Passing of Soror Dr. Deborah Wolfe
 

Sorors, I am sorry to report that our Past Grand Basileus Dr. Deborah Partridge Cannon Wolfe passed away this morning. Let's keep her family in our thoughts.

I am so sorry to hear about this, ladies. :(

I'm proud to say I had the honor of meeting her and being in her presence at Boule 2002, the Atlantic Regional Conference in October 2003 and Boule 2004.

She's a DYNAMIC speaker and a beautiful woman both inside and out.

My heart is sad and I will miss her dearly.

Her family will be in my prayers.

Z-Phi

I will keep her family in my thoughts and in my prayers.

She will be greatly missed.

FYI
 

Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge Wolfe

WOLFE - On Sept. 3, 2004, Dr. Deborah Cannon Partridge, of Monroe Township, formerly of Cranford, beloved mother of Rev. Doctor Henry Roy Partridge Jr., loving sister of Mary Cannon McLean, mother-in-law of Dr. Susan Partridge, grandmother of Damani James Partridge (Sunita), Mara J. Partridge and Juliana Deborah Kelley Partridge, great-grandmother of Jasmine Josephine Bose Partridge, she is also survived by a host of cousins, other relatives and friends. Services will be on Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2004, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, 100 High St., Cranford. Interment Rosedale Cemetery, Linden. Visitation at the church on Tuesday 7-9 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Rossmoor Community Church, 1 Village Mall, Monroe Township, N.J. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the National Education Foundation for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, 886 Heritage Rd., Moorestown, N.J. 08057, in care of Kathryn Malvern. Services entrusted to G.G. WOODY FUNERAL HOME, LLC, 206 E. Eighth Ave., Roselle.

Published in the Star-Ledger on 9/5/2004.

I'm so sorry to hear this.

I just read Dr. Wolfe's bio in The Divine Nine and I'm sorry I did not get to meet her: it sounds like she was an extraordinary woman.

I'm sorry for your loss.

EXTRAordinary INDEED
 

I had the honor of shooting her this past December...(I am a film maker). I spent the better part of yesterday evening watching her on tape.


Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is so honored to have called her one of our own. And know this---Dr. Wolfe was soooo proud to be a Zeta lady! She was a true torchbearer. And we, her Sorors, will never forget her untiring efforts.

You will see more about this in the coming weeks.

Did you know that...

Dr. Wolfe's first name was Olive named by her aunt and Juanita, named by her dad. She used those two names until age 5 years old when her mother announced that her name given by her mother is Deborah.

Dr. Wolfe was principal of a school when she was 19 years of age.

Dr. Wolfe's mother and father had their doctorate degrees, as does her son, grandson and I am sure, soon to be her grand-daughters and even great grand-daughter.

Dr. Wolfe received over twenty Honorary Doctorates from colleges and universities across the country.

Dr. Wolfe was an advisor to a number of US Presidents including John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson.

A high school in Macon County, Alabama bears her name.

A residential dormitory at The College of New Jersey, formerly, Trenton State College bears her name.

Dr. Wolfe was first in more than 16 different ways.

First Black Woman ordained by the American Baptist Church
First chief of professional Staff of the House of Education and Labor Committee of the US Congress during President Johnson's Administration
First Black citizen to serve on the NJ State Board of Education and the State Board of Higher Education
First faculty member at Tuskegee Institute with an earned doctorate
First Black faculty member of the Universities of Illinois and Michigan and first Black full professor at Queens College.

I'm a little late because this is the first time I've been to this forum. I'm Choo-Choo AKA, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

Dr. Deborah Wolfe is (I say is because her presence will never leave us) my mother's cousin. She was a VERY proud Soror of Zeta Phi Beta. Because I live in California, many of the times we had family visits she was outfitted in blue, as she was coming from or getting ready for a Zeta function.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, my "Aunt" Deb cherished her family. She ALWAYS sent presents and cards on birthdays and Christmas, toted small presents for family when she travelled, and made time just to sit and listen. We saw her at least twice a year, as she was always travelling to some conference or another and was never too busy to drop by or open her hotel room to us.

She and my mother were very close, and my mother attended her funeral. She said the Zetas were just wonderful. Thank you, Sistergreeks, for honoring her memory so beautifully.

My condolences to the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Incorporated and to Dr.Wolfe's family and friends.

I am sorry for your lost of a very special person.

My deepest and sincere...

Hey Sorors,

I had the esteemed pleasure of going to our NJ State Exec Board meeting at the College of NJ. There we paid tribute to Soror Wolfe in the dorm that bears her name. The VP of Student Affairs read a resolution dedicated in her name. I did not know her directly, but I did see her at the 2004 Boule' in LA. Just to let you know our great Soror has 27 honorary Doctorates.

her honorary doctorates...
 

Yes, Dr. Wolfe was quite accomplished...However, please know the Dr. in front of her name was EARNED at Columbia University...and this was something she would have wanted you to really KNOW and understand! Education was EXTREMELY important to her.