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. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. 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.

External links

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