ERNESTINE CALHOUN

Ernestine Marie Bennett Calhoun died on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the University of Kansas Health system. She was born on April 25, 1927, to Richard and Irene Bennett in Kansas City, Mo.

She attended W.W. Yates, R.J. Coles and Lincoln High school in Kansas City, Mo., and Manual in Los Angeles.

She married Henry Calhoun on April 4, 1954, who preceded her in death. She retired in 1988, from the Los Angeles School Board.

She was baptized at the St. Stephen Baptist church in Kansas City, Mo., in 1939. After many years she joined the St. Andrew Missionary Baptist church in 1989, where she was selected for the Mother Board in 1995. Her favorite Bible verse was Psalms 122:1 and her favorite song was “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”.

She is survived by many nieces, nephews, and friends.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 10 a.m., at the St. Andrew Missionary Baptist church, 2200 N. 53rd Street, Kansas City, Kas.

Visitation is from 9 to 10 a.m.

Interment, Leavenworth National cemetery.

Sumner High school in 1946. She met and married William “Billie” Brooks on June 18, 1949. From their union, she had three daughters and one son. The two were married for 47 years, until his passing on July 1, 1996. She always said they were aiming for 50 years of marriage.

She worked with the Douglas School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and became the Vice President during her housewife years. She began her career at KU Medical center, where she worked for eight years. In 1968, she joined the Internal Revenue Service as a Research Clerk. She was there for 25 years until her retirement in 1990.

Mrs. Brooks was a member of the Eastern Star for over 50 years. She always had a zest for life and was an avid traveler. She was a member of the Traveler’s Club as well. She joined the First A.M.E. church in 1952. She was a 50year church member, as well as a member on the Usher Board for 25 years. She also volunteered with the missionary and the food kitchen.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester Harvey, and Sadie Williams Harvey; her husband, William Brooks Sr.; her daughters, Lorna Brooks, and Christa Blake; her brother, Lester Harvey Jr.; her sisters, Dloris Harvey Davis, and Nona M. Moore.

She is survived by her daughter, Carmen Brooks, her son, and daughter in-law, William Brooks Jr. (Audrey); her so- in-law, Richard Blake; her sister, Portia A. Moore; her grandchildren, Antonio Brooks, David Brooks, Deitrick Radford (Evelin), Stacey Hall (Munirah), Veronica Lewis (Tavarus), Jessica Brooks, and Keisha Lewis (Eric). She is also survived by great grandchildren, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Religious Service was held on Thursday May 4, 2023, at the First A.M.E. church, 1111 N. 8th Street, Kansas City, Kas.

Interment, Leavenworth National cemetery.

Arrangements by the Thatcher’s Funeral Home, Inc.; thatcherfh@sbcglobal.net.

HELEN

BEY

Helen Elizabeth Bey, 77, died on the evening of April 24, 2023. She was born in Kansas on September 14, 1945.

A Memorial Service was held on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 11 a.m., at the Bethel Community church, 600 E. Tabor Ave., Fairfield, Cal.

RICHARD HOWARD Richard D. Howard, the son of Jessie and Harry Howard died on April 22, 2023.

Funeral services will be on May 10, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Park Lawn Funeral home.

Visitation will begin at 12 p.m.