The Dream Lives On . . . in YOU!

S he had a dream,

and the dream lives

on as we celebrate the

40th Annual Family

Reunion.

Th e Fam i l y Af fa i r

c o n g r a t u l a t e s t h e

Cleveland (Ford-Bryson)

Chapter and the entire

family on this milestone.

Whether you are family or friend, and

whether you parent, baby sit, parent sit,

train, teach, inspire, comfort, grieve with,

pray for, or in any way assist family, then

you are a part of the accomplishments

shared on the following pages.

We hope and pray that as you read this

issue, you will be inspired to reach deep

within your soul and rekindle those visions

and dreams that you may have allowed

to go dormant. Life’s obstacles can

become your stepping stones to dream

big dreams, to set lofty goals, to achieve

the greatness that is within each of us.

We are the descendants of those who

survived being uprooted from a distant

land. We are the descendants of those

who survived the notorious Middle

Passage, the horrors of slavery, Jim Crow,

Segregation, and discrimination from the

cradle to the grave; yet we are still here!

Y ou are a survivor! You are not here

by mistake. You were not freed from

slavery to go to jail. Young students did

not sit-in at lunch counters in the 1960’s so

you could “sit-out” of school in the 21st

Century. You were not granted gender

equality so that you might become a

“Boy’s Toy.” All this may seem to be

common sense, but if you haven’t seen it

or heard it before, then oops here it is, for

“Truth Crushed to the Earth Shall Rise

Again.”

You were made by a power much

greater than your own, and certainly

greater than that of your detractors and

your distractions. You and your maker are

a majority. You were created for such a

time as this; so whatever your goals, your

dreams, your passions; pursue them with

attitude, belief, and commitment; for we

each have a calling that if left

unanswered will become a challenge

unmet, a problem unsolved, an

opportunity missed, a dream and a

legacy unfulfilled, a link missing in the

chain of events that were meant to form

the history of the world.

We hope and pray that you enjoy this

issue of this newsletter, enjoy the reunion,

and enjoy safe travel as you return home

with a greater appreciation for family and

friends, a greater vision for yourself, and

plans to keep the dream alive!

- Henry Ford, Publisher

Synnia Solomon

Reunion Founder

The Hansie Solomon, Ford-Bryson Family Newsletter - July, 2013 News to inform, promote, inspire, and encourage the greatness within each of us

“Building a legacy today for generations yet unborn”

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com

CONGRATULATIONS to Nile Ford on his

graduation from Shaker Heights High

School. Nile consistently exhibits academic

excellence, strong leadership and has won

numerous awards. He is the son of Emmett

Ford and grandson of

Mattie Kidd pictured with

Nile below.

- NEWS BRIEFS Since July, 2012 -

Adam “Cecil” Ford: Installed as Deacon

Aaron Eddie Brown: H.S. Graduation

Barbara Williams: Masters from Cleveland

State University; became engaged.

Cecil Ford: Reenlisted in U.S. Navy

Chaz Mitchell - Published his 1st Book

Chavon Nicole Brown: Graduated from

Hampton University, Summa Cum Laude

Jasmine Hudson: H.S. Graduation

Larissa Moore: Named Minister in the

Mennonite Church

Nikita “Nicky” Panton - Founded Reflections

Custom Jewelry

Tina Elliott: Marriage to Stephen Hardaway

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 2 -

CONGRATULATIONS to

LitaRae Bradford, the

young lady with a

quiet, shy smile who

would probably have

never revealed this

award, but her son

author Chaz Mitchell

was on point when he posted this on

Facebook with the revelation “She's

certainly a STAR in everything she does.”

Lita is the daughter of Joyce Bradford and

granddaughter of Rebecca Ford.

The Family Affair is prepared and distributed

as a public service. For additional information contact

Henry Ford at successisyou@yahoo.com or 216-348-4612

One of the benefits of

being Cleveland Mayor

Frank Jackson is that

you get to pose with our

f a m i l y m e m b e r

LeShaun Spencer during

an event at University

Hospitals of Cleveland.

