WEST NEW YORK — A community gathered to honor seven "prayer warrior" women and to raise money for scholarships this morning at a brunch at the Gethsemane Baptist Church.
Beginning at 11 a.m., the Women’s Prayer Brunch at the church at 6019 Madison St. drew about 25 attendees and was followed by a service featuring scripture reading, a keynote speaker and remarks by church officials.
The brunch, which was organized by the Michele Mitchell Scholarship Fund, honored Mary Rye, Jean Washington, Paula Smith, Vanessa Cummins, Dionne Clark, Donna Butcher-Thorpe and church co-pastor Rev. Sonia Smith.
"We wanted to honor women who are doing great things," fund co-director Pennie Haywood said. "They’re praying women. If you have anything you need, you can go to them anytime. They’re caring. They inspire you to do more for yourself."
She said all of the women have contributed to their respective communities in the tri-state area.
Rev. Sonia Smith, one of the honorees, said it feels "wonderful" to be honored.
"They’re not thanking me, but they’re thanking God for the awesome work that we’ve seen done here. It’s a miracle. When we first came here, no one was even graduating…and now many of (the youth in the community) have gone to college," Smith said.
Attendees of the brunch each paid $25 for tickets, and the proceeds will go to scholarships for those in need, whether that be for college tuition or continuing education, Haywood said.
The Michele Mitchell Scholarship Fund, managed by Haywood and co-director Yvette Brown, is closely affiliated with Gethsemane Baptist Church and is in the process of becoming its own nonprofit, Haywood said.
While in existence since the 1980s, the fund was renamed in the early 1990s in honor of a West New York woman and church member who died at 19 from lupus in 1990. Her parents, Leon and Angie Mitchell, both 75, still attend the church.
They said at today’s event that the brunch and the fundraisers that the Scholarship Fund has held throughout the years are a fitting way to keep Michele’s memory alive.
"She was an exemplary student, (and) a participant of the church as a young person. She was a people person," Angie Mitchell said. "We are appreciative of the scholarship committee (for holding) such a function not just in her honor but (also) to be a blessing to other young people."
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