Thursday 20 September 2012

60-year-old woman finds out her late husband was her father

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Talk about a psychological blockbuster. Not that her life had been a breeze four decades earlier when she found out at the age of 9 that the man she thought was her father was actually her grandfather, and that a person who had been identified as a “family friend” was actually her mother.
Spruill didn’t learn until later that her mom also was one of three “night ladies,” as she terms it, who testified in the infamous 1980 corruption trial of Summit County Probate Judge James Barbuto.
Why would anyone volunteer this kind of information?
Because Valerie Spruill wants to be an example. The 60-year-old Doylestown woman wants to show other folks born into miserable situations that they can still lead good, productive, fulfilling lives.
Spruill has. Now retired, she worked for 34 years in the accounting department at Goodyear. She has three kids and eight grandkids.
Although Spruill has fought through serious health problems — she believes they were brought on by the stress of discovering the longtime family secret in 2004, when her husband/father died — she is relentlessly upbeat and optimistic.
For years, she overheard odd whispers she couldn’t figure out. She finally learned the truth from an uncle not long after her husband/father’s death.
When asked to estimate how many people know about this, she laughs and says, “Half of Akron.”
Spruill says she confirmed the relationship with a DNA test. And if anyone doubts it, she says, she still has plenty of his DNA: About five years ago, she found a hairbrush of his that somehow had become lodged under their dresser.
Now, I think it’s safe to say there aren’t a lot of support groups for people who marry their fathers. Fortunately, Spruill has been working with a therapist since she found out. She praises the therapist for helping her realize she did nothing wrong.
“I’ve been getting great help,” she says, “because, God knows, if I hadn’t of went and aired out how I feel, I wouldn’t have made it, because I would have continued to stress out about this problem.”
Still, the pain understandably persists. As she tells her tale to a writer whom she doesn’t know but says she trusts, an occasional drop of moisture slides down her dark brown skin toward a mouth that can’t seem to avoid curling upward in the corners even as she dredges up the most traumatic of memories.
The man in question, Percy Spruill, died in April 1998 at the age of 60. Born in Mississippi, he worked in Akron as a truck driver and, later, as a parking-lot attendant at Morley Health Center.
He and Valerie’s mother hooked up when he was only 15.
We’re not sure how many offspring Percy Spruill helped produce, but at one point, apparently, he figured that one of them would be a suitable spouse.
Although Valerie says she is not 100 percent certain he knew, because he never talked about it, she strongly believes he was aware of the taboo he had committed but was simply afraid to tell her.
She fights the natural inclination to hate him, because people who hate don’t get into heaven, she says. And if you don’t make it into heaven when the time comes, she notes, you can’t hit the rewind button and try again.
“I want this to be more of an inspirational story,” she says. “If I’ve come through this, anyone can come through anything through the help of the Lord.”
Spruill also is motivated to tell her tale in the hope she can locate additional siblings she didn’t know existed.
“My biggest goal is to find them and let ’em know that [their mother] loved them, no matter what. And [to tell them], ‘Thank God she gave you away like she did me, so you could have a beautiful life.’
“It’s not a shame to be given away. Most of the time it’s a blessing.
“And you have to see that blessing that God gave you and accept that hand. Because everybody’s dealt a hand, and it’s not always good and it’s not always bad. But if you live that hand that God gave you, it’s gonna be all right. It’s gonna be all right. Yes, it is.”
When she learned that Christine, the nice-looking woman who visited the house, was her mom, Spruill hated her. Hated the deception. Hated that her mom had tossed her in a taxi at 3 months old and shipped her permanently to Grandma’s house. Hated that she knew nothing about her siblings.
But well before her mother died in 1984, the daughter made amends, thanks in part to the religious beliefs imbued by her grandparents, whom she credits with doing a wonderful job of raising her.
“God changed my life,” Spruill says. “It was God, through me, that let [Mom] see God for herself. …
“I used to pray and pray and pray that one day God would touch her heart and change her, and He did.
“One Sunday, she came to church and joined.”
Spruill also believes faith helped get her through two strokes and a diabetic coma that kept her in intensive care for 11 days.
“I know there’s a reason why I’m still living,” she says. “And it’s to tell this story.
“It needs to be told, because children need to know where they come from. And I know it hurts, because I have been devastated by this.”
One of the six brothers she is aware of advised her not to go public, saying, “Val, that might bring up a whole lot of skeletons in the closet.”
She replied, “Well, I’m not a skeleton, and I’m hurt.”
The hurt can be trumped by the truth, she believes.
“It’s a miracle how God reveals and heals at the same time, and he gives you that blessing to keep on going. …
“If this old lady done come through all this, and God’s still got her here and still with a good heart — because you find so many mean, vicious people in the world, and you don’t have to be — you can love no matter what you’ve come through or where you’ve been in this world.”




