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Heroes, Saints, Legends…and an update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wesley Woods Foundation President Lillian Darden with Walter E. Massey, president emeritus of Morehouse College and one of the honorees at the recent Heroes, Saints and Legends event. Photo by Laura Heath Gary.
The recent Heroes, Saints and Legends gala at the Piedmont Driving Club honored folks who represent all three categories.
The event, benefiting Wesley Woods’ care and research programs for adults with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, is the annual fund-raiser for the Foundation of Wesley Woods. The Emory University complex includes a geriatric hospital, nursing home, independent living residence for seniors and outpatient center.
This year’s honorees included former Morehouse College President Walter E. Massey, civic leader extraordinaire Colleen O’Brien Nunn and retired Southern Bell CEO Franklin Skinner. The evening included video presentations detailing the lengthy accomplishments of each honoree as well as a surprise caregiver award for Elizabeth Eakes, who has worked at Wesley Woods for more than two decades.
“My love and devotion to the elderly has no end,” Eakes said as she accepted the award from honorary chair Carl E. Swearingen.
Elizabeth Eakes accepts the caregiver award. Photo by Laura Heath Gary
WSB-TV’s Mark Winne served as emcee. The Rev. William O. Britt IV gave the invocation and Bishop L. Bevel Jones III gave the benediction. The crowd also heard from Dr. Alfred Sanfilippo, Emory’s executive vice president for health affairs. The event honored the memory of Jane Carithers.
Foundation president Lillian Darden announced HSL raised more than $463,000. She and her husband, former U.S. Rep. Buddy Darden, were seated with donors Dottie Fuqua, Kathy and Neely Young, Mary and Billy Warren and their son and daughter-in-law, lenn and Susan Warren.
Fred and Janet Sanfilippo. Photo by Laura Heath Gary
Merritt Bond, chair of the Wesley Woods foundation’s board, reminded the crowd that Darden recently was named Woman of the Year by YWCA of Northwest Georgia.
“Lillian, you are not only the woman of the year,” Bond said. “You are the woman of the decade if not the century.”
From left, Franklin Skinner, Ruth Ann Skinner, Colleen O’Brien Nunn, Sam Nunn, Shirley A. Massey, Walter E. Massey. Photo by Laura Heath Gary
Update on Su and Gordon Daitch
I’ve heard from several folks who bought paintings from Su Daitch after reading about her husband Gordon, who has bladder cancer.
“I want to thank you for writing the article about Su and Gordon Daitch in the AJC,” wrote Nancy Lee Daily. “That is an example of journalism making a positive difference for many people. I knew that Dr. Lori Elliott (director of the Urban Literacy Clinic at Georgia State University) has been looking for art to hang in the clinic and Su’s “It Takes a Village” will go up this week. Thanks for your article - we met a great couple and found a painting that’s a perfect fit!”
Here’s a nice note from Roz Howell:
“I cannot thank you enough for the lovely article in Sunday’s paper about Su and Gordon Daitch. After reading your story, I checked out their website. Then, I emailed them; and then, my husband and I went to their house last night to meet them and to purchase a painting. It was all-around a most positive experience and we cannot be more delighted. Please feel free to share this email with whomever you like. Without your story we may never have had the opportunity to know Su and Gordon or to have one of her paintings in our home.”
And here’s one from Curt Gill:
“I just wanted to thank you for writing the story about Su and Gordon. We just bought two pieces from them yesterday. They are quite a pair. Sounds like thru your help they have really been able to sell a bunch of stuff. A great way to sell her work and for a great cause. Thanks again for the heads up. It’s nice to read some uplifting stories once in a while. Please keep us updated on their story.”
Su wrote on Wednesday to say Gordon, who has had initial surgery at Kennestone, will be there another night. They’ll know more in coming days about how things went and what comes next. Stay tuned!
Comments
By Hilary Van Winkle
April 25, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this
My husband met Su back during her days painting at Cafe Tu Tu Tango and they became friends as he worked in the area, loved her work and would visit often. He mentioned that I was battling a stint of depression following the loss of my grandmother and Su immediately invited me to attend one of her art classes at no charge, though we’d never meant. Despite the fact that I felt like lying in bed as I’d been doing most Saturdays, I pulled myself to the class so as not to seem rude for shunning such a kind, thoughtful gesture. Su opened her heart and world of art to me that day and quite truly changed my life. We’ve been fast friends ever since and she and Gordon are two of the most wonderful, selfless individuals I’ve ever known. Through Su I’ve learned to paint during difficult times to make something beautiful out of a time of introspection, even during the deepest of sorrows.
The catharsis is amazing and it was gift to me out of simple love for others. I’ve heard it said before that friends are angels that bring us to our feet when our wings forget how to fly and Su and Gordon have both always treated every person they meet like that. Thank you for your story and for all those that have shown support. This has been an extremely challenging time for the Daitch’s and this story and the subsequent support shown has done for Su and Gordon exactly what they have done for so many others, myself included. Thank you for being and angel too.
By Ana Maria Leis
April 26, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
I have known Su since 2004 when my husband and I purchsed our first “Su”. Since then Su’s UNIQUE personality and charm won me over as a friend , she gave me the inspiration to start painting myself and we have since then acquired 2 more siblings to our Original “Su”. Her art really shows the love and inspiration that comes from her heart and life. And anyone that has met Su KNOWS instantly how much she loves Gordon, her husband. I would encourage anyone interested to check her art out and actually meet them and your’ll instantly be captivated into “Su’s Colorful World”! it will open your heart and make you see the World in brighter colors! Ana Maria Leis