Sad News on Chief Wilma Mankiller

[walksalone11]

I just learned that Wilma Mankiller has Stage IV pancreatic cancer and is receiving care at home from hospice.  The announcement just came out by email to all tribal employees.  Please ask that our OIMC churches pray for Wilma and her family, all the Cherokee people, the Native American people, the women, children and elders who treasure her and who will miss her so much.  May Creator God be with her in this final earthly journey.  Thank you.

 

Anita

 


--
Rev. Anita Phillips
Executive Director
Native American Comprehensive Plan
928 North York Street, Suite #2
Muskogee , OK 74403
(918) 686-8444 (office)
(918) 686-8456 (fax)


From:  S Rocha [mailto:EDIT]
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 6:36 PM
Subject: FW: Sad News on Chief Wilma Mankiller

 

 

 

 

 

Please pray for the family and nations of people who owe a debt of gratitude and respect to the life and work of this strong and resilient leader of men and women.
A great Cherokee woman, Wilma Mankiller.
She is an inspiration to the world.

[walksalone11]

        Below is a statement from Wilma Mankiller herself and her husband, sent by Chad.

         

    Chad Smith

     

    Statement:

 

Charlie Soap regrets to announce his wife Wilma Mankiller has been diagnosed with Stage IV Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer.  Mankiller is an author, lecturer and former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation.  Mankiller has served 12 years in elective office at the Cherokee Nation, the first two as Deputy Principal Chief followed by 10 years as Principal Chief.  She retired from public office in 1995.  Among her many honors, Mankiller has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.  Soap requests that the public respect the family's privacy during this time.

 

In a brief statement, Mankiller said:

 

I decided to issue this statement because I want my family and friends to know that I am mentally and spiritually prepared for this journey; a journey that all human beings will take at one time or another.  I learned a long time ago that I can't control the challenges the Creator sends my way but I can control the way I think about them and deal with them.  On balance, I have been blessed with an extraordinarily rich and wonderful life, filled with incredible experiences.   And I am grateful to have a support team composed of loving family and friends.  I will be spending my time with my family and close friends and engaging in activities I enjoy.  It's been my privilege to meet and be touched by thousands of people in my life and I regret not being able to deliver this message personally to so many of you.  If anyone wants to send a message to me, it is best to email me at wilmapmankiller@ yahoo.com

[swogden]

My prayers go out to Wilma Mankiller and her family.  May your journey through this final stage be comforting and peaceful.  May your next journey be energizing and fulfilling.