Obituaries to

Obituary

Teretha Carroll Dillard

Sunrise, May 1, 1938—Sunset, March 27, 2023

She was also known for her sweet potato pies.

Teretha Dillard passed away on March 27, 2023, at the age of 84. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ardis Rayford, Arleana B. Carroll, and Adell Carroll Sr., husband, Ajor Dillard, four sisters and three brothers.

Ella Mae Moore

Teretha Carroll Dillard was born on May 1, 1938. She was baptized at True Apostolic Church, in Minneapolis, under the late Elder Robert Hill, Sr. Later she joined Rehoboth Church of Christ, in Minneapolis, under the leadership of the late Mother C.E. Parker and District Elder Charles Parker.

Most recently, Mother Teretha Dillard was a member of and mother to many at Mighty Fortress International Church, under the leadership of Bishop Tom Williams, where she served in many capacities.

For more than 30 years, Mrs. Dillard served the Minneapolis Public Schools, where she was affectionately called “The Lunch Lady.” Teretha Dillard loved the Lord, and there was seldom a conversation or visit that did not end with, “Let’s say a word of prayer.”

Mrs. Dillard enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends. She had many passions, including sewing, knitting, and crocheting. She loved teaching her grand and great-grandchildren how to sew and knit and often blessed newborns with prayer blankets.

Teretha Carroll Dillard is survived by her children: Eddie Dillard, Freddie Dillard, John Dillard, Bertha McLain (Lonnie), Michael Dillard, James Dillard (Roberta), David Dillard (Tracy), Joseph Dillard, Sr. (Ann-Marie), Nancy Dillard, Major Dillard (Elaine), Daniel Dillard, Mary Obasoro (Ayodeji); a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; her brothers: Alfred George Rayford, Levester Rayford, Abraham Hill, Charles Rayford, Ivory Carroll, Sr.; beloved nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives, friends, and church family who love her dearly.

Visitation will be on Thursday, April 13, 2023, from 10-11 a.m. CST. The service will follow on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 11 a.m. CST, at Shiloh Temple International Ministries, 1201 W. Broadway Avenue in Minneapolis.

Bishop Tom and First Lady Sabrina Williams, along with the Mighty Fortress International Church will eulogize Teretha Dillard. The repass will immediately follow the service at ECMN, 1101 W. Broadway Avenue. Interment will be on Friday, April 14, 2023; those attending the burial should meet at 10:00 a.m., at Shiloh Temple for the car procession to Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Email all resolutions and tributes to: perfectwork9o12@gmail.com. Send expressions of condolences to: Joseph Dillard, 4194 Wyndham Park Circle, Decatur, GA 30034.

BOwling

Continued from page 12 a play-by-play announcer during the first two rounds of the College Park sub-regional of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. She’s also calling a full slate of softball this spring.

“I love the opportunity that I’ve been blessed with to highlight these phenomenal young women for their elite talent,” Greene said. “It’s well earned for these fantastic athletes. I think about when I was at FAMU; we didn’t have television coverage. To be able to watch the progression of coverage of women’s athletics and provide it to the masses is something I don’t take lightly.

“I am very intentional in connecting with young people because I know somebody took the time for me, and I want to be that bridge for somebody else. That’s a big deal. It’s core and important to who I am. I’ve been gifted with this platform, which matches my desire to put it to good use.”

Greene is married to Aaron and the mom of two boys, Bryson, who is six, and Aaron, better known as “Deuce,” who is 2. She knows the support and love from her family make it possible for Greene to call major events for ESPN from coast to coast and travel the country.

“My village isn’t complete without my husband and the sacrifices we all endure to live this dream,” Greene said.

“One thing I will say is to give yourself grace because it is hard to leave your home weekly to do something you love. Grace plays an important part in the process, and remember you’re human, and I know that I am giving the best I can give to my children and husband.”

Greene may bleed orange and green, but her heart is with all HBCUs. She’s passionate when speaking about them, which is why assignments such as the Celebra- tion Bowl and MEAC Bowling championship meant so much to her.

“I care about HBCUs, and to be able to display my heart for them on a grand stage like that is special,” Greene said. “The history means a lot to me. Who wouldn’t want to talk about world changes and difference-makers who continue to make an impact beyond being a student-athlete at an HBCU. Those stories aren’t always told.

“Being intentional about telling those stories brings me joy at the end of the day because so much good is happening. You can always find inspiration and motivation. There are a lot of people like Nicole (Hutchison), Jay (Walker), and Charlie Neal who are interested in being gatekeepers and continuing to share the message of HBCUs.”

It is with great sadness family members announce the passing of Ella Mae (Anderson)

Moore of Quincy, MA. She died peacefully on February 23, 2023. She is survived by her son Byron Barnett (Kathleen) of Canton, MA; grandchildren Byron Barnett Jr., Parker Barnett, and Monique Barnett Pope; great-grandsons Casey Barnett and Grayson Barnett; and many cousins, nieces and nephews around the country.

