Carrying out its mission to lead, advocate for and empower women of African descent, their families and communities is a task that members of the National Council of Negro Women Gulfport Section do not take light-heartedly.
     Their dedication to the cause can be seen year-round across the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Whether the ladies of this section are hosting community health fairs, feeding the homeless, supporting STEM programs for Coast youth or organizing and supporting popular festivals, they never miss an opportunity to share the organization’s legacy and history with others.
     “We want people to know who we are and what we do,” said Victoria Thornton Sharpe, president of the council’s Gulfport section since September 2014. “Our mission is still rich and important, even today, as we advocate and empower women. We believe everyone deserves equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal treatment.”
     Sharpe likes to refer to NCNW just as its founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, did; as unique “an organization of organizations.” “It is a unique because there is a place for all regardless of your socio-economic background,” Sharpe added.
     Gulfport resident Janice Merrell knows firsthand about the culture of equality upon which the organization was built. A 70-year-old chaplain with the local section of the National Council of Negro Women, Merrell has a special connection to NCNW as the organization was instrumental in helping her parents gain ownership of their first home.
     The opportunity came through NCNW’s goal to secure decent housing for low-income families living in Gulfport in the 1960s. That effort was moved forward by the iconic Dr. Dorothy I. Height, a civil rights activist, who served as the organization’s national president for 40 years, from 1957-1997. In 1965, Height organized a campaign with Mississippi women pressing for significant housing improvements. And in 1968, families, like Merrell’s, moved into the Turnkey III development, where a community in north Gulfport remains named Forest Heights in her honor.
     Merrell said, “My parents, L.Z. & Charlene Weary, moved to Gulfport form Marion County in the early 60’s due to my father seeking suitable employment. My parents who had never been homeowners qualified and were so excited, to say the least, to participate in the project. “Along with my disabled sister, they were able to move into their home in 1969. Although my mom passed in 1981, Dad was overjoyed to pay off and gain clear title to his home before he died in 1990.  The home is maintained to this day.”
     Merrell’s first real knowledge of NCNW came during a visit to the Turnkey/Forest Heights community in the late 60’s, early 70’s where she also had the opportunity to meet Dr. Height. “The dream and work of Dr. Height to advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities continues to live in and inspire my life and is also the reason for my passion to remain faithful and serve in NCNW,” Merrell said. “…Encouraging and helping others is the very foundation of National Council of Negro Women, and I am so honored to be able to still serve and pass the love of the vision on.”
     Merrell is a “Life Member” of NCNW and has fond memories of the last 47 years with the organization. In 1973, while serving as secretary for the Forest Heights Homeowners Association, Merrell, and a group of leaders from the community were provided sponsorship by Dr. Height to travel to Washington, D.C., to witness and participate in the unveiling and erecting of the statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, a distinguished educator and government consultant who founded NCNW in 1935.
     “As a young wife and parent just 23 years old, and never an opportunity to travel outside of the State of Mississippi, this opportunity was life changing to say the least,” Merrell said. “In addition to witnessing firsthand this momentous event, to my amazement, Dr. Height also arranged for all the ladies in our group to have “Tea Time” in the White House with the first Lady Pat Nixon. To this day, this remains one of the encouraging highlights in my life, and one that I have shared over and over with my daughters and granddaughters.”
     Today, the national organization of NCNW enlightens, inspires, and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men.
     The Gulfport Section National Council of Negro Women was organized in 1964 by its first president Aurabelle Caggin. During that time, other sections were being established in Harrison County as well.
But, as Sharpe says, “the Gulfport Section has withstood the test of time for over 50 plus years.”

