b'New Hope Baptist Church Choir Fellowship Cookout G oodfellowship,dance and felt her hard foodandfunwasworkhadpaidextra themenufortheNewdividends.Thegroup HopeBaptistChurchdined on lots of succu-ChoirsAugust2023lentbarbecuedmeats, gathering.Choir mem- southernandstandard bers were thrilled to beside dishes, salads, des-together again after thesertsforeverypalate COVID-19shutdownandbeveragechoices and related restrictions.forall.MaestroDaryl MembersRandellandWalkerledthegroup SharonSimmonswerein singing two tradition-theperfecthostsasalsongsthatcaused theywelcomedevery- group members to shed onetotheireleganttears and nearby neigh-home and well groomedbors to exit their homes patio. Sharon Johnson,to explore and enjoy the ChoirPresidentwasunmistakablemajestic pleased with the atten- sounds.OBITUARYAnsar El Muhammed ,November, 1945August 13, 2023thecommunica- Centerandassistedinthecen-tions organ for thetersgrowthanddevelopmentat N.O.I.every level. He was best known for Hegainedaddi- hisculinaryskillsandlovedfor tional employmenthisfriedfishandseasonedfries. attheDenverSeveral generations were raised on WeeklyNewsinhisfood,love,andnourishment, theearly2000s.withmanyyoungerfolkadopting With press creden- himastheirfatherandgrandpa. tialsandabrandHis sense of style and fashion were newS.L.R.digitalimpeccable; he always dressed from camera, he gainedhead to toe. exclusiveaccessAnsarscommitmenttothe tomedia-onlyMemphis-based African Americans areas,skyrocket- Forming A New Tribal Existence inghispassion(AAFANTE)organizationwas forphotojournal- unwavering.Hewasinitiat-ism.Additionally,edatCarverPoint,Mississippi. Ansar El Muhammed dren. Engaging in school activities,formingthehabitThroughoutthepastdecade,he fromAllensBoyScoutstoKellysof frequently editing photos on-site.helpedinitiatehundredsofnew BEGINNING ballet classes, and never missing aBrotherAnsarcapturedseveralmembersintotheinner-healing AnsarElMuhammadwasbornmoment to educate his children onhistorical events, including the 2008community. RoyceAlanSandersonNovemberBlack culture and history.DemocraticNationalConvention 25,1945,toJessieMaeSandersIn1973,thefamilyrelocatedtoinDenver,whereBarackObamaAnsarplayedacrucialrolein andRichardTolliver.HewastheLos Angeles, California.accepted the nomination for presi- maintaining the Colorado Kwanzaa second child born and raised withdent;theSavioursDayholiday;tradition and expanding the Denver his oldest sister, Evelyn Kay Porter,FAITH the iconic 1995 Million Man Marchcelebration,whichisnowoneof two younger brothers, Gary SandersWith pride in his heritage, Roycein Washington, D.C.; and the 2005the largest in the country. This led and Myron Simms, and a youngerfurthered his studies in the Nationanniversary march. tohisinductionintotheKwanzaa sister,Melinese(Baugh)Charles.ofIslam(N.O.I.)teachingsandCircle of Wisdom.ThefamilylivedintheHistoricbegan training as a member of theHebecameanintergenerationalFAMILYFive Points neighborhood of Denver,Fruit of Islam (F.O.I.). photographer for numerous annualAnsarElMuhammadssoul Colorado. Coloradoevents.Hecontributeddeparted this life and became pres-RoyceattendedManualHighHe transitioned from Royce Allenphotos to other Black media outletsent with Allah on Sunday, August School(Classof62)andwasonSanderstoBrotherRoyceX.InsuchasDenverUrbanSpectrum,13,2023.Hissurvivingfamily theschoolstrackteam.After1975,duringshiftsintheN.O.I,BodyofChristNews,andFivemembers include his children Allen high school, he served in the U.S.he joined the Ansars (the Helpers)Points News. andKellyofPhoenix,Arizona;his Army during the Vietnam War andMuslims. AnsarElMuhammadservedasbrotherMyronofOklahoma;eight receivedanhonorabledischarge.PHOTOGRAPHY the lead photographer at the Denvergrandchildren,sevengreat-grand-After returning to Denver, he joinedBrotherAnsarinvitedBrotherWeekly News forchildren; two nieces from his late-the Black Panther Party to promoteHermantojoinhisphotographyover two decades until his passing.sisterMelinese;Myronssixchil-self-reliance,independence,andbusiness,LensofAnsar.TheyHewillberememberedandmen- dren;plusextendedfamilymem-respectwhileadvocatingagainstalsocollaboratedonatranspor- tionedalongsidethatofDenversbersattheNationofIslam,the racial inequality and injustice. tationcompanycalledAffinityBlackphotographylegendsBurnisFinalCall,DenverWeeklyNews, Along the way, he met the love ofTransportation. McCloud(1908-1997)andWalterbrotherjeffsCulturalCenter, his life, Yvonne Boyd. Their unionHisentryintophotojournalismWedgeworth, Sr. (1928-2019). TheKwanzaaCommitteeCircleof resultedinthebirthoftheirson,startedattheFinalCallnewspa- COMMUNITY Wisdom,AAFANTEandahostof Allen Anthony, and their daughter,per,thelargestcirculatedBlackBrotherAnsarwasafoundingfriends and loved ones.Kelly Dianne, two years later. RoycenewspublicationworldwideandmemberofbrotherjeffsCulturalAshe!enjoyed spending time with his chil-22 SEPTEMBER 2023 BOCNEWS.com'