Source: Ohio



LISTEN: Another Oliver Twist remix: La Confesion – Sensato feat. Pitbull & D’Banj

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There’s a new remix of D’Banj’s ‘Oliver Twist’. This time around, it from the Sensato, who is widely known to be Pitbull’s protegĂ©.
He features his mentor on the song and retains the Kokomaster’s vocals. The original beat was produced by Don Jazzy, but aa lot of artistes in the UK, have covered it and now, we have a Latin American variant.
Listen here:

“It is the height of disrespect and insensitivity” – M.I reacts to video Rick Ross shot in Lagos

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MI Abaga
Chocolate City rapper, MI Abaga, has taken to his personal website, to make his opinions known about the Nigerian version of ‘Hold me back’, which Rick Ross shot in some areas of Lagos.
MI was evidently not happy, as his write up showed, suggesting that the American rapper did not portray the country in good light. In his opinion, nobody can tell the Nigerian story, more than the inhabitants of the nation.
“Does it make you angry? Does it rile you to see your country portrayed as poor and suffering and full of struggle?” he asked rhetorically. “It burns you, does it not? To have some foreigner- who knows nothing of your history and pain, of the stories that flow within your blood- to have this foreigner come in and tell your story? Is it not the height of disrespect and insensitivity?
“Does it not chafe against the thick skin you have grown to cover your other wounds? Does it not make you angry? We should wax sanctimonious about national pride being slighted. We should vent our displeasure online. We should occupy something.
“Because God forbid the truth ever be told about what things really are. God forbid a stranger reminds us about those things we choose to ignore every day. God forbid we ever face the truth about ourselves. God forbid we do not go on the internet and rail about how our country is being cast in bad light. God forbid we do not talk about how there is a small minority which lives better than portrayed. God forbid we do not ignore truth one more time. God forbid we don’t.”

50-year-old grandfather bags jail term for stealing carton of Milo beverage

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Crimestopperslogo
It was a terrible Thursday morning for a 50-year-old man  who was docked by an Ojo Magistrates’ court for stealing a carton of milo valued N8, 000.
James Akpan, a messenger at the Balogun plaza, Trade Fair Complex Lagos, had pleaded guilty before the court, to a charge of stealing.
The Magistrate, Mr T.O Shomade convicted the accused of the offence following his plea.
“The accused had pleaded guilty before this honourable court and is hereby convicted as charged” Shomade pronounced.
 Akpan was however given an opportunity by the Magistrate, to plead for a mitigation of his sentence.
“I was sent by one Uche to remove the Milo from the park where it was been off loaded.
“He said that we would share it and take it home to our families for use during breafast.
“Please sir, I am not a thief, I was pushed into this act because of hunger. I will never try it again in my life, please forgive me,” Akpan pleaded.
He was thereby  sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.
“The accused is hereby sentenced to six months imprisonment, or in the alternative, to pay a fine of N20, 000 to the Lagos State Government. Shomade said.
The prosecutor ASP. Friday Eze told the court that the accused who resides at No. 147 Ojo Igbede road, committed the offence on Sept. 14 at about 2pm at the Trade Fair Complex Lagos.
He said that the accused had removed the carton of Milo from the park where one Mrs Yinka Ibikunle was offloading her goods.
Eze said that the accused was caught by the complainant when he attempted to escape with the goods.
He said that the accused was then taken to the trade fair police station where he claimed he was cajoled by one Uche to steal the Milo.
The prosecutor told the court that all effort to arrest Uche failed as he was now on the run.
He said that the offence contravened section 285 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos State.

CocoIce Storms The Dancefloor with Bad Guy …Hit Location for The shooting of “It’s Me” Video.



