Zora Neale Hurston - writer and anthropoligist. One of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston has been recognized as one of the premeir writers of her day. Her legacy is now recognized at the Zora Neale Hurston Festival held every year in Eatonville, Florida - her birthplace.

Grace Ann Bumbry - Opera singer. featured her in Bayreuth, Germany's Wagner Festival. The first black to sing there. A mezzo-soprano who also successfully sang the soprano repertoire, Grace Bumbry recorded on four labels and sang in concerts world widewide.

Esther Rolle - Actress. She is best known for her role as Florida on the long running CBS television series, Good Times. Recently seen in Rosewood.

Hon. Yvonne Miller -Congresswoman. 5th District Cities of Chesapeake (part) and Norfolk (part) Member of Congress since 1988

Dr. Tonea Harris Stewart - Actress. Best known for her role as Aunt Etta in the TV show "In the Heat of the Night" She recently starred as Samuel Jackson'e wife in the motion picture "A Time To Kill".

Sarah Lois Vaughan - Jazz Singer - On October 1942, she entered and won the 'Amateur Night' contest held at New York's famed Apollo Theatre. She was launched on a career where she sang with such greats as Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Mile Davis, Art Blakey and Budd Johnson - legendary founders of the modernist 'Be-Bop' era. Once she had gone solo - as she was to stay for the rest of her career - she began to establish herself as a force in her own right.

Dione Warwick - Singer, Among her other hits are the #1 "Then Came You" (with The Spinners) and the Grammy-winning "That's What Friends Are For" (with Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Elton John), She earned seven Top 40 singles in the Eighties alone, Overall, she's garnered one platinum, five gold albums (including 1985's Friends) and five Grammy Awards.

Minnie Ripperton - singer . Her 70s soul classic "Loving You", was entitled "A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules from the Centre of the Ultraworld" (1989). The record was eventually a hit, but its greater significance lies in its claim to being the first ever ambient house record.

Sheryl Underwood - comedian. Considered one of the boldest women in comedy she has appeared in shows such as Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam, BET's comicview, and the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars. She also donates 5% of all her road earnings to her beloved sorority.

Jan'et DuBois - actress. Best known for her role as Wilona on the long running show "Good Times. She can now be seen in her recurring role as the grandmother in the WB's show "The Wayan Brothers"

Hon. Julia Carson - Congresswomen - representative of the tenth district of Indiana.