Tributes
Norma Jean Ross
Attended 10 Odyssey Network Conferences
Transitioned April 2010
Tribute by: Dawn A. Kum, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
The Village Academy of Washington, DC
Distinguished Ladies of Odyssey Network, it is with a heavy heart that we pay tribute to Norma Ross who quietly transitioned to her eternal life on Friday April 23, 2010, after battling cancer. Norma Jean Ross was born on June 14, 1934 in Richmond, Indiana. She graduated from Earlham College and then worked as both a classroom teacher and a curriculum consultant in the Dayton Public Schools system. She was recognized as being part of the team that established the first all-day kindergarten program in Dayton, OH.
Most of us know her from her second career as President of Bob Ross Dealerships with her daughter Jenell (Dealer Principle) and son Rob (Fixed-Operations Manager). The dealerships have been one of the “Top 100 Companies” in Dayton from 1999 to Present, under Norma’s leadership. Norma has received numerous awards and recognitions for her business savvy and community involvement. Norma continuously served others knowing that service is a circle, when the circle is complete, she too, has been served. But Norma took the greatest pride in serving as a mother.
We all have special memories of Norma at Odyssey Network. From her quiet advice, to her line dancing each night or her St John’s shopping spree at Nordstrom or her gentle persuasion in securing Mercedes as a dealer sponsor. We will cherish each of those memories. As we celebrate her legacy let’s live by her favorite scripture “To whom much is given much is required” (Luke 12:48).
Linda Bates Parker
Attended 9 Odyssey Network Conferences
Transitioned December 2009
Tribute by: Jenny Laster
Director of Leadership Development
Urban League of Greater Cincinnati
Those who knew and loved Linda Bates Parker, The Director of Career Development for The University of Cincinnati, are quick to tell you their Linda story. Because she was so personable and quick of mind, the “Linda” stories range from “how I got a better job because of Linda” to stories about her willingness to encourage and inspire women of color across the Diaspora. This Linda story is about her love of Odyssey Network. Linda and I did not know about Odyssey Network when they hosted their first executive women’s conference.
When Cheryl B. Walker Robertson came to Cincinnati to market Odyssey, Linda and I went to dinner with her. Sight unseen, presentation unheard; in true Linda fashion she invited several other women to come hear Cheryl’s presentation. Linda had an eye for identifying what women of color not only wanted, but needed. After the presentation Linda and I were both hooked. Linda then called several executive women and simply said, “You need to support Odyssey. They are offering something we need and can’t get anywhere else. I’m going, why don’t you join me?” Linda attended annually and encouraged other executive women to meet her at Odyssey, and they did.
Linda’s daughter, Robin, also attended because Linda wanted her to understand the need for pampering and healing one’s body, soul and mind in a space designed for us.
Tributes and donations may be sent to the Linda Bates Parker Scholarship Fund, c/o University of Cincinnati Foundation, P.O. Box 19970, Cincinnati, Ohio 45219-0970.
Sharon Love Ransom
Attended 6 Odyssey Network Conferences
Transitioned December 2009
Tribute by: Paulette Turner
Founder and President
Integrated Leadership Concepts, Inc.
Saying Sharon was a “True Odyssey Woman” is an understatement. She saw Odyssey as a means of self-improvement, not just for her personal benefit, but to share her gifts and talents with others. Odyssey was on Sharon’s list of “must-do” and she spread the word, often bringing her mother and friends with her to Odyssey Network Conferences.
Sharon lived her life as an Odyssey Woman, accomplishing much and leaving a legacy for many. The Director of Services and Education for IBM Software Group, Tivoli, Sharon worked for IBM for thirty-one years. Focused, dedicated and intense at work, Sharon attained extraordinary business results year after year while mentoring and coaching numerous women and men.
Those who knew her best were able to glimpse the richness of her life and witness the blessings she bestowed upon others. Always the organizer when she saw a need, Sharon planned around-the-clock hospital stays, bone marrow and blood donor drives, and food and clothing drives. In honor of her cousin and other friends who were living with or had loss their battles with breast cancer, Sharon trained for months and raised, with her walking partner, over $5,000. She completed the 3-Day, 60-Mile Walk victoriously. Sharon was most proud of her affiliation with the National Alliance of African American Athletes. Along with her husband Edward Ransom, she served as a board member and generous sponsor of this organization, which rewards excellence among top African American scholar athletes.
Tributes and donations in memory of Sharon Ransom may be sent to the National Alliance of African American Athletes at http://www.naaaa.com/contact.htm
Stephanie Tubbs Jones
Attended 3 Odyssey Network Conferences
Transitioned August 2008
Tribute by: Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick
United States House of Representatives
FOR MY SISTER
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones dedicated her life to service. A wife, mother, daughter, sister and a best friend to many. Her dynamic smile, intellect, compassion and understanding of The Body Politic made an awesome impression on all who knew her. The Congresswoman earned a Bachelor’s Degree, a Jurist Doctor, and four honorary Doctorate degrees. She was elected to the Cleveland Municipal Court in 1982.
She was the first African American woman to serve as prosecutor in Cuyahoga County Ohio. She was the first African American woman to sit on the Common Pleas Court in the State of Ohio. Upon her passing, she was chairperson of the U.S. House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The Congresswoman was celebrated for her tireless advocacy and intervention. She served her colleagues as a fair, competent, yet firm Legislator.
Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones was one of my very best friends. Stephanie invited me to my first Odyssey Conference in 2007. I loved it!! Odyssey has become the BEST Conference I attend each year. Stephanie loved Odyssey. She loved the spirit, the joy, and the sisterhood that we experience during the conference. She and I always talked of sharing the Odyssey experience with all African American girls and women. That we be strong, inspired by the spirit of God, and must come to each other to build strong families, communities and businesses. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones always demonstrated a serious commitment to life, love, and African people.
She will forever remain in my soul.
Carole Inez Smith
Attended 10 Odyssey Network Conferences
Transitioned November 2009
Tribute by: Delores L. Crockett (her “forever” roommate)
Retired Executive, U.S. Department of Labor
Georgia
I was Carole’s “forever” Odyssey roommate. We were paired by random selection at Odyssey in Scottsdale, AZ in 2001 and the rest is a beautiful history of friendship and mutual respect.
Carole was an “original” in many respects- but I knew her as the Original Odyssey girl. She was a member of the charter group of women who attended the very first Odyssey Business Retreat in 2000 in Palm Desert.
Since Carole was also one of the Philadelphia Mafia (another term I coined for the group of dynamic women hailing from Philly), she really had a built in cadre of friends attending Odyssey, any one of whom was more than willing to be her roommate.
We quickly learned a lot about each other, including the fact that we really don’t “do” roommates. Our instant and lasting chemistry however, resulted in nine straight years of rooming together—even the years her daughter, Narissa attended Odyssey!
Carole was a highly educated, very talented, widely traveled, innovative woman dedicated to developing the minds of young people through technology.
I learned most of this when I attended her memorial service. She used her Odyssey experiences to reach out, to meet, and to learn about other women who attended. She made us all feel welcome and comfortable.
During the last time I saw Carole at her Celebration of Life party in November 2009, she told me she was committed to ‘living with cancer” not dying of cancer.
I miss Carole Inez Smith so much. She was a real Odyssey woman, A Phenomenal Woman. Our lives are forever better because we shared life space with Carole Inez Smith.