November 24, 2016 

LAWT News Service 

Families, fellow officers, friends and community members gathered Saturday, Sept. 19, 2016 at the Dollarhide Community Center in Compton to honor the memories of Compton police officers Kevin Michael Burrell, James Wayne Johnson and Dess K. Phipps who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Assemblymember Mike A. Gipson, (D-Carson), a former police officer, authored ACR178 which allows for the renaming of portions of the 710 freeway and 91 freeway. The areas will be marked by memorial signs to be erected.

The program began with an introduction by Compton Councilwoman Janna Zurita, musical selections by the Centennial High School Jazz Orchestra and a presentation of flags by Enterprise Middle School Color Guard.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell; Captain Michael Thatcher; Lieutenant Eric Strong; Lieutenant Reginald Wright; and Deputy Gary Davis acknowledged the families and made remarks including praise for Sergeant Frederick Reynolds who pursued the memorial signage for many years before teaming up with Asm. Gipson who secured the state resolution which moved the project forward.

November 17, 2016 

By Cora Jackson-Fossett 

Contributing Writer 

Celebrities, elected officials, community leaders and everyday citizens came to out Nov. 14 to Crenshaw Christian Center to bid farewell to South L.A. business owner E.J Jackson.

Known throughout the city for his successful transportation operation, Jackson Limousines, he was also highly regarded for his wide-reaching humanitarian efforts that included his famous turkey giveaway, which distributed Thanksgiving dinners to more than 12,000 people last year.

While many were still stunned by his sudden death from a heart attack on Nov. 1, it didn’t deter the 500+ attendees from joining Jackson’s children and relatives to celebrate his life, legacy and service to the community.

Jackson was a long-time member of CCC and Apostle Frederick and Dr. Betty Price were in attendance, along with their daughter, Angela Evans. “We were so surprised to hear of the passing of Mr. Jackson. He made such a tremendous impact on the community, but now, he’s certainly in a better place,” said Dr. Betty before the service.

PBS broadcaster Tavis Smiley gave opening remarks, recalling the challenges Jackson faced and overcame as a small business owner.

“I’m so glad E.J. lived for a cause and not because. To try to navigate as an African American business is not an easy thing to do. But, E.J. survived the big boys in the transportation game and he survived Uber,” said Smiley, who added that Jackson Limousine provided car service for Smiley’s celebrity guests appearing on his television show in exchange for advertising credit on the program. 

Smiley also commended Jackson for hiring formerly incarcerated people as drivers. “That’s loving and serving your community,” said Smiley.

Speaking on behalf of his family, Jackson’s son declared, “Today, we are celebrating the life of a hero. God is not done using our father!”  He also announced that the family, through its E.J. Jackson Foundation, plan to conduct this year’s turkey giveaway on Nov. 22.

CCC Pastor Fred Price delivered an upbeat eulogy that urged the audience to celebrate Jackson’s life and find comfort in the word of God. 

“Brother E.J. was an awesome man. He had a great relationship with my family and with Crenshaw Christian Center.  The majority of limousines that I’ve been in were his. I’m glad the family will continue the legacy of E.J.,” said Price.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters and retired Congresswoman Diane Watson both reflected on their close relationship with Jackson and how much they looked forward to participating in the turkey giveaway that Jackson started in 1982.

“Today, we celebrate the life and times of phenomenal humanitarian.  He had a mission and he carried out his mission,” Waters said.

“Every November, I was with him as we gave away the turkeys and everything that goes along with the turkeys, the vegetables, fruits and bread.   It’s an experience everybody should have and I will be here Nov. 22. But, E.J. didn’t just help people in November.  He helped them all year long, wherever people were in need and he inspired me,” she noted.

“E.J. is sitting at the foot of the Lord sending blessings down to us,” said Watson.  Former L.A, County Sheriff Lee Baca, insisted, “Mr. Jackson will down as one of the greatest, caring philanthropists in Los Angeles County.  That’s how I’ll remember him.”

Inglewood Mayor James Butts and Inglewood Councilman James Dotson attend the service as well as actors Sidney Poitier, Lou Gossett, Jr., Hal Williams and Dawnn Lewis.  Lewis shared how Jackson assisted her with finding a car service in New York City when her father passed away last year.

“In less than 24 hours, he called me with a name and number, then said, ‘Don’t worry, I got this,’” Lewis said.

