Copyright © 2003 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee

Mollie Tucker scholarship

Cheryl Jones, Mollie Tucker scholarship chairman, introduced to the gathering this year’s scholarship recipient, Rita Pierre of St. James, Knoxville.

Pierre is an immigrant from Liberia who came to this country in 1996 to escape the unrest caused by civil war in her home country. With the assistance of St. James’ parishioners, she was able to bring her family to the United States within three months.

In her introduction, Jones read a statement Pierre had included with her application materials: “I can assure you that your faith in me will not be in vain. My resolve in reaching my goals in becoming a registered nurse and being better able to provide for my family cannot be deterred.”

Pierre was clearly moved by the recognition and said in part, “I’m from a war-torn African country and if I stood here to tell you, you may not understand because these are things you only see on television … there is nothing I can do … to tell you how good you have been to me and my family.

“With my very, very busy schedule as a full work-time person, a mother and a student, I’m going to battle it out with God as my helper and the support from you all.”

Pierre was trained and certified in midwifery at Phebe Hospital and School of Nursing in Monrovia, Liberia. Because her training is not recognized here, she has retrained locally, and she is now a Certified Nursing Assistant. She is pursuing an associate’s degree in nursing at Pellissippi State Technical College.

ECW Honored Woman

In keeping with a 1991 resolution, a distinguished woman is to be honored from each diocese at the Triennial Meeting, “for the way she models the Christian life and walks in the way of God in church and community.” ECW diocesan President Nancy Bosson presented a framed certificate to Nancy Tanner of St. John’s Cathedral, Knoxville.

“To be honored for something you enjoy doing as I do and things that all the rest of you are doing is very nice indeed,” Tanner said, “and I do appreciate it very much.”

Bosson said Tanner’s name also will be placed in the Women in Mission and Ministry Office in the Episcopal Church Center in New York.

Related stories in this issue:

• Speaker energizes, enriches ECW's annual meeting