Relaxing for a moment

from planning the 100th

A n n i v e r s a r y

Celebration of the

Cleveland Municipal

Court, family member

Barbara Williams (left)

poses with Ohio

Supreme Court Justice,

Yvette McGee Brown

who delivered the

keynote address.

Family members Ron Andrew and Alexus Chambers

with President Obama and 1st Lady Michelle Obama

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 3 -

To meet Toby is a blessing that in the words

of The Temptations is like a “snowball rolling

down the side of a snow covered hill;” the

love just keeps “growing and growing.” I

first noticed this fantastic young lady at a

family reunion in Huntsville, Alabama. YES,

she is my cousin, but that isn’t what makes

me brag.

Early during that weekend, Toby

approached me in her typical “ice breaker

fashion” and proudly introduced herself as

“Willie Ann’s granddaughter.” If you know

Willie Ann, you get a sense of why Toby is

so dynamic. Her forward and personable

introduction caught me off guard,

because so often reunions become

“spending time with who we already

know.” That’s not a criticism but an

observation. People are simply more

comfortable with who they are familiar

with.

Toby is a young lady not afraid to step

outside the box and reach across

generations and the unfamiliar to make

and grow friendships. Later during the

reunion, it was Toby who served as Mistress

of Ceremonies during the Family Banquet.

It was clear to those in attendance that

she was an excellent choice.

Fast forward to today, and we find a Toby

who has endured some major health

challenges that have her on dialysis and

awaiting a possible kidney transplant.

The thing that has not changed about Toby

is her laugh and her warm personality.

Always thinking about the needs of others

seems to be her unspoken motto. During

our conversations, she shared with me the

idea of attempting to raise funds to help

offset medical expenses for herself and her

likely donor. After reflecting on the idea,

she announced that she felt so blessed by

her support system, that she believed

others to be more worthy of the limited

financial support available from donors

(WOW!). No matter what I write, that last

sentence tells it better.

When you find that Toby’s likely kidney

donor is her younger brother Jermaine, you

begin to understand that the love is shared

throughout this magnificent family,

including her brother James, her cousin

Wesley, her mom and so many others.

Toby shares her feelings publicly on

Facebook and on her blog at

www.tobyholiday.blogspot.com.

Congratulations to Toby and her family;

and our prayers that they will be watched

over, comforted and healed.

The only thing bigger than her personality is her heart

Toby’s favorite photo (with her children) testifies to

her “talk” and her “walk”

The hope of a generation at the crossroads of danger and

opportunity; an excellent example for generations yet unborn.

Y ES, he is a poet, and

he certainly must

know it. You won’t know from his attitude

(because it is a good one), but it is

revealed by his aptitude. While many are

impressed by his intellect, he draws many

more for his great respect. Into his mind

comes information, and from his heart

flows inspiration. A speak-off against this

brother I am not looking for, because in my

face the audience might well shut the

door.

What a pleasure it is to be in the presence

of Jason Moore, aka Young Poet. While

my personality, training and passion tends

to minimize my prejudging of others, the

Young Poets’ quiet and calm demeanor

hides what I describe as an awesome

power within. With a face of youthful

innocence, a clean-cut appearance, and

respectful interaction, one might tend to

underestimate, categorize and mislabel

him.

Author Stephen L. Carter wrote that “To be

born black in America is to be born in a

box. It is a box not of your own making.

On that box is a label. It is a label not of

your own choosing.” The Young Poet has

stepped out of that box and is creating his

own label. His wise and passionate

messages are educating and changing

lives across the nation.

Y oung Poet and his message are

needed for such a time as this. And

what time is it? It is a time when despite the

sacrifices of generations that preceded us,

many young people are being lost

prematurely to drugs, alcohol, disease,

penal institutions, and the cemetery. Many

others, appearing physically well and

mentally stable, are underperforming and

operating well below their potential.

