Tribute to Chiquita Greene: Educator, trailblazer, servant leader
SYLVESTER — On behalf of President Yolanda Fields, it is with deep love and heartfelt remembrance that the Albany Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. honors the life and legacy of Chiquita Michele Greene, who passed on April 6.
Chiquita was a devoted daughter of Arthur L. and Earnestine Greene of Sylvester. She was indeed a beacon of scholarship, sisterhood, and service.
A 1995 graduate of Worth County High School, Chiquita made history as the first African American member of the school's dance team. She went on to become a double alumnae and lifetime member of Albany State University's Alumni Association. She earned a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and later pursued advanced degrees in education and leadership from Wheelock College, Walden University, Georgia Southern and Northcentral University.
As a Dougherty County School System educator, Chiquita served with excellence at Martin Luther King Elementary School, Albany Early College and Westover High School. At Westover, she was named 2018–2019 Teacher of the Year and a finalist for DCSS Teacher of the Year. Over her career in Dougherty, Savannah-Chatham, and Glynn counties, she held many leadership roles: English Department chair, school improvement specialist, sixth-grade specialist, teacher support specialist, graduation coach, academic coach and instructional coach. She was also a Black History Quiz Bowl Team advisor.
During her tenure, the Albany Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta was honored as a 2021–2022 Red Ribbon Chapter. Her leadership also saw the issuance of a mayoral proclamation recognizing Albany native and Delta Sigma Theta co-founder Osceola Macarthy Adams. Additionally, the chapter experienced growth through reclamation efforts, and the petition for a historical marker in honor of Adams is currently underway. She also served as co-advisor to the collegiate chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Delta Rho, located on the campus of Albany State University.
Chiquita's service has included:
• President, Albany Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.;
• Charter member and vice president, Albany Flint River Area Section of the National Council of Negro Women;
• President, Sylvester-Worth Chapter, ASU Alumni Association;
• Board member-at-large, ASU National Alumni Association;
• Vice president, Worth County Rams Alumni Reunion Inc.;
• Co-chair of fundraising, Ma Flora's Helping Hands;
• Secretary, Marching Rams Show Band National Alumni Association;
• Worthy Matron, Pride of Sylvester No. 477, O.E.S.;
• Advisor, Royal Dolls flag line;
• Advisor, Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority;
• Advisor, Delta Rho chapter;
• Secretary, Marching Rams Show Band National Alumni Association;
• Member, Worth County NAACP.
She was also the recipient of many honors, including:
• 2021 Trellis Cuffie Volunteer Award;
• 2021 Multicultural Award, GA Council of Teachers of English;
• 2021 Distinguished Delta Award;
• Albany Herald's 40 Under 40;
• Albany State University's 50 Under 50;
• 2017 Albany State University 'A Future to Fulfill' Award;
• Leadership Academy for Women of Small-town America – Class of 2016;
• 2007 Caring Person in the Community, Brunswick;
• 2016 DCSS Leadership Academy selectee.
In honor of her enduring legacy, Westover High School Principal William Chunn posthumously awarded Greene the prestigious Patriot Award for her exemplary service and commitment to the school. Additionally, Congressman Sanford Bishop is expected to issue a formal Congressional Record — the highest recognition a member of Congress can bestow — once Congress reconvenes later this month.
Chiquita, whose personal motto was 'Give a good day on purpose,' was deeply passionate about reading, teaching flag and dance, and spending treasured moments with those she loved. She was a teacher, a leader, a mentor, and a friend, an extraordinary woman whose light will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her.
May her memory continue to inspire. May her legacy continue to lead.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Conner Prairie exhibit hopes to bring understanding, inspiration
Promised Land as Proving Ground exhibit at Conner Prairie explores the full African American story in America and Indiana. Kelly Wilkinson
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Pleased as punch': $265K Black history art installation now under construction honours early Oakville entrepreneur
The Town of Oakville has begun construction of a new permanent art installation honouring local Black history. Construction of the installation began in Burnet Park the week of July 14 and is expected to finish by the end of September. Town staff said the installation honours Oakville's Black history, community, heritage and, in particular, entrepreneur Samuel Adams, a free African American from Maryland who moved to the Oakville area around 1855. He came with his wife and young family and set up a successful blacksmith practice in Bronte. According to the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH), Adams would go on to invent equipment used to lift flat stones from the bottom of Lake Ontario so they could be used in construction. The practice would become known as 'stonehooking' and would become a significant industry in Oakville. Adams' invention of stonehooking equipment would make him a wealthy man and he would reportedly use this wealth to help African Americans fleeing slavery in America to make a life for themselves in Upper Canada. The CCAH said Adams also worked with Reverend William Butler to organize a group of devout Black settlers who, in 1891, built the Turner African Methodist Episcopal Church. The church building still stands at 37 Lakeshore Rd. W. Town staff said the art installation will incorporate stones from the foundation of the Adams family home, which stood at 104 Burnet St. until 2017, when it was demolished due to fire damage. There will also be iron benches at the site that call back to Adams' iron work. According to the Town of Oakville, $265,000 has been allocated to this project. Burnet Park remains open to the public during this construction period. 'We're pleased as punch that this is coming to fruition,' said Dionne Downer, CCAH executive director. 