TO OUR LEADER
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Dr. Sonja Stone was loved and respected. Here are
letters from a few of the organizations she touched.
To Be Prepared And
Ready For Battie
By Arnk Epps
BLACK. STRONG.
WOMAN. “Ain’t gonna let no
body tum me around, keep on
walking, keep on talking, march
ing up to freedom lane.”
This freedom song reflects the
attitude and stamina of a warrior—
Dr. Sonja Stone. I can see her
graciously walking in the class
room as we, her students, prepare
to be taught and ministered to
through the knowledge of this Af
rican American nurturer. “Good
afternoon”, she would say as she
captivated the attention of her stu
dents.” Her smile would radiate
the room, her concern would give
you joy and the knowledge she
would share transcended the mind
and took its rightful place in the
heart A heart that geared you to be
an activist in “the struggle.”
Dr. Stone taught me not only
how to be an activist but an in
formed activist Infwmed activ
ists have “backbone” and they
don’t slouch for anyone, because
they are prepared and ready for the
challenge.
Our friendship was built upon
our concern for the conmiunity. A
community that is built on love
and concCTn. A love that Dr. Stone
shared with me early in the early
morning, the mid-afternoon and
late in the midnight hour. Some
times I didn’t know which way to
tum and I would wonder how she
could be so strong. She woidd
reply calmly “His eye is on the
spairow and I know He watches
me.”
The Sonja Stone
Experience
By Edith M. Wiggins
We in the division of Student
Affairs are deeply saddened by the
sudden death of Dr. Sonja Stwie.
We will remember her as a promi
nent member of the faculty who
continuously demonstrated her
devotion to students by her service
on numerous boards and commit
tees within the Divisiwi. She served
with influence many terms on the
Campus Y Advisory Board. She
was a current member of our lead
ership Development Advisory
Committee and was a founding
member of the Black Cultural Cen
ter Planning Committee and Ad
visor Board. Seldom did she de
cline an invitation to speak, lead a
workshop or seminar, participate
on a panel opportunity for her to
teach African-American history,
African American culture, and re
late the realities of the African
Amoican experiences. ViceChan-
cellor Boulton has urged student
and non-student groups within the
Division of S tudent Affairs to dedi
cate the work of their organiza
tions and groups this year to Dr.
Stone by striving for unity of mind,
spirit and cause.
I will cherish my memwies of
Sonja because of the impact she
had on my life, personally and
professionally. Many of us have
spent time during the past two
weeks sharing the “Sonja Stone
experience”. As I think of my own
experiences and listen to others,
its clear that even though these
experiences differ greatly, as Afri
can-American we walk with more
pride, dignity and grace because
of her. Of equal impalance are the
many ways she urged us to claim
our place at the University North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and be
yond. 1 know I am a stronger per
son and the campus is a better
place because she lived.
The Year Of Sonja Stone
By Heather Lynch
It is with sadness and a deep
sense of loss that 1 sit down to
reflect on the life of Dr. Sonja
Hanes Stone. She was a truly
extraordinary individual who in
spired with her vibrancy and con
viction, who challenged with her
intellect, and who touched with
her warmth. Dr. Stone was an
African-American woman of grace
and beauty whose powerful pres
ence never went unnoticed when
she entered a room.
Dr. Stone’s commitment to the
Campus Y was long-standing. She
served in both offlcial and unoffl-
cial capacities at the Y during her
many years at UNC. Her support
and contributions are immeasur
able and will be greatly missed.
Zenobia Hatcher-Wilson, Di
rector of the Campus Y, sent the
following resolution to the family
of Dr. Stone upon hearing of her
death:
It is an impossible task to detail
the immense effect that Dr. Stone
had on the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill commu
nity during the past seventeen
years; furthermore, it is very dif
ficult to describe the impact that
she had on just one department/
organization on the campus. Nev
ertheless, the students. Advisory
Board and staff of the Campus Y
would like to use this opportunity
to let you know what a difference
she made for us.
WHEREAS, Dr. Sonja H.
S tone was a valuable asset through
her teaching, writing and service
to the University community for
seventeen years, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stone was an
advocate for social justice and
improved race relations, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stone served
as a member of the Campus Y
Advisory Board during 1975-1978
and 1989- present, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stone regu
larly accepted an annual invitation
to participate in the Campus Y’s
Freshman Camp, served as an in
formal advisor to the Campus Y’s
Students for the Advancement of
Race Relations Committee, and
was unusually accessible to nu
merous requests to guest lecture in
forums, discussions, and other
educational programs sponsored
by Campus Y committees, and
WHEREAS, Dr. Stone proved
to be a trusted and committed friend
to the staff and students of the
Campus Y.
BE IT RESOLVED that Dr.
Sonja H. Stone’s dedication to
humanity will serve as a vision for
our continued woA at the Campus
Y. The struggle continues...
The Campus Y dedicates this
year to Dr. Sonja Haynes Stone in
celebration of her life and work,
her commitment to humanity, and
ha- years at the Y. We say good
bye to a trusted friend and mento'
who will be sorely missed, but
whose memory and spirit remain
ever presen.t
Memorable Leadership
NC Fellows/Leadership
Development Office
“In the most memorable con
versations the rational, verbal, con
scious elements of the exchange
are supplemented by commu
nication at another level -
nonrational, nonverbal and un
conscious. Words and sentences,
tone of voice, body language, fa
cial expression, timing, unfinished
sentences, silences - all contribute
to a multilevel dialogue. And so it
is in the continuing conversation
between leaders and followers.”
John W. Gardner, On Leader
ship
Dr. Sonja Stone was a leader, a
leader who loved to have memo
rable conversations with others.
She wasa woman ofgreatstrength,
whose dialogue, communication
and presence is an inspiration to
many. Dr. Stone is a tremendous
example of a servant leader, as
indicated by the extensive list
of her involvement within the
University and surrounding
communities.
While a leader herself. Dr.
Stone had been very dedicated
to the development of leader
ship potential within all stu
dents on this campus. Dr. Stone
served on the Leadership Devel
opment Committee for the Office
of Leadership Development from
1990 until the lime of her death,
her contributions to the com
mittee were many, most nota
bly the broad wealth of knowl
edge she brought to meetings.
She was an advocate for our
development, her reinforcing
and complementary nature al
lowed for tremendous creativ
ity and growth. Dr. Stone was
always willing to assist, in any
way possible, n addition to her
contributions to the commit
tee, Dr. Stone served as a pre
senter and guest speaker at several
of our leadership programs
throughout the years.
The most memorable conver
sations with Dr. Stone include her
smile, a twinkle in her eye and
encouragement that all is possible.
It is difficult to be articulate in
ones expression of sorrows
about a woman who was so
articulate. This is only a part
of the legacy which this leader
leaves behind.
Black Ink August 26,1991