COMPLIMENTARY

stlamerican.comVol. 83 No. 52CAC Audited

MAR. 29 – APR. 4, 2012

Oprah live in STLWinfrey kicks off ‘Lifeclass: The Tour’ in Sweetie Pie’s city

Page C1

By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Sister Mary Antona Ebois a legendary trailblazer.

If you need evidence,simply flip through her whitethree-ring binder packedwith newspaper clipping andletters of recognition.

One of the pages is titled,“African-American HeritageCelebration 2010: localAfrican Americans whomarched toward freedom.”On that page, Sr. Ebo’sphoto is sandwiched betweenMaya Angelou, JosephineBaker and Jackie JoynerKersee.

Complementing her life-time career in health care, Sr.Ebo gained national recogni-tion for her pioneeringefforts in civil rights as ablack Catholic nun. Theimage of Sr. Ebo marchingin 1965 in Selma, Alabamabecame an icon during thestruggle for voting rights.

“The one thing that I did-n’t want to do was tobecome a sweet little old nunthat was passing out holycards and telling people ,‘I’llpray for you,’ and not really

SisterEbo:LifetimeAchieverPioneering nun honored at Salute toExcellence in HealthCare on May 5

Photo by Wiley Price

See EBO, A6

By Kenya VaughnOf The St. Louis American

“It’s peculiar how a saint goes home,” said theRev. Ronald Bobo Sr., pastor of WestsideMissionary Baptist Church. “You are saddened onone end and rejoicing on the other – because youknow where they’re going.”

As St. Louis mourned the loss of Bishop WillieJ. Ellis Jr. at New Northside Missionary BaptistChurch on Sunday, a simultaneous epic celebrationwas underway that served as a testament to thelasting legacy he left among the many lives hetouched.

Twenty-plus faith leaders, a handful of civic

‘A SAINTGOES HOME’Homegoing for Bishop Willie J. Ellis Jr

See ELLIS, A6

� “The onething that Ididn’t want todo was tobecome asweet little oldnun that waspassing outholy cards.”

– Sister MaryAntona Ebo

By Chris KingOf The St. Louis American

The St. Louis region responded to thekilling of Trayvon Martin both officiallyand from the grassroots, both city andcounty, and on both sides of the river.

On Friday morning, some 400 peoplemarched in down-town St. Louis ledby Lewis Reed,president of theBoard of Aldermen,and featuring anumber of youngblack male speak-ers. That evening,some 300 people

gathered in Tower Grove Park in a publicvigil organized by community memberRachel Lee.

At both events, many people worehoodies, as Martin did on Feb. 26 whenthe 17-year-old youth was shot and killedin Sanford, Fla. by George Zimmerman,28. Many brandished cans of iced tea andbags of Skittles, which the youth had pur-chased at a convenience store before beingpursued by Zimmerman, who decided the

Justice for TrayvonMarches and rallies in STL and ESL

See TRAYVON, A7

The Rev. Starsky Wilson of St. John’s United Church of Christ gave a prayer before supporters started their march toSoldier’s Memorial in support of slain Sanford, Fla. teenager Trayvon Martin. Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed organ-ized the Friday morning march.

“If anyone should have been protected by ‘Stand Your Ground,’ it was Trayvon.”

– Benjamin Crump, the family lawyer

� “That couldhave been anyof us.”

– Al Sharpton

Rok from Bp Entertainment, Raymond Webber,Yung Ro, Mookie Page and BuddaPage marched in support of slain Sanford, Fla. teenager Trayvon Martin in down-town St. Louis on Friday. Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed organized themarch down Market Street to the Soldiers Memorial.

Photo by Wiley Price