developmentnews Third Annual Ladies Luncheon Helps Raise Funds for Future Health Professionals By Vickie G. Hampton
(Left to right) Attending the Ladies Luncheon are Marianne Clarke, Sylvia Wright, (behind) Pearl Hollis, Cynthia Moreland, Aissa Holliday, Cheryl Franklin, Marsha Edwards, Dana Chambliss, Leah Creque-Harris, Lynda Woodruff, Halimena Creque and Irene Creque Williams.
or the past three years, Dr. Cheryl G. Franklin, the College’s first lady, has connected successful Morehouse Men with promising men of Morehouse who look to follow in their footsteps. Her Ladies Luncheon, held annually during the Founder’s Day observance, pays homage to alumni who have made major contributions to the health professions. At the same time, it encourages Morehouse juniors and seniors seeking their own careers in medicine. Dozens of influential women—many of whom are engaged in the health professions—converge to celebrate Morehouse’s legacy of leadership in the field and to ensure its continuation by raising money for the Dr. Cheryl G. Franklin Health Professions Scholarship Fund. By Franklin’s account, there is a “sisterly spirit” that is evident throughout the affair. “We celebrate by inviting families into
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partnership with us to highlight the accomplishments of their loved one by establishing named scholarships and—in at least one case, and I’m sure more will follow—having families pursue an endowment,” she said. “It is a way for families to help cement the legacy of that person to Morehouse.” The fund, which was established in February 2008 as a result of money raised by a group of friends of the first lady and presented at the first Ladies Luncheon, has a lasting impact on the education of future health professionals during a critical point in their studies. The scholarships offer students an avenue to complete their Morehouse degrees without distraction, as well as reward their high academic standing and recognize their strong potential for significant contribution to healthcare. This year, the luncheon honored four alumni who made outstanding contributions in the health professions. Perry A. Henderson ’54, an expert in
obstetrics and gynecology in Cleveland, Ohio, was honored with a named legacy scholarship. C. Robert Chambliss III ’82, who practiced pediatric intensive care medicine, and brothers Darwin D. Creque ’36, an executive health administrator for the Department of Health in his hometown of St. Thomas (V.I.), and Lauritz C. Creque ’48, a well-respected surgeon and chief of staff at Columbia University Medical Center, Winston-Salem, N.C., were honored with named memorial scholarships. Donna M. Christensen, delegate to Congress from the U.S. Virgin Islands who is a medical doctor and a public health professional, stated in a letter that she is well aware of the significant contributions that the Creque brothers made to medicine in the territory and in the nation. “I particularly note Darwin Creque’s contributions to the Virgin Islands as a literary scholar, historian, co-founder of the modern St. Croix Avis, an economist, businessman, a health administrator and a commissioner of housing. The contributions of his brother, Dr. Lauritz Creque, are equally as impressive as a musician, linguist, school principal, surgeon, professor of medicine and health administrator,” Christensen stated. Franklin said both the luncheon and the fund are a celebration of Morehouse alumni who have had exceptional careers in the health professions. Families help with fundraising and bring to the table other organizations their loved ones were affiliated with, including their medical school alma maters. A letter from the Morehouse School of Medicine exalted the contributions of Chambliss. “We are particularly proud of (Dr. Chambliss’) vision and commitment to