena Spencer Titus died of cancer on September 6, 2008, Los Angeles, California. *Emma Bailey Harris, wife of Willie Harris died recently in Dallas, Texas. *Janet Gail Kemp Richardson, daughter of Myrtle Bernice Edwards Kemp who was the daughter of Mattie Maria Titus Edwards died of cancer on August 29, 2008. Announcements According to Military Web.com, "As of Friday, 1 August 08, your GI Bill is worth up to $47,556. This is close to an $8,000 raise over last year. The benefit is paid directly to you to help pay for tuition, books, school supplies, and any other fee associated with getting a degree. A smart first step to using your GI Bill is to search for Military Friendly schools that give credit for military service and will work around your busy schedule. Military.com connects you to thousands of schools and programs that offer these benefits." Ramona Terry Tanksley, Director, Benefits Research & Referral Program. This is the link to Freestone County on the internet: http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/freestone/freetoc.htm Something to Think About "Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out." James B. Conant Message From the Editor The purpose of The Center Informer is to keep its readers informed about the Center, its status, activities, accomplishments and plans. It is also designed to keep family members informed on all facets of family life and famly relations. Please send any information that you want to share to me at the above listed address. Wilbur Thirkield (Bill) Titus, Editor