If the thought of these incalculable losses

disturbs you, please understand that the

losses are not confined to the individuals

I’ve referred to, but also affect their future

generations; the impressionable young and

others yet unborn. Harold Melvin and The

Blue Notes would say it like this; “Wake up

everybody, there’s a train a coming . . . ’.

Get on board and tune in to the messages

of Young Poet and others of his generation

that are sharing positive messages of hope,

doing things that are hopeful, and avoiding

things that cause us to feel hopeless.

For additional information and messages

from Young Poet, please visit his site at

http://www.yp313.blogspot.com/.

Jason Moore

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 4 -

You see things; and you say, "Why?"

But I dream things that never were;

and I say "Why not?" ---

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Irish Playwright

Above Right:

Zaria and Zha’Monet are

soaring like eagles as

shown in this in-flight

photo.

Lower Right:

Zaria and Zha’Monet are

fashionably dressed for

“Dancing the afternoon

away.”

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 5 -

To the Hansie Solomon Family SOAR as individuals. RISE as family

CONGRATULATIONS On your 40th Annual Reunion

And BEST WISHES from

Eagles of Success International www.eagles-of-success.blogspot.com

CONGRATULATIONS to Zaria Gray, a 6th

grader at Statesville Middle School, for

being on the A/B Honor Roll for the entire

school year and receiving the 6th grade

Science award.

CONGRATULATIONS to Zha’Monet Gray, a

3rd grader at American Renaissance

Elementary School, for being on the A/B

Honor Roll for the entire school year and

receiving awards in Music and Chorus.

These dynamic sisters share more than

academic success. Both are in their school

chorus. Zaria is active in Girl Scouts as a

Cadet, and Zha’Monet is scheduled to

move from a Brownie to a Junior Girl Scout

in June, shortly after our publication date.

These two young ladies are also remarkably

consistent. For several years Zaria and

Zha’Monet have displayed remarkable

academic achievement and deep civic

involvement. Certainly we applaud them

and their proud parents, Jarrett and Ebony

Custer Gray. The parents make sure the

girls gain life experiences, such as their flight

with a co-worker,

and the Father

Daughter dance

sponsored by Iredell

County Girl Scouts.

World Travelers

Don and Peggy Singleton added to an

already long list of travels as they visited

Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates,

India, and I probably missed something.

They shared a few photos that can be seen

at www.familyphotos.successisyou.org.

CONGRATULATIONS to Brooklyn Pratt on her

graduation from middle

school and being accepted

into the Internat ional

Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma

Program for High School. This

fantastic young lady began

taking high school classes

while still a student in middle

school. Brooklyn’s recent

awards include All Honors 8th Grade

Academics, High School Science and

Geometry 10th Grade level (both passed

both with an A), and student choice Best

Dressed. We join Brooklyn's parents Marcus

Sr., Gabrielle and Clarice Pratt, and

grandparents JoAnn Ford and Rasool

Jackson in wishing her the best.

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 6 -

CONGRATULATIONS to Camille McKoy. The

high achieving second

grader has made the Honor

Roll every quarter. She is a

s t u d e n t a t I m a g i n e

Foundations Public Charter

School in Upper Marlboro,

Maryland. Camille is the

daughter of Bonita Pratt and

Felton McKoy. They are

extremely proud of her and have these

words for her; “Keep up the great work!”

Camille is also the granddaughter of JoAnn

Ford and Rasool Jackson.

to Family and Friends From Henry & Dianne Ford

CONGRATULATIONS to Cairo Cumberlander who recently graduated

from Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia. She will be attending

Clark Atlanta University in the Fall. Cairo is the granddaughter of the late

David Cumberlander, and the great niece of Peggy Martin and Phyllis

Cumberlander.

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 7 -

CONGRATULATIONS to Monique

Jackson who has been accepted to

attend a special convention of

Jehovah’s Christian Witnesses in

Portugal this summer. Monique’s

four week adventure shall include

visiting France, Italy, and Spain as

well.

