Hello All: By now, I'm sure most of you know that our dear sister, Soror, friend, Barbara Daniel Cox has made her transition to the realm of Ancestor/Angel on Sunday, April 24, 2016. It happened quite suddenly, so needless to say none of us was prepared for the sad news - especially yours truly. I admit that I did not receive her passing in dignified Delta fashion. I was blindsided, when the announcement was made at an event being held in honor of the memory of another great Ancestor/Angel and historical figure - Dr. Edward Robinson.
BARBARA DANIEL COX - ANCESTOR/ANGEL
When the announcement was made to the audience you could hear the collective sigh of shock and sadness. We were all stunned at this sudden departure, without giving us a chance to say good bye or share a hug. But then, that was Barbara - she did thing on her own terms, her own time, and in her own style. Thus, the shock has taken some time to wear off for me, and to deal with the reality that our sister is now operating on another plane of action.
Unlike many of you, I only had the pleasure of knowing Barbara for a brief time - two years - but what an experience that was. She was her own personal whirlwind. She was a walking, talking, real live resource base for practically everything. How do you replace a dynamic woman like Barbara Daniel Cox. While she never boasted of her accomplishments, her work spoke for itself. And the results were far reaching and long lasting. Barbara believed in people, and loved working with them and in behalf of those who could not adequately speak for themselves, or effectively negotiate life in a way that was successful and meaningful. No wonder so many people and organizations constantly and continuously called upon her for help, guidance and support. Getting it done was what she did. No excuses, no ifs, ands, or buts - just access the situation, roll up her sleeves and go to work to resolve the challenge. I say challenge, because Barbara Daniel Cox never had "problems." There was nothing that could not be resolved or rectified - regardless of how long it took, or how much energy and brain power needed to be exerted. Prior to m becoming a member of the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Barbara and I ran in concentric circles - we knew many of the same people - including Karen Warrington, who whom she formed the Sister Circle Rites of Passage Program for Girls, in 2014. Just one of the many programs that Philadelphians have had the privilege of benefitting from. Barbara was also the former executive director of the City of Philadelphia Women's Commission, under former Mayor Wilson Goode. She believed that it was "time to embrace the younger generation of women and help them on their journey. For too long we have been on the sidelines as our families splinter. Our children are suffering and our girls are increasingly at risk."
Barbara served as the convener of the Festival Planners Group - which consisted of African American festival planners who produced a yearly calendar of events. She was an Advisory Board Member for the Art Sanctuary; Other affiliations include the Multicultural Affairs Congress of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Avenue of the Arts Advisory Council, and the Uptown Cultural District Group.
Barbara Daniel Cox
Receiving Jazz Award - (Photo- Philadelphia Tribune) Barbara was also the CEO and President of the African Heritage Center, the head of BDC and Associates. She was the principal of Productions BDC, an event management and business service company in conjunction with the Dell East Venue. Her 25+ years in education, development, planning, fundraising, event management, and human service administration means that she will be greatly missed, hard to replace and difficult to emulate.
Barbara was a very active and dedicated member of the Philly Alumnae of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, which is where I really got to know her. It was there that we realized that we had been involved in common interests, including the annual Odunde Festival, which celebrated it's 40th Anniversary in 2015, as well as African art and cultural events. Her love of music and art and support of those disciplines often found us at the same events, and culminated in our agreeing to keep each other informed about upcoming programs that we might be interested in.
To me, Barbara was like a jewel that kept shining brighter and brighter. Even though she had suffered a recent tragedy due t a fire that devastated her home, nearly destroying everything, she kept on, undaunted, shining ever brighter - always there to help others in their efforts; never wanting to let anybody down.
