By Genoa Barrow | OBSERVER SENIOR STAFF WRITER

From making sure the bills get paid to visiting the sick and shut-in and molding the next generation of the faithful, African American women have more than earned the title of the backbone of the church.

Irene West (center) was one of the recipients of the Christian Women of the Year Awards. Joining her are City Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell (left) and Mamie Yee. Photo (c) Observer / Felicia Rule

Local “church ladies” got their due recently, as the Sacramento Valley Section of the National Council of Negro Women hosted its 14th Annual Christian Women of the Year Luncheon. The event was held at the Hilton Hotel. The theme was “It’s Not About Us: We’re Created to Serve.”

Honorees for the Christian Women of the Year title are nominated by the pastors of area churches and have included “first ladies,” Sunday school teachers, youth ministry leaders, evangelists, pastors and other church elders. This year 11 women were honored as Christian Women of the Year.

The 2008 Christian Women of the Year are Ekeshia Pittman, of Center of Praise; Esther Roots, of Christian Fellowship Ministry Church; Ava Woodson, of Great Harvest Baptist Church; Willistine Sandridge-Jones, of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church; Joyce Jacobs, of New Covenant Ministries Worship Center; Celestine Daniels, New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church; Elizabeth Womack, New Testament Baptist Church; Juanita Crosby Thames, Paradise Missionary Baptist Church; Irene B. West, Shiloh Baptist Church; Jean Dawson, St. James Holy Baptist Church; and Ida M. Rogers, St. Paul Baptist Church.

Pittman was nominated by Center of Praise’s pastor, Rev. Parnell Lovelace. She is an assistant to the Children’s Ministry Leader, a Children’s Church teacher and a Children’s Bible Study teacher. Outside of church, Pittman is the owner of a dessert business and is a Smoking Cessation Program Coordinator for Sutter Health.

Roots is a lay minister and serves as Director of Women of Wisdom at Christian Fellowship Church. She was selected by pastor, Reverend Dr. Alice Baber-Banks “because she diligently gave sacrificially of herself by cooking full course meals, transporting the meals to the church to feed workers every week as they rebuilt the church from April 2007 until July 2007.”

Woodson is the first lady of Great Harvest Baptist Church as was nominated for the honor by her husband, Dr. Henry D. Woodson. Woodson uses her multi-tasking gifts in various areas of the church. She’s also a faithful member of the Sacramento Valley Ministers’ Wives and Ministers’ Widows Association, the Northern District Baptist Association, where she serves as first vice president of the Ushers’ Ministry.

Sandridge-Jones was selected by Rev. Bryant Wyatt. At Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, she serves as president of the Nurses Guild and is a member of the Deaconess Board, the Mission Department and is active in Sunday School. She also serves as Corresponding Secretary to the President of the Nurses Auxiliary for the St. John Missionary Baptist Association. As a missionary, Sandridge-Jones has spread the Word in places like South Africa, Argentina and Canada.

Jacobs was honored posthumously. The first lady of New Covenant Ministries Worship Center was struck and killed by a Sacramento Regional Transit bus in January. During her life as a Christian and a Minister of Music, Jacobs worked with the Cincinnati and Sacramento Chapters of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, New Testament Missionary Baptist Church’s annual Women in White Concert and the Martin Luther King Mass Choir. She had the chance to work with and be recorded with gospel greats such as Shirley Caesar, James Cleveland and the Charles Folk Singers. She co-founded New Covenant Ministries Worship Center with her husband Rev. John Jacobs in 1999.

Daniels was nominated as a Christian Woman of the Year by New Pleasant Grove Baptist Church’s Rev. Marine Erby. Daniels has been a member of the church since 1976. Her church activities include being a member of the choir, a praise and worship leader, participating in the Outreach Ministry and acting as a mission member, usher and prayer warrior. She also hosts weekly prayer and Bible Study in her home and helps with a Christians in Action Bible Study group with students at Inderkum High School.

Womack was selected by New Testament’s pastor Rev. Robert Ester, Sr. She has been a member since 1998 and has faithfully been involved in numerous ministries including acting as a Sunday School teacher, an Assistant Bible Teacher for Mission Group #4 and for the Mother’s Board, Bible Study teacher fot the 3-Way Prayer Line of Saturday mornings, President of New Testament’s Greeters Ministry, a participant in the Kitchen Ministry and church clothes giveaways.

Thames, who grew up in Stockton, was selected by Paradise’s pastor Rev. Alonzo Morris. She is the widow of Elbert L. Thames, the founding pastor of the church. She holds the title First Lady Emeritus and has been active in the church since its creation in 1967. She also publishes the national “We’re A Lott Like Family Newsletter.”

West, nominated by Shiloh’s pastor, Rev. James Rodgers, is most known for her work as a veteran educator. Her pastor says she’s just as committed to the church. She is an active member of Sunday School Class A-6, member of the mission’s Ruth circle and Vacation Bible School. In keeping with her education background, West has also served on Shiloh’s scholarship committee, in its tutorial program and a Kiddie Kollege ministry.

Dawson was selected by St. James Holy Baptist Church’s pastor, Rev. R.W. Lambert.

“Sister Dawson was not a member of the St. James Church at its inception, but throughout the years, her steadfast support meets the qualifications as one of the pillars,” Rev. Lambert said.

Dawson serves as a trustee board member where her strengths in business matters, cost control and decision making have made a positive impact. She has also served as Choir President and President of the Culinary Department.

Rogers was nominated for the honor by St. Paul’s Dr. Ephraim Williams. Sister Rogers is a Sunday School teacher, assistant superintendent, general Sunday school superintendent, and director of Christian Education. A retired state worker, she is also the mother of three, grandmother to six and great grandmother to four.

The luncheon’s keynote speaker was Vivian West, co-pastor of Bakersfield’s United in Christ Ministries. She’s dedicated to serving the community, volunteering as a Chaplain Bible Study Teacher, leadership trainer and having founded the Women of Purpose Empowerment Fellowship, a ministry dedicated to proclaiming salvation, healing and wholeness to women of all ethnic, social and economical backgrounds. She and her husband, Eric P. West, Sr., with whom she leads United in Christ Ministries, have three sons.

Vivan West said she began her walk with God at the age of 16 and through many “trials, tribulations and victories” she has matured and gained a “clear understanding of God’s purpose for her life.”

Others making remarks included Rev. John Jacobs., pastor of New Covenant Ministries Worship Center. L. DelVonne More, First Vice President and Rev. Henry Woodson of Great Harvest Baptist Church.

Helping to make the Christian Women of the Year Luncheon a success was the 2008 Planning Committee: Chair Shirley Shelton, L. DelVonne Moore, Doris Wright, Merle Wright, President Morlene Anderson and Charmaine Jackson.