Among 12 recipients of 2009 Women of Worth Award
Special to The American
Carol Weir and Malva Williams will be among the 2009 Women of Worth Award recipients on Thursday, October 15 when OWL recognizes the accomplishments of 12 outstanding area women at the Missouri Athletic Club.
Weir, who was nominated by Catherin Ellis, is CEO at tower Village Senior Services and developer of many senior services. Williams, who was nominated by June Hays Brown, is a school guidance counselor and developing fashion design education for middle and high school students.
Weir’s early social work career involved working with gynecologic patients and women undergoing cancer treatment. She advocated for full knowledge and consent for women patients at a time of increasing concern about the potential of unnecessary surgical treatment.
As her administrative duties increased, she directed her focus to teaching and health care ethics as adjuncts to her other responsibilities. She was the director of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital department of social work for over 11 years, and the original author and presenter of the Barnes Hospital end-of-life care support, advance directives, disability rights and ethics consultation programs.
As president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. St. Louis Alumnae Chapter, she initiated a program to send regular greetings and maintain support to elderly and inform members. Her leadership in the National Association of Social Workers, the Society of Social Work leaders in Health Care and the Delta Fortitude foundation has consistently incorporated programs, workshops and advocacy for mature women.
Of special concern to her are the economic and health disparities suffered by elderly African-American women.
For the last ten years, as CEO of Tower Village Senior Services, she has developed the adult day center and senior in-home services and transitioned the residents in the former skilled nursing facility to other facilities in a caring way.
Williams was employed by the St. Louis Public Schools as a Family and Consumer Science teacher for 10 years and a guidance counselor for 21 years. While maintaining a full-time position with SLPS, she built a successful fashion design business. In 2007 she retired, but expanded her business and her service to the community.
Her community service involvement includes BJC Hospital, Alpha Terrace Senior Apartments, Olive Branch-Homeless Pregnant Teens, University Business Women, Foster Care Coalition, New Evangelistic Center, Hampton University Alumni Association, Lane Tabernacle Church,. Central Baptist Church, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Mound City Bar Association.
She’s also a member of Iota Phi Phi Lambda Sorority, League of Women Voters, National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers, NAACP, Urban League, St. Louis Public Schools Professional Development committee and the SLPS Counselor Association.
Awards include Top Ladies of Distinction – Woman of Achievement in Fashions; National Association of Fashion Accessory Designers – for Devoted and Invaluable Services; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Woman in Achievement in Business; Phyllis Wheatley YWCA – for Devoted and Commitment to Serving Others and Fashion Design; and Annie Malone Children’s Home – for Service and Education.
At Grace Church in Maryland Heights, she is a member of the Food Network, Women Helping Women and the Usher Board.
The speaker for the 19th annual awards dinner will be Rosemary Terranova, director of Family and Children’s Services, St. Louis County Government. Christine Buck, news anchor, KPLR-CH.11, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Other Women of Worth awardees this year are Mary Bruemmer, retired dean of Women at Saint Louis University; Betty Coll, founder and president of several organizations for mentally retarded children; Eileen Edelman, president, Lasky Cleft Palette and Oral Cancer Auxiliary; Glenn Sheffield Johnson, former mayor of Webster Groves; Diane Meatheany, who manages 21 senior facilities for St. Andrews senior communities; Jane Mendelson, president of the LentzPeace Research Association; Kathleen O’Brien, founding CEO of the St. Louis Alzheimer’s Association and Cordie Reese, Saint Louis University graduate professor of Nursing and a community nurse practitioner.
OWL – The Voice of Midlife and Older Women is a national advocacy organization dedicated to achieving economic and social equity for all women through legislative action. Local projects include a divorce support group, health care, financial education and preserving Social
Security. For more information, call the OWL office 314-725-5862 or e-mail at owlstlouis@sbcglobal.net.