One of my fondest memories of Barbara was in June 2015 after the Odunde Awards Luncheon, she offered me a ride home. The event took place in West Philadelphia at the original studio of American Bandstand which had now been converted to a non-profit business incubator school. What would have normally took about 25 minutes stretched out to a two-hour conversation, where we compared notes on writing, experiences, friends and a whole host of things. It turned out that Barbara had graduated from Cheyney State College, while I had graduated from Lincoln University. We found ourselves talking about how to make sure that Pennsylvania honored the two first Black schools/Universities in the US. She must have driven up and down every side street in Philly while we were talking - trying to avoid traffic - because we hit side streets and neighborhoods that were kind of off the beaten track. It was fun though, and we got a big laugh when we realized that we had left at 2:00 and it was now 4:15!! WE acknowledged that we both loved hats, and had a rather healthy collection of them in all colors and shapes. We both loved to write, but she had done a much better job of making a successful career of hers. The conversation culminated in an "aha moment," when she realized that my best friend Annie Gee and she were also friends, and she had heard my name mentioned on several occasions as "Gloria in New York." That elicited more laughter and another 40 minutes of conversation and sharing experiences. The best time ever!
Barbara was active until the very end of her life on this plane of existence - God the Living Spirit Almighty probably had to insist that she take a break, and called her to come, rest, relax, and join the privileged ranks of Ancestor/Angels.like Dr. Dorothy I. Height, Shirley Chisholm, and other dynamic Deltas in whose footsteps she most certainly walked during her time here on earth.
She's left us some powerful examples and some great foot steps to follow as well. We will miss her and revere her memory. Peace Be Unto Her.
Homegoing Servics for Barbara Daniel Cox will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, May 13, 2016 at First District Plaza, 3801 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA.
Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is poised to make history on March 28th, as they prepare to erect a monumental headstone at the Eden Cemetery, at the grave of one of their original founders, Mrs. Pauline Richardson Oberdorfer Minor, who was an educator and musician in Philly.
The formal Last Rites, called the Omega-Omega ceremony, will take at the First
African Baptist Church, 901 Clifton Avenue (Darby Township) at
10:00AM; followed by the official unveiling of the monument at the Historic Eden
Cemetery, 1434 Springfield Road in Collingdale at 11:30. This historic event is open to the public, and all are
invited to attend. *There will be a ceremonial luncheon which follows at the Oaks
Ballroom at 511 W. Oak Lane in Glenolden.
Pauline Oberdorfer Minor is Delta Sigma Theta royalty! She was one
of the original founders, so the upcoming event and ritual are even more historically significant,
because it will be the first time any of the current members will have
the opportunity and privilege to perform last rites services for a founding member. The "Omega-Omega" is the last rite accorded all members of Black Greek Letter Organizations upon their transition; but the event for Pauline Oberdorfer Minor is so momentous, it will be
presided over by Dr.Thelma T. Daley, Delta's 16th National and National Co-Chair Rituals and Ceremonies, according to Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter President Maxine C. Harvey. Additional information can be had by calling or texting 215-791-2863.
Historically speaking, on January 13, 1913 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was born. However, it took the hard work, dedication, insight, creativity, love and courage of 22 wonderful college women, of whom Pauline Oberdorfer Minor was an integral part, to bring it to fruition. Delta triumphantly celebrated its Centennial on January 13, 2013. 100 years of service to the nation that started with 22 college women who wanted to dedicate their lives and efforts to making a difference in the world.
Needless to say, the excitement and buzz among the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter sorority members is one of high energy as they set forth their plans to commemorate this wonderful Philadelphia woman, who, along with 21 other young women at Howard University, established Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. as a social service Black Greek organization dedicated to the upliftment and education of Black people. There is a feeling of gratitude as they speak of what it took to bring this about at a time when none of the technology we enjoy today was even thought of.
As a young girl Ms. Minor was sent from Charlottesville, VA to live with relatives in Philadelphia. She had attended Girls High School which was then located in South Philadelphia. She was only one of four African Americans in Girls High, but she excelled in all her classes. Owing to her fine mind and academic standing, she received a church scholarship to attend Howard University in Washington DC.
