Not Forgotten: Tribute to Four People in My Life Who Have Been Lost to Breast Cancer



Carolyn Hodges Hickman (1966 - 1998), Howard University graduate and Nurse
     Carolyn was a beautiful young lady whom I met through one of my linesisters (a sorority sister that pledged with me). She was also a member of my church. Her faith made an indelible and unforgettable impression on my life. Carolyn was a daughter, sister, and wife.

Carolyn's life inspired me and FOR THIS CAUSE, Inc. to partner with Safeway Food Stores (Eastern Region) in 2003 to establish a free breast cancer screening program in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for young women under 40 years old who did not have adequate insurance coverage.  Through the partnership grant, over 100 women were enabled to receive a free mammogram.

Kayla Parker Tolbert

Kayla Parker (1971 - 2007), Songwriter, Producer, Singer, and Gospel Artist
Although I did not personally know Kayla Parker, she inspired me as a songwriter. "He's Concerned About You", a song written by Kayla and recorded by Cece Winans and Vanessa R. Williams, is a blessing to me every time I hear it.  She was the wife of  David E. Tolbert.

For more information on Kayla, see this link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayla_Parker

To see a clip of Kayla performing, see this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lvCIvY1kSo




Cheryl Albert Reed

Cheryl Albert Reed (1967 - 2009), Howard University graduate, Entrepreneur,  and Delta Sigma Theta Soror
     I had the pleasure of meeting Cheryl as a pledgee for Delta Sigma Theta at Howard University in 1988.  She was such a sweet person with a lively spirit and wonderful smile.  The last time I saw Cheryl was at her home in Atlanta in 2006.  Although she was in treatment for the disease, she was hosting a Baby Shower for one of my linesisters. During my visit to her home, we got to spend a little time together when she shared with me some of the creative things she was working on.  Cheryl was a daughter, soror, wife, and mother. Such a wonderful woman, Cheryl you are not forgotten. 

Cheryl was featured in a CNN story by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Triple Negative Breast Cancer.  For more information, see the link below:
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/health/2008/05/28/gupta.triple.negative.breast.cancer.cnn
  

Jacqueline P. Harrison, Washington, D.C. resident and Breast Cancer volunteer
     I met Jacqueline in 2002 during my work as the Executive Director of FOR THIS CAUSE, Inc., a non-profit organization I founded to raise awareness about the breast cancer mortality and high incidence rates among young African American women under 40 years old in Washington, D.C.  Although Jacqueline was over 40 and fighting the disease at the time, she volunteered with my young unknown organization and worked very hard to get the word out about our annual community event.  She had a wonderful spirit and an illuminating smile.  I so was touched by her generous, giving and positive spirit that the organization named an award in her honor.  Jacqueline was also a mother.

 
Dedication to Breast Cancer Survivors and the memory of those who have succumbed: 
 
"He's Concerned About You"
written by Kayla Parker and performed by CeCe Winans


Feel free to give a shout out (name) to a person who you lost to breast cancer, but you have not forgotten how they impacted your life.

[Special thanks to Renee Pinkston Arnold, Christol L. Powell and Wendy Bowser Smith for their contributions to this Tribute.]