Uncrowned Community Builders

Missionary Ramona Nazario is the second child born to Hulon and Pearl Mitchell and the great granddaughter of Stephen Carter (Chickasaw). As one of the original members of the Musical Mitchells (a family band), she traveled throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states singing Gospel music in the 1940s and 50s. Ramona played the clarinet and piano. She participated in an Oklahoma statewide vocal competition during her years at school and won first place in Solo, as well as first place in Trio Vocal Competition.

After raising her children, Ramona completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1984, along with a Public Health Nursing degree. With her primary focus on education, she worked from 1990 to 1991 for the Newark Board of Education as a teacher. As a classroom instructor, she taught students from preschool to 12th grade. She also enjoyed being a member of the Nurses Honor Society, Sigma Theta Tau. She was also a member of number of professional organizations, including Woman Executive, SEECA and NAYAEC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Forever the patriot, she served 9 years in the United States Army Medical Corps, as Captain. She joined in 1989 and has worked as an Army HIV/AIDS educator. She has also served as the vice-president of the Officers Association and Director of Social Activities. She and her son, Philip, served together in the military for a short time.

As a community activist, Ramona spearheaded a committee to renovate her neighborhood in the city of East Orange, New Jersey. She served as president of the Community Action Program of East Orange and has been a member of the Urban League of New Jersey. Returning to her hometown of Enid, Oklahoma, Ramona was one of the first black women to hold the job of Supervisor of Nursing for Home Health Care.

Ramona is a member of the Garfield County Red Cross as an HIV/AIDS Educator. She has also worked as a nursing instructor at the collegiate level, serving at Bacone College in Muskogee, Oklahoma and at Langston University in Langston, Oklahoma. Langston is the same institution in which her grandmother, Olive Julia Raysor Leatherman McCann also taught, many years before. Ramona taught Nursing Theory in the area of Medical Surgical Nursing and Psychology, as well as Nursing Lab and Clinical.

Some of her many community and religious activities include service as Committee Woman for the First Ward, City of East Orange in New Jersey. She also held a Congressional seat for First Wardââ?¬â?¢s Democratic Committee. She has been instrumental in having traffic lights installed for safety of school children. Ramona has been Den Mother to Cub Scouts. She has been president of the YWCC for the Northwest District Church of God in Christ. With her local church, she has served on the Board of Trustees, on the Missionary Board and as a member of the Hospitality Club. She is married to Felipe Nazario of Guanica, Puerto Rico and has five children.