Soundra Has Joined the Angels' Choir
SOUNDRA USRY HOLLINGS-worth, my dear friend, associate and protégé has departed from this earth. Her new address is Heaven. For sure, that is where Soundra now resides. She just arrived and she must already be busy organizing various activities such as joining the Angels' choir, that she will one day lead, and seeking to see how she can use her vast talents to make it even better than it is.
I have had the privilege of knowing Soundra from a young age. I first interviewed her when she was a dancer in Larry Steele's Smart Affairs Show, at the Club Harlem. When Larry left the Club Harlem, Soundra was selected to become the first woman to be the Club's Mistress of Ceremonies. She would spend her free nights visiting with me while I conducted my radio show. She was intrigued with the concept of a talk show and eventually received the sponsorship to begin her own show.
This was the path that Soundra followed throughout her life. When she was interested in a project she would start on the ground floor and work diligently to become an integral part of her interest. Soundra loved her church and was devoted to its choir. She wanted to bring gospel music to the area's population and she had repeated meetings with WMGM-TV40's general manager (at that time) Jane Stark. She convinced Jane it should be done and within a few months Soundra's Sunrise Gospel Hour show was televised on Sunday mornings.
Soundra wanted to become a part of the March of Dimes Telethon and took the midnight shift to show that she could do it and do it well. That she did as she raised more money at night than anyone preceding her.
Soundra was a diabetic, who had become legally blind and had lost a part of one of her feet. Despite her physical problems, she continued to work as hard as she did before her illness struck her. She instituted the Insulin Support Fund and eventually started her own telethon to bring more dollars to her partner in this endeavor, the Atlantic City Medical Center.
She wanted to become involved with the Miss America Pageant and became a "gofer" for various committees. She worked so hard and so well that a few years later Soundra Usry Hollingsworth was selected to become a member of the Miss America Organization's Board of Directors. She believed that not enough attention was given to the people who make the Miss America Pageant possible -- the state representatives who run the local pageants. She instituted a breakfast for them and in its first year it drew 300 people. Last year, there were 900 in attendance.
Soundra wanted the most elaborate wedding and, when she married the love of her life and devoted husband Pierre Hollingsworth, the wedding was a heart-warming, spectacular extravaganza.
She served Atlantic City as the city's public relations director and as director of special events. Mayor Lorenzo Langford named her to chair Atlantic City's 150th Birthday Celebration. She put together a committee and made sure that it remained open for anyone willing to work hard to become a member. The events that have been -- and are to be -- staged this year have been initiated and guided by Soundra and her committee. She was in the midst of this when she was called for her biggest job in Heaven.
The examples of Soundra's activities cited here are just a small sampling of her varied accomplishments. Soundra is an excellent example of how to get ahead. Soundra will be missed by so many. She made her mark in the hearts of people in her own home area and across the nation. Soundra Usry Hollingsworth is no longer with us but her spirit will always be with those of us who had the privilege of knowing and loving this wonderful woman.
Notes of Interest
After extensive remodeling, the Parkway Pharmacy's grand re-opening will take place at 10am Wednesday, August 4 at Brighton and Atlantic Avenues. This is the only independently owned and operated pharmacy on Absecon Island. Steven Chang, the owner, along with his wife Letty, have transformed the pharmacy into a 3,000-sq.-ft. showcase for their clientele. They have added a private counseling area to offer diabetes testing and training, asthma care, weight management, nutrition planning and a co-pay reduction counseling. On August 4th, 5th and 6th from 11am to 2pm they will provide public health screenings, information, balloons, hot dogs, popcorn and frozen drinks, all free of charge.
At a press conference this past Tuesday at the Trump Taj Mahal, it was announced that the Rip Curl Dan Heritage Memorial Pro Surfing event will take place in Atlantic City in front of the sponsoring entity, the Trump Taj Mahal, Thursday, September 16 thru Sunday September 19. Sanctioned by the Association of Surfing Professionals, the event is a three star world-qualifying series event for the World Championship Tour. Also taking place during the same time is the Red Bull Half Pipe Skate Board demonstration on the beach in front of the Taj Mahal. Preceding the surfing event will be the Platinum Snowboarding Rail Jam on the steps of the Taj Mahal, on Tuesday, September 14. Snow Magic, a snow making company located in New Hampshire will produce the snow. It should be quite a week with the Miss America pageant and parade, pro surfing, skate boarding and snow boarding all taking place on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
The Walk will hold their salute to Atlantic City's 150th Birthday celebration on Saturday, July 31 at 11am. David Cordish, President of the Cordish Company (developers of Atlantic City Outlets: The Walk), will be on hand and give an update of its progress. There will be entertainment with Jim Crane (the "Singing Lifeguard") and the Steel Pier Band. There will be a huge birthday card that you will be able to sign for a small donation. The first 150 to sign will receive a t-shirt from The Walk.
Viewers of the Food Network must have been pleased to see two local establishments featured on recent shows. Joe and Paul Bogle, owners of The Original Fudge Kitchen, were shown making their delicious fudge and talking about its history and their marketing plans. Frank Glaser, one of the owners of James Candy Company and Fralinger's Salt Water Taffy, took the viewers through their plant and demonstrated how the taffies are made and placed in their many stores. The taffies were also shown on the QVC Network and sold very well.
The following events will be taking place at Kennedy Plaza this coming week beginning at 7pm. Tonight, Thursday, you can enjoy the Chicken Bone Beach Jazz series. On Friday, Stockton College will produce another outstanding event.On Sunday, the movie under the stars will be Fiddler on The Roof and on Wednesday, local Peruvians will put on another in the series of ethnic dance shows as they celebrate Peru's Independence Day.
Pinky's Corner airs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6pm on News Talk WOND-AM 1400. His TV show, WMGM Presents Pinky, airs Saturday at 7:30pm on TV40. Pinky's e-mail address is: pinkyscrnr@aol.com.
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