Uncrowned Community Builders

F. Marie Whitthorne, born and bred in a small West Tennessee community, was the third child born to Joseph and Hattie Whitthorne (Siblings Josephine and the late Larry Whitthorne; and sisters Donna Lynn Coleman and Doris Ann Price).

Marie attended the Crockett County, Tennessee public school system graduating at age 16 from Central High School in Alamo, Tennessee in 1970 then attending Tennessee State University in Nashville with a major in Social Science. While at TSU, she worked as administrative assistant to Dr. Clarence Williams, Director of the National Baptist Training Union Board.; as a dispatcher for the Nashville Tennessean and at Vanderbilt University Admissions Department.

In October 1976, Marie relocated to Buffalo, New York and worked a variety of jobs including, but not limited to, University at Buffalo Financial Aide Department; volunteer for both Assemblyman Arthur O. Eve and the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation of Western New York. In July 1981, she became the first African American female to enter and graduate from the Erie County Fire Academy (specializing in aircraft rescue firefighting), thus beginning her career with the Niagara Frontier Transit Authority (NFTA) at the Buffalo Airport, where she is still employed. Her original title was Public Safety Officer (It is now Aircraft Rescue Firefighting Officer), working in all aspects of safety at the airport: firefighter, EMT and peace officer.

In her capacity of law enforcement officer, in addition to checkpoint security and overall patrol of all NFTA airport properties, Marie has been assigned to provide security for such dignitaries as former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton.; she worked closely with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), FBI, US Secret Service, Cheektowaga and Buffalo Police Departments, FAA, Federal Marshalls, INS and other agencies in the apprehension and interrogation of suspected perpetrators. In addition, she provided security for the Buffalo Bills Football team and others requiring special attention at the Buffalo airport.

As an EMET-D, Marie had responded to a plethora of medical emergencies and has been blessed to have personally provided several assists which resulted in life saving actions.

As a firefighter, Marie has, of course, assisted in the extinguishment of various types of fires. Most recently it was her platoon on duty the night of February 12, 2009 when Continental flight #3407 crashed in Clarence Center, New York, just short of the Buffalo Airport runway. As the firefighters were all geared up and ready to respond, because the crash occurred off property, most of them had to remain behind to ensure protection in the event of an onsite incident. Marie, in turn, assisted in the logistical aspect from the airport dispatch center. She then requested, and was give permission, to assist the families of the victims. Consequently the last seven hours of her fourteen hour shift were spent officially as EMS standby for the families but quickly evolved into her being blessed to minister to them in whatever capacity they needed. You see, for one and one-half years, Marie attended the Elim Christian Fellowship sound of the Genuine Bible Institute (a division of the Northeastern Seminary) which included Pastoral Care classes. This, as well as her deep and rooted faith in God, prepared her for such a time as this.

Marie is an active member of the Elim Christian Fellowship, Buffalo, New York, pastored by Bishop T. Anthony Bronner; member of the Elim Worship team and serves as a worship leader for the daily Morning Prayer at Elim. She is a past member, and secretary, for nine years, of the Public Safety OfficerÃ?¢ââ??¬ââ??¢s Benevolent AssociationÃ?¢ââ??¬ââ??¢s Executive Board; presently a volunteer - Quitman County (MS) Community Development Organization; volunteer Senator Robert L. Jackson (MS Ã?¢ââ??¬ââ?¬Å? 11th ); volunteer Friends of First Delta Federal Credit Union (Marks, MS); moderator for the Baskerville-Whitthorne Family United; founder of Be It Unto Me Ministries; member of the National Association of Professional Women as well as the International Association of Professional Firefighters.

Marie enjoys singing, writing, fishing, gardening, taking long walks and attending high school, college and professional sporting events with her son; spending time with family/close friends and traveling. She is currently writing a book.

With all of that said, Marie considers her most important and rewarding accomplishment, to date, to have occurred in 1992 when she became the single, adoptive mother of, who she considers to be the most wonderful kid in the world, her son, Christopher Joseph Whitthorne. This is when she considers her life to have truly began and found meaning.