Monique recently gave a classical

performance entitled, "Poetry of the

Air" at AUSTINVENTURES STUDIO

THEATER located in Aust in,

Texas. The repertoire included

classical music composed by

Gounod, Donizetti, Verdi, Mozart,

and Saint-Saёns. Dr. Gustavo

Bianchi who has enjoyed a

distinguished international career

provided piano accompaniment for

the well received event.

Monique Jackson is a classically

trained soprano with a five octave

range. She is the granddaughter of

Mattie Jackson and daughter of

Kelvin and Arlene Jackson.

CONGRATULATIONS to

Breyanna Mikel on her

latest accomplishment

as a new member of,

"Sigma Gamma Rho,

Inc." Breyanna is the

daughter of William &

Sharon Mikel.

CONGRATULATIONS to

Malik Vinson who

recently graduated

from High School. We

just happened to

discover this on

Facebook so we have

no further details.

The Family Affair Is prepared and distributed

as a public service.

For additional information

contact Henry Ford at

successisyou@yahoo.com

or 216-348-4612

Horizon Science Academy

Student Spotlight

CONGRATULATIONS

to Rashona A. Moss,

who graduated this

past May with a

Masters in Biomedical

S c i e n c e s f r o m

Philadelphia College

o f O s t e o p a t h i c

M edic ine-Georg ia

campus. She will be

attending medical

school in August at

the Philadelphia

C o l l e g e o f

Osteopathic Medicine. Rashona plans to

practice internal medicine and may

consider specializing in cardiology. Her

purpose for pursuing a career in medicine:

”I would like to construct a medical

platform that would help implement

healthy lifestyles in the community,

particularly in underserved areas.”

Rashona is the daughter of Annette Moss

who is daughter of Pearl Banks.

CONGRATULATIONS

to Janice Temple on

celebrating her 30th

year as a registered

nurse at Emory

University Midtown

hospital in Atlanta,

Georgia. Janice

works in the intensive

care unit caring for

open heart and

thoracic patients,

where she is a shift nurse manager. Janice

has been the nurse of the year in her unit

for the last 3 years. She was nominated as

nurse of the year for the March of Dimes

celebrating nurses and Atlanta Journal

Constitution. She enjoys helping people

and making them comfortable,

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 8 -

Y ou can’t keep from

smiling when you

look at Zion Malik Primas,

born Feb. 20, 2013 to the

parents of Tanisha Moss

and Nicholas Primas in

Milledgeville Georgia.

Tanisha is the daughter of

Annette Moss who is the

daughter of Pearl Banks.

CONGRATULATIONS to the parents on such

an adorable bundle of joy.

Thank you to Janice Temple for sharing this

information Janice is a long-time, faithful

and consistent attendee at family reunions,

sacrificing to be certain that she and her

family stay close to extended family. Thank

you also to Pearl Banks, who obviously set

high standards and had great expectations

for her family. Pearl is the daughter of Irilla

(Nick) Little, daughter of Hudson Rivers, who

was the son of Sarah Ann, who was the

daughter of Hansie Solomon.

Rashona (right) with proud

grandmother Pearl Banks

Bertram & Willie Gardner

Citizenship Awards

With the passing of our godmother Willie

Gardner, aka “Ma Gardner” on June 2nd,

the family lost a dedicated and

passionate supporter. Ma Gardner was

the widow of Bertram E. Gardner, who

chaired the Synnia Solomon Scholarship

Fund at its inception in 1984. Because of

their longtime support of our personal,

family and professional goals, we are

considering the establishment of the

Bertram & Willie Gardner Citizenship

Awards. More information will be

forthcoming at a later date.

- Henry & Dianne Ford

Serving Family

and Community

O ne page is not

enough space to

share the positive impact

Jeff & Liana Lewis have on

family and community.

