BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE #003

STUDENT
&

ATHLETE
OF
THE

MONTH

MORE FEATURES INSIDE!

ISSUE 003

FROM: BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE



*COMING TO SOUNDCLOUD/YOUTUBE*

HOSTED BY T.R. BRYANT, MZ HUNNII BUNNII
& FRIENDS.

FOUNDER/CEO:
T.R. BRYANT

PRESIDENT:
LACRESHIA BRYANT

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:
T.R. BRYANT

WRITER:
T.R. BRYANT

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE IS A MONTHLY ONLINE PUBLICATION. PUBLISHED
BY TIFFANY RENEE BRYANT, ROCKY MOUNT, NC 27801. COPYRIGHT
2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

CONTACT INFO:
[email protected]

(252) 468-0363





Dear Readers,
May is the month in which we celebrate Mother’s

Day. In every letter you have read from me so far, I’m
sure you have noticed that I acknowledge my mother
quite often. I do so because the thought of just how much she has impacted my life
never leaves my mind. Mothers are just a special kind of species. There is no dia-
mond on earth that can equate to the value that she possesses.

For this issue we had a few readers send in special Mother’s Day wishes to
their queens. Before you get to the features and articles, the mothers will be the
first faces you see. They deserve to be first! I would like to thank the readers for
taking the time to send us such beautiful photos and allowing us to publish them
for the world to see. I am so honored to have them grace our pages.

On the following page you will find a special poem that I wrote for my moth-
er to personally and publicly honor her for simply being who she is. I am so grateful
that God chose this woman to be my mommy. He could not have hand picked a
better person to guide me through this thing called life. She has never steered me
wrong. I owe it to her to best version of myself that I can be.

Thank you all for the continued support and I hope that you thoroughly enjoy
ISSUE 003 of Bossifye Magazine.

T.R. Bryant

Founder/CEO/Editor in Chief

1 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

THANK YOU

FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU LENT YOUR SHOULDER AS MY SOFT PLACE TO LAY.
FOR ALL THE DAYS YOU RUBBED MY FACE SAYING IT WOULD BE OKAY.
FOR EVERY SINGLE NIGHT THAT I KNOW YOU STAY AWAKE AND PRAY,

FOR EVERY DISAPPOINTING MOMENT THAT DIDN’T TAKE YOUR LOVE AWAY.

FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU JUST SAT AND LISTENED TO HOW I FELT,
FOR ALL THE TIMES YOU PUT ME & OTHERS BEFORE YOURSELF.

FOR ALWAYS HAVING JUST THE RIGHT WORDS TO HELP,
FOR ALWAYS HAVING THE BOND I SHARE WITH NO ONE ELSE.

FOR BEING MY STRENGTH ANY TIME I WAS BROKEN,
FOR UNCONDITIONALLY KEEPING THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART OPEN.

FOR HELPING ME FIND MY WAY ANY TIME I LOST FOCUS,
FOR THE TIMES WHEN YOU EVEN HAD TO YELL INSTEAD OF BEING SOFT SPOKEN.

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS INSPIRING ME,
BECAUSE OF YOU I’M BECOMING WHO I ALWAYS ASPIRED TO BE.
I KNOW THERE’S NO ONE ELSE IN THE WORLD WHO THINKS HIGHER OF ME,

SO MAKING YOU PROUD IS ALWAYS MY HIGHEST PRIORITY.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! HAPPY MOTHER’S
DAY MY QUEEN! YOUR DAUGHTER,

Tiffany

(the poem “Thank You” was written by T.R. Bryant & shall not 2
be reproduced in print nor digital format without permission.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ©2017

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“I WOULD LIKE TO WISH MY BEAUTIFUL GRANNY, GERALDINE AVENT, A HAPPY
MOTHER’S DAY. HER DAYS AREN’T EASY AND HER NIGHTS SOMETIMES ARE

WORSE BUT GOD HAS KEPT HIS HANDS OVER HER LIFE. I AM SO HONORED TO
BE A DESCENDANT OF HER ROYAL BLOODLINE. I LOVE YOU “QUEEN”!”

T.R. Bryant

3 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“Wishing the love of my life a Happy Mother’s Day!”

