Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

After numerous pedestrians have lost their lives on U.S. Highway 165 due to no highway lighting, another pedestrian has fallen victim to this treacherous dark highway. According to elected officials, the lighting of the U.S. highway has been approved, and there was once activity for lighting. All lost their lives because of neglect. Elected officials have known the dangers of U.S. Highway 165, and the lights are still not up. The lights should have been installed due to the dangerous conditions at night in which pedestrians are hard to see once night falls. Those who have been killed might still be alive if the lights had been installed in a timely manner. Will another pedestrian lose their life, or will elected officials continue making excuses, hoping no one else will be a causality of the conditions of U.S. Highway 165 South from Monroe LA to Richwood LA? This is the deadliest stretch of highway in a predominantly black neighborhood.

Ada Means is the latest pedestrian to be killed on a dark U.S. Highway 165 South on September 25, 2023. Ada Means was born on November 7, 1965 to Gloria Naylor and the late Rev. S.B. Means. She was a 1983 Rayville High School graduate in Rayville, LA where she was a Stinger. Ada obtained a B.A. degree in Fashion Merchandising from NLU, now ULM, in 1987, being the first to graduate college in her family. Her passion was fashion, which she showed in her stylish wardrobe and hosting of fashion shows. Ada was a devoted church member at New Beginnings Christian Ministries, where she taught Sunday School and enjoyed praise and worship. Left to cherish memories is one daughter, Corinthian Williams (Jarvis); sisters - Debrak James (Antonio), Izonnnia Sublin (Sedrick), Nafessa Naylor, and Cynthia Means; brothers -Jimmy Taylor, Stacey Means, Purvis Means, Wilijah Naylor, and a host of family and friends. Memorial service for Ada Means is Saturday, October 7, 2023 at 1:00 PM at Greater New Beginnings Christian Ministries, 1211 NLK Dr. in Rayville, LA.

Photo Ada Means