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Seven Admitted to Women's Hall of Fame

Aug. 12, 2007 – Seven outstanding women honored as visionary leaders and trailblazers were inducted into the Women's Hall of Fame at a Government House ceremony this weekend in Christiansted.
“There is nothing that women cannot do; and there is nothing that V.I. women cannot do,” said keynote speaker and V.I. First Lady Cecile deJongh. DeJongh said the seven honorees have the same “core values” and called for more women to exhibit the humanitarian and visionary attributes of the seven.
St. Croix Government House Grand Ballroom was elegantly bedecked in shades of lilac and white Saturday as families and friends gathered to honor the distinguished women for their contributions to the Virgin Islands. The event was the second sponsored by the Virgin Islands Commission on the Status of Women. The last induction was in 2005.
“Women have a tremendous impact on our society,” said Gov. John deJongh Jr. He noted that the commissioners of Tourism, Finance, Property and Procurement, Health, and Collective Bargaining are all women. He said he will soon name a woman as commissioner of Education.
“Like Allstate,” the governor said, referring to the well-known insurance ads, “you are in good hands with these women.”
Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis, who mentioned that he was raised by a single mother, said the honorees, who have left a “lasting legacy” are “getting their just rewards.”
A highlight of the evening was a Cariso song performed by Lyn-Maria Chang, the granddaughter of Leona Brady Watson, one of the honorees. The song was taught to her by her grandmother. Chang sang the well-known “Clear de Road” in a clear, strong voice underlined with expressive movement. She got an unexpected but wonderful reaction from Watson who, according to her husband, has been suffering from Alzheimer's disease for the past 10 years.
“It's been a dream of mine to sing in front of my grandmother,” Chang said before her performance.
The honorees are:
Edith Lewis Galiber, a retired pediatric nurse who, with her husband, Dr. Andre Galiber, raised six children, Andre Jr., Angelo, Lisa, Cecile, Dante and Marcel. Cecile is married to Gov. deJongh. Galiber is the former Public Heath Nursing director an is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, a supporter of St. Mary's School, UVI, the Juan F Luis Hospital and the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute.
Celia Torres Garcia Maldonado is the founder of St. Croix Majorettes and Marching Band. After 33 years of dedication she has taught and mentored countless young ladies and now has more than 300 under her wing. The Majorettes have performed throughout the Virgin Islands and in numerous festivities on the mainland. The group has its headquarters in Estate Peters Rest where they continue to practice for future events.
Jan Mitchell-Larsen is the co-owner of the Mitchell Larsen Studio where she creates unique works of art. Larsen majored in dimensional design at the Philadelphia College of Art (now The University of the Arts) followed by a stint as artist-in residence at the Croyden College of Art in London. In 1990 Mitchell was commissioned by the Federal Art-in-Architecture Board to sculpt the figure of Justice for the St. Croix Federal Courthouse. A photograph of the sculpture has been selected by Yale University for a book on the history of the Greek goddess Justice.
Esther Brow Moorhead (posthumously) was an entrepreneur and leader in grassroots politics. Moorhead contributed her business skills to family ventures including the Brow Soda factory, Moorhead's Grocery and Moorhead's Airport Gift Shop. She was active in the Frederiksted Donkey Democratic Club, the Donkey Democrats and was a cornerstone in the foundation of the Independent Citizens Movement. Now the ICM Party.
Athalie McFarlande Petersen (posthumously) began working at the Frederiksted library in 1942. During her 40 years in library service, McFarlande Petersen instituted many programs in the library and expanded services available to residents. In honor of her outstanding contributions the 14th Legislature renamed the Frederiksted library in her honor.
Judge Patricia D. Steele held several positions in the legal field including president of the Board of Governors of the V.I. Bar Association. She was also a member of the Governor's Task Force on Health Care Reform and the Government Employees' Services Commission. In 1994 Steel was nominated to the position of Territorial Court Associate Judge. She served as Family Court judge and currently holds membership in the National Bar Association, the American Judges Association, the National Council of State and Family Court Judges and the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Supervisory Board.
Leona Brady Watson is recognized as one of the premier preservers and revivers of the tradition of Cariso singing. In 1990 Watson was recognized by the Smithsonian Institute's Office of Folk Life Programs as a cultural tradition bearer on the Virgin Islands. She has performed at the Virgin Islands' Folk Life Exhibit in Washington, D.C. and was one of the main organizers of the First Annual V.I. Folk Life Festival on St. Croix in 1991.
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