LaCreshia Bryant

President
Bossifye Magazine

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 4

“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO MY
BEAUTIFUL QUEEN, MY SURVI-
VOR, MY MOM LENDA. THANK

YOU FOR EVERY SACRAFICE
YOU’VE MADE AND FOR EVERY
PRAYER YOU PRAYED. HAPPY

MOTHER’S DAY!”
From: Brandie S. Peoples

To: Lenda Douglas

Note from the Editor:
“She is also the identical twin sister of my mother and has been like a
second mom to me since the day I was born. She is a survivor of breast
cancer and her strength has been such an inspiration to myself and oth-

ers. Happy Mother’s Day auntie! I love you!”

T.R. Bryant

5 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“MY WHOLE LIFE IN
FRONT OF YOUR EYES”
From: Tawanda Harris

To: Mommy

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) “ME AND MY MOMMY EARLENE LEWIS
-BARNES. THERE IS SO MUCH I CAN SAY

ABOUT HER BUT THIS WOMAN HAS
TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE A WOMAN
AND HOW TO LOVE UNCONDITIONAL.

SHE IS THE TRUE MEANING OF A
QUEEN. I PRAY THAT THE DAY I BE-
COME A MOMMY I AM HALF OF THE
MOM SHE IS TO ME! I WOULDN’T BE
WHO I AM IF IT WASN’T FOR YOU!
THANKS MA, I LOVE YOU TO THE

MOON AND BACK!!”
From: Shameka Lewis-Mckinnon

To: Earlene Lewis-Barnes

6

“HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! WE LOVE YOU!”
From: Kierra & Karenzie
To: Katrina Thorne

NOTE FROM EDITOR:
I PERSONALLY WISH KATRINA THORNE A
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY. THANK YOU FOR

ALL THE LOVE YOU HAVE SHOWN ME
SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER. I LOVE YOU!

T.R. Bryant

“NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES WE
ARGUE, HOW MANY TIMES I DON’T
UNDERSTAND YOU OR HOW MANY
TIIMES I GET SCOLDED BY YOU, I STILL
THINK THAT YOU ARE THE BEST AND

WILL ALWAYS BE THE GREATEST
MOM IN THE WORLD. I LOVE YOU!”

From: Destiny Owens
To: Renee Owens

7 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

COVER FEATURE: STUDENT & ATHLETE OF
THE MONTH

ZION SEXTON

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE MONTH

SHAMEKA & CO.

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 8

BY T.R. BRYANT

9 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

Zion Sexton, 12 years old, is a 7th grader at Parker Middle 10
School in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. This soon-to-be teenager
has a personality that makes him shine bright and stand out just
by simply being himself. He always tries his best to maintain his
grades and isn’t afraid to reach out for help when he needs. Aca-
demics matter to him just as much as sports and that is why we
chose to shine a spotlight on this awesome young man.

Basketball is one of his biggest passions. Playing not only
for his school’s team, The Parker Pirates, Zion also plays in the
AAU Basketball League for The Eastern Warriors. In fact, he just
recently helped lead the Warriors to a championship win in the
“Big Shots” tournament. Zion says that his plan after he gradu-
ates is to attend Duke University. He bleeds dark blue! Bossifye
Magazine wants Mr. Sexton to know that he is more than capa-
ble of reaching his future goals and we look forward to seeing
him in the future doing exactly what he said he would do! Fly
high young king because the world is yours!

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

BY T.R. BRYANT

Facebook Business Page
@shamekaandco

11 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“Shameka & Co.” was founded April 23, 2016 by Shameka Lewis
-Mckinnon out of North Carolina. Starting with just a vision, Shameka
turned her passion into her purpose , and made it her profession. With
her unique style of creativity, she offers event planning, party favors
and personalized items through her business. We have watched her
build her brand from the ground up and have seen the commitment
and drive that she possesses. Her ambition is admirable and there are
only great things in store for this “ambitionista”.

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 12

“NEVER APPROACH OPPORTUNITY EMPTY HANDED. GREET IT WITH
THE GIFT OF PREPARATION.”

T.R. Bryant

13 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“MAKE SHORT-TERM GOALS IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THE LONG-TERM
GOAL. CREATE A VISION BOARD! ALLOW YOURSELF TO SEE THE PATH AS

WELL AS YOUR PROGRESS.”

T.R. Bryant

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 14

GOSPEL RECORDING ARTIST

WANDA BARNES

ACCEPTS HER
CALL INTO

THE MINISTRY
&

DELIVERS A
POWERFUL

INITIAL
SERMON!