It was stated by one of the researchers on the committee that Howard University co-eds for the most part came from relatively well-to-do families, unlike Pauline; but she was so well bred and refined that she held her own among them. At the time she helped establish Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she was relatively quiet, but she had a great deal of knowledge and dedication. As a result she served as the Sorority's first national treasurer.
The first activity of Delta Sigma Theta's as a sorority was to march along with Susan B. Anthony and the Suffragettes in the march for equal rights for women and the right to vote. Along side her was the great journalist and activist Ida B. Wells Barnett. From the outset, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority made it known that it was taking an active role in being catalysts for change.
After gradating from Howard as the Valedictorian of her class at Teachers' College, she taught for a period of time in South Carolina and Alabama, but eventually returned to Philadelphia to continue her teaching career.
Her talents were widely known and respected as a musician, a vocalist and a composer, having written some 40 songs in a book on hymns entitled Soul Echoes, which included such hymnals as "Get Off the Judgment Seat" and "The Lord is my Refuge."
Born in 1885, Ms. Minor passed in 1963 at the age of 79. It was learned that she had become somewhat of a recluse in her later years, and had lost communication with her Sorors. Sadly, because she had no next of kin, she had been buried in a pauper's grave at Eden Cemetery along with three other individuals. The sorority, unfortunately, had not been notified of her demise, or the fact that she had apparently fallen on difficult times; and have only recently come to the realization of the horrific circumstances that had befallen their beloved founder.
After doing some intensive research to be sure they had the most accurate, up to date information, a committee formed of chapter Sorors began intensive research to obtain as much information about her life as possible and determined that they would pay for a proper monument to mark her grave and perform the last rites ceremony in her honor. While it is the custom to perform last rites for all members, this upcoming even is even more important because of the personage for whom it is being given. .
Eden Cemetery is itself a place of historical significance for African Americans, having been founded specifically for burying African Americans, opened in August 1902 after five Philadelphia business owners pooled their resources to purchase 53 acres of land in the Delaware Valley. To date there are some 90,000 African Americans, from the great to the ordinary citizen, interred there. Most have monuments and headstones erected by their families, friends and associates.
Ms. Oberdorfer Minor's unfortunately was not one of those, and the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter Sorors developed the project to honor this great woman nearly a year ago. The monument, which stands nearly five feet tall, is custom designed with a likeness of Ms. Minor etched in the stone. It will bear her name as well as the names of the other individuals with whom she is buried.
The dignity, affection, awe and inspiration surrounding this most sacred trust on the part of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. members, can only paralleled by the rituals for fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The look of pride and joy on the face of the committee members as they culminate the plans for this momentous occasion is inspiring. One senses the depth of honor such an event means to each and every participant on the committee, as well as the sorority across the nation.
And, while this is truly an historical moment - one which must be chronicled for generations to come, it's not just for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority alone. This bears significance for Black people in general, and Philadelphians in particular. There are more Black historically significant residents per square mile in Philadelphia than there is in the entire US. It's amazing how close in proximity we all live, but don't realize the impact we have on daily lives of so many people for years to come.
It is so essential to honor those who have come before us - just as it is important to honor our contemporaries - because in so many ways they've made it their business to put us first in their lives. They've dedicated and devoted their energies, wisdom, knowledge, creativity to us as a people - many times not really knowing what the outcome of those efforts would be, but nevertheless willing to take the time and effort to take up the challenge. As part of the human continuum, we each stand on the shoulders of someone who came before us to lift us higher.
For that reason and so many more, the commemoration of Pauline Richardson Oberdorfer, Minor on Saturday, March 28, 2015, will serve to lift us even higher. It is anticipated that members of Delta Sigma Theta from surrounding chapters, as well as New York City, New Jersey, Baltimore, Washington DC, Delaware, Chester, and beyond will be present for this auspicious occasion as Delta Sigma Theta Inc. Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter honors its Ancestor/Angel Pauline Oberdorfer Minor.
