A memorial service will be held June 28 for Evelyn Burkett Flanagan.

Flanagan died June 16, 2012 of heart failure in Philadelphia. She was 80.

She was born March 8, 1932 in Rockford, Ill. to Walter Smith Sr. and Maude Burkett Smith. She was one of eight children.

Her civic responsibility shone early on while at Rockford’s West High School when she earned a spot at Illinois’ Girls State. She graduated from high school in 1950 and married Wilbur Flanagan on Dec. 1, 1951.

The couple and their family left Illinois, spent some time in Glen Burnie, Md., and eventually settled in Philadelphia in 1958.

During her many years of taking care of her home and family, Flanagan also taught at Wagner Middle School, worked at Sears in retail, volunteered at neighborhood schools and routinely worked at the election polls in the city’s East Germantown section. 

She was very artistic, loved doing sketches and talked frequently about enjoying sculpting.

Flanagan lost most of her sight in 2008 due to glaucoma and macular degeneration.

After suffering a bad fall last June, Flanagan was in several rehab centers and nursing homes. She last resided at Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) Hospice of Philadelphia in the city’s East Falls section.

She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, her son Gregory, and sister Delphine preceded her in death.

She is survived by her three daughters Carol Flanagan and Yvonne (Herman) Sanford, both of Philadelphia; and Sharyn Flanagan, of McLean, Va.; four grandchildren: JaMar Flanagan, Kaitrill Flanagan, Nicole Sanford and Torie Flanagan; two great-grandchildren: Kaitrill Flanagan Jr. and Najila Void; siblings: Barbara Black, of Chicago; Jean Wright, of Lithonia, Ga.; Carolyn (Hugh) Lawrence, of Beloit, Wis.; Laura Rodgers, of Oak Park, Ill.; Walter Smith Jr., of Dalton, Ga.; and Sayida Hafiz, of Philadelphia; and other relatives and friends.

The memorial service will be held June 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 230 W. Coulter St.

Funeral services have been scheduled for Moses Walker Jr.

Walker, 40, was a 19-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department.

He was shot and killed on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2012, shortly after finishing his shift at District 22.

Moses entered the Philadelphia Police Academy in March 1993 as a recruit. In August 1993, he was promoted to the rank of police officer and like many rookie officers, was assigned to foot patrol in the Department’s Center City District. After walking the beat in Center City for several months, he was assigned to the 22nd District on March 31, 1994. Moses would find a home patrolling the streets of North Central for the next 18 years. He was known by both his fellow officers and the residents he served as a courteous, polite and humble man.

His service extended past the police department. He was also an active member of the Deliverance Evangelistic Church where he served as a deacon. There, he was known as an optimistic man who always saw the good in people.

He is survived by his mother and five siblings.

A viewing will be held Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Deliverance Evangelistic Church, 2001 Lehigh Avenue.

A second viewing will be held Aug. 27 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Deliverance Evangelistic Church. Services will follow at 10 a.m. Burial will be held in Fernwood Cemetery, 6501 Baltimore Avenue.

The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #5 will hold a fundraiser to support Walker’s family on Aug. 27 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at 1336 Spring Garden St.

Robert Vincent Richards Sr. also known as “Bob,” worked for the city of Philadelphia for 35 years.

He died July 3, 2012. He was 82.

Richards was born to Hilda Soso Robinson on June 15, 1930, in Toronto, Canada. He was the youngest of two children.

Richards was educated in the Philadelphia public school system. He did not finish high school but later earned his GED. He attended Spring Garden Institute of Technology where he received a degree in automotive technology.

Richards was baptized and confirmed at Calvary Episcopal Church under the ministry of Father Thomas Logan. He later joined Wissinoming Presbyterian Church under the ministry of Rev. Anderson Porter where he was an elder until his death.

Richards worked for the City of Philadelphia from 1950 until he retired in 1985. He began as a sanitation worker. He later worked in the Recreation Department and finally, as an auto mechanic.

He met and fell in love with Ruth Jones and they were wed on January 29, 1949. From this union he had two children, Robert Richards Jr. and Patricia Richards Whitaker.

Richards was involved in many activities. He was an elder in his church. He volunteered at Presbyterian hospital. He took Tai Chai classes and was an involved and active neighbor in his community.

Richards had five great loves; his family, his church, Tai Chai, shooting pool and reading. They kept him busy and active to the end.

“Anyone who knew Bob will always remember the big smile he always greeted you with and his hearty laugh,” his family said.