BY T.R. BRYANT

13 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

On April 30, 2017, I had the pleasure of attending the initial sermon of one of the best voic-
es in gospel music, Wanda Barnes, which I will now respectfully refer to as Minister Barnes. She
has been using her voice as an instrument for many years but God saw fit for her to use her voice
for another reason as well. At Red Budd Holy Church, in Rocky Mount, NC, Minister Barnes stood
before a eager and proud congregation awaiting to hear her speak. Her topic, “What Are You Look-
ing For?”. There was something specific she said that has stuck with me ever since and it was:
“looking is optional but seeking is intentional”. Minister Barnes did beyond an amazing job of
reaching every person in the room and letting her gift of ministry be used to uplift the masses.
Speaking to her after the sermon, she had four words to say which was simply, “God is so good”.

For those of you who may be living under a rock and unfamiliar with this anointed singer
and minister, she is the niece of the late-great gospel legend Bishop F.C. Barnes and the cousin of
gospel icon Luther Barnes. Their family has made history in the music industry all while remaining
humble to their North Carolina roots. They have created a legacy that has lived on for generations
and it surely will continue to do so over and over. You cannot have a conversation about gospel
music without mentioning the Barnes Family. We honor Minister Barnes for accepting her call from
the Most High and we honor her family for all the years of simply good ole’ gospel singing.

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 14

THE EDITOR IN CHIEF’S
PERSONAL COPY OF
MINISTER WANDA

BARNES’ ALBUM WHICH
WAS AUTOGRAPHED IN

DECEMBER OF 2015.

“CREATED TO WORSHIP”

EDITOR’S
FAVORITE

SONG:
TRACK #3
“NEVER BE
THE SAME”

15 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“I AM CAPABLE BECAUSE MY POTENTIAL SAYS THAT I AM. I AM WILLING
BECAUSE MY PURPOSE DEPENDS ON IT.”

T.R. Bryant

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 16

WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/
BEEBOPZKIDZBOUTIQUELLC

@BEEBOPZKIDZBOUTIQUELLC



OF COURSE SHE’S BACK!

BY T.R. BRYANT

“QUEEN OF THE THRIFT”

BRANDIE S. PEOPLES

&
HER THRIFTED LOOKS

FOR THE MONTH!

17 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) YEP! SHE IS STILL SLAYING ON A BUDGET!
LOOKING LIKE ONE MILLION BUCKS FOR

JUST PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR!
JOIN HER FACEBOOK GROUP A THRIFTY
LIFESTYLE TO INTERACT WITH HER & MORE

THRIFTERS AROUND THE WORLD!
CATCH HER AGAIN IN NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE

TO SEE MORE OF HER FASHION.

18

“DON’T JUST SIT & WAIT ON YOUR MOMENT. WHY? BECAUSE YOUR
MOMENT IS ALREADY WAITING ON YOU! THEREFORE, YOU HAVE TO
BE WILLING TO MEET IT WHEREVER IT IS. DON’T EVEN ASSUME THAT
IT WILL MEET YOU HALFWAY. START WALKING TOWARDS YOUR PUR-
POSE & BE PREPARED TO TRAVEL THE FULL DISTANCE. YOUR MOMENT

ONLY SHOWS UP….WHEN YOU SHOW UP!”

T.R. Bryant

19 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

“YOU MUST DO MORE THAN JUST “SET YOUR MIND TO IT”. THINKING IT,
IS MERELY NOT ENOUGH. WHEN YOU SET ACTION TO IT, YOU SEE ACTUAL

RESULTS.”

T.R. Bryant

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 20

@bossifyemag

21 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

R&B SINGER, SONGWRITER, ACTRESS &
RADIO PERSONALITY

NORTH CAROLINA’S OWN:

SUNSHINE ANDERSON

FOLLOW HER!

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) CONTINUE FOR MORE CELEBRITY LOVE>>>>>>

22

R&B SINGER

CASE
FOLLOW HIM!

23 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

BATTLE RAP QUEEN

OFFICIAL
FOLLOW HER!

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 24

ACTOR/COMEDIAN

FLEX ALEXANDER

SINGER/SONGWRITER

SHANICE
FOLLOW THEM!

25 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

THE LEGENDARY

DJ KOOL

FOLLOW HIM!

