Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Inc.

Mrs. Minnie Gaston, Civic Leader, Birmingham, AL (1923-2009)

Minnie was a member of the Women's Auxiliary Corps and attended school on a GI Bill. She then came to Blythe in 1970 where she taught for many years for the Palo Verde Unified School District at both Ruth Brown Elementary and Felix J. Appleby Elementary School. Minnie was also a member of the International Mission Board for the First Southern Baptist Church and during that time was a missionary in Suriname, South America and taught school while she was there.  
 

Dr. Olivia P. Stokes was the first African American woman to receive a doctorate in religious education. As a trailblazer for future generations, she worked to eliminate negative stereotypes of persons of African descent and women of all races. Grounded in her faith and sense of liberation for all who are oppressed, Stokes became actively involved in the struggle for justice and human dignity in the United States and abroad. An ordained Baptist minister, educator, author, ecumenical leader, and administrator, her primary interests included leadership training and development, education in the African American church, black women and children, African culture, and the educational implications of black liberation theology in the African American church.
 

Mrs. Senfronia Thompson, Houston, TX
 

Mrs. Lucille A. Watts, Attorney At Law, Detroit, MI
 

Ms. Esther Gordy, Detroit, MI (1920-2011)

Esther Gordy Edwards (born April 25, 1920) is a former staff member and associate of her younger brother Berry Gordy's fabled Motown label during the 1960s. Edwards created the Motown Museum, Hitsville U.S.A., by preserving the label's Detroit studio. She is the president of Motown Museum. She is best known for her roles as the founder of Motown Museum and former Motown Record Corporation executive for nearly three decades. She held a number of leadership positions within Motown, eventually serving as Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary and Director of Motown International Operations, where she was vital in exposing cultures internationally to the Motown Sound. It was her spirit and fierce protectiveness of young and up-and-coming artists that earned her the unconditional love and respect of the artists of Motown. Whether it was helping Stevie Wonder enroll in the Michigan School for the Blind or managing and guiding the careers of other legendary recording artists like Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, the Marvelettes, the Temptations and others, her steady hand in shaping the personal and professional fortunes of Motown Records' young stars was a significant part of the company's long-term business and artistic success. Her career in the music industry was followed by an illustrious second career as an entrepreneur, business leader and influential member of several Detroit and nationally recognized institutions.
 

Dr. Dorothy I. Height, President National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), Washington D.C. (1912-2010)

Dorothy Irene Height (March 24, 1912 – April 20, 2010) was an American administrator, educator, and social activist. She was the president of the National Council of Negro Women for forty years, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1994, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.[1] Dorothy Height, a leading figure of the civil rights movement whose crusade for racial justice spanned more than six decades, died Tuesday. She was 98. Height died at Howard University Hospital in Washington, the hospital said. A one-time caseworker for the city's Welfare Department, Height led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years. Her influence was pervasive. Height marched with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and urged President Dwight Eisenhower to desegregate schools. President Obama called her "the godmother of the civil rights movement" and a hero to Americans.
 

Dominique Dawes, Olympic Gymnast, Silver Springs, MD

First African American on U.S. National gymnastics team, 1988, and on U.S. Olympic gymnastics team, 1992. First African American to win individual Olympic medal in gymnastics, 1996.Gold Medalist, team competition; Bronze Medalist, floor exercises, Atlanta Olympics, 1996. Silver Medalist, team competition, World Championship, 1994. Bronze Medalist, team competition, Barcelona Olympics, 1992.
 

Dr. Eunice Dudley, President of Dudley Hair Products, North Carolina

Dr. Dudley is Co-Founder and Co-Owner of Dudley Products, Inc., the multi-million dollar hair care and cosmetics company headquartered in Kernersville, North Carolina. She currently serves as Chief Financial Officer for the company and is Managing Executive for the Dudley Cosmetology School System.
 

Mrs. Carrye Burley Brown, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) [deceased]
 

Ms. A’lelia Bundles, former ABC Network Executive and great granddaughter of Madam C.J. Walker

Harvard A.B., 1974 Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, M.S., 1976
A'Lelia Bundles is an author and currently at work on her third book, Joy Goddess: A'Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance, a biography of her great-grandmother. Her biography, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J. Walker, was named a New York Times Notable Book and a Washington Post Best Biography. For 30 years, Ms. Bundles was a network television news executive and producer. During that time she was director of talent development for ABC News in Washington, D.C. and New York, deputy bureau chief of ABC News in Washington, D.C. and a producer with ABC News and NBC News.

Honorable Julia Carson, U.S. Congresswoman [deceased]

Representative, 1997–2007, Democrat from Indiana
Overcoming poverty and racism, Julia Carson served nearly two decades in the Indiana legislature and in an Indianapolis administrative office before winning election to the U.S. House in 1996. Representative Carson, the first African American and woman to represent the Indiana state capital, focused on issues that affected working-class Americans, many with which she was personally familiar. “The only thing some people learn from oppression and hatred is revenge. Others learn compassion and empathy,” said former Representative Andy Jacobs, Carson’s political mentor. “From the physical pain of material poverty and the mindlessly cruel persecution of nitwit racism, Julia Carson made her choice of hard work, compassion, and a pleasing sense of humor.”

Mrs. Marva Smith Battle-Bey, Executive Director Vermont Slauson EDC

Ms. Battle-Bey has been the Executive Director of VSEDC for the past thirty years, spearheading the organization to accomplish over $60 million in economic development projects within the Vermont Slauson community. As a nationally recognized authority on economic development, Ms. Battle-Bey has also attained academic recognition from the University of Southern California, where she is a Ph.D. candidate and serves on the Advisory Council for the School of Policy, Planning and Development. Active in a variety of organizations, Ms. Battle-Bey is a member and/or serves on the Board of the National Congress for Community Economic Development, Association of Women Business Entrepreneurs, the Southern California Business Development Center, a multi-bank CDC representing 30 lenders and a loan fund of $35 million; the California Economic Development Lending Initiative (CEDLI), and the California Organized Investment Network (COIN), which was co-founded by VSEDC. Ms. Battle-Bey possesses a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Urban Planning and Regional Planning, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. Marva Smith Battle-Bey is recognized as a pioneer and innovator in the realm of economic development. She is a nationally authority in this planning specialty field and has been instrumental in founding several organizations dedicated to empowering and providing economic development in the South Central Los Angeles community. She is founder of the Coalition of Neighborhood Developers; founder of the Black Women’s Network; founding member of the Friends of the Commission of the Status of Women for the City of Los Angeles; and President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She holds numerous leadership positions and memberships in economic development organizations. On top of all of her professional activities, she is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California and serves as a lecturer in the School of Policy, Planning and Development.
 

 

The Right Honorable Michelle Jean

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean,C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada. Sworn in on September 27, 2005, the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, 27th governor general since Confederation in 1867, carries out the duties of head of State. As Governor General of Canada, she wants her position to be a place where dialogue prevails and where the words of citizens are heard. During her mandate, the Governor General has been awarded honorary degrees from the following universities: University of Ottawa (2006); University of Foreigners of Perugia in Italy (2006); McGill University (2006); York University (2007); University of Manitoba (2007); University of Alberta (2008); Université de Moncton (2009); Université Laval (2009); Royal Military College of Canada (2010); and Université de Montréal (2010). Recently, the Governor General was presented the 2009 United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) Canada Award for her outstanding manner in advancing gender equality. In 2009, she received the Board of Governors Recognition Achievement Award from the National Quality Institute for her contribution to the quality of life of Canadians and humanity.