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Vol.XXXVIII No.40 WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. THURSDAY, May 31, 2012
Actors bring
locally-shot film to life
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE
The story of a courageous Guiford
County dog is soon to hit the silver
screen.
"Susie's Movie" has been shooting in
and around Winston-Salem in recent
weeks. The emotionally-charged drama
tells the story of Susie, a pit bull mix
who was beaten, set on fire and left for
dead by her owner LaShawn Whitehead in
2009. The eight-week-old pup was found
in a Greensboro park two weeks later. Her
jaw was broken, her teeth and ears were
missing and her back was covered in sec
ond and third degree bums. Her abuser
received a sentence of four to six months
in jail after being charged with merely
burning personal property.
The heinous nature of the act shocked
Donna Lawrence, who adopted the canine
after her harrowine bnish with death.
Lawrence led the chaise to have acts of
animal cruelty be more severely punished
See Film on A6
Photo by Mandy Schoch Photography
Lance Nichols (left) and Willette Thompson in a scene from "Susie's
Movie" that was shot at the Millennium Center in downtown
Winston-Salem.
Photo by Sieve Jones
Hall of Fame inductees (from left): Michael Cole, nephew of the late Larry Hatton, Theodore Allen,
Hubbard Alexander, Frank Bohannon Jr., Albert Jordan, James Harris, Bernard Foster, Esther Graves,
daughter of the late Elmo Hodge, Rev. Theodore Rice, Nathan (Bill) Revel, Donald Jackson, Willie
Rogers, Robert Redd, Marion Sewell Jr. and William "Billy" McKoy.
Atkins sports legends recognized
BI LAILAUAKM5
THE CHRONICLE
Former Coach Hubbard Alexander has received his share of acco
lades during his remarkable career, which included IS years coaching
in the NFL.
"It's the best thing ever because you're working with the best foot
ball players in the world," the Tennessee State University alumnus
said of NFL coaching. "It's especially great when you're in the Super
Bowl. I've got three Super Bowl rings and two national champi
onships."
Still, the city native said he was honored and humbled to be
inducted into the Hall of Fame at his alma mater. Atkins High
School.
Alexander, one of 16 inductees in the 2012 Hall of Fame class,
credits the Atkins, the city's first African American high school, with
giving him the tools he needed to succeed in his career and in life.
"This is the reason why I'm where I am right now, because of the
background that I got from Atkins High School and everybody that 1
met who pushed me on this journey," declared the grandfather of four.
"I owe everything to them."
Oklahoma City resident Willie Rogers said his proudest accom
Rtoto By Layla Garms
See Atkins on A3 Dr. James Ewers delivers the keynote address.
Researchers look to find keys to long life
! Local blacks needed for international study
BY LAYLA GARMS
THE CHRONICLE .
Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Health arc currently recruiting
African Americans 65-years-old and older to participate in an interna
tional study to determine whether simply taking aspirin may extend
lives by delaying the onset of illnesses.
"We have really been concerned about what it is that is actually the
cause of death of older people if it's not an easy to define stroke <y heart
attack," said Dr. Jamehl Demons Shegog. principle investigator for the
local ASPREE (ASPirin in Redicing Events in the Elderly) study. "We
have a lot of people who just have this decline. Some of it's related to
dementia, but some of it we're just not sure what it's related to ... we
want to know what it is that's causing decline and disability and demen
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ASPREE - the latest international trial ever funded by the
? National Institute on Aging (NIA) will fallow 19,(XX) adilts in the
Photo by Layta Gam
Carver High school uolj Loach r red us ana Australia tor up to rive years. Wake honest Health is serving as
Marshall is an A SPREE participant. see Study on A2
* Photos by Todd Luck
Two of the 20 vehicles in the Classic fleet.
'Classic' Tale
of Business
Success
Immigrant is living the American Dream
with successful taxi fleet
BY TODD LUCK
THE CHRONICLE
Abdul Barry began Classic Cab Company in 2008 with just
one vehicle and a dneam.
Back then, he was a one-man operation, shuttling clients
here, there and everywhere in between, day and night. He napped
in his cab when time allowed
Todiy, Bany's company
boasts a tleet of 20 vehicles -
including cabs and minivans
- 30 drivers and two fiill-time
dispatchers.
"It's the American deam."
said Barry, a native of the
West African nation of
Senegal. "It's hard work but
... like my father always said,
'If you think of it, you can
make it happen.'"
His father was a real
estate and farming entrepre
neur back in Barry's native
Thies. Senegal, where he
grew up with three brothers
and six sisters. He and his
siblings worked the field at
one of the farms their father
owned on weekends and after
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Abdul Barry
M.HUUI. rium dii cany age. narry waniou 10 oe llKe nis CBCL
"It was seeing my father running his businesses successful
ly," he said "1 wanted to follow in his footsteps."
Barry prepared himself with education, earning degrees in
math and physics from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Sengal.
A longtime fascination with America and his comfort with
speaking French - one of the many languages spoken in Senegal
- bought him to North America. He enrolled at Laval University
in Quebec City, Canada where he earned a degree in business.
Once he'd perfected English, he went to New Yoik City, where
he attended Long Island University. It was there that he met and
married his wife. Tiffany, who is originally from Clemmons and
now works at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Barry said he moved to Winston-Salem at the suggestion of
one of his brothers, who lived in the area and thought it would
be a nice, queit place for Barry to raise a family.
"I came here and fell in love with the city," said Barry, who
See Classic on A6
Good Food, Good Conversation
(two by Todd Luck
Veterans (from left) Jimmy Boyd, Mike Phillips and
Clarence Gilliam swap stories at a Memorial Day
picnic on Monday hosted by the veterans advocacy
group HARRY at Granville Park. Read more about
the event on page Bl.
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