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Hamilton Spectator
6 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘She's everything to me': Family, community members gather to remember Belinda Sarkodie
A court publication ban now prohibits identifying the 17-year-old suspect in the Belinda Sarkodie homicide. His name and photo were previously released under a temporary court order. Many languages were spoken at a vigil for Belinda Sarkodie . But the sorrow was singular. Atop Jackson Square Friday evening, roughly 100 people gathered to remember and venerate the young woman's life. Sarkodie's brother and aunt, along with a pastor from the Pentecostal Church and members of the Ghana Association of Hamilton, surrounded a podium. Draped in black, they took turns at the microphone. 'Amazing Grace' was sung in English and then in Twi, which is spoken by many in Ghana. Attendees joined in. Family and community members sing 'Amazing Grace' at Friday's vigil. Sarkodie, the youngest of three siblings, died July 11 when she was shot in broad daylight while waiting for a bus outside the downtown mall. She was an innocent bystander. Police continue to search for a 17-year-old boy in connection with the shooting and believe a group of three males were the targets. Sarkodie, who had recently immigrated to Canada from Ghana, was just going about her day and happened to be in a bullet's path. 'She's everything to me and everything to the family,' said Richard Sarkodie, the 26-year-old's eldest brother. Richard told The Spectator he and Belinda were the only two members of their family living in Canada. He lives in Manitoba, so the family would connect and catch up through group calls — usually on Fridays, the same day of the week his sister was killed. At Friday's vigil, a stream of people laid flowers around an image of Sarkodie. Others congregated to share their memories of her. 'She was the youngest, but then she was very intelligent, very smart girl. Caring,' he said. 'She tried to console you and cheer you up, that everything will be OK.' Richard said the incident has been traumatic for their family further abroad. 'My mom, she couldn't even talk for three, four days. I tried talking to her on the phone, but it wasn't easy,' he said. Family and community members lay flowers and light candles at a vigil for Belinda Sarkodie Friday. After Sarkodie's family spoke at the vigil, the group gathered flowers from a nearby table and made its way down the Jackson Square steps. With tears running down their faces, a stream of people laid flowers around an image of Sarkodie before congregating to chat about their memories of her. Sarkodie's aunt, Evelyn Aidoo, spoke of her niece's generosity. 'She was very kind. Where she worked, they did this thing called Susu' — an informal savings club in which members contribute small sums of money and take turns receiving the larger pot. 'It was her turn to collect $3,000 and a gentleman at her work had a family problem and she was nice enough to allow the guy to take that turn, waiting for her turn,' said Aidoo. 'In fact she never got her turn.' A temp worker for Cargojet, Sarkodie died at the scene, near the busy intersection of King and James streets and just a couple of blocks away from Art Crawl, where thousands were strolling the streets at the monthly event. A man was also shot, but his injuries weren't life-threatening. The alleged shooter fled on foot. Hamilton police have said Sarkodie had no connection to either the alleged shooter or the targets. Evelyn Aidoo, aunt of Belinda Sarkodie, hangs posters with photos of her niece at Friday's vigil. On Sunday, police told The Spectator there were no updates in the investigation. The suspect is still at large. 'Hamilton police continue to actively search for the suspect and urge him to obtain legal counsel and turn himself in,' police spokesperson Erin Gunnell said in an email Friday. Belinda Sarkodie was shot and killed at a bus stop outside Jackson Square. Aidoo was not satisfied the suspect has yet to come forward. 'I just want to say that the person who is out there, you are a coward,' Aidoo said. 'You took a life away; justice needs to be served and you need to face it.' A GoFundMe has been organized by the Ghanaian Canadian Association of Ontario. According to the page, Sarkodie studied environmental sciences in Ghana and graduated university with first-class honours in 2021. She moved to Hamilton in 2024. As of Sunday afternoon, more than $10,000 had been raised. 'The Ghana Association of Hamilton stands with Belinda's family during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,' said association president Sam Opoku. Sarkodie is the second innocent bystander to be killed in a shooting at a bus stop in Hamilton this year. In April, international student Harsimrat Randhawa died in an incident on the Mountain. Richard Sarkodie was encouraged by the vigil's large turnout and said he could imagine Belinda's reaction. 'I know wherever my sister is, she'll be a bit happy seeing that people truly care about her.' Démar Grant is a reporter at The Hamilton Spectator. dgrant@ Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
A RENOWNED Welsh singer who performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall has passed away. Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11. The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions. Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI. Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show. Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. Williams' brother Ashley told the BBC: "I never met her until we were adults and it was wonderful to meet up with her," he said. "In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up. "When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail. "She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys." In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share." "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake." 2
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
The star was awarded an OBE for her contributions to music STAR LOST Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A RENOWNED Welsh singer who performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall has passed away. Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 2 Iris was awarded an OBE for her contributions to music Credit: AFP The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions. Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI. Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show. Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. Williams' brother Ashley told the BBC: "I never met her until we were adults and it was wonderful to meet up with her," he said. "In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up. "When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail. "She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys." In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share." "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake."