COMEDIANS 26

KATE QUIGLEY

&

JAY PHILLIPS

FOLLOW THEM!

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

BY T.R. BRYANT

27 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

On June 21, 1997, the WNBA barely anyone knows about. To take
launched its very first game ever with the things a step further, let’s touch on the
Los Angeles Sparks facing the New York salary of an athlete playing in the highest
Liberty. It took 51 years for the USA to see ranked women’s professional basketball
women professional athletes on the bas- league in America. According to a credited
ketball court after the NBA got its head ESPN report in 2012, the overall salary av-
start November 1, 1946. Of course there erage for the league was $72,000. Wait,
were discrimination issues going on back there’s more, or less shall we say, because
then that would have prevented a woman the minimum for league is actually
from getting any kind of equal recognition $36,570. The maximum amount of money
compared to men. With that being said, a player can make per season is $107,000.
although we are living in a different gener- Compare that to the contracts worth mil-
ational time in history, you would think lions that so many NBA players sign. The
that the WNBA would have somewhat majority of professional women basketball
reached their peak and evened the odds players become millionaires overseas.
by now. However, these phenomenally They are even going as far as choosing to
talented athletes, many times go unno- sit out for a whole WNBA season so that
ticed and that’s hard to understand with they can stay and continue to be an inter-
the amount of basketball fans in this coun- national athlete. The overseas teams offer
try alone. With short summer seasons that these women contracts that unfortunately
only last a couple months, there are actu- their own country cannot give them.
ally people who had no idea that the
league still existed. Hopefully, as the years go by, every
seat at every WNBA will be filled with
Have you ever attended or watched screaming fans. The need for longer sea-
a WNBA game on television? If so, I am sons, more airtime and equal pay is long
quite sure that you have noticed the overdue. The only difference between the
amount of empty seats in the arena. The WNBA and NBA is simply gender, every-
lack of support is definitely not the fault of thing else should be pretty even. Let’s not
the players or coaches. It really is one of take another 20 years to finally start giving
those hard to explain and “make you these hardworking and super skilled wom-
scratch your head” type of scenarios. Col- en the support and respect that they not
lege basketball brings in more revenue only deserve, but have earned! Bossifye
than the WNBA. Think about it. So many Magazine wishes the WNBA a great sea-
top ranked female athletes go from being son and BALL HARD QUEENS!
a beloved and popular collegiate athlete
to being a PROFESSIONAL athlete that CONTINUE>>>>>>

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 28

WNBA PLAYER, MAYA MOORE, SMALL FORWARD FOR
THE MINNESOTA LYNX, WAS THE FIRST FEMALE SIGNED
TO THE JORDAN BRAND IN 2011. SIX YEARS LATER, SHE
IS STILL THE ONE & ONLY FEMALE TO REPRESENT TEAM
JORDAN! HER SNEAKERS ARE QUITE EXCLUSIVE SO FIND

THEM IF YOU CAN!
MOORE IS THE TOP PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE AND WAS

THE #1 OVERALL DRAFT PICK IN 2011.
JUST A FEW OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THE

WNBA:
-3X WNBA CHAMPION
-WNBA FINALS MVP
-4X WNBA ALL-STAR
-ALL-WNBA FIRST TEAM
-WNBA SCORING LEADER
-WNBA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

-WNBA TOP 20@20

29 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 30

LEGENDARY PLAYER OF THE WNBA, BECKY HAMMON,
FORMERLY OF THE NEW YORK LIBERTY AND THE SAN
ANTONIO STARS BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN EVER TO

BE HIRED BY THE NBA AS AN ASSISTANT COACH IN
2014. THREE YEARS LATER, BECKY IS STILL THE FULL
TIME ASSISTANT COACH FOR THE SAN ANTONIO SPURS
AND STILL THE ONLY WOMAN TO HOLD THAT POSITION

IN THE NBA.
JUST A FEW OF HER ACHIEVEMENTS WITH THE

WNBA:
-6X WNBA ALL-STAR
-2X ALL-WNBA FIRST TEAM
-WNBA ASSIST LEADER
-WNBA TOP 15 PLAYERS OF ALL TIME
-JERSEY #25 RETIRED BY SAN ANTONIO STARS

31 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

FROM WNBA PLAYER TO NBA ASSISTANT
COACH!!!

