Family, friends, neighbors and colleagues came to Chilmark this past Saturday afternoon to celebrate the 90th birthday of Connie Williams. Friends from their home in Belmont, colleagues from her days in academia at Boston University, Boston College and Brandeis University, and Chilmark neighbors joined in a champagne toast to this wonderful woman who has touched many in her decades of service to community and campuses.

Her husband Dr. Preston Williams shared with some 80-plus guests how he met Connie decades ago at a conference in West Virginia. He found her smart, focused and gorgeous which set him on a two-year path from courtship to marriage.

Their two sons, Mark and David, along with Mark’s wife Trinh Nguyen, were the chief organizers of this celebratory fete.

Connie’s memory of her many accomplishments and her thoughtful appreciation for those present who she met along the way was heartfelt. She danced to the microphone after 98-year-old Preston completed his emotional remarks. As the birthday cake was being passed to the crowd plans were being made to come back in a few years to celebrate Preston’s 100th birthday.

The first 2024 Charles Ogletree Public Forum will be held on July 31 at Union Chapel at 4 p.m. LeRonn Brooks from the Getty Museum will join Clinee Hedspeth, the commissioner of culture and arts in Chicago, and the innovative artist Fabiola Jean-Louis.

Mr. Brooks is the inaugural curator of the newly established African American History Initiative at the Getty Museum. Join them to discuss the current and historic context for Reimagining Black Female Beauty.

The 7:30 a.m. ferry from Oak Bluffs on Tuesday was carrying friends and neighbors to Worcester for the funeral of Dr. John J. Goldsberry, Jr.

John, affectionately known as Buzz, and his wife Dorista have lived in the family cottage in the Highlands for decades. Their cottage was purchased in 1952 by his parents, Dr. John Sr. and Bernice Goldsberry.

Buzz and Dorista met at Howard University Medical School in Washington, DC. Both were trained psychiatrists and worked in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, community health centers in greater Worcester. This union gave life to four children: John, Yvonne, James and Carol,

all of whom gave glowing remarks on their experiences with their father.

Cindy Carter, Kim Budd, Kathy Taylor, Karen Holmes Ward, Michelle Courton Brown, Lynn Bowman, Millie Anglin and Kim Ridley were among the Vineyard residents who attended the services. Buzz loved his country, his family and his faith, and he will be missed by all, and deeply cherished by his family.

Civil Rights attorney Clarence B. Jones will be the speaker at the Della Hardman Day on Saturday, July 27 at 4 p.m. in Ocean Park. Mr. Jones has won the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. His most recent book is Last of the Lions and was released in 2023. It tells his story of activism in the movement and his close relationship to mentee Martin Luther King, Jr.

At 93, Mr. Jones is still battling for freedom. He graduated from Boston University and is part of BU on the Vineyard at Union Chapel. This coming week will bring scores of BU alumni to Oak Bluffs for a series of gatherings including an opportunity to meet Dr. Mellisa Gilliam the new incoming President of Boston University.

Stephen Anglin is the master entertainment engineer and the founder of Soulfest 2024. This week-long series of events to be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Performance complex at the high school features a curated mix of soul artists, comedians and master music mixers performing between August 10 to 17. Proceeds will benefit The Cottagers Rebuilding Fund and other local Island charities. Tickets and more information can be accessed at marthasvineyardsoulfest.com.

Book Talk is presented by The Cottagers, Inc. on August 9 at 10:30 a.m. at the Oak Bluffs Library. It features a compelling personal narrative from Vineyard resident Steve Pemberton. Not A Chance in the World is the voice of this New Bedford native sharing the travails, barriers and life-threatening challenges he endured as a kid struggling with racial identity in a foster care system. Not to be missed.

Paradise on earth is living the Vineyard experience. Enjoy it as time is fleeting.

Rest in Peace, Randall Edward Taylor!