We are blessed that they were a part of the

planning of this reunion. I was drawn to

write this article because during the reunion

registration process, several people

commented to me of how warm and

friendly Liana was, regardless of what

challenge was thrown her way. After

reading the article below, one realizes that

Liana is no stranger to high pressure and

comforting others. These are certainly

assets when planning a reunion. Her work

ethic in the community and passion toward

others has benefitted the family. And in the

Lewis Household, her husband Jeff also

knows how to “take care of business.”

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 9 -

Jeff is the highly respected

owner of Cleveland area

business JB Lewis Enterprise .

B e c a u s e h e h a n d l e s

emergency situations in

a d d i t i o n t o s t a n d a r d

remodeling and repairs, he is

often called upon to be a

calm and workable solution in

high-pressure situations.

You can find a list of Jeff’s services, photos

of finished work and glowing feedback

from satisfied clients on his web site at

www.7lookup.com/handyman. Those in

need of quality Home Improvement

Services and Home Repairs (routine or

emergency) can also text Jeff at 216-376-

1740.

The fantastic couple are members of the

Imani Church in Euclid, Ohio led by Pastor

Michele Humphrey.

Jeff & Liana Lewis

ON YOUR UPCOMING FAMILY REUNION !!!!

To the youth first as our next generation to run the country, and to the adults who have inspired, motivated, and been a role model. Celebrate who and what each of you are, take a look inside, love yourself unconditionally, love others as yourself, see the good in each and appreciate your uniqueness.

You have a most unique, awesome, inspirational, motivational individual as a relative. Henry Ford! There is no one like Henry, he gives, gives, is passionate in being, giving, sharing, motivating, and helping others to be the best they can be. You have a gift, jewel in your midst. Listen, take heed and be lifted to your Highest Potential of Greatness.

I would like to leave this meditation with you to help you be, become, do, have all that God has Created you to be, become, do and have. Go forth into the World and share your Gift.

TIS THE SEASON OF THANKSGIVING, LOVING, GIVING AND SHARING YOUR GIFT

LOVE – LOVE YOUR SELF UNCONDITIONALLY, LOVE OTHERS AS YOURSELF. HOW DO I

EXPERIENCE LOVE? LOVE IS LETTING GO OF FEAR.

Each day ask yourself, do I want to experience peace of mind or do I want to experience conflict?

WHAT ARE THE FEARS THAT KEEP US FROM LOVE, LOVING, AND BEING LOVED?

Feeling inferior, insecure, doubt, concern what others think, being vulnerable, lack, limitation, judging,

guilt?

To have inner peace and to experience love, we must be consistent in practicing the law of demonstration

which is utilizing right thoughts, words, feelings, actions and reactions.

FORGIVENESS is the key to happiness. Let it go, quit giving it time and emotional energy. When you

forgive you are setting a prisoner free. That prisoner is you. When you don’t forgive it’s easy to become

what you hate. See yourself and everyone as blameless. If our state of mind is one of well-being, love

and peace, that is what we will project and therefore experience. Jane Roberts, “that which you focus

your attention on expands and becomes your reality.” What is my reason for being? What is my purpose

to fulfill?

GIVE – Give to yourself what you need. In giving you receive. All that I give, I give to myself. Giving

means extending one’s love with no conditions, no expectations, and no boundaries. Peace of mind

occurs, when we put all our attention into giving and have no desire to get anything from or to change,

another person. The motivation to give leads to a sense of inner peace and joy. If we desire peace of

mind, it is essential that our communications with others bring about a sense of joining. We can do this

by showing and expressing empathy for our fellow man. When our motivation is getting, this leads to

conflict and distress. Practicing mindfulness - Think about our thoughts before they become an action.

This takes work.

SHARE YOUR GIFT – Gifts, talents, time, express the passion within you. Be true to your own heart.

You cannot please everyone. Share what’s in your heart.

With Enthusiasm and Love

Burma D. Stewart Motivational Speaker, Author of “Spirit-Mind-Body,” National Time to Teach Trainer butmadstewart@hotmail.com

On-line at www.familyaffairnews.blogspot.com - Page 10 -