Helping others was a characteristic Jackson displayed throughout his life. Born Ellsworth Cecil Jackson in Cleveland, Ohio, on May 23, 1950, he helped people carry their groceries as a child.  He relocated to Los Angeles with his family in 1966.  After graduation from Manual Arts High School on 1969, Jackson played football at Arizona State University and at Cal State Long Beach.

Following college, he mounted several business ventures before deciding to launch a limousine service in 1978. With the help of his mother, Katherine Cecilia Jackson, he purchased his first limousine and grew his business over the years by providing exceptional customer service.

His humanitarian efforts increased as well as he traveled to homeless encampments distributing food and water, assisted the poor and elderly and even met with gang leaders in the 1990s to discuss ways to ways that they could peacefully        co-exist.

According to his obituary, “E’J’ understood the spiritual principal that you are not blessed to enjoy the blessings of God unto yourself, but you are blessed in order to be a blessing. To whom much is given, much is required.”

Jackson is survived by his children, Charlece, Monye, Keisha, Billie, Randi, TyRon and Ellsworth Jr.; sisters, La’Nita Perry and Sondra Shorter; brother, John Jackson; and 11 grandchildren.

November 17, 2016 

By Amanda Scurlock 

Sports Writer 

“It’s been a surreal experience to be back in this way,” said five-time Olympic medalist Venus Williams.

Venus and her sister, the 22 Grand Slam title winner Serena Williams, stood at a podium in the Leuders Park Court. The court was refurbished and dedicated to the sisters, being renamed the Venus and Serena Williams Court of Champions.

This was the first time Venus and Serena returned to Compton in over a decade. Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Compton councilmember Isaac Galvan were also present in the court dedication.

“We salute them for them being role models,” Ridley-Thomas said. “They face their adversity and their challenges with the kind of grace that makes us proud.”

 Venus and Serena expressed their appreciation to the people of Compton for their support through the years.

“We definitely want to see some more champions made from these courts because that’s really what it’s all about,” Serena said. “We want to thank everyone out here as well for supporting us and supporting our dream and always rooting for us. We can’t literally hear you, but I tell you and promise you—we can feel you.” 

They bestowed on the city the Yutunde Price Resource Center, named after their eldest sister who was a fatal victim of gun violence. The resource center will help people who were affected by violence and provide resources.

“All of us in the community in some way has been touched by violence,” said Compton Mayor Aja Brown. “This is something that’s real and impacts everyone.”

The Williams sisters also attended Healthy Compton, a festival encouraging the citizens in Compton to take advantage of healthy options.

The festival also featured a track clinic by Olympic sprinter Carmelita “The Jet” Jeter.

“I decided to bring my clinic here to Healthy Compton because I want to influence other kids to run,” Jeter said. “If you’re showing kids eating healthy and living right gets you progress, then they’ll follow you.”

The Brutez, a fitness duo that administers fast paced dance classes, hosted a session for the children who attended Healthy Compton. Jeter, Mayor Brown, and the Williams sisters all joined, following the trendy, animated dance moves to the rhythm of hip-hop music.

“Performing and inspiring young children is everything to us because they’re the next generation,” said Fever 3000, an instructor from the Brutez. “Just the fact that they saw us come here today and dance and do fitness, it was just amazing.”

Among the many organizations that were featured in Healthy Compton was the Inner City Child Development Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides transitional housing, youth mentorship and free food programs.

“It’s just wonderful to bring all the citizens together for a healthy event. We want to make sure that our seniors, our youth and the whole city is a part of health,” said Jacqueline Venters, founder of the organization. “I’m so excited to see everybody here on one accord in peace more so.”

Dav Lewis was a vender at the festival promoting his clothing brand Woke World.  The brand consists of shirts with the phrases “Endangered Species,” “King,” and “Queen.”

“I, like other people in the community, are sick and tired of the same issues, the same challenges,” Lewis said. “I thought about how can I do something to educate, to bring awareness and… to bring out some of the issues that are in the Black community while giving back to community.”

YG 4 Hunnid was also in attendance at Healthy Compton. The organization, started by rapper YG, work with Mayor Brown to help those in need.

“We’re gonna stand behind [Venus and Serena] and try to make Compton more healthier,” said Shonee Jackson, mother of YG.

The Williams sisters were well received by the citizens of Compton.

“I’m glad they’re coming back, we need some more that have made it to come back and give back to the youth,” said Mary Edwards, Exec­utive Administrator of Key of Knowledge Community Develop­ment Corporation. “What they’re getting ready to do is fantastic.”