The George and Leola Smith Award
George H. Smith, a skilled carpenter, married Leola E. Gilmore (Smith) of Shelby, MS in 1927 who was a school teacher educated in Missouri. From this union five children were born, Annetta, George, Jr., MacIntosh, Mary Alice and Atherline.
In 1942, the family migrated north to ensure the children would have a better education. They first went to Highland Mills, NY then Highland Falls, NY. After a tragic fire destroyed their home, they made their way to Staten Island, NY.
As a licensed carpenter and contractor, George was able to establish his own business building houses in the Todt Hill, Rossville, and Bulls Head sections of Staten Island as well as the Willingsboro and Burlington areas of New Jersey.
Leola, a licensed practical nurse worked at Sea View Hospital in ICU caring for patient with Tuberculosis. Later she joined the Bellevue Hospital staff in NYC.
George and Leola lived through and were survivors of the Great Depression, Jim Crow, Woman's Suffrage, and the lynching’s of the south. They were faithful and steadfast in making sure their children received the best education they could provide. Upon graduation from high school each child went to some form of post-secondary education which includes Lincoln School of Nursing, Howard University.
CW Post College in Long Island, NY. and Gulf Coast College in Panama City, FL.
Because of their vigilance in educating themselves and their children, a scholarship in their honor would be appropriate for a student pursing higher education with an interest in business or nursing.
Join Our Umbrella Awards Program
Over the years, DDWSF has proudly sponsored Umbrella Awards with The Jeffrey Whitehead Memorial Award as the first Umbrella Award, established by Judith Whitehead in 1995. The Umbrella Award is a way for you to pay homage to a living legend or memorialize loved ones who have impacted your life.
Should you desire to recognize someone through DDWSF’s Umbrella Awards,
you can begin with a tax-deductible gift, payable to DDWSF, in the amount of $250 or more. One of the nine recipients of DDWSF will be eligible to receive the Umbrella Award in the name of your loved one. The award can be given in the name of the individual as a one time event or annually.
We hope you will consider joining the DDWSF Umbrella Awards Community as an investment in tomorrow’s leaders.
