And Call Her Rev. Dr.!
by Bernice Elizabeth Green
In her Crown Heights neighborhood, Annie L. Suggs enjoys humble status — as a caring, strong, spiritual neighbor. On the give-back front, she is known as a dedicated advocate for women and families on call for advice and counsel when needed.
Annie L. Suggs is all that! And more. How about tireless warrior? Ahead of her time? Breaker of glass ceilings? A study in consistency and confidence? A driver?
Many “boomers” look back at the past and regret how they used their time. Not Annie L. Suggs.
The native of Farmville, NC, an ordained Interspiritual Minister with the One-Spirit Interfaith Seminary, has resided in New York City for more than 55 waste-free years racking up credits, awards and praise. Her matchless resume reads and “sounds” like a biblical “beget” worthy of a multi-part cable mini-series.
This week, Our Time Press applauds Ms. Suggs for receiving her Ph.D from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School last month. She’s adding that honor to many others: a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management from Nyack College and a Master of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary. Educated in the North Carolina Pitt County Public School System, The Rev. Dr. Suggs is a graduate of the United States Army Sergeant Majors Academy.
The mother and grandmother received her PhD after a half-century of education and distinguished service to her community and the nation. Her career with the U.S. Armed Reserves (USAR) began on June 7, 1979, with her enlistment as Private E1. She retired as a Command Sergeant Major in 2007 with numerous honors, highlighting 27 years of service.
Her combat and battalion training and her assignments took her all over the country and beyond, from Fort Jackson, S.C., to Bosnia & Herzegovina for Operation Joint Endeavor. As a member of the National Association of Black Military Women, Dr. Suggs serves as Vice President of the Brooklyn Chapter and NABMW National Chaplain for the Executive Board.
New Yorkers benefited from her professionalism. She committed a total 26 years and six months with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority – New York City Transit Authority (MTA-NYCTA). On October 10, 1990, she was hired as a Bus Operator and held that position for ten years. She received her first MTA-NYCTA honor after being selected and named one of the “5 Best Bus Operators for 1996-1997”. She became a Surface Line Dispatcher before moving into position as Superintendent and New York State 19A Certified Instructor, a post she held for eight years.
In 2015, she was promoted to Director of Customer Advocacy and ADA Compliance, serving as Liaison to the Chief Officer in the Customer Advocates Office; she was the first person to hold that title and position in the MTA System.
After so many years of work, former Command Sergeant Major (Ret) Suggs says retiring is not an option. She is about to activate her doctoral thesis, “Women of the Crown: An Intergenerational Safe Space in Crown Heights, Women Healing Together, Post-Covid 19” to benefit her neighborhood. Her thesis advocates “women creating a community resource center as stakeholders, recognizing and addressing the challenges women face accessing and sustaining support in a safe and bold space where they can tell their stories, share their experiences, offer hope for healing, and (harness) the power of collaboration to maintain cultural traditions while creating a more inclusive and equitable community and society through the framework of leadership, mentoring programs, networking, and workshops.”
She is proposing that the initiative would be “relevant to support and empowerment of women building for instance, a safe, bold space where women share stories, experiences, strength, and hopes for healing.”
There’s no doubt that if anyone can build on a dream, The Rev. Dr. Annie Suggs, mother of one and grandmother of three, is the “blessed” woman who can do it.