Mynette Management Company » Up Close and Personal

Remembering Lena Horne

admin — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:54:04 +0000

Today, we mourn the lost of legendary singer and actress Lena Horne as she makes her life’s transition. Soror Lena Horne was a lady among ladies and true role model for women in America and across the globe. We honor her today for breaking barriers during the Civil Rights Movement, building bridges in the entertainment industry and and always making her songs and movies stand for justice and equality for women. She will be truly missed and her work and songs will linger in our hearts forever.

Suzanne Mayo, Director
Black America Saves

A Tribute to a Woman who was an Angel and a Giant Among Men…Dr. Dorothy I. Height

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:16:03 +0000

There are few women today or in the past who could top Dr. Dorothy I. Height. As a child, I remember seeing her resemblance to my mother, the late Estelle Mayo. For years I thought Dr. Height was related to me because she looked so much like my mother. At the age of 14, my mom passed and I often hoped that Dr. Height would be my second Godmother. I often traveled to the conventions of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. where my mom was pianist for the conventions, and after she passed I would often see Dr. Height. One day I got up enough nerve to ask her was she related to me. She smiled and said,”Young lady, I am and will be forever, your Godmother, especially when you become a Delta one day.” I never forgot that and today I am reminded of her gentle spirit of encouragement, love and unselfish commitment to always helping and motivating others. For me, I pay tribute to her for that smile some 36 years ago.

Later in life, I had the fortune of working with Dr. Height on various pieces of legislation on Capitol Hill while I was a staffer (The MLK National Holiday, Divestment in South Africa and The Family Leave Act). Dr. Height was always at the meetings on time and gave us wisdom and reason for the work we labored with daily. She would say we simply cannot give up, and she never did.

My last visit was with Dr. Height was as I departed Detroit for my journey to Kansas in 2007. We were both in the airport boarding a plane from the funeral of mutual good friend, the late Floyd Washington. Dr. Height was as beautiful as usual and full of life. I greeted her and we embraced and I kissed her goodbye. She whispered to me, “Finish that Ph.D. – someone died so you could, and others are waiting on you to take your place, remember that Dear.” She then smiled and said, “I look forward to calling you Dr. soon.”

Today, I salute Dr. Height’s ability to always say just the right thing at the right time. I honor her great legacy today and her tireless efforts to advance all women across the world, but especially those who have no voice. Dr. Height, the best tribute we can give to you is to continue your work across the globe by always striving for excellence in everyone we do in our families, our work and our communities. Your legacy continues, Dr. Height! We will continue your work.

Rest in Peace,

Suzanne Mayo

Remembering Dr. Theodore Lamont Cross

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:54:16 +0000

To: The Cross Family and the Staff of The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education

The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education has become the premiere online publication for many of us in higher education and throughout various disciplines in bringing the stories of our people alive and with careful thought and acuracy. Each week for the past 17 years, he and his staff made sure that we were well informed about our colleagues across America and throughout the world keeping us always striving for excellence in education. Dr. Cross’s leadership, professionalism and his legacy will be in our hearts forever. Our sincere condolences go out to The Cross Family and the entire staff of the JBHE. Rest in Peace!

With Sympathy,

Suzanne Mayo
Director, Black America Saves
CEO, Mynette Management Company
Doctoral Candidate, Kansas State University
Alumnae, Grambling State University
Alumnae, University of the District of Columbia

Remembering Percy Sutton, A Tribute to The Beloved

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:24:52 +0000

On Sunday, December 27, 2009, the message that Attorney Percy Sutton had passed saddened me, but I was suddenly reminded of the last day I saw him at Tuskegee University in April 2004. I was having breakfast with the two Tuskegee University students and one Delta College student who were studying aviation at Kansas State University and he came over to greet them. Everand, Tiji and Jarrett were all excited that he thought enough of them to take time to give them words of wisdom. He encouraged them with thoughtful kind words of strength, love and support while telling them the importance of learning and flying for those to come after them. He was so gracious and loving that I could hardly hold back my tears of joy as he spoke. History was in the making as these students had become the “New Tuskegee Airmen” and Attorney Sutton told them so. He spoke of his excitement to see Black young men flying and carrying on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen.

My dear friend, Tuskegee’ Associate Vice President Willa Hall Smith Smith and I had envisioned this partnership with TU and KSU and the glory of meeting The Honorable Percy Sutton was as if we all had just met the Modern Day Booker T. Washington. Dr. Benjamin Payton, President of Tuskegee University later that day recognized the three students along with the living legends, The Tuskegee Airmen and Atty. Sutton turned around and through up his thumb and smiled at me as we all gleamed with pride and joy. For me, the tears flowed as I thought of the days activities of talking with Mr. Percy Sutton, The Tuskegee Airmen and the full richness of Tuskegee University’s legacy as I watched history unfold before my eyes. I was so grateful that day to be in Alabama and to be apart of Booker T. Washington’s “unveiling” in modern day terms. For me, it was history in the making and Dr. Percy Sutton, a true man of God, made
history come alive that day for all of us who were graced with a few minutes of his precious time. I salute you today, Attorney Sutton…may your legacy live forever! Rest in Peace.

