2024 UNCF Women of Faith for Education Afternoon Tea – Philadelphia

McCrary-Salahuddin has served as past legal counsel and business adviser to individuals and organizations in the entertainment industry including late artist Gerald Levert, Rapper-producer Jazzy Jeff, gospel greats The Dixie Hummingbirds, and radio personality Gary Shepherd, the International Association of African American Music (IAAAM), Gamble and Huff Music and Teddy Pendergrass.  She currently represents Gary Shepherd’s media company 3rd Floor Media and the Estate of Teddy Pendergrass.

McCrary-Salahuddin is also the co-founder of the d’Zert Club and its African Genesis Educational Program, a 27-month educational and cultural program for youth between the ages of 7 and 14 focused on developing an understanding and awareness of the African experience in America. Beginning in 1998, the African Genesis Educational Program, which once had chapters in 12 cities across the country, took over 2000 youth and adults to Senegal, The Gambia and Ghana, West Africa and to Egypt and Morocco, North Africa, Brazil and Cuba. The programs final trips were to Ghana for the Year of Return in 2019 and Egypt in 2022.

In 2020 Helen took over the reins of the Pennsylvania Juneteenth Initiative’s push to make Juneteenth a national holiday. She is now the Chief Operations Officer for the organization and produces the annual Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival, which includes the parade which is televised on 6abc and a festival in Malcolm X Park and concert featuring local and national recording artists. The Juneteenth celebrations include the Honor the Ancestor’s breakfast and the Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant.

With the understanding that it takes a village to not only raise a child but to raise a community, Helen serves as a cultural anthropologist, bridging her understanding of history and ancestry with her professional endeavors. Be it via African Genesis Institute or Juneteenth, McCrary-Salahuddin is constantly providing individuals with an informed perspective of their roots and culture, and empowering them the make the best decisions to propel them to success. One can do anything they like, but one must know who they are first. She has been honored with many awards over the years for her vision and outstanding contributions to women and her community.

McCrary-Salahuddin holds a Bachelor’s degree in Speech from Howard University and a JD from Temple Law School.  She is a member of Canaan Baptist Church, the Gem of Germantown and is the proud parent of two adult children and one grandson.

Reverend Dr. Marsha Brown Woodard is Senior Lecturer in Christian Ministry and Director of Supervised Ministries at Palmer Theological Seminary of Eastern University, in St. Davids, PA. In her position as Director of Supervised Ministries, she provides leadership for the congregational and clinical internship programs of the seminary. Her teaching portfolio has been extensive, with courses including: “African-American Women in Church History—1800 to Present,” “Preaching Practicum,” “Personal Growth & Transformation Through Movies,” and “Seminar in Prophetic and Preaching and Teaching.” Dr. Woodard has also served for many years as a guest lecturer or adjunct professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary, United Lutheran Seminary of Philadelphia, and Missio Seminary.

In addition to her service to the academy, Dr. Woodard has preached and conducted workshops, seminars and retreats throughout the United States as well as in Africa. She is the author of ,I Was Tired Today, I Choose to Thrive, and most recently, Just A Midwife. She is the editor of Making Sense of Your Faith and she has also written articles, bible studies, church school and vacation bible school curriculum as well as conference and retreat resources. Her sermons and meditations have been included in Christian Citizen Magazine, the Women in Ministry Resource for American Baptist Churches Women in Ministry, Those Preaching Women, Volume 2, African American Preaching Library, Volume 1, Oh Lord, Why Me? as well as other books and publications. She is heard each Thursday on “Moments of Meditation,” a broadcast aired on mygospelhighway11.com.

Dr. Woodard earned a BA in Sociology from Ottawa University (Ottawa, Kansas), a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary (Webster Groves, Missouri), and the Doctor of Ministry degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary (Lancaster, PA). The title of her dissertation was, “Birthing the Birthright: Midwife Leadership Style with African American Clergywomen.”

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Dr. Woodard was licensed and ordained by the Antioch Baptist Church. In addition to her ministerial standing with American Baptist Churches, USA and the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., she also has ministerial standing with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). She is a member of the Saints Memorial Baptist Church in Bryn Mawr, where she serves as Associate Pastor. Previously, she has served as Pastor or as a member of the Pastoral staffs of congregations in both Missouri and Pennsylvania. Dr. Woodard has also served on the staffs of the Philadelphia Baptist Association (PBA), the American Baptist Churches of the South (ABCOTS) and the Board of Educational Ministry for American Baptist Churches, USA. In addition, for many years she served as the “Resident Chaplain” for the Biblical Institute of the Zion Baptist Church in Ambler, PA.

Rev. Woodard currently serves as President for the Baptist Pastors and Ministers Conference of Philadelphia and Vicinity, is Director of Christian Education for PEKBA (Pennsylvania Eastern Keystone Baptist Association), and Secretary for the Main Line Black Interdenominational Ministers Alliance. She also serves as Vice-President of NewCORE (New Conversations on Race and Ethnicity), and is a member of the Board of Directors of Bridge of Hope National. She served two terms as a member of the Commission on Ministry of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA), is on the Advisory Board for Celebrating Sisterhood and has served or currently serves as a member of a number of other boards and committees both locally and nationally. Dr. Woodard received an honorary doctorate from Eden Theological Seminary in 2022. Dr. Woodard is also co-founder, with the Rev. Dr. Phaedra Blocker, of Daughters of Thunder, a collaborative endeavor whose mission is to support, nurture and empower female clergy of African descent.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA in the area called East Liberty. She is a graduate of Peabody High School, class of 1950.

A fourth-grade teacher inspired her to become a teacher.

In her teens, her Sunday school teacher at Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church, the late Emma E. Rose, joined her mother in finding ways to finance college. With financial support from Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church and a four-year scholarship from Cheyney State Teachers College her teaching career began to become a reality.

Shirley graduated in 1954 from Cheyney State Teachers College, the first class to graduate under the federal mandate, Brown v Board of Education, “separate but equal is unequal”.

In 1969, she earned a master’s degree in education from Temple University.

Shirley taught forty-four years in the Philadelphia Public Schools as an Elementary Grades Teacher, Language Skills Specialist and Coordinator.

During those years, she served as a school Coordinator of the Annual African American Oratorial Competition, a district-wide, grades 4-12 event. Several of the elementary schools’ winners were her students.

Shirley has served on several History Committees, including the PA History and Museum Commission (PHMC), and Annual African American History Conference.

She has chaired and co-chaired: 

St. Paul’s Baptist Church Senior Citizens Oral History Project (Let’s Tell It), a Great Migration Project

Scribe Video’s Great Migration Community Project, a St. Paul’s Baptist Church event.

 Most recently Shirley discovered a group photograph of her 1954 graduation class in the Ada E. George’s Dining Hall on the Cheyney University campus. UNMARKED.

Through the efforts of the Philadelphia Office of United Negro College Fund and Cheyney University President, Aaron Walton, a marker has been made and recognition of this most important class of 1954. Shirley was recognized for her efforts during Founders Day, February 2024.

From a young age, she was determined to affect the minds of students through her commitment to becoming a teacher. That she has surely accomplished, from elementary to college. She has spent time giving them an education they can carry for a lifetime, both up close in the classroom, during the events she has led, to the scholarships she continues to provide.

We, on behalf of all the student minds she has touched, today salute Ms. Shirley A. Page