“He was tight with a dollar and frequently used his coupons and asked for senior discounts. If you needed him he was always willing and available to help even at 82 years old.”

He is survived by his son, Robert Richards Jr.; his daughter, Patricia Whitaker (Melvin); sister, Gwendolyn Soso Jones; his grandsons, Robert Richards III, Marcus Whitaker and Matthew Whitaker; his great-grandchildren, Isabella Richards and Mason Whitaker and his extended family; his companion, Gladys Tucker; son, Howard Tucker; grandsons, Max, Jesse and Alex Tucker; and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held July 13. Viewing will be held at 10 a.m. at Wissinoming Presbyterian Church, 5825 Torresdale Avenue. Services will follow at 11. Burial is in West Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Wood Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

When Carlette Knox was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, she turned to the Fox Chase Cancer Center for treatment.

This led her to tap into the Fox Chase’s Risk Assessment program, which offers genetic testing to help better inform prevention and testing options.

“I was introduced to the Risk Assessment program so that we could determine whether or not I was a carrier of the BRCA gene,” said Knox, who was diagnosed at the age of 34.

Knox, who is one of five sisters, has a family history of cancer. Her grandmother died from breast cancer when her mother was just 12 years old. Her father died of colon cancer at the age of 72. Her mother battled both breast and pancreatic cancers and died in April.

She would learn that she carried the BRCA gene, which meant she had different treatment options available. She underwent chemotherapy, radiation and a bilateral mastectomy in 2010.

Knox elected to undergo a bilateral mastectomy, a surgical procedure where all the breast tissue is removed, as a way to prevent breast cancer from reoccurring.

“Just seeing how cancer had impacted her and the women in my family, it was the right thing to do,” she says of her decision.

“The key for me now is early detection and understanding what the options are and really knowing what the risks are.”

When Knox’s mother was impacted by breast cancer in her early 30s, she didn’t have the option of genetic testing. According to the National Cancer Institute, a woman with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene is at increased risk for developing breast, ovarian or other cancers.

For Knox, working with a genetic counselor was difficult because she lacked detailed information about her family’s history with cancer.

“It’s really ironic, because in the African-American community, we don’t talk about it (cancer) so it was really difficult for me to work with a genetic counselor and trace back the cancer,” says Knox.

Three of Knox’s sisters chose to undergo genetic testing, while one opted not to. Out of the four siblings who were tested, two tested positive for the BRCA gene. Knox says the sibling who initially elected not be tested, is now considering the possibility.

While Knox and her sisters were growing up and accompanying their mother to the doctor’s offices for her breast cancer care, she said they were never informed about genetic testing.

“It’s amazing to us that no one ever said you should consider testing,” she pointed out.

Knox is sharing her story at a time when Fox Chase’s Risk Assessment Program marks its 20th anniversary.

“When we founded it in 1991 we knew there were genes but we didn’t know what they were. The last 15 years have been remarkable in terms of finding genes and making genes available for testing,” said Dr. Mary Daly, founder of Fox Chase’s Risk Assessment Program.

“Part of the value of risk assessment is it helps an individual put their risk in the context that is appropriate for them and sometimes that means indicating that they have an increased risk and sometimes that means telling them that they are not at increased risk,” said Daly.

Program participants undergo a blood test, give a detailed family history and submit information about health behaviors that might impact their risk for developing cancer.

According to Daly, more than 10,000 people have participated in the program since its inception. Approximately 30 to 50 people sign up to participate on a monthly basis.

The program assesses risk for breast, colon, ovarian, colon, prostate and skin cancers.

“It’s been an opportunity for a lot of research. We’ve used the information from our families to decide whether prophylactic surgery is working, whether it’s saving lives or if certain medications might help them,” Daly added.

“People who participate in this program, not only get the information for themselves but they are contributing to research for everybody.”

Contact Tribune staff writer Ayana Jones at (215) 893-5747 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Business community says education critical to prosperity, growth

As he addressed the region’s business leaders, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce Chairman William P. Hankowsky said public education must be a top priority for the organization.

“There are few issues more important to the success of society than the state of its education system and how it prepares its kids for the future,” Hankowsky said speaking to more than 1,500 business leaders who gathered at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on Friday morning.

“As a chamber our mission is clear. We’re to attract, retain and grow jobs in the Greater Philadelphia area. It may not be as clear why the chamber would want to be involved directly in education, but as a business person you know how important it is to have a talented and prepared workforce for the future of your organization.”

