About Us

WOMEN OF STAMINA

Comrades N Community's mission is to encourage, inspire, and inform younger generations by sharing examples of the faith, achievements, and words of wisdom from women aged 80 and older that support us in creating community events that make the connection.

The Women of Stamina Award is our signature event.

That is how we have celebrated their lives for the past twenty-five years and shared their words of wisdom. Even though their accomplishments are not highlighted at the event, they are not lost by the wayside, as their bios are used to create community events where they are featured as we honor individuals who now work in areas they once served and some as pioneers. Close to one hundred presentations have taken place under the banner of WOS Bio-created Events.

In essence, this organization utilizes storytelling through exhibits, recognition through awards programs, and community engagement events to uplift men, women, boys, and girls, all while highlighting these women. It has created a ripple effect of encouragement across generations. It's a beautiful blend of legacy, acknowledgement, and leadership at such a tender time in their lives.

In 2021, we expanded our efforts to support educational diversity and honor several of the Women of Stamina's wishes regarding "What can we do for the boys?" By supporting the Kenneth J. Bradshaw Endowment Scholarship with his widow, CNC Founder, family, and personal friends, we have answered that question. The KJB Workshop N Teen Talk introduces students to the man, construction, skilled trades, design, and his endowed scholarship that serves the University of Knoxville College of Architecture + Design Summer Camp, promoting pathways into architecture and established in his memory. Kenneth J. Bradshaw was the first to die from COVID in Shelby County, TN, twenty days after his 46-year retirement from UT Health Science Center in Memphis, where he served as the Director of Facilities Administration.

We have also awarded summer design camp scholarships for students to attend the local AIA Summer Scholars Institute and will consider other camps that may come into being. Effective October 2026, another Kenneth J. Bradshaw Scholarship will be established at World Overcomers Outreach Ministries, the church where he attended and served. This scholarship will be awarded annually to inner-city individuals seeking education in the areas of construction technology, skilled trades, and design.

The Care B4U Get There Newsletter will premiere in October 2026. This newsletter will share the obstacles being faced by the aging with younger generations of women, starting a push toward advocacy.

Our mission continues to center on community empowerment, senior advocacy, and fostering opportunities for the next generation. Even though girls also benefit from this effort, it was added because of the concern Women of Stamina expressed regarding the responsible head, as deemed by God, being offered support in some way by us.

The Women of Stamina Award has received recognition from various dignitaries and institutions over the past 25 years, including the Mayors of Little Rock, Memphis, Shelby County, TN, and the Shelby County Commission on Aging. The Memphis City Council, the Shelby County Commissioners, Memphis City Schools, the Tennessee State Legislature, the State of Tennessee Governor's Office, the 9th Congressional District Office of Steven Cohen, President Barack Obama, and even Her Majesty the Queen of England.

Comrades N Community Inc. has been a registered charitable organization in the state of Tennessee since 2001.

Women of Stamina Award Recipients

We acknowledge God's gifts to them that have made their gifts available to us!

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 - The 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*
Claribelle 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

2024

Laura Boyd

Jean Clark

Dorothy Douglass

Agnes Epps

Ruth Givens

Edna Scott

Bertha Stephens

*denotes awardee has passed on

WOS Bio-created Community Events

The Women of Stamina Awards emphasizes three key gifts this special group is blessed with presently, Longevity aged 80 and over, quality of life, and acquired wisdom collectively is what we celebrate at the awards program. Their Words of Wisdom are featured in the program book.

However, we are excited to host part two which includes the foundation for events we present to the community. WOS Bio-created community events inspire and inform younger generations showcasing the remarkable accomplishments of the awardees. We firmly believe their achievements are best recognized through action.

Each WOS Bio-created event includes a historical moment, an exhibit, and an acknowledgment of a 21st-century individual who is presently going above and beyond in the featured category. These events are presented throughout the year.

Those Who Labor Among Us Award

2002 WOS Helen King

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.

WOS Educators of Excellence Exhibit

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.

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

Tara Edwards Manor Lake

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

Dena Brown Highland Oaks Middle Choral Director

Comrades - N - Community L to R Modearer Henry standing in for Allison Pattion of Dunbar Elementary

Granddaughters of Women of Stamina

We are thankful for the 2019 WOS Granddaughters who volunteered to support the Care B4U Get There Newsletter for the 2020-2022 Season. Left to Right - Granddaughter of Dorothy Withers, Zena Withers, Granddaughter of Wilma Reeves Herron, Dr. Dena Vaughan, Granddaughter of Georgia Crawford, Terra Stigger, and Granddaughter of Mozella Hanna, Morgan Hanna Adams. Your consideration and care were deeply appreciated in lieu of the pandemic. Spearheading the newsletter in 2026 is WOS great-granddaughter, Addison Herron.

About Us

WOMEN OF STAMINA

Women of Stamina Award Recipients

We acknowledge God's gifts to them that have made their gifts available to us!

WOS Bio-created Community Events

Those Who Labor Among Us Award

​​​2002 WOS Helen King

WOS Educators of Excellence Exhibit

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

Tara Edwards Manor Lake

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

April Bobo Memphis STEM Academy Principal

Dena Brown Highland Oaks Middle Choral Director

Comrades - N - Community L to R Modearer Henry standing in for Allison Pattion of Dunbar Elementary

Comrades - N - Community L to R Modearer Henry standing in for Allison Pattion of Dunbar Elementary

Comrades - N - Community L to R Modearer Henry standing in for Allison Pattion of Dunbar Elementary

Comrades - N - Community L to R Modearer Henry standing in for Allison Pattion of Dunbar Elementary

Comrades - N - Community L to R Modearer Henry standing in for Allison Pattion of Dunbar Elementary

MLK Commemoration & Youth Inspirational Program

Granddaughters of Women of Stamina

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2002 WOS Helen King