Shirley Barber James The City of Savannah will be the site for the 19th Annual Consortium of Doctors Conference. Headlining the activities of this year's meeting is the Bouquet of Doctors Banquet where The Savannah Tribune owner and president, Mrs. Shirley Barber James, will receive the organization's most prestigious honor, “The COD Humanitarian Award.”

COD is an organization comprised of women who have earned doctoral degrees from accredited institutions. The Co-Director and Savannah native, Dr. Harriette Bias-Insignares (Nashville, Tennessee) said, “The purpose of COD is to bring this brain trust together to address issues regarding the African-American community, especially the African-American family, the African-American male, and the importance of instilling the core values of scholarship and citizenship among our youth. We have taken the direction of being a Think Tank because we believe that having large numbers of members is not as important as assembling the best and brightest to blend the quality of debate, discussion, and decision making with focused, targeted goals that can be accomplished across the spectrum of human activity and affiliations.”

James came to the attention of the organization through its founder, Dr. Abigail Jordan, who described her as “an ambassador for the city” based on her travel to represent the city outside of the state of Georgia. Jordan said, “Shirley James is a community advocate, a citizen of the times, and a woman of broad accomplishment as an educator, a business woman, and a community worker for all segments of the city. But what is most notable is the fact that she is down to earth and beloved by so many persons whose lives she has touched.”

A member and Senior Steward at St. Philip AME Church, James has received many awards locally and nationally, including national recipient of the 1997 Athena Award; the Helen V. Head Small Business Advocate of the Year Award; listing in The HistoryMakers; and Ebony Magazine's selection to The 100 Most Influential Black Americans and Organization Leaders in 1995 and 1996. Recently, she was chosen as one of the 2010 Top Ten Working Women of the Year awarded by A Working Woman in Need, Inc. (AWWIN).

Regarding James' national outreach, COD Director Dr. Barbara Cannon of Oakland, California said, “Mrs. James served as the 15th National President of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. (1994 - 96) and President of the National Executive Board of Sophisticates, Inc. (2001 - 2003).

On the local level, she has served as president and held other offices in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, The Links, Incorporated, and the Sophisticates.

Cannon said, “COD extends an invitation to all Savannah organizations, churches, and members of the community to join us in honoring Mrs. James for her community service at the Bouquet of Doctors Banquet.”

Banquet tickets are $60 per person and $600 per table. Tickets can be purchased at the Office of Dr. W. Esther McAlpine, 704 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401.

For information call (912) 231-9828.