Church Women United Honors Councilwoman Tameka Randle During “World Community Day” Celebration

Church Women United Honors Councilwoman Tameka Randle During “World Community Day” Celebration

By lwilliams@semourbanvoices.com - November 24, 2025

By Urban Voices
Cape Girardeau, MO — November 2025

Faith, service, and kindness came together under one roof as Church Women United of Cape Girardeau hosted its annual World Community Day celebration at the historic St. James AME Church. The event honored Cape Girardeau City Councilwoman Tameka Randle for her leadership and community advocacy and featured the presentation of Church Women United annual scholarship award—a long-standing tradition of support for women pursuing higher education.

Church Women United (CWU) is part of a global ecumenical movement that welcomes women of all Christian denominations. The local Cape Girardeau chapter is supported by five area churches and sustains its mission through various sales, personal and community donations.

“World Community Day is one of several special events we hold each year,” said CWU President Shirley Renaud, “The World Community Day gives us the chance to celebrate our unity, our faith, and our shared purpose.

The CWU annual scholarship is awarded to a single mother who is pursuing a degree—in healthcare, a field recognized for its strong employment opportunities. Applicants come from healthcare programs across Southeast Missouri.

Faith in Action: A Global Mission with Local Roots

This year’s award marked an expansion of that generosity. The organization’s usual $500 scholarship was increased to $600, thanks to extra funds raised through local giving.

“We had 14 applicants this year,” said Vice President Dolly Jewell, “we will award the scholarship to a deserving student from the Three Rivers College nursing program. She’s a mother of four who has worked tirelessly to reach her goal of becoming a registered nurse.”

The event also celebrated Councilwoman Tameka Randle, whose voice and vision have helped guide important conversations in Cape Girardeau about neighborhood revitalization, equity, and opportunity.

Mayor Stacy Kinder commended Randle’s impact both on the City Council and in the community.

“Tameka brings passion and focus to every issue she touches,” said Mayor Kinder. “She leads with compassion and conviction, and she represents Ward 2 with a deep sense of purpose. Her work reminds us what public service is truly about.”

City Manager Ken Haskins also praised Randle’s commitment to collaboration and problem-solving. “In my experience with Tamekia, she’s smart, dedicated, and strategic about every single thing she does,” said Haskins. “She keeps us on our toes at City Hall and represents South Cape with strength and compassion. Cape Girardeau has never had an advocate quite like her.”

“When we talk about improving our neighborhoods—especially in South Cape—it’s about people like Tameka who are already doing the work,” Haskins added. “She understands that progress happens when we listen, collaborate, and lift each other up.”

Reverend Geneva Alan-Patterson, pastor of St. James AME Church, emphasized the importance of recognizing servant leadership rooted in compassion. “When we honor a servant leader like Sister Randle, we honor the spirit of God working through her,” Rev. Alan-Patterson said. “Her example reminds us that true service isn’t about titles—it’s about touching lives and lifting others.” Rev. Alan-Patterson words echoed the day’s theme “Choose Kindness,” which invited attendees to reflect on the power of generosity and empathy in everyday life. Randle’s recognition highlighted the connection between public service and kindness.

Choosing Kindness: A Message of Purpose and Community

In her remarks, Councilwoman Randle thanked St. James AME Church for hosting World Community Day and expressed her gratitude to Rev. Geneva Alan-Patterson for her leadership. She then reflected on her upbringing and the example set by her parents.

“My parents taught me the importance knowing where I came from and of giving back,” she said. “I think about the fish my mother did in Mississippi that brought community and generations together. That’s where I learned what community really means.”

Randle’s message centered on living with purpose rather than partisanship. “Sometimes people want to know if you’re red or blue,” she said. “But my purpose is people. I don’t have time to argue about politics. I ask myself: Am I being kind? Am I being generous? Am I helping my community?”

She closed by expressing gratitude for her faith and the people who’ve supported her journey.

“I’m thankful for my PORCH family, our City Council, the mayor, and the friends who’ve had my back since I came here alone,” Randle said. “There’s a lot more I want to do, but I know I don’t have to do it by myself. By the grace of God, I’m blessed with people I can call upon.”

Faith, Service, and Kindness in Action

From raising scholarships for working mothers to honoring a public servant and spreading a message of compassion, Church Women United’s “World Community Day” serveds as a reminder that lasting change begins with acts of kindness—and the faith that binds a community together.

From raising scholarships for working mothers to honoring a public servant and sharing a message of compassion, Church Women United’s World Community Day celebration at St. James AME Church embodied the values that keep a community strong and served as a reminder that lasting change begins with acts of kindness.

As Mayor Kinder summed it up, “What we saw here today was Cape Girardeau at its best—people of faith coming together to build hope, opportunity, and kindness.”