There is nothing like viewing videos of “heartfelt family messages.” They put a surge of gratitude in my heart and cause tears to trickle down the cheeks. The first photo is one of David Smith, husband of Mamie Smith. He served in the Korean War and had two (2) tours during the Vietnam War. Today, he rests among thousands of military men and women at Arlington Cemetery.
President Barack Obama Responds to a Soldier’s Memory
During the 1970s and 80s, Shirley Washington Then was “blazing her trail” on the Hollywood Scene as an actress. Young, energetic and feisty, she was making sure no one left her behind! Shirley appeared in several movies and TV shows. Among them: Mission Impossible as a stewardess; Maggie in Wonder Woman; Travel agent in The Puppet; Theda in Darktown Strutters and Mrs. Jefferson in Bamboo Gods. She also starred in a film called Disco. Did Shirley Washington Then have other talents?
Shirley the Dancer
This writer knew Shirley Washington Then…but had no idea what hidden talents she had. Here’s an example of one:
Wow! Now that Shirley has revealed her talent as a dancer, let’s explore her history and discover other talents. In the following video, her talk show ability is questioned and challenged.
Darktown Strutters
According to Wikipedia, Darktown Stutters was a musical comedy about four (4) female gang bikers named Syreeno, Carmen, Miranda and Theba (Shirley). A synopsis of the storyline reveals numerous episodes that challenge one’s ability to determine the movie’s plot. The sequence of events as described by Wikipedia, did not allow this writer to follow the story. The focus of the movie simply eluded me. I have no idea what the writer was trying to achieve, nor the message he was seeking to deliver. Therefore, you are directed to Wikipedia for your own personal “read.”
However, from Shirley’s perspective, let’s recognize that launching an artistic career is not easy, and can lead to accepting roles that successful actresses may not choose. Ms. Washington was not born with a “silver spoon in her mouth,” and receives high marks for her courage, determination, tenacity and ingenuity for getting the roles she received. Hooray Shirley!
Shirley Washington Now. . .
What is Ms. Washington doing these days? She spends much of her time traveling between her apartment in Los Angeles and home in Las Vegas to musical events. Hearsay says . . . she is still very much involved in the music industry–setting up and negotiating contracts for clients’ musicals, plays, book deals and musical events. That is . . . when she is not “flying and cruising” from one country/continent to another with longtime friend and Motown Songwriter Eddie Holland. Hometown Detroit also welcomes her for special Motown events.
Recently, Shirley attended an event in L.A. that honored friend Smokey Robinson and Motown Mogul Berry Gordy. Some of the attendees are shown in the photo below:
Whether you are looking at “Shirley Washington Then” or “Shirley Washington Now,” the picture will be crystal clear, progressive, busy and spectacular! And . . . you will not need a magnifying glass!
At the death of his father, Son Stephen Smith wrote a letter to President Obama expressing the love he had for his father and paying homage to a man who served his country unselfishly. To his surprise, the President responded by placing a call to Stephen. This video is an interview of Stephen talking about the phone call. This communication is historic for the Ferguson Dotson Family!
The Essence of a President’s Song
“A President’s Song” was written by Stephen’s mother, Dr. Mamie Smith. As she watched the President-Elect retrace the historic train ride from Philadelphia to Washington, the words poured from her lips. It was a moving experience! Within hours, Smith had generated several stanzas of the song, and set them to music. Later, copyrights were secured on both lyrics and music. It is placed on this site as a legacy to the Ferguson Dotson Family.
A Video of Heartfelt Family Messages
Losing a loved one is heart-breaking, but losing a child is soul breaking.
The Unfolding of a Rose reveals the understanding of life in a way no other book on “the loss of a loved one” does. It captures your heart, reaches into the depth of your soul and elevates your spirit! You come away with a renewed sense of life, a step-by-step approach to handling grief and pain over the loss of a loved one and greater coping skills if faced with cancer.
It is a journey you will never forget . . .
The Mother of Jesus Lost Her Child
Mary, the mother of Jesus sends a “bulletin” to the world: “It hurts to lose a child! I did not get the depth of the communique until my daughter passed on. Hopefully, you will never experience the death of a child. If you do, the two videos give insight into life–life not measured by physicality but by divine activity of thought.
