top of page

Catholic Woman of the Year Honorees

The SCCCW Catholic Woman of the Year is named at the Annual SCCCW Convention.   The nominees are Catholic Women of the Year from the six Deaneries.  The Honoree chosen as the SCCCW Woman of the year is presented a sterling silver Our Lady of Good Counsel Medal.  The tradition began in 1952.

Past Honorees

2022 Catholic Woman of the Year

Maria Carrero.jpg

Maria Carrero

Maria was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, but grew up in the Bronx, NY.  Where her parents taught her to be bilingual, a skill she has used throughout her life.  Educated in Catholic schools, she received an Associate’s Degree in Business from The Wood Secretarial School in New York City.

In 1975, she married her husband Jim and moved to Columbia, SC where she became a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Here Maria worked as the Administrative Assistant in the school office for 28 years. Being bi-lingual also allowed her to interpret for Spanish-speaking families at the school and within the parish.  After retirement Mara also worked part-time as a Spanish interpreter.

Maria has sponsored parishioners in the RCIA process, attended Bible studies, and participated in the SMILE Kit program which involves calling and/or sending a note to homebound parishioners monthly.  She organized and helped sew over 4,300 cloth masks during the COVID pandemic.

Maria has served as the President of the St. Joseph Women’s Society since 2018 where membership increased 21% in her first term.  She instituted the now annual Women2Women “Last Call Before Fall”, a wine and cheese social open to all women in the parish, just one of the many activities she has either initiated or been involved in. 

At the deanery level, Maria has served as Secretary for the Columbia Deanery.  She has attended every state convention since joining her affiliate and was on the decorating committee for the SCCCW Convention held in Columbia.

She is a leader, she is creative, and she is sensitive to others.

Rosalyn Woodson Frierson-Smith

Jeanette Altenburg

Mary Ann Schoch

Carol Lintner

Anna Sudomerski

Peggy Moulton

Mary Hughes Shumpert

Mary Ann Turner 

Claire Wagner

Iris Young      

Mrs. Cherrin Moore        

Mrs. Pearlie Harris

Mrs. Maria Leal

Mrs. Nina McCuniff

Mrs. Sophie Sagrera

Mrs. Debra Cubra

Ms. Elease Amos-Goodwin

Mrs. Ann Marable

Mrs. Harriet McKie

Mrs. Pat Schmidt

Mrs. Corrine Tomihiro

Mrs. Josephine Dennis

Mrs. Cecilia Velte

Mrs. Ann Mitchum

Mrs. Betty Shepherd

Mrs. Judy Godbee

Mrs. Esther Tecklenburg

Mrs. Margaret Holihan

Mrs. Jeanne Casey

Mrs. Willie Mae Adams

Mrs. Ruth Duncan

Mrs. Willie Thompson

Mrs. Harriet Condon

Mrs. Albert T. Waters

Mrs. Amelia Taylor

Mrs. Elaine Roberson

Mrs. William Tallon

Mrs. John Arisman

Mrs. Ethel Grantham

Mrs. Mrs. Leslie Woppman

Mrs. Ruth McNamara

Mrs. Melvin Merritt

Mrs. Ronald Thomas

Mrs. Woodrow Wiggins

Mrs. John Hartnett

Mrs. Clara Zolnierowicz

Mrs. Isiah Williams

Mrs. L. A. Clements

Mrs. Gladys Vinzani

Mrs. George Williams

Mrs. R. W. Deganhardt

Mrs. Melvin Sams

Mrs. Elizabeth McClure

Mrs. Mary Francis        

Miss Agatha Spellman     

Mrs. T. J. Nolan                       

Mrs. James England, Sr.   

Mrs. Edward Foley    

Mrs. Joseph Dermody       

Mrs. Norman J. Marsha      

Mrs. Jennie Reynolds      

Mrs. H. A. Beagle        

NO CONVENTION HELD

Mrs. J. L. Shannon      

Mrs. Russell Sanders   

Mrs. Rosalie Lighthart     

Mrs. Carl Niggel          

Mrs. Vincent Caggiano      

Mrs. David Biggs                     

Miss Marie May    

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984

1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

1970

1969

1968

1967

1966

1965

1964

1963

1962

1961

1960

1959

1958

1957

1956

1955

1954

1953

1952

bottom of page