He noted that only 34 percent of Philadelphia public high school graduates go on to obtain a higher education.

“For the Greater Philadelphia region to grow, we must do a better job at educating our children and preparing them for the jobs of the 21st century,” Hankowsky said.

With that in mind, Hankowsky said over the next several months, a group of chamber members will develop a strategy on how the business community can help improve public education in Philadelphia. The strategy would offer practical solutions in the areas of leadership and help the school district operate more efficiently.

“This is a multi-year strategy that will require a significant investment of your time and your resources on the part of our overall business community,” he said.      

“Simply put, Philadelphia must produce more high school graduates who are positioned in numerous disciplines for the workforce. If businesses cannot find workers they need close to home, a lot of them are forced to expand elsewhere and we cannot prosper without those schools.”

The organization will also focus on membership, advocacy, public policy and economic growth over the next four years.

Chamber president and CEO Rob Wonderling gave an overview of the organization’s strides throughout the year.

“During this past year, we now set a high standard for diversity and inclusion. We’ve grown our CEO Access Network, our Suppliers Network and our Diversity and Inclusion Officers Council because we firmly believe that a diverse and inclusive business community, and a diverse and inclusive civic community, is absolutely the foundation to economic prosperity,” Wonderling said.

During the event, ABC “World News” anchor Diane Sawyer discussed the economy and world affairs in an interview with Jim Gardner of 6ABC Action News.

Contact Tribune staff writer Ayana Jones at (215) 893-5747 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Two local nonprofits have received grants from the PNC Foundation to create financial education programs for preschoolers.

The Please Touch Museum and the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children received $325,000 from the foundation to teach children about saving and spending.

The grant funding was announced during a luncheon held Tuesday at PNC’s Market Street offices that drew executives from the nonprofit community, early childhood education leaders and PNC employee volunteers.

“This is a part of a $12 million initiative that is part of Grow Up Great that focuses on improving financial literacy for children as well as parents and teachers. The program is called “For Me, For You, For Later: First Steps to Spending, Sharing and Saving.” It will lead young children towards a solid understanding of these basic concepts,” said PNC Regional President Bill Mills.

Created by Sesame Workshop, “For Me, For You, For Later,” features a multimedia kit to enhance financial education for children between the ages of three and five. The kits include a guide for parents and caregivers, a children’s activity book and an original Sesame Street DVD.

During the luncheon, PNC Financial Services Group Chairman and CEO James E. Rohr gave an overview of Grow Up Great, PNC’s signature early childhood education program.

The program was just extended by $250 million over 10 years to enhance early childhood education and school readiness.

The initiative will focus on enhancing financial education for families in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The PNC Foundation will award $1.04 million in Grow Up Grants across Pennsylvania. The grants will be distributed to 12 nonprofit community partners, including libraries, YMCAs, school districts and other organizations that focus on high-quality care and education for young children. In Pennsylvania, approximately 40,000 children will be served through Grow Up Great, in addition to nearly 15,000 parents/caregivers and more than 1,400 preschool educators.

Through its partnership with PNC, the Please Touch Museum received $200,000 to incorporate the concept and curriculum of For Me, For You, For Later in all aspects of the museum’s work. The financial education curriculum will also be integrated into their comprehensive school readiness outreach programs such as the Portable Play series and Museum Without Walls programs. The museum will reach approximately 20,000 children.

“PNC has been a partner of the museum for many years. They are excellent partners in early childhood,” says Please Touch Museum president and CEO Laura Foster.

Foster noted that the organization has been engaging in discussions with PNC officials about developing financial literacy program for children because it realized that it was a natural subject for kids.

“The good thing about this is it reaches both children and parents,” Foster says of For Me, For You, For Later.

PNC’s other Philadelphia area partner, DVAEYC will serve 2,000 preschool children and 90 early childhood education teachers. DVAEYC will take a three-tiered approach to delivering PNC’s For Me, For You, For Later curriculum by training 90 early childhood education professionals from 30 programs serving 2,000 children and at least 500 families in the region.

The PNC Foundation receives its principal funding from the PNC Financial Services Group.

Contact Tribune staff writer Ayana Jones at (215) 893-5747 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

An initiative is underway to increase well-baby pediatric visits during an infant’s first year of life.

The Maternity Care Coalition has partnered with the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition, Merck and the National Medical Association to launch Healthy Beginnings for Babies.

Healthy Beginnings for Babies launched in three urban areas, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Chicago.

