Heroines of African American Golf, a fully-illustrated companion volume to The African American Golfer: Her Legacy, serves as a compendium of in-depth biographies of women, collegians, and junior golfers who have defied the odds in playing in the sport of golf. Ten of the golfers' biographies included are actually written by the athletes themselves, covering their personal experiences in the sport. Fascinating photographs also illustrate many of the golfers' stories. A heroine is a daring person, good, adventurous, famous, ideal, legendary, victorious, and courageous-a role model and a goddess. The African American woman golfer personifies all of these traits and more. She is the woman of no equal in the days of modern sports. Black women today are stronger, healthier, more educated, well traveled, and living longer than ever before. Their organizations bring the sport of golf to their communities, encouraging women to become more active in the sport at all levels. This collection of biographies tells their stories, describing the adventures of heroines from the past, the present and the future. M. Mikell Johnson, Ph.D., has been a scientist at several research institutes and pharmaceutical companies. Since her retirement, she has devoted her time to golf, especially the pursuit of the history of African American women in the sport. Her move to the Carolinas has brought her to a mecca of golf courses. Heroines of African American Golf The Past, The Present and The Future By M. Mikell Johnson Trafford Publishing Copyright © 2010 M. Mikell Johnson All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4269-3419-3 Contents Dedication.............................................................ixAcknowledgements.......................................................xiForeword...............................................................xvIntroduction...........................................................xvii1. Wake Robin Golf Club................................................3Helen Webb Harris......................................................32. Afro-American Golfers Hall of Fame..................................13Anna Mae Robinson......................................................133. The Fantastic Five-Women Champions..................................19Marie Thompson Jones...................................................21Lucy Williams Mitchum..................................................25Thelma McTyre Cowans...................................................32Ann Moore Gregory......................................................38Ethel Powers Funches...................................................451. A Rare Pair.........................................................55Vernice Turner.........................................................57Madelyn Turner.........................................................612. The Revolutionists..................................................65Maggie Hathaway........................................................67Althea Gibson..........................................................723. The LPGA Master Teaching Professional...............................77Carrie Purnell Russell.................................................791. The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).....................1052. Why I Play Golf.....................................................109Paula Pearson-Tucker...................................................1093. I Am Still A Champion...............................................113Carrie Jones...........................................................1131. The Collegiate Realm................................................119Shasta Averyhardt......................................................123Jocelyn Lewis..........................................................129Erica Pressley.........................................................1372. The Juniors.........................................................143Shelley Williams.......................................................147Naomi Mitchell.........................................................1521. Trying to Make it to the LPGA Tour..................................1692. The Solution........................................................1751. The Athletes........................................................1872. The Women's Golf Organizations......................................1971. Achievements........................................................2122. Halls of Fame.......................................................2193. The Legacy..........................................................223Bibliography...........................................................229Index..................................................................233 Chapter One The Wake Robin Golf Club Helen Webb Harris Helen Harris who resided at 79 "R" Street, Washington DC, sent postcards to many of her friends and associates, inviting them