Fay Blake inducted into Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame

Pathways to Success founder and Executive Director Fay Blake was recently honored with her induction to the Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame.

Blake said if she could have had a conversation with her 10-year-old self, she could not have foreseen being recognized with these other phenomenal women. She was like the young people whom Pathways to Success Inc. so desperately tries to help, Blake said. Along with 12 other children, including lifelong friend Marjorie Burns, Blake helped integrate Selbyville Middle School.

“I’ve had my share of naysayers. When I was in high school, I wanted to go to college, and the guidance instructor told me that I wasn’t college material,” Blake said. She didn’t pay attention to him.

Blake’s mother and grandmother stressed that education was important to reach success. After graduation from Indian River High School, Blake received a full scholarship to the University of Delaware. She then worked at First National Bank of Maryland/Allfirst Financial, reaching the position of senior vice president – the first African American woman to hold that position in its 200-year history.

But Blake wanted to give back. She founded Pathways to Success, which has helped underserved Sussex County students like her not only graduate from high school, but also go on to college, the military or full-time jobs. The program’s achievement rate is 96 percent.

Blake thanked her supporters and family, her husband of 43 years, Cornelius Blake; her daughter Melody Taylor and her husband John; her son Justin and his wife Alison, parents of her youngest grandson, Christian; her granddaughter Kennedy Blancher; and her grandsons Alex and Alijah Taylor.

Blake’s dream of giving back and helping underserved youth has come to fruition. She knows there are many more to serve, and with the help of her team, that too will become a reality.

Fellow phenomenal women receiving the award are: Marianne Blackburn Drew, first female line rear admiral in the Naval Reserve; Ann Jaffe, a retired teacher, Holocaust survivor and inspirational speaker; Rep. Valerie Longhurst, D-Bear, Delaware House majority leader; Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, D-Wilmington; and Jennifer Cohan, Leadership Delaware CEO and former secretary of the Delaware Department of Transportation.