Page 4 - NYC WHOMS Presidential High Tea_Journal_5.4.2019_Neat

Honorees

SMITH-THOMPSON A.M.E. ZION CHURCH - Emeritus
RUTH NIXON STEVENSON
Ruth Mae was born January 1947 to Mother Corine Johnson and Father
Solomon Marin in Harlem, New York. As the eldest of six siblings,
Ruth was affectionately called "Ruthie" or "Baby Ruth" for most of her
formative years. She attended New York City public schools and
graduated from Manhattan Community College. Ruth later attended
BMCC and completed a certificate course at Queens Borough
Community College. Ruthie was always lovable, so much so that four
suitors asked her hand in marriage: John Wesley Thompson in 1968, Elroy
Blakely in 1976, Sherman Nixon in 1990, and Simuel Stevenson in 2018. Sis. Stevenson is a
humanitarian, family-oriented, loves music and is a born-again Christian. When Ruth Nixon Stevenson
served as the Local President of the Smith-Thompson Church W.H.&O.M. Society, Smith Thompson
members loved to attend all conference activities and were proud to have received the attendance
banner from Group 2 at all Mass Meetings! To God be the glory! God blessed Ruth to be the biological
Mom to five children: Luther, Arkesia, Elroy, Jacquana and Sherman Jr.; the Grandmother to six
grands: Justin, Jamik, Shawnique, Natasha, Jahze, and Chance; and the Great-grandmother to three:
Symphany, Ariel, and Kadyn. This honoree served faithfully as a member of Abraham Thompson
Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, where the late Reverend James Cokely pastored until his death.
Abraham Thompson then merged with Smith A.M.E. Zion Church, becoming the Smith-Thompson
A.M.E. Zion Church with Rev. Charles W. Young, the Founding Pastor, and is currently supplied by
Rev. A. Alfred Carson. Among her many achievements, Ruth Mae served as a trusted, long-standing
church leader: Chairperson, Trustee Board; Usher; Choir Member; Class Leader, Class #4; President,
Lay Council; President, Family Life; President, Parent Body Missionary Society; Conference Delegate;
District Conference Marshal; Chaplain, New York Conference Lay Council. Ruth worked and retired
as a Telephone Technician from Verizon (formerly Ma Bell, New York Telephone Co. NYNEX). In the
summer of 2018, Ruthie relocated to South Carolina with her husband Simuel.

A.M.E. ZION CHURCH ON THE HILL
GENIA FLAMMIA
A Native New-Yorker, Genia Flammia has been an active member of her
community since adolescence. Her nearly 40 year tenure as an educator started
immediately after her formal education at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA.
where she has earned a B.S Ed. Shortly thereafter, she earned an M.S.Ed from
the College of New Rochelle and Administration Credentials from the College
of St. Rose. Genia also holds various specialized certificates in Multicultural
Education, Gifted Education, and Adult Education. She is proud to be a certified
Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED instructor. Baptized at Mount Hope A.M.E. Zion
Church as a child, Genia has been a steadfast church member her whole life.
Her love of music and performing arts drew her to become a choir member at
her current home church; The A.M.E Zion Church on the Hill, where she is a
member of the Trustee Board, the Conference secretary, and the local President of
the Women’s Home & Overseas Missionary Society. One of the missionary projects she is extremely
proud of is the “Angels Network” where we adopt a family into our church family each Christmas. In
addition, the Church on the Hill Society also conducts an annual Coat Giveaway and Tag Sales clothing
drive. In her beloved community of Westchester, many know her just as “Mrs. Flammia” the tough-
love teacher who you always issued out faith and belief in oneself. Genia’s famous words are “Cancel
CAN’T-and you CAN! You’re capable of more than you know.” Genia has continued to help many
of her students’ lives beyond their graduation and her retirement in 2014. Her community involvement
reaches from political involvement and volunteerism to serving as the President of the