Respectfully submitted,

Suzanne Mynette Mayo-Theus
CEO, Mynette Management Company
Doctoral Candidate, Kansas State University

Up Close and Personal – Managing Cancer- From Patient to Caregiver

admin — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 23:31:57 +0000

Managing cancer is one of the most challenging things an individual and family will have to deal with in a one’s lifetime. I know about this UP CLOSE and PERSONAL and I am offering my few tips to those someday might be in need of this important information. My life with cancer started very early at the age of 12 with my mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer. It changed my life forever, but I started writing as a way to release my pain confusion and misfortune of this deadly disease. Listed below are my 10 steps for my 30 journals of battling illnesses myself, being caregivers for my family and friends, past and present and the lessons learned over the years. I am currently serving as a caregiver with my dear friend Grace and this has moved me to share these few tips that I hope will inspire others who are affected by cancer in some way. ENJOY!

LESSON #1: Write down your feelings. Journaling will help you heal.

LESSON #2: Know your family medical history, it could save your own life. As a caregiver, you must know your family history so once your love one gets disoriented, (and they will get like this sometime) they have you to there to remind them of how they can fight and carry on…NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS. You must have an advocate to help you get through the hard times.

LESSON #3: Balance the stress of it all…. Your Illness. Knowing that you are ill can be overwhelming, but you MUST Balance it all… including the cancer. Balancing your life will help you take one day at a time. Don’t try to focus too much on the long run, just take each day and today’s race ONE DAY A TIME.

LESSON #4: KEEP YOUR EMOTIONS UNDER CONTROL. Your immune system is designed to move from low to high and events, information, situations and the medications will have your emotional well-being on a roller coaster each day. You MUST manage your emotions so that you can maintain a strong emotional well-being while your body is healing.

LESSON #5: YOUR FINANCES CANNOT STRESS YOU OUT: Everyone is talking about money and certainly you are no exception as you worry about your cancer, your treatments, your financial obligations and your medical care and medications, but it will all take care of it self. If you are fortunate to have great doctors and nurses, they will help you and your advocate work through the finances. Concentrate on getting better and let the experts do their jobs in this arena. You cannot stress over medical bills!

LESSON #6: LET YOUR FAMILY AND FREINDS CARRY TO LOAD: There comes a time in life when you as the patient cannot do it all. You must let each family member and friend take a pound of your load and carry it for you for now. Doing this will re-leave you of the burden and empower your friends and colleagues to be apart of the total healing in your body.

LESSON #7: TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ALWAYS: Taking to children and young adults about the cancer allows them to feel that they can help in some small way. Haven been a child caregiver for my mom, I later in life became a better patient and a great caregiver because my mom discussed her illness with me at an early age. Knowledge is power!

LESSON #8: BE TRUE TO YOURSELF and DON’T PUSH PEOPLE AWAY: Realizing you have cancer and fighting it upfront will help your psyche and your emotional well-being. Being true to yourself also allows others to be truthful to you and help in this regard. Let those who are trained as comforters, counselors, clergy and social , mental and human services do their jobs in helping you and your family cope with your cancer.

LESSON #9: YOU ARE NOT ALONE: The greatest gift one can give you is to let you know you are not alone, but if you don’t let others in they cannot help you, Be open to others, former survivors, doctors, nurses, practitioners, clergy and just everyday folks who may just what you need to put a smile
back on your face and especially in your heart.

LESSON #10: GET READY FOR YOUR BLESSING: With every battle is conflict and struggle. With every blessing there is difficulty. Your blessing is just around the corner, so go to war on the cancer, but always know…GOD is just getting your ready for your blessing. It always rains before the sunshine!

Your blessing is on the way. Get Ready!

Remembering Katrina Victims and Senator Ted Kennedy

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:32:52 +0000

Today marks a milestone in the lives of those who remember a great GIANT among men, The Honorable Ted Kennedy. We mourn his death and send our prayers to the entire beloved Kennedy Family. I am reminded that it was Senator Kennedy who always smiled and said good morning in the early 1970′s as I walked the halls of the U.S. Senate young and scared as a new page, intern and professional Senate staffer from 1970 – 1989. One day, Senator Kennedy got on the elevator with my dear friend, Martin King, III and asked, “What state are from?” I smiled and said, “I am from the great state of Louisiana and I will become Louisiana’s Barbara Jordan one day. He smiled and said, “Young lady, I look forward to becoming your colleague one day, keep the dream alive!” To this day, I hold that memory near and dear and when times get tough I often think of his words as encouragement to me to carry on no matter how tough things may be. He was an extraordinary leader and humanitarian with a great legacy.

Today also reminds us of the time three years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana when many of us looked in disbelief at our country’s most severe natural disaster.. Hurricane Katrina. We still can remember those images of innocent people struggling to survive while we watched in horror of this in America…the Land of the Free. It is an irony that these two events are merged together by time and sacrifice this week with many feeling a sense of loss and hope all wrapped up into one week.

Today, I pay honor to those who lost their lives fighting for freedom fairness and justice in The Big Easy, my home state and what I hope we will never forget…the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. To the many families who left their lives and homes in search of a kinder, gentler place of peace and tranquility…An America in search of itself.

So, today, we honor and remember Senator Ted Kennedy and The Families of Hurricane Katrina. We promise to never forget you or your legacy.

REST IN PEACE!