Women
from pat* tl
encouraged her constantly
during her 10 years as owner
of the popular downtown bou
tique, Body and Soul.
"She's always educating
me and schooling me and
making me feel good about
what I'm doing and encourag
ing me. I know I'm not alone
in that," she said of Burke.
"...I'm just really glad that
she's in our lives, because
she's made such a difference
for all of us."
Assistant City Manager
Martha Wheelock continued
the accolades in her introduc
tion of Burke, praising the
Northeast Ward representa
tive for her "tireless will and
never-ending passion" in
serving the city for over 36
years.
Burke, a founding mem
ber of the North Carolina
Black Elected Municipal
Officials and the Black
Political Awareness League
(BPAL) expressed her bewil
derment when she reached the
podium.
"I thought you all were
having my funeral a few min
utes ago. Do you all know
something I don't know?" she
quipped, adding, "...I am
appreciative. I did not know it
was going to be about me."
More than 100 women
have been honored for their
leadership in the business,
nonprofit and community sec
tors over the course of the
reception's history. Burke
told those who assembled for
the July 11 reunion that the
receptions are part of a larger
effort the city is making to
ensure that women feel hon
ored and appreciated for their
many contributions. Burke,
who initially took office in
1977, remembers a time when
that wasn't the case.
"When I first became an
elected official, it wasn't easy
in City Hall," she related. "It
was a place where they felt
that it was a man's world... if
you look at our city, with the
employees that w.e have
(now) we truly believe that
women ? the woman's role -
is so important."
The honorees of the
Outstanding Women program
reflect a rich tapestry - a larg
er community of women who
have helped to enrich the city
and the world, Burke said.
"We as women know this:
we will be with each other. It
doesn't have anything to do
with the color of our skin -
women hurt and understand
things differently (than men)
and that's the reason why we
can always come together,"
she said. "We have in our
hearts love, kindness, under
standing and togetherness."
Many of the women on
hand for the reunion at the
Anderson Conference Center
praised the Outstanding
Women Receptions for their
galvanizing qualities.
"I think it helps with con
necting, bonding with the
community," said Almeta
Poole, owner of Meta's
Restaurant and a 2005 hon
oree. "I think it's a beautiful
occasion because it gives me
the opportunity to network
with other black business
owners and honorees, and
networking is important for
businesses."
Suggs also praised the
event, which honored her
early in her career as an
entrepreneur.
"I always felt good about
this program that Mrs. Burke
has started," she said. "It
gives us a chance to meet one
another and fellowship
together and feel good about -
our accomplishments."
Elva Jones, chair of the
Computer Science
Department at Winston
Salem State University, said
she was honored to be named
among the 2006 honorees.
"It was really humbling,"
said Jones, for whom the
school's computer science
building is named. "You work
and you try to improve the
lives of others, but to have
other people recognize your
efforts makes you really
grateful and thankful."
Mosl Belton, a
Nationwide Insurance agent,
was among the inaugural
class of Outstanding Women
Leaders honorees in 2003.
"I'm happy and I'm
blessed that 10 years later,
I'm still in business and I'm
still helping people and serv
ing my community," she
declared. "The economy has
hurt all of us, but I continue
to do what I do because I love
what I do, which is basically
making sure that everyone
that I come in contact with is
properly insured."
Belton, who has worked in
the insurance industry for 27
years, said she was glad to
have the opportunity to min
gle with fellow honorees and
pay homage to one of her
most loyal customers.
"She has always support
ed me and always encouraged
me throughout the years," she
said of Burke. "I had to come
and support her."
Burke, the city's longest
serving public official, said
she is "thinking and praying"
about whether she will run for
re-election this time around.
Three challengers - Jemmise
Bowen, Brenda Diggs and
Michael Owens - have
already filed as candidates in
the Northeast Ward race.
Photos by Lay la Garms
Mayor Pro Tempore Vivian Burke presents City Council Member Wanda Merschel with a
plaque in appreciation for her service to the community.
Assistant City Manager
Martha Wheelock speaks.
Almeta Poole, a 2005 Hon
oree.
Gentlemen
Golf Classic
is July 27
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Union Baptist Church will hold its
Second Annual Gentlemen's Charity
Golf Classic on Saturday, July 27 at
The Winston Lake Golf Course. On
Friday, July 26, there will be a free
youth clinic open to boys and girls
interested in learning golf.
James Black, a Charlotte native
who played the PGA TOUR in the
1960s, will conduct the free youth
golf clinic, which is open to the pub
lic. Mr. Black
was the first
round leader in
the 1964 LA
Open.
Dubbed "the
Caddie from
Nowhere,"
Black was con
sidered a child
prodigy and
self-taught
caddy. He made
history in 1964 at the age of 21 by
being the first black golfer to shoot 67
in the first round on the first day of his
first professional golf tournament. He
had a marvelously sweet swing then
and still does today.
Black spends time teaching in
Charlotte and the DC area. He was
inducted into the National Black Golf
Hall of Fame in 1986 and has written
a book about the swing.
Registration for the 2013
Gentlemen's Golf Classic will begin
at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 27.
Lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. Tee
time is at 1 p.m. The cost is $60 per
person or $240 per team of four.
There will be prizes and awards.
Proceeds from The Gentlemen's
Charity Golf Classic will benefit The
Youth Character Football League of
Union Baptist Church. The Youth
Character Football League was initi
ated for the purpose of providing boys
and girls, ages S-14 years old, with a
positive athletic experience that
builds character and to address the
issues of gang violence and childhood
obesity.
For more information or to regis
ter. call the church office at 336-724
9305 or visit the web site at
www .unionbaptistwsnc .org. Union
Baptist Church is located at 1200 N.
Trade St. in Winston-Salem. Dr. Sir
Walter Mack Jr. is pastor and teacher.
Black
?
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? Second shift care also available
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I www. twc c.org
OUR NEW CHILDCARE CENTER
251 EAST 7TH STREET ? (HONORARY DR. TONY L. BURTON III LANE) ? WINSTON-SALEM, NC
Open August 26, 2013 ? 336-448-0341 ? MudPiesDTE@nwcdc.org
FOISYTH COUHTY
MudPies Downtown
300 North Poplor Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
336.725.4772
MudPiesDT@nwcdc.org
MudPies Coliseum
2530 Pittsburgh Avenue
Winston-Solem, N( 27105
336.602.1746
MudPiesColiseumQnwidc.org
MudPies Bolton
1210 Bolton Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27103
336.768.5444
MudPiesBolton@nwcdc.org
STOKES COUKTY
MudPies King J
621 East King Street
King, NC 27201
336.983.9698
MudPiesKing@nwcdc.org
MudPies Mocksville
622 North Main Street
Mocksville, NC 27028
336.751.5298
MudPiesMocksville@nwcdc.org
Mu Pes
DOWNTOWN EAST
NORTHWEST CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, INC
NWCQC
NWCDC is a 501 (c)3 ? nonprofit organization