Quitman, MS Woman Receives National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions Highest Honor

Quitman, MS — Daisy Q. White was surprised when she received her invitation to the annual meeting of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions. Upon opening the program, the 89-year-old retired teacher, discovered that she had been nominated for the organization’s highest honor, the 2005 Annie Vamper “Helping Hands” Award.

Since 1993, the Federation has celebrated the people whose unselfish work for the CDCU movement carries on the legacy of Annie Vamper, whose career encompassed virtually every role of the credit union movement over more than 30 years.

White’s involvement with First Delta Federal Credit Union dates back to the early 1980s when her church sponsored the first meeting of the Quitman County Federal Credit Union’s organizing committee. Thanks in part to the hard work of White and several other volunteers, the credit union outgrew its original name, making the name change necessary in 2004. White has remained a steadfast team member making sure to attend board meetings, trainings and regulatory compliance meetings. White served as director of the credit union board and on several committees and until recently, she actively participated in the credit union’s supervisory committee. She stepped down in 2004 to make way for another generation of community development credit union leaders.

“I had been on there more than 20 years, and I said, ‘well that is enough, let someone else be on the committee,’” she said from her home.

Miss Daisy, as she is often affectionately called, was nominated for the honor by Sen. Robert L. Jackson, (D-District 11), CEO/treasurer First Delta Federal Credit Union, and former vice president of the NFCDCU board.

“Mrs. White’s commitment to improving the lives of the people in her community, and her dedication to the credit union, has earned her great respect from her peers and community leaders,” said Jackson. “She has been compared to women such as Sojourner Truth, Fannie Lou Hamer and Shirley Chisholm – a legend in her own time.”

Founded in 1981, First Delta Federal Credit Union is a member of the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions. First Delta is headquartered in Marks, Miss. and offers a variety of financial resources for residents of Quitman, Tallahatchie, Panola and Coahoma counties. For more information about First Delta, call (662) 326-4000 or 1 (800) 437-8711 or visit www.firstdeltafcu.org.