Uncrowned Community Builders

Wanda Hackney is the wife of John Hackney, since 1954, and a mother of four extraordinary children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She is an active member of the Trinity Baptist Church where she serves as a deaconess, usher, and Sunday school teacher. At Trinity, Wanda exercises her God-given talent in coordinating plays and various programs at the church for Christmas and Easter. The annual Chocolate Hour, associated with the celebration of Black History Month, was under her direction for more than ten years. Wanda is responsible for seeing that the church is decorated for events in addition to placing and arranging floral arrangements throughout the church. In 1997 Trinity Baptist Church named her Woman of the Year.

A graduate of Edward J. Meyer Memorial Hospital of Nursing in 1954, Wanda was the first African American who held the position of class president of the Student Union and Vice President of the class 1952-1954 at the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. From 1954-1989, Wanda was a Registered Nurse at E.J. Meyer Memorial Hospital, now known as Erie County Medical Center. She served as a Preceptor for University at Buffalo students from 1980-1989. During her duration at Erie County Medical Center she was featured in a Buffalo Sunday editorial news story as an emergency room nurse (1979), and presented in a special television series called, A Day with an Emergency Department Nurse (1980). Later that year, Wanda was awarded the Black Achiever's Award. She served on the Board of Directors of an organization called WERMES - Wyoming Erie Regional Medical Emergency Service.

In 1989, Wanda was presented with a Legislative Award of the Year from the New York State Nurses Association and was recognized by Erie County Medical Center for outstanding contributions to the nursing profession. After thirty-five years of service with Erie County, Wanda Hackney retired. The Mayor of Buffalo, County of Erie, and the Buffalo Common Council presented her with a proclamation commending her prestigious career that was marked by dedication and diligence to patients, co-workers, and the community. After her retirement, she served for eight years as a Teen Life Educator/Nurse Educator for prenatal patients at Geneva B. Scruggs Community Center.

Wanda is a past member of the Coalition of 100 Black Women. She served on the Board of Directors for the Committee on Rape and Sexual Assault, Boys and Girls Scouts of America, District I Nurses Association, and Wyoming/Erie County Emergency Medical Services.

She is an avid world traveler - having traveled over twenty countries and most of the United States.

In 1997, Wanda was appointed coordinator of the World Day of Prayer Urban IV Cherry District. She has served in this capacity for five years and was saluted for years of dedicated service by Church Women United. Her family was selected as the Family of the Year sponsored by the Center for the Study and Stabilization of the Black Family at Niagara University (1998).

Wanda presently serves as President of the Afro-American Historical Association of the Niagara Frontier. She also served as past president of the Inter Club Council and was treasurer for eight years. She is past president of the Emergency Nurses Association, a Silver Life Member of the NAACP, a member of Erie County Medical Center Retirement Association, Church Woman United, and an active board member of Vision Quest Ministry.
Because of Wanda's upbringing she knew at an early age what she wanted to become. Her mother, Cozetta Smith, always taught her and her two older sisters that "nothing beats a failure, but a try." That is something that she has ingrained into her own children. From her extensive involvement, Wanda shows deep concern for the rights and dignity of human persons. She is compassionate and caring towards others. She has made a commitment in whatever she is involved with and serves as an excellent role model to girls and women of all ages. She is gentle, soft-spoken, and well versed in the facts of life. People respond well to her thoughtful and kind manner. She gives much of herself to others - thus most deserving to be designated as the Uncrowned Queen.