MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Col. Adele E. Hodges, commanding officer of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and nine other black women, received the sixth annual North East Community Development Corporation's Intriguing African-American Women Award, Feb. 17.
“She has spent almost 29 years training our corps. She has mentored and been mentored and the results are individuals who are better for her influence,” said Colonel Gail E. Jennings, vice director of manpower and personnel, Joint Staff at the Pentagon, and also a recipient of the award.
Camp Lejeune was also home to another award recipient, Barbara Saunders Burwell, Camp Lejeune's corporate sponsorship specialist.
“We nominated Barbara because of her spirit and how she works so tirelessly for everyone around her,” said Diane Burry, managing partner for Outback Steakhouse in Jacksonville, who also sponsored the event.
The awards are presented to African American women who have made grate sacrifices to improve the lives of thousands, said Oliver Hill, president and chief executive officer of North East Community Development Corporation.
These women are the next generation of people like Rosa Parks or Coretta Scott King, said Hill.