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On November 1, 2020, Dr. Thelma C. Davidson-Adair, then 100 years old, arrived in person to  her polling site at the Jackie Robinson Complex on 106th Street in Harlem.

Shepherded in by her nephew Milton and son Robert, Davidson-Adair refused to let mobility, age, or even COVID stop her from speaking her truth, saying that voting in person “filled her with power” and provided a blueprint for younger generations to follow. 

Many saw that Tuesday as an amazing display of courage and resiliency from a proud centenarian, but those who knew Davidson-Adair knew that this simply par for the course with her — she was a woman who had spent most of her life rising to meet injustice and leading by example.

Davidson-Adair died peacefully on August 21, 2024, just shy of her 104th birthday.

She was born on August 29, 1920, in Iron Station, N.C., to Robert J. Sylvester Davidson and Frances V. Wilson Davidson, both educators and leaders in their community. That love for educating by example stuck with her from an early age. She devoted herself to helping those coming after her.

Davidson-Adair graduated from Lincoln Academy and attended Barber-Scotia Junior College (1934–36), and Bennett College (1936–38), where she earned a degree in education.

She met and married Rev. Dr. Arthur Eugene Adair, and in 1942, the couple moved to Harlem, where they established the Mount Morris Presbyterian Church. The devastation of Harlem during World War II only fueled Davidson-Adair’s passion for community outreach and education. As she explained, “I came to New York … during the war years, and we saw in a very dramatic way the need for early care and over the years, it continued and expanded.”

Thus, the Arthur Eugene and Thelma Adair Community Life Center Head Start in 1944 was born, serving more than 250 children throughout Harlem and becoming a pillar of the community.

After obtaining her master’s (1945) and doctorate (1956) in education from Columbia’s Teacher College, Davidson-Adair shared her knowledge throughout New York City as a tenured professor at Queen’s College for more than 31 years and a lecturer at Columbia University and NYU. In addition to her teaching experience, she organized and directed numerous daycare and Head Start centers throughout the city, and became a key figure in the spiritual and social landscape of Harlem during the Civil Rights Movement.

During the 1960s, Davidson-Adair served as a leader in Crossroads Africa, the precursor to the Peace Corps, and later made significant contributions to the Peace Corps by establishing and coordinating training programs for volunteers preparing for service. 

In 1976, Davidson-Adair became the first Black woman to be elected moderator of the 188th General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. As part of her charge, she traveled the world, meeting and working with national leaders and dignitaries, as an ambassador for the Presbyterian Church. 

Several years later, in 1980, Davidson-Adair became president of Church Women’s United, which included women from more than 125 countries. She served in that role through 1984. 

In her later years, Davidson-Adair continued to serve her church, community, and family. Her commitment to others never wavered as she remained a lifelong advocate for education, the Presbyterian Church, and equality. 

In the months leading up to her final moments, Davidson-Adair would remark to her many grandchildren and relatives the importance of continuity — continuity of conversation, continuity of education, and continuity of family — and her belief that that was what truly gave the next generation its power.

Even after more than a century of leading by example, this true jewel of Harlem continued to look back, use her voice, and inspire the next generation not to let anything — from COVID to social injustice, to a wheelchair — stop them from speaking their truth.

The post Religious leader, activist, educator and Harlemite Dr. Thelma C. Davidson-Adair passes away at 103 appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

If you’re planning to get down on one knee, pop the question or make your relationship official in some other way, use this time to begin thinking about your finances. While talking about money can feel anything but romantic, the financial foundation you set before tying the knot can help you and your partner build together for a lifetime. 

“Being in a committed relationship can change how you spend, save, invest and plan for the future. But financial compatibility between two partners is rarely achieved without discussing what money means to each of you, including the “money messages” you received growing up,”  said Erika Shaw, matrimonial advisor at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. “Communication and transparency around money is critical to the health of any partnership, especially as life evolves.” 

Here are some considerations as you plan your financial future together:

1. Determine how you’ll share expenses. Couples have different methods for managing daily finances. None are right or wrong – it all depends on each couple’s preference. Consider how much each partner earns and discuss how each of you will contribute to these expenses. Will you combine all your money in a joint account to pay expenses, or keep separate accounts and delegate responsibility for bills? Maybe you’ll consider a mix of both. 

2. Be honest about any financial baggage. Any debts coming into the relationship — student loans, credit card debt or other financial liabilities – should be discussed, as they may impede your ability to buy a home, start a family or make certain career and life choices. Consider having an independent third party or financial advisor serve as a sounding board in your conversations.
3. Set your financial goals. Agreeing on your top financial goals and aligning your saving and investment strategies accordingly can get your marriage off to a strong financial start. What does your current lifestyle look like, and how might that change in the future? Do you want to save for a down payment on a home? Are there other large expenses on the horizon, such as a vacation or a car? Be specific about the timing, cost and priority of each of your financial goals.

4. Consider how future life changes might impact goals. Are either of you going back to school or changing careers? If you are considering children or already have children, how would you approach childcare and educational decisions? Do you expect to care for aging family in the future? All these choices will impact your finances. 

5. Have open discussions about past experiences. Making your personal finances—past, present and future—an ongoing part of your life together can help you weather disagreements about money. Explore how your views on money were shaped by your upbringing and your family’s approach to spending, saving and investing. Don’t shy away from talking through financial disagreements, as they often represent deeper divisions that can affect your entire relationship.

Countless money decisions await every couple. The sooner you begin talking about your finances—and financial expectations— the better equipped you both will be to plan your future together.

Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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* This article was originally published here