“The program really hopes to increase the number of moms who are taking their babies for well-baby care and ensuring that all babies get the vaccinations they need during the first year,” said Karen Pollack, MCC’s director of programs.

“What we find in working with families is that there are a lot of things that make it difficult for moms to get kids to the doctor.”

MCC staff is working to educate parents about the importance of well-baby visits by distributing educational materials and conducting outreach through health fairs and other activities.

MCC is distributing a booklet for parents titled “Guide For Baby’s 1st Year” that offers information on child development issues, what parents can expect for pediatric visits during their babies first year, questions to ask their health professionals and a scheduling chart for well-baby visits and immunizations.

Well-baby appointments enable medical providers to ensure that a baby is healthy and developmentally on track. During the appointments, a baby’s growth is charted and the baby is given a physical examination. The healthcare provider will also check the baby’s general development, provide nutritional information and administer vaccinations.

“When babies aren’t getting all their immunizations, and when they’re not regularly going to a healthcare provider, there is a concern about potential developmental delays or it makes them at greater risk for exposure to different illnesses,” says Pollack.

Founded in 1980, MCC focuses on improving maternal and child health and well-being.

Contact Tribune staff writer Ayana Jones at (215) 893-5747 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

December 7 marks the deadline for Medicare beneficiaries to make changes to their Medicare Advantage (Part C) or prescription drug plans (Part D).

“There will not be an extension. People really do need to make that change by December 7,” said Roseanne Egan, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) acting regional administrator.

The open enrollment period, running from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, is the period when existing Medicare recipients can make changes to their plans. Medicare beneficiaries who do not make any changes by the deadline will remain in their existing plans.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid recently mailed Medicare & You handbooks and postcards to more than 42 million households, reminding them of this year’s earlier deadline. In previous years, the enrollment period was Nov. 15–Dec. 31.

“The reason we did that is to allow the Medicare Advantage plans and prescription drug plans the opportunity to process all the changes in the new enrollment so that the beneficiaries can get their new cards for the January 1 date, so there won’t be any delays in access to care,” Egan said.

“This year CMS is highlighting plans that have achieved an overall quality rating of 5 stars with a high performer or “gold star” icon — so people with Medicare can easily find high-quality plans.

CMS officials said all Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to access Medicare Advantage plans that have zero premiums. There are 36 available prescription drug plans available in Pennsylvania.

This year, Independence Blue Cross introduced a low-cost Medicare Advantage plan with premiums as low as $15 a month.

“Medicare is just one of the many areas in our business where we saw an opportunity to be more responsive to our customers’ needs and were able to develop an innovative solution to meet those needs,” said Daniel J. Hilferty, president and CEO of IBC.

“We share our members’ concern about access to affordable Medicare health plans, and we’re pleased to launch this new HMO that offers low monthly premiums with the same high-quality benefits and services our members expect from us.”

As beneficiaries look over their new plan options, they will see better value in the Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan benefits.

Beneficiaries with Part D coverage who are in the coverage gap, or “donut hole,” will continue to receive 50 percent discounts on covered brand-name drugs thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Average premiums for Part D prescription drug plans will also decrease to $30 in 2012, about 76 cents less compared to the average 2011 premium.

CMS officials said that as of October, 149,988 people in Pennsylvania with Medicare have saved an average of $592 per person on their prescriptions, accounting for savings of $89 million statewide.

As a result of the Affordable Care Act, more than 898,000 people have received at least one of the new free Medicare preventative benefits.

For enrollment information visit www.medicare.gov/find-a-plan, call 1-800-MEDICARE or call the APPRISE network at 1 (800)-783-7067.

Elder Annet White-Green was a retired social worker supervisor at Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.

She died June 20, 2012, at her Middletown home. She was 74.

She was born on June 9, 1938, to the late William Sr. and Lottie Suber.

White-Green earned her master’s in theology at the N.C. College of Theology and studied at Equipping the Saints School of Ministry and Columbia Institute of Business, Philadelphia.

As a member of Grace and Mercy Church and Ministries, she served as director of Saturday-Sunday School, director of Usher Ministry and director of Volunteers.

She is predeceased by her daughter, Michelle Jackson.

She is survived by her husband, George W. Green of Middletown; sons, Rudolph T. Harrison of S.C., and Kevin M. Harrison of Middletown; seven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and other relatives.

Services will be held June 28 at Grace and Mercy Church and Ministries, 501 Ann St., Middletown. Viewing is at 10 a.m. Services will follow at 11 a.m. Burial will be held June 29 at 11 a.m. at Ivy Hill Cemetery.

