The sole purpose of Comrades N Community Inc. is to present the Women of Stamina Award to the Memphis, Tennessee community. Our signature award inspires the hearts of women(ages eighty years wise and wiser) at such a tender time in their lives. It was an answer to a prayer and much has blossomed from it. This award started like others, honoring accomplishments but it was soon revealed the true requirements for this award had nothing to do with individual effort, but God's gifts to them first and foremost that indeed allowed individual effort and all else possible in their lives.
In 1999 the first WOS Awards took place and was presented by Dorothy Curry Withers. Since 2000, the WOS Award has acknowledged God’s gifts of longevity, quality of life, and acquired wisdom to women ages eighty years and older. Women of Stamina bios (WOS Bio-created Events) are used to create community events that encourage, inform, and inspire younger generations.
Comrades N Community Inc. is a registered charitable organization in the state of Tennessee CO#9501
1999
PRESENTED BY DOROTHY MAE WITHERS
Acknowledged women who excelled in Civic and Business - One time only event
Bernie Randolph *
Evelyn Kellibrew *
Alma Morris *
Audrey McGhee
Bessie Rogers *
Fannie Swanson*
Gloriadean H. Porter*
Jeanette Brown
2000
PRESENTED BY COMRADES N COMMUNITY INC.
"Honoring God's Gift of Longevity to women 80 and older"
Magnolia Bass*
Gussie Butler*
Odessa Hayes*
Mary Lawson*
Johnsie Sims *
Dora Todd *
Leola Williams*
Clara Stitt*
2001
Beatrice Roby*
Carlotta Watson Stewart*
Elivira Williams *
Elizabeth Butts *
Elizabeth Toles *
Ida Jones *
Lorse Harris *
Sylvia Gamble*
2002
Almetta Allen Young*
Annie Betty Green*
Arilla Miller*
Helen King *
Josephine Wood *
Ida Mae Brunson *
Margaret Halle *
Sadie Miller *
2003
Alice Patterson Dickens*
Annie Cargill*
Berthaniel Payne *
Effie Mae Hill *
Ida Reaves *
Josephine Woods*
Katie Henderson *
Precious Christian *
Verline Perry*
Violet Duncan*
2004
Dorothy Curry Withers - Lifetime Achievement *
James and Annie Green 70 years of marriage and Coach Johnny Johnson - 47 years of Coaching Longevity Award
Only male tribute ever!
Alberta Gill
Alversa Williams Lee *
Bonnie Schledwitz *
Ella Ruth Holmes*
Ester Chambers*
Frances Brown*
Georgia Harvey*
Hannah Cole Serino *
Irene Jones*
Johnnie Jewel Smith*
June Chapman *
Libby Denton
Lucinda Bowen *
Mae Ringold *
Ollie Hinton*
Ollie Lowery*
Rosemary Nicholson*
Virginia Golden *
2005
Elizabeth Bolden 115 Years Wise - Oldest Person in the US. Longevity Award Recipient*
Ann Webb Robertson *
Ida Ghoston *
Mozella Hanna*
Mosetta Sesley Miller*
Myrtle Jeffries *
Ora Jackson
Venessie Brown*
Gracie Templeton
Virginia Taylor *
Dorothy Springer*
2006
Alice Sandridge *
Angela Astor*
Evelyn Wimmer
Fordie Burton
Hattie Velma Carter
Jannie Winfrey
Johnnie Lewis *
Ruby Lee Harris*
2007
Arand Taylor
Beatrice Sledge*
Jessie Jones *
Jessye Fox Anderson
Katheryn Perry Thomas*
Lillie Pryor
Mary Elizabeth Hughes *
Mildred Swearengen Hayes
Nettie Rogers *
Wally Flanagan *
2008
Ann Williams
Elizabeth Norworth *
Eugenia Brooks
Doris Burks
Doris Haithcock
Georgia Crawford*
Kay Rowland *
Mamie Bridgforth Richardson *
Mariah Wilks
Odessa Thompson
*No WOS Awards presented in 2009
2010
Special Award Category - DMCW Award of Excellence for Women in Business
Presented to Alberta Nibley owner of Concept 2000 Hair Salon
Anna Clark *
Georgia Russell *
Jo Ella Partee *
Lizzie Morton
Lucille Rogers
Mae Frances Spivey*
Roberta Strasberg
V Ella Hamilton *
2011
Special Award Category - DMCW Award of Excellence for Women in Business
Hattie Nelson - Nelson Inc
Ruby Alexander
Helen Bowen* (accepted by Frances Miller)
Martha Gibbs
