Fenimore St. United Methodist Church
Women honor past presidents
Adams honors Brooklyn’s ‘heroes of the month’
Caribbean L BQ ife, March 15–21, 2019 3
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L.
Adams on Thursday, March 7 honored
Brooklyn’s latest “Heroes of the Month”
at a ceremony in the Rotunda of Brooklyn
Borough Hall.
Adams honored New York City Police
Department (NYPD) Sergeant William
Hart, who saved a teenage boy who was
about to jump off the Brooklyn side
of the Manhattan Bridge, and a group
of local businesses and service-based
organizations that provided free services
to federal workers during the 35-day
government shutdown earlier this year.
“This diverse group of public servants,
faith leaders, and small businesses
share a common commitment,” Adams
said. “Our latest ‘Heroes of the Month’
help those with nowhere else to turn,
bringing hope and opportunity to those
in need. They are the human embodiments
of a safety net that catches our
neighbors when they stumble or fall.”
Sergeant Hart, who joined the NYPD
in August of 1998, was declared January’s
“Hero of the Month.”
Adams said he volunteered for the
Emergency Service Unit (ESU), where
he served in Truck 8 in Brooklyn and
Truck 3 in the Bronx. S
Hart was promoted to the rank of
sergeant in 2016, and has since served
in the Office of the Police Commissioner,
working on quality of life issues.
Additionally, he served 21 years in
the US Army and New York National
Guard, serving tours in Afghanistan
and Iraq.
At about 5:10 pm, on Tuesday, Jan.
15, Hart was walking from Brooklyn
along the Manhattan Bridge, conducting
a quality of life inspection, when he
encountered a distraught young man
who had already climbed over the fence
and was sitting on the ledge, ready to
jump.
Sergeant Hart immediately took
action, climbing the fence and bringing
the teenager to the safety of the pedestrian
path, Adams said.
“I want to thank Sergeant Hart for
saving this young man, and I pray that
he is in a healthier place today,” Adams
said.
“Sergeant Hart’s career of sacrifice is
a reflection of the heroism he showed
on the Manhattan Bridge during that
cold January day, and our borough is
in gratitude for his continued service,”
he added.
For the month of February, Adams
presented “Heroes of the Month”
awards to Catholic Charities of Brooklyn
and Queens; the kosher soup kitch-
By Nelson A. King
Brooklyn’s Fenimore Street United
Methodist Church Women on Saturday
bestowed special honors on 10
past presidents during the group’s gala
60th anniversary luncheon at El Caribe
Country Club on Strictland Avenue in
Brooklyn.
The honorees were: Dr. Marguerite
Thompson, Mildred Hurlock, Glenner
Strachn, Esther Atherley, Dukelyn
Howe, Doreen Thomas, the Rev. Heidi
Thomas, Marlene Ferguson, and Myrtle
Peele and Avis Ellison (post humous).
The group also paid special tribute
to Thompson, Hurlock, Muriel Johnson
and Vivien C. Godfrey, publishing their
respective biography in the souvenir
journal.
“On behalf of our officers and members,
I thank you for joining us, as we
are ‘Celebrating the Past and Strengthening
the Future’”, said current president
Shanae Als, of Barbadian parentage,
echoing the anniversary theme.
“We are, indeed, excited about what
God is doing for us, and look forward
to all that He has in store, as we
look to Him for guidance and wisdom,”
added Als, who received a Congressional
Citation from Brooklyn Rep. Yvette D.
Clarke (9th CD).
“As we take this time to celebrate
our foremothers, past presidents and
progress, I ask that you take the time to
explore and remember your journey to
see just how blessed and highly favored
you are,” Als continued.
In her message, Dr. Thompson, the
founding president, said members of
Fenimore Street United Methodist
Women “promote and deliver” service
initiatives in education, health, environmental
stewardship, global poverty,
economic security, social justice,
human rights and internal leadership
for external service “through awareness,
advocacy and action.”
“Our United Methodist Women unit
prides itself in having a diverse membership,
and continues its legacy by
having a membership of great leaders
and an array of professionals,” Thompson
added.
The church’s pastor, the Rev. Dr.
Maxine Nixon, said that “for six decades,
the UMW (United Methodist Women) of
Fenimore Street UMC (United Methodist
Church) have played a major role in
fulfilling and advancing the vision and
mission of the UMC.
“Our group of women represents the
largest unit in Brooklyn, New York,
and we are proud of this distinction,”
she said.
In her message, “Who is Calling
You?” the Rev. Alisha L. Gordon, the
keynote speaker, urged patrons to
“decide which voice is calling us right
now.
“In light of 60 years of service, the
women had the right voices,” said the
Executive for Spiritual Growth, UMW.
“The past reminds us of the historical
way that God has shown itself.
“People will try to convince you,
even 60 years later,” she added. “Like
Samuel (in the Book of Samuel), we
have to learn to discern who’s calling.
“We’re talking of 60 years of service,”
Rev. Gordon continued. “We must be
able to answer the question and (discern)
what voices are calling for the
familiar path.”
The souvenir journal notes Dr.
Thompson’s dissertation, which was
“uniquely involved with the urban
archeological dig, Weeksville in Brooklyn.
“This historic site has been very
dear to her heart,” it says, adding that
Thompson also “founded and directed
the Weeksville Young Ambassadors
Exchange Program, started at the Fenimore
Street United Methodist Church.
“This group touched over 2000 students
and families around the world,”
the journal says.
Godfrey also recently celebrated her
90th birthday, with some members of
the Fenimore Street United Methodist
Women joining with family and friends
to celebrate the significant milestone,
according to the journal.
Mildred Hurlock (2nd from Left) and Dr. Marguerite Thompson( 2nd from
right) received award fl anked by president of the UMW of Fenimore Street
United Methodist Church, Shanae Als; at far left is Judith E. McRae, New
York Conference, UMW president. Photo by Nelson A. King
Honorees holding citation from Brooklyn Borough President, Eric L. Adams
include (from left to right) Masbia, Catholic Charities of Brooklyn and
Queens, Massage Outpost, and NYPD Sergeant, William Hart; Borough
President Adams holds a citation honoring Sweet Chick in their absence.
Brooklyn BP’s Offi ce / Erica Krodman
Continued on Page 10