Introducing Jawan Mathis

Singing since the age of 2 or 3 in the choir at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Savannah, GA,  Jawan Mathis has pure, raw vocal talent.  And according to his viewers' YouTube comments, the ladies don't think he's bad on the eyes either.

Jawan notes his mother, Angela Mathis and his grandfather, Moses as his biggest fans.  They have inspired him to sing what he feels and to sing from the heart.  His grandfather was the lead vocalist of The Gospel Crusaders.  Though he never saw his grandfather perform, Jawan would listen to his taped recordings and try to imitate what he heard.  In addition, his Aunt Frankie Mae Wright was a talented artist as a background singer for the group Parliament.  Singing is definitely interwoven through several generations.

J.A.M.'s talent mirrors that of Maxwell and Trey Songz but definitely with his own eclectic spin and flavor.  Mathis listens to old school crooners such as Sam Cook, Smokie Robinson, and Donny Hathaway.  Noting that he is of a younger generation than his predecessors,  Jawan adds musical genres of jazz, soul, r&b, hip-hop, gospel, and rock&roll into his vocal stylings.

As a keyboard musician, and learning to master the guitar, Jawan has been seen across the local and national stage.  He's been on local television programs throughout Savannah and Atlanta, as well as "It's Showtime, At The Apollo" in Harlem, NY and the Ricky Smiley Show.  With singing and entertaining in his blood, Jawan Mathis is ready to go to the next level.  How does he get in front of the right people to make it happen?

I am also an admiring fan.

Let us know here at ThePreferredLife.blogspot.com what you think of
Jawan's (J.A.M.) singing by leaving a comment!

Happy Thanksgiving

I'd like to wish all of you and your families a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.  I have my grand-baby here with me visiting from Dallas, Texas.  She is right by my side in every step that I take while trying to prepare a feast for the family.  My husband and I are troopers.  While the kids are out having a good time catching up with friends from high school and college,  we're holding down the fort preparing our holiday meal.  Sister-in-law and husband, Kellene and Johnny are passed out.  My nephew Jimmy and his wife Wendy will be in from New York later this morning.

If I do brag myself, old hubby and I having a good time with a few cocktails in hand, listening to "Cruisin" by Smoky Robinson and dancing a cool two step.  The feast is great.  Let me tell you about the menu: Turkey, Crown Roast, Oyster Dressing, Pole Beans, Collard Greens, Giblet Gravy, Potato Salad, Macaroni & Cheese, Shrimp & Crab Crepes, House Salad, Oyster Roll, Sweet Potato Pie, Cheesecake, Pound Cake, Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port, Moscato, Iced Tea, Citrus Punch.  Now that's just the meal.  The hors d'oeuvres are pretty fantastic as well.

I am truly blessed to be loved.  I love my family right back.  Thank you Jesus.  I wish you all love, peace, happiness, and understanding.  Enjoy your time with family and friends making new memories and enjoying traditions of the past.

Happy Thanksgiving!

p.s. Pictures to follow soon.






  

Happy Birthday Sheila

Tony & Sheila 

A wonderful time was had by all. Long time family friend and business woman, Sheila Smith celebrated her 50th birthday on November 17, 2012. Gorgeous and stylish as always, Sheila held her gala at Spiveys Creations in Decatur, GA. With approximately six outfit changes, at least by my count, Sheila was beautiful all night. Donning Chanel, Gucci, and several local Atlanta-based designers, Sheila's style came shining through.

Derrick Spivey

It was great to see old friends gather together to celebrate Sheila. We had a night filled with laughter, great food, cocktails, dancing to old school R&B classics, and reminiscing of days past. The event was surrounded by beautiful sculptures by musician, artist, and gallery owner Derrick Spivey.

Joe & Elza

With Sheila's creative talents as a hair stylist and business woman and Derrick as an artist and musician, it's clear the collaboration was an ideal choice to hold this party. Sheila has been a hair stylist in the Atlanta area for decades. Specializing in hair design, personal styling and make-up artistry, Sheila is the successful owner of My Space Hair Studio. Derrick Spivey is metal sculpture artist, musician (Zendrum), and owner of Spiveys Creations. The large, well designed interior displays his eclectic taste in different mediums.

Sheila's husband, Anthony Smith, is a long time family friend and barber to the men in my family. As a master barber in Decatur, Tony has been a long time established businessman in Decatur also. Currently his spot is located at Beauty Exposed serving both women and men clients. Definitely top of the line.

Thanks to Tony and Sheila for a great time and more memories to add to the list. I also want to say again to dear friend Sheila Smith, Happy Birthday.

Tim & Valeta

Honoring Our Veterans

Sergeant William H. Carney was born on February 29, 1840 in Norfolk, VA. He escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and found his father living in Massachusetts. He and his father bought the rest of his family out of slavery. During the American Civil War, William enlisted with the Massachusetts Regiment after meeting a white man named William Carney, who gave him his last name so that he could enlist. Carney, of Company C, 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (colored) was the first African American to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. He earned the medal for action at Fort Wagner, SC on July 18, 1863. He received the Medal of Honor for saving the American flag and planting it on the parapet after being wounded several times. Upon returning to Union lines, he turned over the colors to another survivor of the 54th, saying “Boys, I only did my duty, the old flag never touched the ground.” The Medal of Honor was not issued to Sergeant William Harvey Carney until May 23, 1900, 37 years later.

