Another Year of Excellence in the Making

From the Desk of Elleanor Davis-Starks,

Founder& Executive Director of The 100 BWFS;

Many Congratulations to all of the 2013 International Leadership Winners

"The Best of the Best" and to the Honorable Mention Honorees:

~Winners to be presented in New Orleans on August 5, 2013:

The Honorable Gerals Luz A. James, II of St. Croix, Virgin Islands

NFDMA District Governor Delva Turnbull of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

Pamela Kebine Motlhabi of Johannesburg, South Africa

Doreen Williams James of St. George, Bermuda

Fred St. Amand CEO and daughter, Sanda St. Amand, Managing Funeral Director-Pax Villa USA-Haiti

Wendell G. Dean, II of Nassau, Bahamas

Shelley Challenger of Brampton, Ontario, Canada

Keith Belgroves, CEO and daughter, Mercedes Belgroves, Asst CEO& Managing Dir., Trinidad & Tobago

District Governor, Simon Boikanyo of Lethabile, South Africa

Angela Madden Tomlinson of Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica

Taiwo A Ungunsola of Nigeria, Africa

Crisma N. Henriquez-Ramirez of the Netherlands Antilles, Curacao

The 2013 Dottie F. Hector Presidential Award of Excellence Winners are:

Nancy R. Lohman, Historic 2nd Female President of the ICCFA Organization. Founded in 1887, it is the only international trade association representing all segments of the cemetery, cremation and funeral memorialization industry. Its membership is composed of more than 7,500 cemeteries, funeral homes, crematories, memorial designers and related businesses worldwide. Nancy hails from the great state of Florida.

Deborah A. Andres, is the Vice President of the International Division of the NFDA Organization and manages international membership development, organizes international trade shows, international advertising and is a liaison for international disaster management and it's a good thing that she speaks several languages and you can't miss seeing her at any of the convention because she is the busiest lady on the floor and always the "to go person" if you need help or direction.

"Ma Donna" of the Madonna Multinational Home for Funerals is from Passaic, NJ and hails as the official first NFD&MA, Inc. Multicultural Funeral Home. Someone ask me what is her last name - and all I can say is that she's part Rock Star/ Diva/ and Business Entrepreneur doing what she loves and her own fashion and style. You won't be able to miss her because she always makes a fashion statement when she walks in a room.

Sharon L. Gee, Instructor and Wayne State University - International Awardees- Educational Institution of the Year. Sharon is the embalmer for women at the Gate to Heaven Funeral Home located adjacent to the Islamic Institute of Knowledge that is a source of pride for the local Islamic population of approximately 500,000 that includes 75,000 adherents in the Dearborn and Dearborn Heights, Michigan area.  Under the guidance of Miss Gee, in the beautifully designed prep room is the site for washing, ritual-washing, wrapping and documentation is performed in the traditional way of Islam.

The team is also headed by Sister Muna Hasan who makes sure the team performs 3 washes, and involves turning the body in a prescribed way and manner.  If you have any questions, honoree Sharon Gee will be to answer those questions in New Orleans. It sounds like a great program to be a part of.

Congratulations to all the 2013 /award Winners of the 100 BWFS Organization.

We look to seeing all nominees and winners at NFDA in October in Austin, Texas for a second reception as we salute Women in Funeral Service on J. Roberta March Cancer Awareness Day!

A Very Special Thanks – to the 2013 The 100 BWFS Award Committee!

http://www.100blackwomenoffuneralservice.com/