2021 Officers, Gulfport Section NCNW

     Sharpe began her journey with NCNW when her mother-in-law, Mary Sue Sharpe, introduced her to the organization 36 years ago when membership dues were only $5.
     The 67-year-old Gulfport native was elected president of the council’s Gulfport section nearly seven years ago. After retiring from the workforce in 2006, Sharpe became a part-time secretary in 2007 at Morning Star Baptist Church, where she is a longtime member.
     Her faith runs deep and shapes her life. “My trust in God has carried me through life’s challenges where I am able to witness to others of God’s goodness. My love for humanity has afforded me the opportunity to serve others. I believe through God’s grace and mercy; He has granted me favor by blessing me abundantly as He continues to increase my territory.’’
     Despite a busy life serving with the National Council of Negro Women that she first joined in 1985, Sharpe always manages some leisure time, but family is always high on her agenda.
     The Gulfport Section was issued a National Charter in August 1976.
     Today, the organization is closely linked to social activism, education, financial literacy, civic engagement and promoting good health for women.
     Sharpe has the heart of a servant that shines through teamwork among NCNW council members. They get the word out on their Facebook page as they strengthen families. In 2019, the group organized their first Harambee Festival on the Gulf Coast. The word in Swahili means “all pull together.’’ Proceeds from the event support the organization’s mission and helps with incentives or scholarships for deserving youth.
     In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the festival, and officials may look at a 2021 celebration via Zoom or social media as coronavirus deaths keep soaring across the USA.
     Whatever the format, Sharpe said the group will continue to strive for positive change in their local communities, and beyond.
     In the midst of the global health emergency, the women reached out to ensure that Gulf Coast families stayed safe. Council members worked tirelessly to cut, sew, and produce 600 protective masks for a local hospital. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, more than 508,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, including over 6,613 deaths in Mississippi as of February 25.
     The work of the National Council of Negro Women to address needs of African Americans pushes through. And despite pandemic woes, members of NCNW Gulfport carried on. They blessed South Mississippi families with Thanksgiving food baskets, volunteered with churches in community food drops, took part in a walk contributing to Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and boosted voter registration drives prior to the November 3elections. Members donated gift cards to needy families through the Angel Tree for Christmas and participated in Coats for Kids in Soria City Community. They attended the 59th Virtual NCNW National Convention, and in December, celebrated its first virtual Founder’s Day Program, dubbed “Striving for Excellence.”
     The work of the organization’s Gulfport section was recently recognized by the council’s National Sisters Magazine. Their list of good deeds is extensive.
     As the new year begins, Sharpe says one of the Sections challenges will be to recruit young people. Most of their members are 60 to 80 plus years old, and their focus will be to promote intergenerational communication. She said, “We must continue to find innovative ways to bridging the generational gap so our young people will be that beacon of light in the community as they continue to carry out the organizations mission.” Sharpe stated, “The world around us really belongs to youth, for youth will take over its future management,” as noted in an excerpt from the Last Will and Testament of NCNW founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
     For 2021, according to the section’s vice president Patricia Rayford, the group also has plans to broaden its civic engagement and advocate for sound public policy. It will conduct seminars to focus on women’s personal and mental healthcare, to help women with stress caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, and to promote financial literacy among women during these uncertain times.
     “When one woman succeeds, it creates a stepping-stone for the success of all women,” Rayford said.
In February, as America spotlights Black History Month, NCNW Gulfport was one of the sponsors of a Black History Challenge and the People’s Town Hall: Take the Shot, Score a Win Against COVID. The event provided facts and information about various topics related to COVID-19 and its current vaccines.
     The Health Equity focus issues now before NCNW are mental health, COVID, breast cancer, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and affordable healthcare. Sharpe said, “There is still work to do.”
     For more information about the National Council for Negro Women, visit https://ncnw.org. The group’s Gulfport section can be found on Facebook at Gulfport Section National Council of Negro Women.

Andy Kanengiser

Mississippi College’s university news coordinator, Andy Kanengiser, spent three decades as a newspaper reporter. For much of his career, the New Jersey native worked at “The Clarion-Ledger.” Andy also serves as the advisor to the “Mississippi Collegian,” MC’s student newspaper. Pearl residents, he and his wife, Sunuia, stay busy with their five adult children and 10 grandkids! An avid table tennis player, Andy captured gold and silver medals at the Mississippi Senior Olympics, (and State Games). He’s in his 13th season sponsoring the MC team, national collegiate champs in 2015 and No. 2 in 2019.