In Celebration of Black History Month we Honor our Community Members

(Left to right: Jean Womack, Alberta Morrison, Shirley Stewart Matthew-Jordon, Daniel (Dan) Boone, and Shelby Manor)

City of Phoenix Operation Leap was a storefront base that empowered neighborhood people to bring about a change.  It was housed in the S.A. Dabner General Temple at 3049 South 40th Street.  The Operation Leap program along with the Phoenix Urban League set up classes to prepare young men for apprentices.  The Okemah Neighborhood Council worked in concert with local schools and recreational organizations, informing the community on current issues and activities.  The program had elected officers from the community who served honorably and faithfully.
Click here to learn more about The Okemah Project.

Jean Womack
1920 – 1975

Jean moved to the Okemah Community in approximately 1940. When the 40th Street School opened its Cafeteria, she was one of the first cooks. Jean was a skilled hairdresser and participated in helping young girls and women dress up their hair for any occasion or event.  

She was a voter registrar for the Okemah Community. Jean was trained as an election clerk and later advanced to the election judge at the Palmdale School voting polls for 40 years. She was inspirational in helping young men and women to learn to write and fill out voting forms. 

Jean’s involvement did not stop there in the community. She provided transportation to pick up trees for the Okemah Community and made certain her children helped in watering the trees.  She served on the Okemah Neighborhood Council as the recording secretary. And, on her day off, every Saturday with the help of her daughter Casandra, Jean picked up eggs and chicken from a nearby ranch and delivered the food boxes to the neighbors. The ranch was owned by a Navajo family, Holy and Ruth. Jean’s devotion to the community was faithful and outstanding.   

Alberta Morrison

Alberta came to Okemah in 1949 and currently resides in Phoenix, Arizona. She was employed with Budweiser Brewing Company in Phoenix. She was an advocate and an activist in the Okemah Community who worked to change the community, making it a better place.

Alberta, served as chairperson of the Okemah Neighborhood Council and she was a member of the Phoenix Urban League and Operation Leap.

She was a grassroots effort in helping to set up Okemah Day Care and Head Start Programs, under the direction of Betty Simmons, which opened the doors for young mothers to pursue their careers.  To this day, she is a respected and honored pioneer of Okemah.

Shirley Stewart Matthew-Jordon
1946 – 2003   

Shirley settled in the Okemah Community with her family.  She graduated from Tempe High School and received her Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from Ottawa University in Phoenix.  She was one thesis short of receiving her Master’s Degree.  Shirley was employed with the City of Phoenix for 28 years.

Her position with the City of Phoenix, allowed her to supervise Operation Leap in the Okemah Community.  This program empowered neighborhood people to bring about a change.  The Operation Leap program along with the Phoenix Urban League, whom Shirley also supervised, set up special classes to help prepare young men for apprentices.   Additionally, Shirley served as recording secretary for the Okemah Neighborhood Council which was organized by members of the community, and she was later appointed Community Action Worker for the Okemah Community.

Shirley was a grassroots effort in the start-up of the “ Gone But Not Forgotten “ Okemah Community.  She was the first to host an Okemah get-together in her home in 1987.  She served as treasurer on the Okemah Community Reunion.  We honor her as the “ Founder of Okemah Community Reunion “.  Shirley was an active and tireless worker in the community.  She was a wonderful and caring friend to all.

Daniel (Dan) Boone
1920 –  1986

Daniel moved to the Okemah Community in the mid-1940s, with his wife Opal Stewart, daughters Carol, Sharon, and Connie. He was self-taught in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing and he used his skills to add six rooms to a one-room structure. Dan also utilized his amazing skills to assist his friends and family with their projects as well. He worked at the Production Cotton Oil Company as a general repairman. He was inspired to serve as an elected officer on the Okemah Neighborhood Council as treasurer, using his voice to advocate concerning issues for the community to the City. Dan Boone was a lifelong resident of Okemah, being amongst the last family to relocate.

Shelby Manor
1898 – 1982  

Shelby moved to the Okemah Community in 1950, joining his daughter, Pearlie Mae Wady, and her family with his wife Artesia Mayshack and son Leslie.  He didn’t waste time in getting involved in the community.  It was an immediate decision to do his part.  He served as vice-chairman on the Okemah Neighborhood Council, using his local voice on the delivery of City services to the community.  And, he was a helpful citizen in the community helping neighbors with every task he could.

The Okemah Community Historic Foundation