Dr. LaVerne Tolley Gurley *
Bertha Cartwright Harris
Ida B. Johnson
Etta Hodnett *
Illa Rayford
2012
Special Award Category - DMCW Award of Excellence for Women in Business
Bennita Wade - Bennita Wade Nationwide Insurance Agency
Bettye Berger *
Ida Mae Burgess*
Thelma Dallas *
Mary Elizabeth Edwards *
Louise Jones *
Frances Williams*
Bessie Woodall *
No WOS Awards 2013, 2014
2015
Charlene Turner
Margaret Wiggins *
Hattye Yarbrough
Clarabelle Weaver*
Martha Campbell*
Ethel Higgins
Dorothy Tucker
2016
Special Award Category- WOS Educators of Excellence Awardee Retired Division
Mary P. Vann *
Marie Bradford
Annie Mae Masters
Doris Frieson
Juanita London*
Jane Engleberg
Josephine King
2019
Bessie Bernard
Alvertiss Coleman
Mary Forbes*
Nettie Givhan
Pinkie Greer
Bernice W. Jones
Ester Kuykendall *
Rosie T. McGhee
Lorene Orr
Dorothy Phillips
Verdell Williams
* No awards due to COVID Pandemic
2023
Mary Anderson
Sara Chumney
Jean Harvey
Shirley H. Taylor
Odessa Turnage
Mildred Williams
Helen Willis
*denotes awardee has passed on
We are grateful for the opportunity to present events to the community that encourages, inspire, and inform compliments of the bios of Comrades N Community Inc.'s Women of Stamina Awardees.
The women honored by us were born between 1890 and 1936. They will remain forever in our hearts and thoughts for it is because of them so many of us enjoy the rights and privileges we do today. Women of Stamina's contributions to the Memphis community are vast; that is why we feel so strongly to celebrate them as well as share their bios with other generations.
TWLAU Award honors 21st Century Service Workers. Awardees receive The Helen King Service Award of Excellence Certificate. This certificate bears the name of 2002 WOS Helen King who served as the first African American Supervisor over housekeeping at the South's Old Grand Hotel, The Peabody in 1968. This award pays tribute to a group so overlooked.
We acknowledge their efforts and give them due respect for working in their specific categories where they render service with pride and dignity that is reflected in their work performance. This is indeed a rarity in the 21st-Century where customer service is at its worst. But this group does exist, and they provide so much for the masses.
It is only proper and fitting that we acknowledge their effort. The service areas include Custodial Support, Laundry Service, Food Service, Grounds Keepers, Childcare Providers, Private Maids and Butlers, Drivers and Caregivers, etc.
What better way to encourage the hearts of 21st Century educators? This exhibit features past recipients of the Women of Stamina Awardee educators. More than ninety percent of the educators are Rosenwald alumni. Each time the exhibit is displayed we inform the community regarding Rosenwald's contribution to this group that made their contributions possible. We owe so much to this distinguished group. We also acknowledge a present-day educator who has gone above and beyond caring for her students.
The MLK Commemoration & Youth Inspirational Program remembers Dr.King. This program congratulates "Most Improved" students and inspires any failing students who have improved to a C average. First-fifth grade inner-city elementary school students are invited to attend. More than 2000 students have been inspired by this program.
The WOS Torchbearers are younger generation granddaughters of Women of Stamina Awardees. These young ladies will spearhead the WOS Newsletter "Care B4U Get There." The 2019 Inaugural WT included Attorney Morgan Hanna, Dr. Dena Vaughan, Terra Stigger, Kia Pryor, and Nizinga Withers.
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