An Evening with Elizabeth King: The Sacred Soul Queen of Memphis

ON THE SEASONED SIDE OF LIFE: Performance Highlights of Gospel Singer Elizabeth King at Crosstown, Memphis

Surrounded by amazing Memphis musicians, 78-year-old gospel singer Elizabeth King pours out her heart and soul while performing at Crosstown Arts in Memphis, Tennessee Aug. 27, 2022. She was accompanied by her daughters. King is experiencing a career resurgence after taking time out to raise 15 children. She has recently recorded on Bible & Tire Recording Company.

King tells the story of how she was “Touched by God” and how he changed her life forever.

Memphis Shown In A Positive Light to Millions of People

Guidepost Magazine Features Memphian James Lindsey

At this Memphis cemetery, veterans who die alone are not forgotten, thanks to James Lindsey. He was shocked to learn that a dozen veterans a year were buried at the West Tennessee Veterans Cemetery with no family and no ceremony, so he took it upon himself to make sure they were honored prior to being laid to rest. (Photos by Karen Pulfer Focht ©) OCT/NOV GUIDEPOST MAGAZINE

Guidepost specializes in inspirational content and was founded in 1945 by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.

LINK: Story and photos below:

https://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/he-was-inspired-to-conduct-final-salutes-for-recently-departed-veterans

This is not the first time that James’s story has made national news. I’ve told his story once before for the Associated Press and also for The Daily Memphian.

You can read and see those stories and photos here. https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/remeberingtheforgotten

THE REST OF THE STORY……..

Those of you who know me know I play the ukulele. In Jan. 2019 my ukulele group, the Memphis Ukulele Flash Mob, showed up at what we thought would be a sparse funeral for three unclaimed veterans. We planned to play Amazing Grace for them graveside. However, when we showed up, cars were lined up for a mile. Our big-hearted Memphis community came out to give these veterans a proper send-off thanks to James Lindsey. I recognized this as a fantastic news story, put down my ukulele and picked up my pencil and camera. I’m so glad I was able to record this act of kindness and share this wonderful story with the world.

Feeding the Needy Butterflies

Each year I plant milkweed to help host the monarch butterflies on their 3000- mile migration. Today I found three caterpillars munching away. The number of monarchs has decreased significantly over the last 20 years. You can help too by planting milkweed.

On September 27, the caterpillar crawled to the top on the net and spun into a chrysalis or pupa. I have it inside netting to keep it safe from predators. By Oct. 8th, I had butterflies. I let them hatch inside their netting and when their wings were dry I released them.

'Was it worth it?' A fallen Marine and a wars' crushing end

As the American military pulled out of Afghanistan last week reporter Claire Galofaro, Videographer Allen Breed and I set out to tell this family’s incredible story for the Associated Press. Please follow the link below for the story in its entirety.

SUMMARY: Gretchen and Kirk Catherwood's 19-year-old son Alec was killed in Afghanistan fighting the Taliban in 2010. She and her husband are creating a healing retreat space, Darkhorse Lodge, for veterans. She could no longer care for her son, she said, but she to our reporter that she could care for those who made it home. She and her husband moved to the woods in Tennessee and got to work on the Darkhorse Lodge.

https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-4e345f63b70ccd5cecacfd42d7916848

Photojournalist Karen Pulfer Focht Wins First-Place National Award

  Karen Wins First Place in Catholic Press Awards 2021

Memphis Photojournalist Karen Pulfer Focht has won a first-place national award for the heartfelt story she both wrote and photographed on the closing of the Poor Clare Monastery in Frayser. Faith Magazine, published by the Catholic Diocese of West Tennessee, dedicated an entire issue to tell the compelling story in a special edition after the Vatican ordered the closing of some shrinking monasteries worldwide. Focht has covered the Poor Clare sisters throughout her career in Memphis.

Judges Comments: The article and photographs complement each other completely and provide a depth of coverage neither alone could produce. An excellent compilation that draws the reader along on the journey.

Best Story and Photo Package

First Place

Faith Magazine, Karen Pulfer Focht, Saying Goodbye To A House of Prayer

She also won:

Best Photo Story - Feature

Second Place

Faith Magazine, Karen Pulfer Focht, Saying Goodbye To A House of Prayer

Judges comments: The article's photographs paint a picture of the impactful history of the monastery and display the bittersweet emotions of love and loss.

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/poor-clares-leave-memphis