Sybil Phoenix

Dame Sybil Phoenix DBE (born Sybil Marshall, 21 June 1927[1]) is a British community worker. She is the first black woman to have received an MBE, in 1973.[2]

Biography

She was born in British Guiana, and grew up in Guiana. She and her fiancé Joe Phoenix moved to England in 1956, and married in June of that year.[1]

Sybil Phoenix started fostering for Lewisham in 1961. She made her own hostel for girls and became a community worker. She has been involved in Black History Month[3] and was given an MBE in 1973.[4] In 1979 she founded the Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust, a supported housing project for single homeless young women aged from 16 to 25, which is named in honour of her daughter who died in a car accident in 1974.[5]

In 1987, Princess Margaret asked her to be Minister without Portfolio for Guyana.

In 1996, Phoenix was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Lewisham,[6] and in 1998 was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.[7]

She received an OBE in 2008.[4][8][9]

References

  1. 1 2 "This website celebrates the achievements of Sybil Phoenix MBE MS". Catford Girls' School. p. 3. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  2. ↑ "The Sybil Phoenix Story". Visit London web site. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  3. ↑ "This website celebrates the achievements of Sybil Phoenix MBE MS". Catford Girls' School. p. 2. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Sybil Phoenix receives honour from The Queen". The Voice (1326). 22 June 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  5. ↑ About Marsha Phoenix Memorial Trust.
  6. ↑ "Sybil Phoenix, Freeman of the Borough, turns 80". June 2007.
  7. ↑ "This website celebrates the achievements of Sybil Phoenix MBE MS". Catford Girls' School. p. 5. Archived from the original on November 10, 2007. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  8. ↑ "(Cab Office) Queens Birthday Honours List". WhitehallPages.net. 14 June 2008. Archived from the original on May 10, 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2010.
  9. ↑ Carold, "Sybil Phoenix honoured again", Each One, Teach One, 17 June 2008.
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