
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
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
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