Joseph Medicine Crow-High Bird was born October 27, 1913 near Lodge Grass, Montana. He is a renowned Crow historian, anthropologist, and author. Crow-High Bird joined the army, becoming a scout in the 103rd Infantry Division. He completed all four tasks required to become a War Chief while fighting in WWII. Those tasks included (1) disarming the German enemy and (2) defeating him in hand-to-hand combat, and he led a successful war party (3) stealing an enemy horse, (4) and made a midnight raid to steal horses from a battalion of German officers. He is the last member of the Crow tribe to become a War Chief. On June 25, 2008, he received two military decorations, the Bronze Star and the Lègion d’honneur. Senators Max Baucus, Jon Tester, and Mike Enzi introduced a bill to award him the Congressional Gold Medal; however, the bill did not garner the required sponsorship of two-thirds of the Senate to move forward Congressional Gold Medal legislation. On August 12, 2009, Joseph Medicine Crow-High Bird received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the U.S.A.’s highest civilian honor) from President Barack Obama. Mr. Crow-High Bird turned 99 years old on October 27, 2012.

Senator Daniel Ken Inouye was born September 7, 1924 in Honolulu, HI. He is the senior United States Senator from Hawaii, a member of the Democratic Party, and the President pro tempore of the U.S. Senate making him the highest-ranking Asian American politician in U.S. history. At the age of 88, Inouye is the second-oldest current U.S. senator, after 88 year old Frank Lautenburg of New Jersey. He is also a WWII Medal of Honor recipient. Inouye was at the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941. When the U.S. Army dropped its ban on Japanese-Americans in 1943, Inouye enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to the Nisei 442nd Regimental Combat Team which is considered to be the most decorated infantry regiment in U.S. Army history. When fighting in France and Italy, two silver dollars, several grenades, and the Thompson submachine gun were Inouye’s weapons of choice. In the Vosges Mountains region of France, where his regiment was sent to relieve the Lost Battalion of the 141st Infantry Regiment, Inouye had 2 silver dollars stacked in his shirt pocket stopping a bullet from piercing his chest directly above the heart. During an assault led by Inouye on a ridge near San Terenzo in Tuscany, Italy, Germans opened fire from three covered positions and shot him in the stomach. Ignoring his wound, Inouye proceeded to attack and destroy the first gun nest with hand grenades and his Thompson submachine gun. Still refusing treatment, the second enemy gun post was destroyed by the 442nd. Crawling within 10 yards of the final German bunker, Inouye was shot in the right elbow which held his last, cocked grenade. With most of his arm severed, Inouye demanded that his soldiers keep back, and he pried the live grenade from his right hand with his left. As the German aimed his rifle to kill Inouye, he tossed the grenade with his left hand and destroyed the bunker. Inouye’s right arm was amputated in a field hospital without proper anesthesia. He had been given too much morphine and it was feared that any more would lower his blood pressure enough to kill him. While foregoing his career goals as a surgeon due to his war injuries, Senator Daniel Ken Inouye received his degree in Political Science under the GI Bill, followed by a law degree from George Washington University Law School.

This is how America was built! Thank you.

Thank You

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you that participated in the "$25 Cash Back & You Get Great Stuff" promotion offered by thepreferredlife.blogspot.com. I hope that you enjoyed your shopping excursion. Please look for more offers coming soon where we continue to offer great deals from great retailers. Have a wonderful weekend.

Again, Thank You!

Election Day! In God, We Trust!

It was cold and rainy this morning. Leaves were on the ground in beautiful shades of orange, red, yellow and brown. I left home around 6:40 am today to cast my ballot for the President of The United States Of America. Gospel was playing on my car radio. I needed a little spiritual uplifting this morning.

I have taken note that people have such polarizing views of where the nation stands today and where it should be headed. As I was driving to my polling location, I saw houses with foreclosure notices in the yard, people were walking in this nasty weather trying to get to their next destination, and the line was forming waiting for the polling center to open.

Upon taking my place in line, I saw folks standing in sandals, some with coats, some with umbrellas, children bundled up on mom or dad's hip, poll workers kindly offering coffee and doughnuts to knock off the chill. During the wait, I overheard small bits of conversation among those standing in line. People were talking about what documents they needed to have in hand to cast their vote, how one driver hit the pastor's parking space marker when trying to park his truck, and assisting a handicapped woman get to the front of the line as she just had knee surgery.

While in line at the polling precinct, my thoughts and prayers went out to the survivors of Hurricane Sandy. Some people are voting in tents as their polling locales were destroyed, not to think of their homes, and others had been offered the option to cast their ballots online. In these super-storm areas, some have to wait for hours, or go out of state, just to get a tank of gas so they can get to the polls today. I admire their resiliency.

Obama and Romney have scurried between different states, during the last hours of campaigning, trying to emphasize why they should be the next Commander-In-Chief. Options have been presented to the American People via debate, campaign ads, interviews, previous work history, and today, We The People, make our voices heard in the booth.

I know these are trying times right now for a lot of people, but please get to the polls the best way you can. Cast your ballot for your candidate of choice, and cast your ballot with conviction. According to history, this is not the first time Americans have been challenged with hard economic times, and I do not think that it will be the last. Keep the faith.

And believe it or not, while writing this post, I am listening to the gospel song "Smile" by Kirk Franklin. This song was on the 2011 album "Hello Fear." So to all of those reading this entry, and going through tough times on this Election Day, say hello to fear with a smile. In God, We Trust.

Amen!

4 Days Left For The "$25 Cash Back And You Get Great Stuff"

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Thanks to you all and have fun.

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