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21JUNE 2015BODY OF CHRIST NEWS Lucious Lu Augustas Vason was born on April 6 1939 in New Orleans Louisiana to his parents Lucious A. Vason Sr. and Dolly Lucas Vason. Raised in Berkeley California he graduated from Berkeley High School and enrolled at Contra Costas College in Richmond California. He left college to join the Army where his tour took him to Germany. When he returned to California he started a career as a fashion model in print advertising for different companies. His ads appeared in various newspapers and magazines e.g. Newsweek and Time Magazine. Vason was one of a few African American models in the movie industry with one of his most notable parts being a stand-in for Sidney Poitier in Guess Whos Coming to Dinner. While modeling he decided to pursue a career as a hairstylist. He attended Alameda Beauty College and Charms in Alameda in the San Francisco Bay area. He created hair styles for celebrities like Vonetta McGee Margaret Avery Marilyn McCoo and Florence LaRue of the 5th Dimension. He was also the hairstylist for Patricia Harris the first female Black Ambassador for the United States under President Kennedy and singeractress Lena Horne. Hair styling propelled Lu to begin writing newspaper articles for a small African American newspaper the Berkeley Post. After interviewing a member from the music group Delites he was offered an opportunity to enter the entertainment world by becoming their manager. Vason moved on to various management positions with the Whispers Natural Four and the Pointers of Pair who later became the Pointer Sisters. In July 1977 he attended Cheyenne Frontier Days the Granddaddy of Rodeos with his assistant Linda Motley. Vason felt the experience was exciting but lacked Black cowboys and cowgirls. His vision to start his own African American Rodeo circuit was realized in 1984 when he founded the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. The Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo is the only African American touring rodeo in the United States and throughout the world. The rodeo has traveled to more than 33 cities across the United States and has drawn local and international media attention. Now in its 31st year the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo has touched hundreds of thousands of people young old black and whiteall over the world as they share the story of the African American cowboy and cowgirl. In truth Lu knew that even if the history books never write the story television never does a documentary or the movie studies never produce a blockbuster on the big screen the story of the Black cowboy and cowgirl will have been written in the minds and hearts of those who have visited or participated in a Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo. Lu Vason departed this life to the Lords embrace on May 15 2015 in Aurora Colorado. Those left to cherish Lus memory and mourn his loss include his loving and devoted wife Valeria Howard Vason of Centennial Colorado his sons Elder Corey Sheri Vason of Seattle Washington and Ralph Rena Young Lithonia Georgia five daughters Evangelist Sherry Cedric Lea of Martinez California Brianna Teron Coleman of Los Angeles California Lashell Yetunda Roy of Washington D.C. Karese Young of Oakland California Shelly Robinson of Antioch California one sister Irma Jean Vason Morrison of Pensacola Florida. 15 grandchildren five great- grandchildren and a host of nieces nephews cousins surrogate children and many friends. Josephine M. Mann was a longtime member of one of Colorados most civically involved families in the Denver Catholic Community. Jo was born on October 12 1924 to Sgt. Chester A. Reed and Maria Molina-Reed. Jo grew up in Nogales AZ near the border of Mexico and was fluent in Spanish and a cradle Catholic she enjoyed dual citizenshipshe even worked for the department of immigration while in high school because she was bilingual and great with people at an early age. These skills she targeted from her brother Frank Reed the first war hero to be killed in action during WWII and from her father Chester A. Reed who was a Sgt in the 10th Calvary also known as the Buffalo Soldiers. She met Leonard J. Mann and they were married 1943 and moved to Denver CO soon after the war. In March 1951 they welcomed Gerald Jerry Mann to their family. They all remained very active members of the Denver Catholic Community. At Denver Community College she taught accelerated SpanishEnglish ESL courses for many years. She was also listed as a resource person in the City and County Directory for Spanish speaking people. Over 25 years she was the Travel PR Director for the