Special to the American Press

“Women in Education: Living Luminaries — Part II” was the theme of the tenth annual Unsung Sheroes Luncheon on Jan. 19 at the Foreman Reynaud Community Center. The event, sponsored by the Top Ladies of Distinction Inc. (TLOD), Lake Charles Chapter honored six Southwest Louisiana women for their dedicated services to children and the community through their notable careers in education.

Prayer was offered by Annie Mouton, chairman of the Status of Women Thrust and Unsung Sheroes Committee, and chapter chaplain.

Honorees included Elaine Johnson Brown, a native of Garyville, La. A graduate of Southern University/Baton Rouge, with a major in business education and a minor in Library science, Brown earned a Master’s in Education from McNeese State University and was the first African American to serve as librarian at Alfred M. Barbe High School. She taught business education at Fifth Ward High School in Garyville at Starks High School, and at Sam Houston High School. Later she was employed by the Calcasieu Parish Library Director to serve on a committee of high school librarians to share ideas and strategies to enhance high school libraries in Calcasieu. Brown retired after 33 years of service to Calcasieu Parish School system. She has served as a greeter at the information desk at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital for the past 25 years. She is an active member of the Calcasieu Parish Unit of Retired Teachers. After five years of service, she is the immediate past president of the National Association of University Women/Lake Charles Chapter. A member of Messiah Missionary Baptist Church, she and husband, Percy have one daughter, Tianay Brown Sherman; son-in-law, Kimani, and two grandchildren.

Martha Marcelle Gray is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Southern University with a major in English and Master of Education degree from LSU. Further studies were completed at McNeese State University where she received a certification in counseling and guidance; with plus 30 hours above a Master of Education Degree. She served at Washington High School, Westlake High School (one of six teachers to integrate the Calcasieu Parish School System); as counselor at Reynaud Middle School; McNeese’s “Young Scholars”; John F. Kennedy and Oak Park Elementary Schools. She retired from the Department of Education as Region V LaSIP Partnership Coordinator, along with husband, the late Louis Gray. She also served on the Board of Public Relations at MSU. At age 80, Gray retired from the Calcasieu Parish School Board, having worked for 57 years in the system. The White Castle native is a member of New Sunlight Baptist Church where she teaches Sunday School and serves in numerous other church roles. She is the mother of Donovan and the late Karle Wayne; stepmother of Anthony Roscoe; and God-sent mother of Jean, Pam, and Aree Robinson, and Jennifer Vincent; grandmother of 13; and great-grandmother of four.

Dolores Hicks, a St. Landry Parish native, graduated from McNeese State University with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree in elementary education, and administration and supervision certification in all grades, elementary through secondary. She went on to acquire a 30-plus and a reading specialist degree. She began her teaching career at Molo Middle School and Washington-Marion High School. Her first extended venture came from the Louisiana State Department of Education where she was hired as a state assessor for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. Hicks became principal of Cherry Street Elementary School (which relocated to the old Washington High School site) which was re-named Jessie D. Clifton Elementary). In addition to the previous educational roles, she also served as Administrative Director of Elementary Schools and retired after 47 years with the Calcasieu Parish School Board. Her memberships include St. Margaret Catholic Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc./Lake Charles Alumnae Chapter; and St. Peter Claver Ladies Auxiliary. A charter member of Top Ladies of Distinction Inc., the Lake Charles resident and her husband, Henry, are the parents of three children, Shannon (Stephanie) Hicks, Keisha (Reginald) Youngblood, and Derrick Hicks, and five grandchildren.

Linda LaBauve LeBert-Corbello attended schools in Welsh and McNeese State University where she acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies Education degree with a certification in Library Science; a Master’s in Educational Technology, and a Specialist in Administration and Supervision. She completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss. Her career includes librarian at Our Lady Queen of Heaven and Reynaud Middle School; principal of Immaculate Conception Cathedral School; professor at McNeese as Director of the Curriculum Materials Center and Department Head of Teacher Education. During her 15 years as Director of Jefferson Davis Parish Libraries, many library improvements were accomplished. Her citations include the Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce Employee of the Year Award, the Libraries Southwest Award; and she was named Outstanding Lifetime Member of the Women’s Commission of Southwest Louisiana. An active member of the Women’s Commission (lifetime) and Alpha Chi/Delta Kappa Gamma, LeBert- Corbello has published articles in educational journals and chapters in educational books. She and her first husband, the late Bob LeBert are parents of two sons, Robbie and Seth LeBert. She and second husband, Greg Corbello, have five grandchildren.

