She was born in September 15 1942 to
Charley and Sarah (Cornelious) Sykes in west Helena, Arkansas. Her
family moved to Detroit in 1945 to join father who had found work in a
tool and die shop. She grew up on the lower east side of Detroit, then
known as Black Bottom. When Black Bottom was scheduled for renovation
the family moved further east across the East Grand Boulevard and later,
migrated to the west side of the city where she currently lives.
She attended Barstow Elementary K-8. High
School at Commerce 9-12. Highland Park Community College for one year.
Continued college courses through Wayne State Weekend college program,
Henry Ford community College and Davenport. No degree yet but that’s in
the cue.
Her school accomplishments included Honor
Society and American Legion award upon graduating from elementary school. In high school
she was president of the Girls Athletic Club, Vice President of the
Student council, founder of the modern dance troop and captain of the
cheer team.
In 1959, the high school sponsored an all
schools dance to raise funds to send her to a cheerleader training camp
at Norman University in Normal, Illinois. The camp lasted one week.
That was a tremendous experience s she was the only representative from
her school and from the state of Michigan. From that time until
graduation in 1961, her cheering team was invited to participate in
local and tri-county cheer team trials, exhibitions and competitions.
Her initial employment began as a
babysitter, production assistant (in the school –paid 75 cents per
hour), shampoo girl, counter clerk at two different laundry and dry
cleaner stores. And finally in September 1963 she got a real job with
Blue Cross of Michigan.
Starting at a grade level one filing paper
hospital rejections in the Hospital Case department. Her supervisor
promptly decided her name would be shortened to “Cora”. She was so
grateful to have a real J.O.B. that she would have answered to any name.
Her first manager was Evelyn
Price. At that time movement was very fast. Within three months she
was promoted to a grade level two, filing paper hospital admissions and
matching them with paper hospital bells. Later she moved up to a grade
level three. Then on to handling Special Groups and CHAMPUS admissions
and billings. By this time her department had moved to the Industrial
building on Grand River and Washington Boulevard.
She left the company in 1968 for maternity
leave and returned one year later almost to the exact date she left.
Her new assignment was in the Non-Par Hospital department which had
grown from the one-man operation which she ran as a grade level three.
In 1970 she was promoted to a grade level
six and moved to the National Accounts department, which was temporarily
located in the Kales Building. She went from Group Service Clerk to
Account Service Specialist, to Supervisor Service Administration to
Proposal Analyst to National Benefits Analyst. In between these titles
she was for a short time, manager of Clerical Support Staff in
Auto/National Accounts.
For one year she was chair of the
activities committee for the Blue Cross Five-Year Club and was a
volunteer for many events sponsored by the Blue Cross Credit Union. She
also was an active member of the NMA (National Management Association
and served on the activities committee.
Cora retired from the company July 31,
2003 after 40 years of service. During these years, she witnessed the
introduction of many innovations in medical coverage field such as
Medicare, Dental, Vision and Hearing and Prescription Drugs.
Her activities since retirement
include Beading, Crafting, Quilting, Crocheting, Book Club Member,
Playgoer, ticket holder at the Fisher Theatre, Golden Subscriber at
Detroit Repertory Theatre, Member of Charles H. Wright Museum, The Milan
Tours Group, The Detroit Anthropology Group and the High School of
Commerce-East Commerce Alumni association and block club member.
Supporter of the Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit, The Sinai Guild and
The American Mental Health Association. Taking occasional day trips to
shopping malls, dinner plays and historical places of interest.
Lunching with my most favorite guys, the National Accounts Retirees.
Taking in all the wonderful attractions in the city such as the DIA and
historical museum. Occasional Yoga Pilates exercise classes.
Cora was married for twenty years, now
divorced. She has one daughter, Deidrah Thomas, who is currently
working as a Curriculum/Federal Projects Coordinator for Ecorse Public
Schools. No grandchildren yet still hoping.
What you see here is only a portion of her
profile. She is a lady of many achievements and accomplishments.
Perhaps at a later date we might relate what we couldn’t include due to
space limitations