'I think this is a wonderful project and we're very pleased as a community by its progression.' Town staff said descendants of the Adams family have worked with the town and the CCAH to ensure the artwork would be designed by Black artists and reflect on and celebrate the contributions of the Black community to Oakville. Design work for the project was completed by a Black-owned architecture practice, the Studio of Contemporary Architecture (SOCA), a Toronto-based architecture and urban design studio. Avion Construction Group Inc., has been retained as the general contractor for construction. A statement on the SOCA website said their design for the installation, which they call a memorial to Adams, commemorates the life and legacy of a remarkable figure whose story embodies resilience, ingenuity, and community leadership. They said the salvaged foundation stones from the 19th century heritage home will anchor the site with authentic material memory. 'These stones are framed by newly constructed rammed earth walls that evoke permanence and craft,' the statement continues. 'Sculptural iron seating gestures to Adams' blacksmithing trade and longer histories of African iron work, while the open, contemplative design invites visitors to connect with a profound local history of migration, invention, and Black community-building. The project honours Adams' legacy not only as a skilled craftsman and entrepreneur, but as a builder of place — whose story continues to shape Oakville's cultural landscape.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
19-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Brant resident was one of Canada's first Black women to attend university … then she vanished
Local residents rallied to have a new Grand Erie school named after Blanche E. Williams , one of the first Black women in Canada to attend university on the same terms as white students. Now, they're searching for the rest of her story. 'She sort of completely disappeared, like her family disappears … we don't know what happened,' Angel Panag told The Spectator. Historian Sarah Clarke happened upon Williams' trail-blazing accomplishment while researching the Black community in Brantford in her spare time. 'It's not super well-known, I don't think, that there was a very early Black community in Brantford, many of whom would come up here during slavery,' she told The Spectator. Clarke was searching an African American newspaper database while she was at Western University and typed in 'Brantford.' A story popped up in the Huntsville Gazette in Alabama. 'OK, how does the U.S. have an article about this person from Brantford, Ontario, that we've never heard of?' Clarke recalled thinking. The clip, dated 1885, named Williams as the first Black woman accepted to University of Toronto with the same privileges as white students. From there, Clarke found other articles noting her accomplishment. 'There was all this coverage … And I'm like, 'how did that story not continue?'' Clarke said. The search took on a greater purpose after the Grand Erie District School Board put out a call for names for a new school in West Brant. Construction for the $34-million school is underway at Shellard Lane and Strickland Avenue in Brantford. Along with Clarke and Amanda Mersereau — fellow members of the grassroots organization Unite Against Hate — and community members, Panag brought Williams' name forward. 'I was talking to some people around Brantford who thought that the name should be reflected in the community,' Panag said. He began a community campaign to elevate Black and Brown voices in the naming process, something he felt was particularly important in West Brant — a diverse area with many newcomers. Panag knows firsthand the power an inspirational name can have for kids — especially if they're the first generation of their family attending post-secondary school. He completed law school in 2023 and is working toward his masters of law. 'I remember living in Brantford, I used to hear about a young guy who became a lawyer and was a hip-hop artist and went to North Park (Collegiate and Vocational School), where I went too, and it just made it sound like that was possible,' he said, referencing Salman Rana, who is also known as YLook. The group was successful in its efforts. 'With education as the path to transformation, Blanche Williams interrupted racial barriers and showed us what's possible,' GEDSB superintendent of education Liana Thompson said in a news release announcing the name. 'Naming our school after her is a celebration not only of her groundbreaking achievements, but her story inspires all of us to be courageous, strong and to persevere to achieve our dreams,' it said. The $34-million school is expected to open September 2026 at Shellard Lane and Strickland Avenue. The project is a partnership with the City of Brantford and will include a library and recreation centre. A University of Toronto document shows Blanche E. Williams enrolled in the Faculty of Arts. A local group hopes someone might know what happened to her afterward. Census records indicated Williams' family came to Brantford from the United States after the Civil War, around 1867. 'I imagine at that time, they probably were living in the northern states because slavery had ended, but there was still a lot of (racism). So I think maybe they came up for more opportunities,' Clarke said. They found baptism records for Williams and her mother, Josephine, at First Baptist Church in Brantford around 1870. They learned her father, Charles, transferred his barber position from the Kerby House Hotel in Brantford to the affiliated Palmer House Hotel in Toronto the year Williams started at U of T. But from there, they lost track of the family. 'From what we can tell, she did not finish her studies at U of T,' Clarke said. 'Maybe she got married and was studying under a married name,' but her folks seemed to disappear from local records too, Clarke said. They pursued a number of potential theories of where Williams ended up. The name turned up on a land record in Michigan. A hairdresser advertisement in Vaughan or Markham. 'One of them is a church and jazz singer in Philadelphia,' Panag said. An obituary for a fellow who was 'beloved by his sister Blanche Williams.' But in any of the cases 'it's hard to know if that's the same person,' he said. 'The interesting thing, believe it or not, is that there are many Charles, Josephine and Blanche (Williams) families,' Clarke said. However, Blanche's middle initial seems to be a distinctive feature. 'We're hoping that when people read this article, they might know something' and reach out, Mersereau said. Anyone who has information about Blanche E. Williams or her family can email uniteagainsthatebtfd@ . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