YWCA. Josephine Mann has always taken responsibilities very seriously as she was a member of Church Women United for over twenty years and has served as treasurer for the local unit most of that time. She was also on the Finance Committee on the Colorado State Board. Jo has been a member of Cure d Ars Catholic Community since 1962. She was a cradle Catholic and understood as well as practiced its doctrine. She served on the Budget and Finance Committee worked on the Campaign for Human Development at the Archdiocese level and was among the committee members who prevented the loss of Cure dArs Church during the late 70s. She also served as a volunter worker at the Parish Center Office. She worked with her late husband Leonard in the L Club at Loyola Catholic Church on fundraisers to build an elementary school. At the Annunciation Catholic Church she was a member of the Altar Rosary Society Legion of Mary and worked with the Sisters on First Communion and Confirmation classes. Jo was one of the founding members of the National Association of Black Catholics now known locally as the Denver Council for Black Catholics. She was also a member of the Knights Ladies of Peter Claver Charlie Bright Court 261. Jo has been invovled in church activities all of her life. Jo was a member of the Denver East International Lions Club where her dedication includes program development and volunteering at schools and hospitals for eye examinations. She was also the official Spanish Interpreter for this unit. In 1992 Jo Mann was selected as an outstanding Colorado Senior Citizen to go to Washington D.C. to participate in a conference on Issues and Policies affecting seniors. Some of Jos other activities also included the Denver Center for Performing Arts Development of the Senior InitiativeKindred Spirits Program Public Relations for the Zion Senior Center Martin Luther King Leisure Club Treasurere former Denver Urban League Guild Treasurer YWCA world Mutual Services International Committee UNICEF AKITA Club Natioanl Association of Retired Federal Employees and Queen City Chapter 995 of AARP as well as the Institute for Womens Studies and Services. She has also served as an election judge for the City and County of Denver. Josephine Mann departed this life on Sunday May 10 2015. She was proceeded in death by both her parents Chester A. Reed and Maria Molina-Reed her brother Frank Reed and her husband Leonard J. Mann. She leaves to cherrish memory her loving son Gerald Jerry T. Mann Sandra of Denver CO her grandchildren Garrett T. Mann Crystal Johnson-Mann MD of Charleston SC and Christa M. Mann of Indiannapolis IN her goddaughters Michelle Myke Olsen Flemming of Yelm WA and Jorge-Ayn Jay Riley of Denver CO. Lucious Lu Augustus Vason April 6 1939 May 15 2015 Josephine M. Mann Oct. 12 1924 May 10 2015 OBITUARIES Lucious Agustus Vason Josephine M. Mann example of following in Jesus Christ footsteps. No matter how he was treated he marched for justice without violence. Jesus held on when treated like a dog leading up to Calvary He could have blink an eye and killed everyone instead HE stayed non violent. He took the unjust to die for our sins. I want to encourage each of you today to use our most powerful weapon the weapon of prayer role up your sleeves turn your plate over and fast a few hours or a few days as we come together on one accord to stand in the gap for others during this sensitive time with ongoing injustice in this dark dark world we are living in. wind out of the sails of the protests silencing the crowds Its unfathomable that people see the buildings being looted and burned down and thats the only triggerof remorse they feel for this entire ordeal. Human life can never be measured in monetary assets. America has ignored the requisite for justice and civil liberties. The scars that are left from turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the issues of the African American people will never be removed. BlackLivesMatter was transformed into AllLivesMatter. Very good point but all lives arent being killed in the streets like animals and all lives arent ignored because of their skins melanin. All lives are not allotted justice and equal opportunities. Baltimore is a piece to a larger puzzle and the protests and stances that were made during this uprising sent a clear message. Every dog will have his day when the people in authoritative positions will have to answer for their wrong doings and mistreatment. As the dog begins to awaken and the growl in his chest begins to build I hope when he howls hell have the courage to say that Black lives matter. Chynna Fayne can be reached on Twitter ChynnaFayne. RIGHTEOUS ... from page 8 DOG ... from page 16