The 14th Annual Amazing Women event was held at the Dickey-Givens Community Center Sunday, July 16.
This was a testimonial event where three Amazing Women honorees shared stories of their life challenges and how their faith guided them as they entered a storm, were in a storm and were just getting out of a storm. The event kickedoff with the surprise announcements of Gloria Cummings-Felder as the Amazing Woman of 2023. Cummings-Felder attended O.L. Price Elementary School, Twelfth Street Middle School and Taylor High School. She is active in her church and community. She is a gentle and compassionate leader.
Cummings-Felder was the first African American female appointed to the city of Taylor Parks and Recreation Board.
She retired in 2022 after 15 years at John’s Community Hospital and 15 years at Baylor Scott & White Clinic.
Gail Warren, honoree, told about her life after the death of her husband, the late Pastor Fred B. Warren, Jr. They were the proprietors of the Southern Hospitality Restaurant in Taylor.
That’s where her storm began.
Warren was left with a household, family, business and the challenges of going from a sitting first lady in her husband’s church to an active former first lady.
In the church, she serves as a choir director and oversees the Fine Arts Ministry theater portion. Michelle Watson, honoree, spoke of her experiences as the daughter of a pastor, the wife of Pastor Dr. Anthony L. Watson, Sr. and the challenges she faced in corporate American as an African-American managing attorney and the first African American Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer at Germania Insurance Company.
Watson is active in the community as a member of the Greater Taylor Area Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Committee. And Watson taught in the Area-Wide Taylor Vacation Bible School for more than 10 years.
Tenya Williams Jones, honoree, serves on the board of directors of Chosen Few which includes Street and Prison Ministry, certified life coaching and ministering. Jones is a caregiver to people who are going through difficult times and need someone to walk with them.
Jones spoke about her family struggles, mental health and the mask people wear while going through a storm, which often leads to suffering in silence behind the mask.
Coming out of her storm, Jones recalled days when she thought she wouldn’t make it and the wise words from a Christian woman kept her going, “If you’re going to worry, don’t pray. If you’re going to pray, don’t worry.”
The Taylor area Amazing Women event was created by Dee Dee Washington 14 years ago. This year it was supported in part by the Welfare Workers Club of Taylor. The event occurs every year on the second Sunday in July.