Wallace Funeral Directors handled the arrangements.

Harold Goldsborough Miller was a distinguished military and civil servant, journalist and teacher.

He died July 27, 2012, at Abington Memorial Hospital in Montgomery County. He succumbed to cancer at the age of 93.

“Though we are devastated to be without him, we feel blessed to have had such a powerful force in our lives, someone who instilled in each of us the importance of education, service, and devotion to God and family,” said Miller’s daughter, attorney Consuelo Miller of Chicago.

He was born to the late Watson and Anna Miller in Philadelphia on Aug. 25, 1918. Miller spent his early years in Philadelphia and attended Overbrook High School. Upon graduation in 1937, Miller went on to Wilberforce University graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1941.

While at Wilberforce, Miller was a member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (ROTC), receiving a commission as second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserves upon graduation. His interest in the military was sparked by his first professor of military science, the then Col. Benjamin O. Davis Sr., who later became the first African-American general in the U.S. Army.

Immediately after graduation, Miller was ordered to active duty with the 366th Infantry Regiment at Ft. Devens, Mass. He served there until he became disabled in 1944. After eight months in an Army hospital he was retired from active duty in 1945. While still in the service Miller married his childhood sweetheart and fellow East Calvary M.E. Church (now Tindley temple U.M. Church) member, Consuelo “Connie” Dale. In addition to their daughter, they had a son, Harvey. Connie died in 1991.

Miller went to work for The Philadelphia Independent newspaper. Upon leaving the Independent, he became a caseworker with the Pennsylvania Department of Welfare. Two years later he transferred to the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole from which he retired after 32 years of service. He became the agency’s first Black district director and regional director in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was a hearing examiner when he retired in 1979.

Miller took graduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University. He also completed the Administrative Law Judges’ seminar at George Washington University School of Law.

From 1969 until 1979, Miller was an instructor in criminal justice at Temple University and a regular lecturer at Villanova University. He served as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Probation, Parole and Corrections and was the first African American to serve as president of the Middle Atlantic States Correctional Association. In 1988 he authored the 50 Year History of the Association and in 1998 was named the first president emeritus in the 60 year history of the association.

Always active in community affairs, Miller was a charter member and the first president of the Men’s Social Service Organization at the Krams Avenue branch of the Salvation Army. He was later given an award by that organization for his service. He served as district commissioner of the William Penn District, Boy Scouts of America and later served on the troop committee at St. Andrews in the Field Episcopal Church. He was also a member of the Philadelphia Seminar, the Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees, and the Military Officers Association of America.

He was a long time member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., joining Upsilon Chapter on Dec. 10, 1939, while at Wilberforce University. After returning to Philadelphia he became active with Mu Omega Chapter which presented him with a Founders Award in recognition of his service to the fraternity and the community. He also received an award from the Leadership Conference of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity in recognition of more than 70 years of service to the fraternity.

Miller became active with the Wilberforce University Alumni Association as soon as he graduated, and was a co-founder of the Philadelphia Chapter in 1945. He held many offices in the chapter and was given the Distinguished Service Award by both the local chapter and the National Alumni Association. He spearheaded a drive which culminated in the establishment of the Class of ’41 Endowed Scholarship Fund at Wilberforce and in 1999 he was inducted into the National Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2000, he was given the James E. Stamps Award by the Philadelphia Inter-Alumni Council of UNCF and the United Negro College Fund in recognition of his service to the Philadelphia community and his alumni.

“The zest he had for life and the way he lived each day to the fullest is a legacy that will live on for generations,” says Consuelo.

With a passion for travel, Miller visited Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, many of the Caribbean Islands, Europe, Africa, South America, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska and most of the U.S. Additionally, he cruised to several other locales including the Mediterranean.

On July 7, 2001, his long-time friend, Genester Nix Wilson, joined Miller in holy matrimony.

In addition to his wife and children, Miller is survived by a daughter-in-law, Alvania Miller; four granddaughters, Heather Ram, Alexis Williams-Currie, Kristen Hatcher and Tory Harris; seven great-grandchildren; three grandsons-in-law; four stepchildren, Dr. Genester Wilson-King, the Reverends John S. Wilson Jr. and Lucas Wilson, and Adrienne Hubbard; their spouses and other relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held August 6 at 11 a.m. at the Second Baptist Church of Germantown, 6459 Germantown Avenue.

Nix and Nix Funeral Home handled the arrangements.