News & Updates

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Ann Lowery Lightfoot (1928-2024)

Ann Lowery Lightfoot, 95, of Massillon, Ohio, passed away on February 20, 2024 after a long illness. Ann was born in Luverne, Alabama on...

Benjamin T. Bradley (1944-2008)

Benjamin T. Bradley November 26, 1944 - June 8, 2008 Ben Bradley was a past president of Lighthouse Visions Inc. and shared the vision of...

Lemmie Gibson

Lemmie Gibson served in the U.S. Army Air Force for six months during World War II, and was employed at the YWCA. He served as a deacon...

Black History Month Program, Massillon 2024

View photos from the February 16, 2024 event here. PROGRAM Breakfast Opening Prayer Pastor LeCounte Nedab, St. James AME Zion Church...

Thomas Lee Jackson Jr. (1941-2023)

Thomas Lee Jackson Jr. was born in Parral, Ohio on June 16, 1941 to Thomas L. and Mattie (Golden) Jackson. His mother died when he was...

Aunty Malinda Clemons

(Article c.1907) 100 YEARS OLD DECEMBER 30 Aunty Clemens Will Soon be a Centenarian. RECORDS SAID TO GIVE HER AGE. Her Family Does Not...

Mary E. Bigsbee (1940-2004)

Mary E. Bigsbee Aug 29, 1940 - March 22, 2004 Mary E. Bigsbee, 63 of Massillon, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, March 22, 2004, in...

Wright Walker (1845-1921)

Wright Walker, born 1845 in Georgia and later freed from slavery during the Civil War. Walker joined Union General William Tecumseh...

Essie Wooten (1915-1996)

Essie Wooten was an inspirational woman born into poverty. Wooten was forced to drop out of high school to take on a $4.00 per week job....

Bobby Grier (1933-2021)

Bobby Grier was a member of the Washington High School class of 1952. He played football and basketball during his time in Massillon,...

Corey Redvine

Corey Redvine, another of Massillon’s entrepreneurial talents, is the owner of TV Landscaping and Redd, White and Blue, 4th of July...

Rev. Dr. James Lawson, Jr. (b.1928)

Reverend Dr. James Lawson was born on September 22, 1928. He was raised in Massillon, Ohio, and received his ministry license in 1947....

Black Barbers

African-American barbers in Massillon include Clarence E. Brooks (shop at 4 South Erie Street, lower level), Alexander Simms, John Simms...

Lynn Wilson

Wife, mother, and teacher, Lynn Wilson has been a Massillonian all of her life. She enjoys spending time with family and spontaneous car...

Lynette Jones

The talent behind L.J. Sweets and Designs is Mrs. Lynette Jones, an entrepreneur and mother located in Massillon, Ohio. Initially, her...

I Wish You Were Here (book)

Daja Simpson's book, "I Wish You Were Here", tackles the challenging subject matter of coping with the loss of a parent. The author,...

Poppa's Ring (book)

"Poppa's Ring" follows the story of Bill and Odessa Willis' four grandchildren during one summer visit. Imani finds Willis' 1942 Ohio...

Oscar W. Ritchie (1909-1967)

Oscar W. Ritchie (1909-1967) was born in Hallandale, Florida. In 1933 he came to Massillon to work at Republic Steel. In 1938, he revived...

Daja Simpson

Daja Simpson is the president of Sisterhood of Jewels Community Connections, LLC (SOJCC). She obtained her undergraduate degree in...

Ke'Aunte Harris

Ke'Aunte Harris, member of SOJCC LLC, is a mom to a little prince named La'Bryant. She is the lead preschool teacher at the Massillon...