THE MONTHLY GLEANER | MARCH 20 - APRIL 19, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE 12 OBSERVED DURING the month of March in the United States of America (USA), and on other dates elsewhere around the world, annually, since 1987, Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture and the wider society in general. In 1980, then president Jimmy Carter issued the first proclamation. Congress gave the proclamation its seal of approval a year later and six years later, Congress green-lighted a petition from the national Women’s History project for a monthlong observation and celebration. The women featured here are among those who continue to inspire our generation! A celebration of women’s contributions LORNA HAWTHORNE, co-founder of Golden Krust Caribbean Restaurants and founder of the Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation, is an influential leader and philanthropist. Over the past 28 years, she played an integral role in growing Golden Krust into a nationally recognised brand, with over 100 locations across the US and products sold in 10,000 supermarkets. As chairperson of the Lowell F. Hawthorne Foundation, Hawthorne has been a tireless advocate for underserved communities. Since its inception, the foundation has donated over $35,000, supporting educational initiatives and scholarships for students at the University of the West Indies and other community organizations. Her commitment to service extends to multiple roles, including board memberships with the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies, Westchester Community College Foundation, and a member of the Jamaican Civic & Cultural Association of Rockland. She is also a member of the Links The Incorporated - Greater Hudson Valley ( NY) Chapter. She was honoured in recognition of her efforts in education with the A Seat of Learning award. She was recently recognised by COJO (Children of Jamaica Outreach) and the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/ Northwell for her mentorship. Her leadership has earned her numerous accolades, including the Phenomenal Woman of Power Award from Metropolitan College of New York, and recognition from the Society of Foreign Consuls in NY for her community empowerment efforts. Hawthorne’s compassionate nature and motherly care extend beyond her four children, positively impacting both family and strangers. In her free time, she enjoys travelling, tennis, and contributing to charitable causes. Lorna Hawthorne, an influential leader and philanthropist PATRICIA MYERS, affectionately known as Pat, is a woman whose life’s work has transformed how people approach one of life’s most challenging moments: saying goodbye. Throughout her career, Myers has served as a licensed funeral director and the manager of McCall’s Bronxwood Funeral Home, where she has dedicated her career to guiding families with compassion and expertise. Funeral service is not just a profession for her – it’s a calling. She saw a deep need in the community: families often found themselves overwhelmed, unprepared, and uncertain when faced with the loss of a loved one. Recognising this gap, she made it her mission to educate and guide families through the process, helping them to make informed decisions long before a crisis occurs. Her commitment to service has not gone unnoticed. With numerous accolades to her name -- among them business awards, community honours, Woman of the Year, Funeral Director of the Year, and civic awards – Myers has been widely recognised for her leadership and dedication. Her office walls, adorned with these awards, serve as a testament to her impact. She views them not as symbols of personal achievement, but as reminders of the lives she has touched. In addition to her role as a funeral home manager, she is the author of two books. The first, Embracing the Teardrops: A Simple Step-byStep Guide to Planning a Funeral that is Dignified, Memorable, and Affordable, serves as a guide to help individuals understand the funeral process before they ever step into a funeral home, providing them with knowledge and peace of mind. Her second book, Embracing the Teardrops: The Ultimate Guide to Planning a Funeral, became an Amazon No. 1 bestseller, solidifying her role as a thought leader in the industry. Beyond the written word, she extends her impact through community workshops designed to educate families about what lies ahead. These workshops serve as safe spaces where attendees may ask questions, gain clarity, and leave feeling empowered to make important decisions before they are forced to do so under emotional distress. Her expertise has also led her to share her knowledge on multiple podcast platforms, where she has been featured in numerous interviews discussing the importance of preparation. Most recently, she was honoured to participate in her first international podcast interview, bringing her message of planning and empowerment to a global audience. Her work is more than a career — it is a legacy of service, knowledge, and compassion. As Women’s History Month celebrates pioneers who break barriers and uplift others, Myers stands as a beacon of wisdom and support, ensuring that families in her community are not left unprepared in life’s most challenging moments. Through her books, workshops, and unwavering commitment, she is not just guiding people through loss, but empowering them to embrace life fully and plan confidently. In a world where many avoid discussing death, Patricia Myers has boldly stepped forward, transforming fear into knowledge, confusion into clarity, and grief into a path of preparation. She is a reminder that true leadership is not just about success – it’s about service. Patricia Myers -A beacon of wisdom and support DOROTHY DOBSON has been a member of the staff at Lehman College, Bronx, since 2011, but she has been a part of the school community for much longer. Coming from Jamaica as a young woman to study fashion modelling, she first started at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology). There, she worked for esteemed designers like Bill Blass and Joseph Abboud and specialised in creating various kinds of top-quality dresses. While she was skilled in creating glamorous pieces of art with fellow artists, she found her true calling in education, where she uplifted the lives of the young people around her through knowledge. Dobson went back to college, earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, focusing on history. Even though she graduated magna cum laude, an honour given to students at the top of their class, she still looks back on that time and believes that with support, she could have done a lot better. After graduating from Lehman, she taught at several high schools. She was eventually drawn back to Lehman through a programme that allowed her to assist students in passing the City University of New York (CUNY) entrance exam. By the end of this programme, 25 out of 27 students had passed, propelling her students towards a better future. As a result of this, she was appointed as a professor in the English Department. She completed a master’s in history and taught additional classes in writing skills and college prep for the Continuing Education Department. Her drive to improve herself and her skills led the dean of the Continuing Education Department to offer her the position of associate director for the workforce programmes. She accepted the position in 2015, where she worked until she was eventually promoted to department director. As director of Workforce Education, Dobson specialises in creating customised job-training programmes that take into account the circumstances of people’s lives. She works with various job organisations to develop a curriculum that incorporates teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) and creates flexible schedules tailored around students’ busy schedules. She sees herself as a lifelong learner who believes that she can instil respect and interest in education in others. Source - Text and picture courtesy of Zaynab Kolya, NY Dorothy Dobson Director of Workforce Education, Lehman College, Bronx WE PROUDLY recognise Dr. Lesset Clarke Mardicia, a trailblazing woman who embodies excellence in every aspect of her life. She is the president of LC Innovative Marketing, Inc., Virginia. As a devoted mother and wife, she nurtures her loved ones with care and dedication. A talented writer and author with three books to her credit; The American Dream, My Miniature Pinscher Chihuahua, and Blackqueen Recipe Cookbook; she joyously weaves words into powerful stories. As a legal counsellor, she advocates for justice and equality. Her entrepreneurial spirit shines through her successful Airbnb management and ownership, as well as her savvy stocks brokerage. She credits her success to being able to adapt to new developments and trends in the marketplace. We celebrate Dr. Lesset Clarke’s remarkable achievements and honour her contributions to our community. Dr. Lesset Clarke Mardicia, a trailblazing woman HISTORY MONTH WOMEN'S
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