During her 98 years, Ella was known for spreading her love, kindness and trailblazing wisdom to family, friends, and others she met along the way.

Ella grew up in Hoffman, Oklahoma, where her family lived in the “colored” section of the small, segregated town during the Great Depression and the days of the Dust Bowl.

After graduating from Grayson High School in the 1940s, Ella felt there were few opportunities for African Americans in the South. So, she courageously struck out on her own and headed North, joining the historic great migration of Black Americans in the U.S.

Ella landed in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she

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Continued from page 12 in and,” he continued, “figuring out a solution and being versatile. I think that’s been a part of who I am and then forming relationships with my guys.”

HBCU Basketball HOF

For its inaugural Black College Basketball Hall of Fame, the 12 inductees from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)

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Continued from page 12

Jason Verdigo at D-III Hamline, hired by the only Black college president in the state, Faynesse Miller, who last week announced she will be retiring.

Only one Black head football coach, Hamline’s Chip Taylor, and two Black men’s basketball HCs–Abe Woldeslassie at Macalester, and U of M’s Ben Johnson–run programs at four-year institutions.

There are no Black female athletic directors in Minnesota, and nationally, Black women held just 2 percent, 1.4 percent and 3.6 percent of the AD positions in Divisions I, II, and III, respectively.

However, if Black colleges were used in the TIDES study, “the data would be skewed, and ultimately misleading and ineffective,” because HBCUs typically have high percentages of both ethnic minorities and women, said Lapchick.

March Madness is all about college basketball, and this year’s tournament was no excep- community. In the 1960s, she organized sex education classes at her church for teenagers in her neighborhood. She was also one of the first Black women in the neighborhood to toss out the hot comb and wear her hair in a “natural” or “afro” style, giving many of the young girls in the neighborhood the courage to do the same. are “basketball royalty,” according to a recent press release the following players and coaches who were honored:

Ella retired in the 1970s, moved to her mother’s hometown of Sulphur Springs, Texas, and spent her golden years traveling with relatives and friends around the country, the Caribbean and Europe.

A long-time member of the Evening Chapel C.M.E. Church in Sulphur Springs, and before that the historic St. James A.M.E. Church in Minneapolis, Ella sang soprano in the A.M.E. church choir. She eventually moved to the Boston area and spent many wonderful years close to her son, daughter-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Ella Mae Moore was preceded in passing by her parents, George and Sophia Anderson, brothers Peter “Peachy” Anderson and George Anderson, and sisters Imogene Stafford, Juanita Cunningham, Gwendolyn Knox, Wilma Crawford and Mamie Anderson.

A celebration of Ella’s life will be held in the Twin Cities later this year.

Players: Dick Barnett, John Chaney, Cleo Hill, Sam Jones, Pee Wee Kirkland, Yolanda Laney, Earl Lloyd, Earl “The Pearl” Monroe and Willis Reed

Coaches: Clarence “Big House” Gaines, John McClendon, Vivian Stringer tion. The lack of diverse hiring in all college sports is on display year-round.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments at challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Charles Hallman he recently concluded 2022-23 college basketball season saw nearly 20 Black head coaches being honored with coach of the year (COY) awards for their teams’ efforts.

Coach of the Year Honorees

The winners, in no particular order, are as follows:

● Jerome Tang, Kansas State: Naismith Men’s, Big 12

● Dawn Staley, South Carolina: Naismith Women’s, WBCA

NCAA Division I National

● Kenny Blakeney, Howard: Coach John McLendon Award, Eastern College Athletic Conference, MEAC

● Larry Vickers, Norfolk State: HBCU National

● Jerry Stackhouse, Vanderbilt: Ben Jobe National, SEC Co-Coach

● Amir Abdur-Rahim, Kennesaw State (recently hired at South Florida): Hugh Durham Award as the nation’s top Division I mid-major college basketball coach at Kennesaw State, ASUN

● Shaka Smart, Marquette: Big East, AP

● Kelvin Sampson, Houston: NABC National, NABC District 24, USBWA, AAC

● Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh: ACC Men’s

● James Jones, Yale: Ivy League

● Zenarae Antoine, Texas State: All-Texas, Sun Belt

● Trelanne Powell, Tuskegee: SIAC

● Jay Butler, Virginia Union: CIAA

● Janice Washington, Lincoln (PA): CIAA WBB

● Niele Ivey, Notre Dame: ACC WBB

● Landon Bussie, Alcorn State and Donte Jackson, Grambling: SWAC MBB co-Coaches of the Year

● Alex Simmons, Gardner-Webb (recently hired as new Memphis HC): Big South

● Kenny Brooks, Virginia Tech: ACC WBB –WBCA COY finalist along with Ivey; led squad to the school’s first Final Four appearance