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Iris Williams dead: Welsh singer who performed in front of queen and had BBC show dies aged 79 as tributes flood in
A RENOWNED Welsh singer who performed for Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Albert Hall has passed away. Iris Williams was born 1946 in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, she tragically passed away today, July 11. 2 Iris was awarded an OBE for her contributions to music Credit: AFP The world famous Welsh singer performed for US president Gerald Ford on several occasions. Williams was raised in a children's home and with a foster family in Tonyrefai, she was the daughter of an American GI. Her biggest hits include a Welsh-language version of Amazing Grace. She appeared on the BBC's hit Welsh pop music programme Disc a Dawn and went on to have her own BBC TV show. Read more in Showbiz Williams was honoured with an OBE for her contributions to music and sang at the opening of the National Assembly of Wales in 1999. Williams' brother Ashley told the "In my opinion she was one of Wales most underrated singers. She had a tremendous career, it was very hard for her growing up. "When she came back to Wales she used to come to the house a lot. I always used to say 'where do you want to go?' and she'd always say Tonyrefail. Most read in Showbiz "She loved the valleys, she had so much support from people in the valleys." In a post on social media, The St David's Society of the State of New York said Williams had "joined the heavenly chorus where her joyful singing will surely bring those joys beyond measure which we have been honoured to share." "New York held a special place in her life and it was here that she gave birth to her only child Blake." 2 She passed away in Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where she was born Credit: Getty
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'This little light of mine': Jupiter bash celebrates Alberta Bailey's 107th birthday
JUPITER — Alberta Bailey's 107th birthday celebration was as lively as the Sunday church services she never misses. She wore a white, wide-brimmed hat, a gold tiara and shiny red heels as she smiled from ear to ear and raised her hand toward the sky, singing "Thank you, Lord!" as about 100 friends and family members gathered around on July 3 outside the Edna W. Runner Education Center in Jupiter. There even was a sermon, delivered by the Rev. Charles Nesbitt of Lake Worth Church of God, about taking care of elders, followed by renditions of "Amazing Grace" and "This Little Light of Mine." The nonprofit's staff members threw the party for the West Palm Beach resident because her great-great grandchildren attend the center. Bailey's relatives said the day matched the legacies that one of Palm Beach County's oldest residents wants to pass on — the importance of prayer, of family and of living an exuberant life. "I feel happy," said Bailey, who spent much of the party chatting with her guests and receiving greetings from firefighters and Jupiter police officers and a certificate of recognition signed by Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Marino. "I have my grand children, daughter and I love them all. . . . I don't have a pain in my body. I thank God just for living. I know one day, I am going home. I have nothing to worry about." Legacy lives on: A Jupiter after-school center kept going after its beloved founder died. Thank her nephew. Bailey grew up in the 1920s an hour's drive north of Tallahassee in Boston, Georgia. For much of her life, she did field work picking pecans, cotton and other Georgia crops, according to her granddaughter, Pam Booker Pettis. Segregation was prevalent at the time. 'There are stories of them doing field work because that's all that was available to people of color,' said Pettis, 56, an attorney who lives in Fort Lauderdale. 'Kids were also required to work at that time. They went to school some, not much, and they worked.' This left an impact for generations. It led Bailey to teach her kids and grandchildren about the value of education. Many of them grew up to become doctors, attorneys and teachers. She had eight children and now has at least 150 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. When Pettis' daughter started medical school, Bailey repeatedly told her, 'God is going to take care of you and take you through whatever you're going through. Just don't forget to pray.' The lesson stuck with her. It is the same one that Bailey taught her grandchildren ever since they were young, and it carried Pettis through law school. "Since we were 3 or 4 years old, we would hang out at her house, go to church or shop at Goodwill (and) she would be singing and praying and teaching us lessons," Pettis said. "She'll pray in the store. She'll pray in a parking lot. It doesn't matter where." 'It made me feel like Superman': Suits for Seniors preps teens for careers, clothes and all Bailey moved to West Palm Beach about 65 years ago, just after her sons Jasper Jr. and Willie C. made Florida their home. She brought her green thumb and favorite recipes for biscuits, cornbread and chicken and rice along with her. While Bailey does not cook as much as she used to, she still tends to a thriving flower garden in her backyard. She lived with Jasper, her husband and the love of her life, until he died in 1998. She never dated again after that. Bailey now lives in West Palm Beach with her granddaughter, Mary Williams, who prepares meals for her and helps her take any medications she needs. 'I enjoy watching her grow her own vegetables in the garden, listening to her pray early in the morning and singing her hymns late at night,' said Williams, 55. 'It's just a joy.' Bailey's great-granddaughter knows Bailey as a giver. 'She doesn't like to see anybody without, and she doesn't like to see people hurt, so she tries to help out no matter what,' said Qushanta Williams, 35, of West Palm Beach. 'That's just who she is.' Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@ Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Alberta Bailey celebrates 107th birthday with prayer, party in Jupiter
