Anne Marie Booker-Garfield

Anne Marie Booker Garfield was born and raised in Englewood, New Jersey on August 7, 1930, the daughter of Ivory and Rosa (nee. Davis) Booker. She was the third of four children and the only girl. Anne received her primary education in the Englewood School System and graduated from Dwight-Morrow High School. Her sparkling personality, ambition and stellar work ethic was evident from an early age and recognized by her classmates through their messages written to her in the 1948 EngleLog Yearbook. After graduation from high school she went on to attend and graduated from the Lincoln School of Nursing and Columbia University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Master Degree in Public Health Administration. Anne put her formal education to work and embarked on a long and successful career with the New York City Department of Health. She loved being a nurse and served in many levels of management during her extensive tenure in the Health Department retiring in 1986 as a regional Health Service Manager. Never one to sit for long, Anne made a second career out of a long-term part-time position at Providence Rest Nursing Home as Director of In-Service Education. Anne retired for the second time in 1995. Anne’s community and civic involvement was extensive. She was a member and past president of the Teaneck-Englewood and Vicinity Club of The National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc. (NANBPWC, Inc.), a proud member and past officer of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bergen County Alumnae Chapter, a charter member of the Bergen/Passaic chapter of The Coalition of 100 Black Women and former Director of Youth Organizations, USA (YOUSA). Anne also served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Municipal Credit Union of New York and Holy Name Hospital, Teaneck, NJ. Over the years Anne received many awards, honors and commendations including the highest honor awarded by the NANBPWC, Inc. – The Sojourner Truth Award. Anne was a longtime member of St. Cecilia Roman Catholic Church, Englewood where she served as a Eucharistic Minister and Lector. This is also where she met her trusted friend and spiritual advisor, Father Joe O’Brien. She cherished their long-time relationship. She was a member of the Legacy Circle planned Giving Society. In 1976 Anne married the love of her life, her “sweetie” Julian I. Garfield. Together they strived to impact and enrich the lives of African American youth through the organization he founded, Youth Organizations USA (YOUSA). They enjoyed many happy years together until his passing in 1997. Anne traveled extensively throughout her life and truly loved to cruise the high seas. Some of her travel destinations included, Japan, Greece, The Caribbean and Europe. Anne loved life and seized every opportunity to celebrate birthdays and life events surrounded by family and friends. She loved to laugh, shop, do the electric slide and as she would always say “dine sufficiently”. She was always impeccably dressed and her warm smile would light up a room. She was truly a special person to so many. Through all her work and accomplishments, Anne exhibited grace, humility, unbounded generosity and a warm spirit. Anne’s favorite quote was “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined”. Henry David Thoreau. Anne truly lived the life she imagined. Anne was preceded in death by her parents Ivory and Rosa Booker, her brothers Donald, Morris and George Booker, her husband Julian I. Garfield and a step-son James Garfield. She leaves to cherish her memory friend of over 45 years Levonne Turner, Goddaughters Sondra and Roslyn Turner. Step-Daughter Julie and step-sons Arthur, Julian Jr., Wayne, Bryan, Geoffrey and Grandchildren. Brother in-law James Williams, Special friend/son Boniface Kiamue, long-time friends Lucy Himes (Dolly) and Dainty McIntyre, friend Barbara Craviota, her dinner crew at Arbor Terrace and a host of friends and associates. Family and friends are invited to visit Wednesday, November 2 from 4-8PM at the Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Rd., Teaneck. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10AM on Thursday at St. Cecilia’s RC Church, Englewood. Entombment to follow at Garden of Memories, Washington Twp. In lieu of flowers donations in her name may be made to the Teaneck Englewood & Vicinity Club, NANBPWC, Inc. Anne Marie Booker-Garfield Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 116, Teaneck, NJ 07666 - attention Scholarship Committee.

Anne Marie Booker-Garfield

October 24, 2017