Still basking in the euphoria of the wide acceptance and huge success her debut song and video “If U Don’t Know”, CocoIce is set to consolidate on these trend by releasing 2 massive singles “It’s Me – Coded mix” and “Bad Guy” to finally establish herself and solidify her position as a talented rap diva to contest with.
Poised to be the next biggest club banger of the year is the highly anticipated second official single “Bad Guy” from the mercurial rap diva, CocoIce.

CocoIce who some few months ago dropped her first music video for the hit song “If U Don’t Know – PonPonPon remix” which got rave review amongst the media and music lover is back with this fast tempo dancehall song.

According to her, “I did this song to show another side of me and to let people know that I’m not limited to hardcore hiphop. “Bad Guy” is for the streets and the clubs. It’s a fast tempo song which I strongly believe will get my fans and lovers of good music grooving on the dance floor”, she says.

MAGiKAL Entertainment, her record label also stated that they will be dropping the two massive singles “It’s Me – Coded remix” produced by H-Code and “Bad Guy” produced by Young-D in few days time, precisely on the 1st of October, 2012. Though “It’s Me” had been leaked to the internet, it will be officially released alongside “Bad Guy”.

Also, arrangement is in top gear for the video production of “It’s Me” which will be shot by the fast rising and most-sought-after video director, Aina Matthew Abiodun of Reaction Production who shot CocoIce’s “If U Don’t Know” music video.

There’s a website (www.cocoicenaija.com) and online platforms via Facebook and Twitter where her fans can hook up with her and interact with her. The website serves as a porter to keep her fans abreast of latest happening as regards studio sessions, songs, videos, downloads, themes, wallpapers, pictures, merchandise, ringtones and online promotions.

According to MAGiKAL Entertainment CEO, Biodun Caston-Dada, “we are building CocoIce into a global brand and not just for the Nigerian market alone through series of online promotions where fans can win various prizes such as BlackBerry phones, CocoIce Tank Tops/T.Shirts, Recharge Cards, Champagne, Movie Tickets, Hair Extensions/Weave-on”, he stated.

CocoIce has shared the stage with top acts like Mode 9, Sage, Late Dagrin, Minjin, T. Code, etc.




CocoIce is available for interview.  Please contact Sunday Obembe on 08084809400 or 08062300002 to set up a time that is convenient.

:: Management – MAGiC Entertainment
Upper Floor, Jowon Plaza,
16, Ilupeju Road, by Junction B/Stop,
Ilupeju, Lagos.
Tel: 08062300002, 08057002424, 08080203344




Club Amnezia’s doors swing open for St.Remy’s September party

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The trendy and fun-loving people of Surulere, Lagos finally gets to witness and enjoy another unbridled excitement of World No.1 French Brandy, St.Remy Authentic as the brand heads to Club Amnezia on Ogunlana Drive, Surulere for this month’s St.Remy Gbedu Slam Jam.

Now unarguably one of the hottest monthly events in the city of Lagos, this month’s party is set to provide another night of limitless fun and excitement as the exquisite brand invites all to come party that with a star-studded lineup of some of Nigeria’s finest new generation acts.



Orezi, Tipsy, Y.Q, Tillaman, among others, lead the cast of artistes slated to grace the event with their artistry on the night as well as the irrepressible DJ Atte of Naija 102.7 FM and one of Naija’s finest hype man Shody.

If you want invites to the party this friday LIKE the ST REMY page for details on how you can get one -Facebook.com/StRemyNigeria

In a statement by St-RĂ©my Brand & Markets Manager, Antoine Couvreur, the brand never sets out on a task it wouldn’t accomplish and continuing to provide top class entertainment for its loyal consumers is not in any way unachievable. Thus, everyone could always look forward to new and exciting additions to the parties every month, he concluded.

The St-RĂ©my Gbedu Slam Jam monthly party is proudly supported by Naija FM 102.7 and TRACE Urban TV.

LADIES IS THIS RIGHT...

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In a recent episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians, 31year old Kim froze some of her eggs. I am guessing Kim wants to enjoy her man without getting pregnant. That’s what it looked like.

Do you think women who aren’t ready for marriage or are not ready to have babies should do this in order not to get pregnant? What do you think ladies?