A Celebration of the Life of Fatimah Ali (AKA Susan Hughes)

―Give me an ear and I will give you a voice‖ Khalil Gibran June 16, 1956 ~ January 24, 2012 Service Monday, January 30, 2012 ~ 6:00 PM Summit Presbyterian Church 6757 Greene Street Philadelphia, PA 19119 Officiating Reverend Cheryl Pyrch, Pastor Ryan Tibbets, Organist Her Journey

Fatimah Ali, a free-lance writer with two decades of journalism experience, is best known for delivering information to help people empower their lives. As a reporter, Ms. Ali has covered five Philadelphia mayoral administrations and from 2006 to 2011 wrote op-eds for the Philadelphia Daily News, where she is an associate member on the paper’s Editorial Board. She has worked on both sides of the media as a reporter and as a publicist, and offered PR consulting services under her banner, Fame Media Strategies, specializing in public relations for non-profits and small businesses, as well as contract writing.

Passionate about health, Ms. Ali wrote about food at www.Healthysoutherncomforts.com on the WE ARE BLACK WOMEN blog network, and offered her exceptional culinary skills catering healthy meals for exclusive parties of up to 75. She was working on completing three books: a novella called Chasing Rainbows; her memoir Cry Victim No More; and a spin-off from her blog called Feed Your Family Well, 12 Steps for Healthier Living.

In 1996, Fatimah served as Public Information Director for the Philadelphia Empowerment Zone, a $79-million federal initiative that served three of Philadelphia’s poorest communities. There, her responsibilities included creating and implementing a public information/PR strategy, and organizing and facilitating Community Trust-Board Elections for 40-thousand residents. Some of her past PR clients included: the Wharton SBDC; The New Freedom Theatre; The Martin Luther King Jr. Association for Non-Violence, and the former Health Czar of Philadelphia.

Raised in Philadelphia as Susan Hughes, Fatimah graduated from the Germantown Friends School and continued her education at Wesleyan University, where she majored in English and Literature. Married life and raising her five children put her formal education on the back burner. Nonetheless, she joined the professional workforce, pursuing her career in journalism. In 1981 she continued her journalism path at KWY TV, where she interned in the Public Affairs and Programming Departments for the television side. She moved into radio at Philadelphia heritage stations —WDAS where she worked as Producer, on-air Reporter, Anchor and News Director; WUSL Power 99 FM, as Public Affairs Director; and at1340AM WHAT Talk Radio, where she produced and hosted ―The Real Deal.‖ Other radio stops included WTOP in Washington, DC as an Editor; News Anchor at New York’s all news Ten-Ten WINS; and anchoring cover- age of the OJ Simpson’s trial at WBLS/WLIB radio.

At the time of her transition she was employed at WURD 900 AM Radio station as the mid-morning Talk Show Host. Her show, ―The Real Deal with Fatimah Ali‖ was insightful, thought provoking and energizing.

In all her other talents and strengths, Fatimah’s first commitment was always to her family. She was a loving and devoted daughter to her parents, Deurward and Mary ―Bunny‖ Hughes and often cited them as her role models and the most signifi- cant influence on her passion for education and community. Fatimah was formerly married to Senator Vincent Hughes, and journalist, Brahim Ahmaddiyah (deceased). She was the devoted mother of Ariell, Malik, Khadijah, Rashida and Yasmin; grandmother of Dylan and Suzen Kaya, and partner, Imhotep Natu Ali. She is also survived by her two sisters, Diane and Brenda, brother in-laws Bill Webster and Marcus Miller, and a large group of nieces, nephews, and cousins who formed the close community she called her family.

Fatimah is deeply loved and will be greatly missed. ORDER OF SERVICE

Reverend Cheryl Pyrch, Pastor Presiding Call to Worship & Opening Prayer Old Testament Isaiah 61:1-3 New Testament John 14: 1-3 Hymn - ―Precious Lord, Take My Hand‖ p. 404 Poem Selection - ―Crossing the Bar‖ by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Jonathan Miller Homily Musical Selection Marcus Miller Acknowledgements Thera Martin Milling, TBM Productions Tributes The Honorable Mayor Michael A. Nutter, City of Philadelphia Lorene Carey, Founder , Art Sanctuary Sonia Sanchez , Philadelphia’s Poet Laureate Sara Lomax -Reese , President & General Manager WURD 900 AM Radio Sarah Glover, President, Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists Sumaya Helen Blue, Executive Director, Wellness Evolution Barbara Grant, Program Director, WURD 900 AM Radio Tom Page, New Freedom Theater Childhood Friends Dr. Albert Mitchell, Kittura Dior, & Woody Johnston Dr. Lena Barboza Family Tribute Dr. Deurward Hughes Dr. Diane Hughes Personal Remembrances from Fatimah’s children Ariell Hughes Malik Ahmaddiya Kadijah Ahmaddiya Rashida Ali Yasmin Ali Reflections fromThe Cousins, Nieces & Nephews of Fatimah Pastoral Prayer Followed by the Lord’s Prayer Musical Selection Ilyana Barboza Benediction Procession Postlude ―I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter. ― Winston Churchill

Special Thanks and Acknowledgements

With all our hearts, we would like to thank everyone who prayed, called, visited, or sent cards, made charitable contributions, ran interference, delivered food, scanned, edited, and formatted documents. You have warmed our hearts and shown us what true friendship looks like. A special thanks to the entire Moore family for turning over their home to us entirely and without question. Our thanks also to the city of Philadelphia – we could not have made it through this without your love and support. Your kindness will never be forgotten. As Fatimah would say: peace, love, and blessings.

- The Family -

Memorial ―Contributions to the Children of Fatimah Ali Trust Fund‖ May be sent to: FBO Children of Fatimah Ali c/o WURD 1341 North Delaware Avenue, Suite 300 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19125