Page 74 - The Scepter - Fall 2016_Winter 2017

Top Ladies of Distinction Remembers…

Lady Ina Boon: A Champion for Justice and Civil Rights.
“May the works I’ve done, speak for me. May the service I give, speak for me.”

Lady Ina Boon was inducted into Top Ladies of Distinction Inc., Saint

Louis Chapter in 1973 as a charter member. She worked with the NAACP and
devoted her life to helping people achieve equality and justice. As president of
the St. Louis branch of the NAACP she was instrumental in getting Top Ladies
of Distinction, Inc. to become a permanent supporter of the NAACP locally and
nationally.
Lady Ina held many offices while serving with the St. Louis Chapter of Top La-
dies including Chapter President, 1985 through 1987. In 1987 Lady Ina saw the
need for an additional chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction in the St. Louis met-
ropolitan area. So, she solicited support for this idea from like minded ladies and
friends. In 1988 she was successful in organizing a new chapter and chose the
name “Cardinal” in recognition of the St. Louis Cardinals for their contributions to the new chapter.
Several ladies from the St.Louis Chapter transferred to the newly organized Cardinal Chapter with Lady Ina and
one was Dr. Marie Helen Stellos. In 1991 Dr. Stellos was elected the 7th National President of Top Ladies, giving
Cardinal Chapter the distinction of being the youngest chapter in Area III to have an elected National President.
Lady Ina serves as National Director of Operations during her tenure.
Lady Ina received many awards as she continued to serve Top Ladies at the local, Area and National levels. She
served as Cardinal Chapter’s President and Treasurer, Area and National Financial Secretary and NAACP Com-
mittee Chairman, and National Director of Operations, just to name a few.
She has remained a contributing member of Cardinal Chapter for the past 29 years. As chapter organizer, Lady
Ina worked diligently with and solicited support for all of TLOD’s programs and projects. The Cardinal Chapter’s
signature Status of Women’s program, “A Salute to Mothers of the Year”, was the brain child of organizer, Lady
Ina Boon.
A great champion for the people, working to improve the quality of life for youth and adults was her life’s mis-
sion. A true Lady and humanitarian, Lady Ina Boon will be greatly missed in Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.