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 32

FUNK MASTER FLEX OF HOT 97 THE U.S. SECRETARY OF EDUCATION,
LANDS HIMSELF IN A STORM OF BETSY DEVOS, RECEIVED A BEYOND LESS
SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH FROM THAN WARM WELCOME AS SHE AT-
FANS AND CELEBRITIES AFTER HE TEMPTED TO DELIVER THE COM-
GOES ON A PUBLIC INSTAGRAM MENCENT SPEECH AT BETHUNE-
LIVE RANT VERBALLY ATTACKING COOKMAN UNIVERSITY’S GRADUATION
THE DECEASED HIP HOP ICON CEREMONY FOR C/O 2017. AS DEVOS
TUPAC SHAKUR. WE STILL HAVE ATTEMPTED TO SPEAK, STUDENTS BE-
NO IDEA WHY FLEX WAITED 20 GAN TO STAND UP AND TURN THEIR
YEARS TO DISPLAY HIS APPAR- BACKS WHILE BOOING. THE PRESIDENT
ENT HATRED FOR TUPAC BUT OF THE UNIVERSITY, EDISON O. JACK-
WE DO KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE SON, VERBALLY REPRIMANDED THE
CERTAINLY NOT HAPPY ABOUT STUDENTS BY THREATENING TO HAVE
IT. THEIR DEGREES MAILED TO THEM.
SOME INDIVIDUALS WERE ESCORTED
RAPPER, KEVIN GATES SEN- OUT, WE ARE NOT SURE AT THIS TIME IF
TENCED TO 30 MONTHS IN ANY WERE STUDENTS.
PRISON IN CHICAGO DUE TO
AN OLD GUN CHARGE. THE RAPPER, DMX, CHECKS HIMSELF INTO
PAST ALWAYS CATCHES UP REHAB AND ALL WE HAVE TO SAY IS
WHEN WE LEAST EXPECT IT. THAT WE WISH HIM THE VERY BEST ON
HIS JOURNEY TO A LIFE OF SOBRIETY.
33
BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

COMEDIAN, MONIQUE, HAS A LOT TO SAY THE BREAKFAST CLUB’S, CHARLA-
ABOUT LEE DANIELS, TYLER PERRY AND OPRAH MAGNE THA GOD, BECOMES A NY
WINFREY. NONE OF WHICH WERE TOO NICE TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR
AND SHE OFFERS NO APOLOGIES FOR THE VER- WITH HIS VERY FIRST BOOK,
BAL ATTACK SHE LAUNCHED UPON THEM AT A “BLACK PRIVILEGE: OPPORTUNITY
RECENT STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW. SHE HAS COMES TO THOSE WHO CREATE
NOT GOTTEN OVER THE CONTROVERSY SUR- IT”.
ROUNDING PRECIOUS AND BEING BLACK-
BALLED FROM THE INDUSTRY. NOT SURE WHAT THINGS ARE STILL AS MESSY AS EV-
SHE WAS HOPING TO ACCOMPLISH BUT IT SURE ER IN THE WHITE HOUSE. FORMER
GOT HER NAME BACK TRENDING AGAIN! MAY- FBI DIRECTOR JAMES COMEY
BE THAT WAS THE POINT... SEEMS READY TO SPILL THE BEANS
REGARDING RUSSIA & TRUMP.

FANS ASKED NICKI MINAJ TO HELP THEM BEYONCE’ ESTABLISHES “FORMATION
OUT WITH COLLEGE LOANS, TUITION, SCHOLARS”. FOUR SCHOLARSHIPS
AND/OR EXPENSES VIA SOCIAL MEDIA. WILL BE AWARDED, ONE PER COL-
GUESS WHAT? SHE DID! SHE DISHED OUT LEGE, TO FEMALE STUDENTS PURSU-
QUITE A SUM OF MONEY TO GIVE BACK ING STUDIES IN CREATIVE ARTS, MU-
TO HER FANS AND THAT CAN ONLY BE RE- SIC, LITERATURE OR AFRICAN-
SPECTED! AMERICAN STUDIES. COLLEGES THAT
WERE SELECTED: BERKLEE, PARSONS,
HOWARD AND SPELLMAN.

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 34

35 BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017)

TEAM KIYA
FOREVER!

BOSSIFYE MAGAZINE ISSUE 003 (2017) 36