Dec. 1, 2005 – Fourteen St. Thomas women who have contributed to the community will be inducted into the Virgin Islands Women's Hall of Fame during a ceremony Saturday.
The event is jointly sponsored by the Office of the Governor and the V.I. Commission on the Status of Women. It will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Peter's Great House.
In a news release sent from his office Wednesday, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull congratulated the fourteen inductees for the honor to be bestowed upon them.
"As Virgin Islanders, we must celebrate the accomplishments of our people, and acknowledge their sacrifices to improve the quality of life for all of us," Turnbull said in the release. "Our history reflects the progressive changes we have made over a period of time, and, therefore, it is important that we pay tribute to those whose contributions have significantly impacted our society."
The inductees are:
– Juel T.R. Molloy, the governor's chief of staff and first commissioner of the Human Services Department.
– Dorothy L. Elskoe, who is known as the "Culture Lady" for her lifelong commitment to preserving the culture of the Virgin Islands and her instrumental role in establishing the Prince and Princess floats in the Carnival Parade along with carnival rides in the Children's Village.
– Winifred Garfield, the first registered nurse in the territory to receive certification as a nurse anesthetist and the only nurse anesthetist to work on all three islands with a scholarship named in her honor.
– June Adams, a retired licensed practical nurse, the first and only Virgin Islander to be elected president of the National Association of License Practical Nurse Education and Service (NAPNES) and chair of the current Schneider Regional Medical Center Hospital Board.
– Zeathea Armstrong, the first female licensed pharmacist in the territory and owner of Apothecary Hall Pharmacy for over 40 years, established the Bible Book Club for high school students.
– Fiolina Bocachica-Mills, school librarian and administrator, who helped organize Education Department's Curriculum Centers on both islands.
– Ruth Thomas, an educator who served as principal of the Charlotte Amalie High School for 33 years and has a scholarship fund for teacher education in her honor.
Posthumously:
– Lucinda A. Millin, the first female V.I. senator, founder and owner of Lucinda Millin School, instrumental in establishing the Home for the Aged, which is now named in her honor.
– Rhoda H.T. Tillett, cofounder and owner of Tillett Gardens Arts and Entertainment Complex, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
– Maud Proudfoot, the first and only social worker in the established Department of Social Welfare, roadway in Upstreet St. Thomas named in her honor.
– Edith Williams, an educator responsible for school lunch program, instrumental in the struggle for women's rights in the territory, first female licensed driver in the territory.
– Mariel Newton, the first policewoman in the territory, responsible for organizing the Police Athletic League youth group.
– Myrah Keating-Smith, a health nurse, psychologist, dental hygienist, who delivered more than 500 babies on St. John.
– Gertrude Lockhart-Dudley-Melchoir, an educator, businesswoman, cultural bearer, first woman principal at All Saints School, one of the first officers of the United Way in the Virgin Islands, and instrumental in the re-establishment of St. Thomas Carnival.

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