Lake Charles native Thail Pete received her Bachelor’s Degree from McNeese State University in Biology Education and her Master’s and Specialist degrees from McNeese in Administration

and Supervision. She attended LSU, Louisiana Tech, and the University of New Orleans where she earned her doctorate. Her career included teaching at St. Louis Catholic High School, Pearl Watson Middle School, Sam Houston High and Lake Charles Boston High. She worked as a school administrator at St. Theodore Holy Family Catholic School in Moss Bluff and as principal at Calcasieu Parish Alternative School. She was chosen Principal of the Year in 2004 for high schools in Calcasieu Parish; Lake Charles Boston’s Teacher of the Year; listed in Who’s Who Among America’s High School Teachers, named the NAACP’s Educator of the Year, and supervisor of Human Resources for High Schools until her retirement. She was invited by Oxford University to participate and present at their Round Table on Alternative Education. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc./Lake Charles Alumnae Chapter, the Women’s Commission of Southwest Louisiana, and St. Theodore Catholic Church, she and husband, Herbert, are the parents of Donnie, Kimberly, and Navar; grandparents of eight and great-grandparents of one.

Hattie Marie Ferguson White, a New Orleans native, graduated from J.S. Clark High School in Zwolle and Grambling State University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. She earned her Master’s Degree in Emotional Disturbance from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. She has devoted her life to being instrumental in the development, impairing of knowledge and encouragement of young people. She was dedicated to making certain that her lectures and messages are rooted in “what thus says the Lord.” She served with the Calcasieu Parish School Board for 33 years. White, an active member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, serves in numerous ministries. She has served with the National Association of University Women on both the national level and as a Lake Charles Branch officer. A lifetime member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., White is a former board member of the March of Dimes/Acadiana Division, the Foreman Reynaud Community Center, and serves as an officer of the Calcasieu Parish Unit of Retired Teachers and District VI secretary. She and her late husband, William Earl “Bill” White, are parents of one son, Rev. William White Jr.; and they have one granddaughter.

Entertainment was provided by Jakylyn Bowers, a LaGrange Senior High School senior, choir member, and the high school division winner of the 2019 M.L.K. Essay Contest. Bowers, who sang acapella, was recently selected among thousands of competitors nationwide to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York, his second opportunity to perform there. Bowers plans to attend college after graduation and major in vocal music education; and attributes his musical achievements to Janie B. Williams, his musical coach/school choir director. He has been reared by his grandparents, Deborah and the late Kevin W. Dobbins of Lake Charles.

Presentation of awards were made by Theresa Garrett, Roma Mitchell, Maudry Alfred, and Christine Mandubourg. The honorees received citations from US Rep. Clay Higgins; state Rep. A.B. Franklin; Luvertha August, Vice President Lake Charles City Council; Shelly Mayo, District 3, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury; and framed certificates of recognition from TLOD.

Katrina Evans, TLOD’s Social Committee Chairman, served as emcee.

Members of the Top Teens of America (TTA) served as the honorees’ escorts. Lauryn Sweet, TTA president, announced the winner of its chapter’s raffle/fundraiser as Satricia Williams-Bernsaadat of Lake Charles.

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TLOD is a community service organization working to improve the quality of life for all mankind. Through its many thrusts (programs), the organization places emphasis on making the world a better place through community beautification, service through community partnerships, improving the lives of senior citizens, service to teens through Top Teens of America, and enhancing the status of women. Bridgett Williams is TTA advisor; Gloria E. Jackson is chapter reporter, and the chapter president is Raven Williams.