(MINEOLA, N.Y.) – In recognition of March as Women’s History Month in America, Nassau County Legislator Viviana L. Russell (D – Westbury) led the Legislature in recognizing Mrs. Shirley Darkeh as the Democratic delegation’s Women’s History Month honoree.
A trailblazer in both the corporate and public sectors, Mrs. Darkeh was the first African American woman to work in the Accounting Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and later served as comptroller for Reed Roberts, Inc. Her pioneering spirit continued in 1966 when she became the founding Director of Management Information at the Charles Drew Neighborhood Health Center, where she designed and implemented one of the nation’s earliest computerized patient identification and billing systems—an achievement well ahead of its time.
For more than 45 years, Mrs. Darkeh has dedicated herself to cultural preservation, public service, and educational outreach. She is the former Director of the Nassau County African American Museum and the longtime host of Community News and Views on WHLI AM Radio, platforms through which she amplified African American voices, history, and civic engagement. In 1990, she founded Project Pride, a culturally based self-development program for youth in the Nassau County Family Court, serving as its Executive Director.
Her extensive board service reflects a sustained commitment to arts, education, and community development. Mrs. Darkeh has served on the Boards of Directors of the Nassau County Girl Scouts, Nassau County Office of Cultural Development, Alliance for New York State Arts Council, African American Heritage Association, Newsday Long Island Arts, One Hundred Black Women, and others. She has held leadership roles including Board Chair of Amani at Nassau Community College, Treasurer of Jack and Jill of America, and member of Black Women Entrepreneurs. Most recently, she served as a Trustee of the Westbury Memorial Library from 2020 to 2023, continuing her longstanding advocacy for libraries as vital centers of learning, history, and community connection.
In 2003, Mrs. Darkeh curated and directed Promises Made, Promises Kept, a landmark photographic exhibition honoring distinguished African American women of Long Island. Premiering at Nassau Community College, the exhibit toured colleges and libraries throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens counties, cementing her role as a curator committed to visibility, legacy, and storytelling.
Though officially retired since 2003, Mrs. Darkeh remains deeply engaged in community life. She conducts African American history workshops for school districts and libraries across Long Island; volunteers at the Westbury Senior Center, where she chaired its 60th Anniversary Celebration; and produced a fashion show featuring her original designs. She is also a member of Sisters of the Arts, NSQ, supporting young people pursuing creative careers, and was a contestant in the 2016 New York Ms. Senior America (Long Island) competition.
Mrs. Darkeh’s lifelong service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Town of Hempstead Humanitarian Award, the Sojourner Truth Award from the Negro Business and Professional Women of Nassau County, induction into the Town of North Hempstead Women’s Roll of Honor, Memorial Presbyterian Church’s Church and Community Service Award, the Westbury Senior Citizens Volunteer Award, and the EEOC Women’s History Storm Riser Celebration Award. Her achievements are also documented in the American Biographical Institute, Second Edition.
Most recently, Mrs. Darkeh curated the Homegrown Heroes of Long Island exhibition at Adelphi University, which highlights 38 Black alumni of the region’s high schools who are now working professionals making contributions to their fields or communities.
At the age of 91, "Mrs. Darkeh embodies the spirit of Homegrown Hero of Long Island, a woman whose legacy was not imported but cultivated; whose impact was not distant but deeply rooted; and whose life’s work continues to shape the cultural landscape of the community she calls home,” Legislator Russell said in presenting Mrs. Darkeh. “It was truly a privilege to welcome Mrs. Darkeh to the Legislature and celebrate her during Women’s History Month. Her knowledge, wisdom, achievements, and dedication to advocacy make her an inspiring example for all to follow.”
In accepting the honor, Mrs. Darkeh stressed the importance of civic engagement and imparting the facts of history upon future generations.
“No matter what stage of life you’re in, you can still do something for your community,” Mrs. Darkeh told the Legislature. “Today, our history is being erased. I happen to be an advocate for African American history, and as long as I have a voice, I will speak to that issue. Without knowing your history, you don’t know where you belong, what you can achieve, and where God will take you.”
PHOTO CREDITS - Group photo and individual photo by Peter M. Budraitis; photo w/civil rights leader Fred Brewington and Legislator Russell by Chris Portuondodesmith