Honor Reverend Fullard’s Retirement

Senate Resolution No. 441 BY: Senator COMRIE CONGRATULATING The Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard upon the occasion of her retirement after many years of distinguished service to the Jamaica-Long Island District of African Methodist Episcopal Churches in the New York Annual Conference WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to bring full recognition and just tribute to those individuals who distinguish themselves and the ministry through their unremitting commitment and preeminence of service; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratulate The Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard upon the occasion of her retirement after many years of distinguished service to the Jamaica-Long Island District of African Methodist Episcopal Churches in the New York Annual Conference, to be celebrated at an event held in her honor on Sunday, March 31, 2019; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard was raised in Kingstree, South Carolina, where she attended Tomlinson High School; after earning her Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, South Carolina, she moved to Brooklyn, New York, and worked as an endocrinologist at the Brooklyn Jewish Hospital; and WHEREAS, Later, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard continued her education by earning her Master of Arts degree in Science Education from the Teacher's College of Columbia University; she began her life long career with the New York City Board of Education as a chemistry teacher at the John Jay High School in Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard worked at the Clara Barton High School for the next five years, and was distinguished as an educator of excellence and dedication; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard then transferred to Andrew Jackson High School in Cambria Heights, New York, where she served in various capacities including chemistry teacher, grade advisor, assistant college advisor, and coordinator of the science department; she distinguished herself as a teacher par excellent, teaching thousands of students the principles of science as they relate to the universe as well as to the human mind and body; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard next assumed the position of Assistant Principal of the Science Department at Andrew Jackson High School; in this capacity, she led her teachers in developing curriculum and fostering goals which helped students to excel; and WHEREAS, In 1994, the Andrew Jackson High School was resolved, and restructured as four magnet high schools; Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard was appointed the first Principal of the newly formed Mathematics, Science Research and Technology Magnet School; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard, the new school met all of the standards of the New York State Regents with 90% or better in all areas, and became partners with two major federal agencies, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the United States Department of Agriculture; the NASA Students received a Gold Award for their science research publication by the Columbia Scholastics Press; and WHEREAS, In addition to her valuable work as an educator, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard has served as a minister, providing spiritual guidance to others; she studied at the New Brunswick Theology Seminary where she was conferred the degree of Master of Divinity; she has since received an honorary Doctor of Divinity and a Doctor of Education Degrees; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard became an Associate Minister under pastor, Reverend Floyd H. Flake of the Allen African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Jamaica, New York; she was ordained as an itinerant elder in the AME Church and was assigned to the Allen Temple AME Church in Mt. Vernon, New York; and WHEREAS, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard next served as pastor of the Bethel AME Church in Arverne, New York, where she helped develop her church community by promoting programs and services which were geared toward community empowerment, economic development, job opportunities, and capital investment, as well as health, education, and spiritual growth; and WHEREAS, Through this effort, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard founded the Bethel Arverne Home Health Aide Training Program, which has allowed three classes of adult students to successfully return to the work force; and WHEREAS, In June of 2004, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard was appointed the first woman Presiding Elder for The Historic Philadelphia District (Mother District) of the Philadelphia Annual Conference; the following year, she became the Presiding Elder of the Jamaica-Long Island District of 21 African Methodist Episcopal Churches in the New York Annual Conference; she will officially retire from this position in March of 2019; she also serves as an advisor to the New York Conference Branch Women In Ministry (WIM); and WHEREAS, This remarkable woman has been actively involved in many community and fraternal organizations and civic associations including Community Planning Board 14, St. John's Episcopal Hospital Advisory Board, the Community Advisory Board of York College, Board of Trustees for the New York Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, The New York Ministerial Alliance, Southeast Queens Clergy for Community Empowerment, The Rockaway/Inwood Ministerial Coalition, The Coalition for Far Rockaway, The Interfaith Clergy Coalition, Habitat for Humanity Queens Chapter, the Steering Committee of the Project for Rockaway Youth Safety and Education (PRYSE), Advisory Council of the New York City Housing Authority HOPE VI Project, NAACP's Get-Out-The-Vote Campaign for Far Rockaway, the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Patrolmen's Benevolent Association (PBA) Clergy, Council of Supervisors & Administration, New York/New York State Federation of School Administrators. AFL-CIO, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), Local 1199, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; and WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to her community, profession and faith, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the Certificate of Recognition Award by the Mayor of the Village of Hempstead, and several citations and proclamations from public officials; she was named Pastor of the Year of the Manhattan District of the African Methodist Episcopal Churches, and was included in the 2005 edition of Who's Who Among American Women; and WHEREAS, When she is not working or helping someone, Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard loves to explore and is always looking for new adventures; she loves to learn about different cultures, and the great past history and origin of Protestantism and Western Civilizations, and has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Far East; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that individual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to congratulate The Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard upon the occasion of her retirement after many years of distinguished service to the Jamaica-Long Island District of African Methodist Episcopal Churches in the New York Annual Conference, noting her unremitting and compassionate faith and her exemplary service to God, man, and her community, and extending to her the heartfelt best wishes of this Legislative Body for a future of purposeful success and well-being; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Reverend Dr. Henrietta Scott Fullard.