the worldwide scourge of landmines. As HDI’s Mine Action
Spokesperson, Wilson traveled to Sri Lanka and then Laos this past
fall, visiting schools impacted by unexploded ordinance left over
from the Vietnam War. After helping to detonate 58 bombs and
declaring safe zones, she held a charity concert in Colombo, Sri
Lanka. In addition, Wilson addressed the annual conference of the
US Department of Agriculture on Food Security. In early summer,
she will travel to Vietnam and visit the mine action program.
Secretary of State Colin Powell as part of a “Culture Connect”
program. The goal was to improve cross-cultural understanding
internationally. As such, she undertook missions to Bangladesh,
Pakistan, South Asia and South America on behalf of the US
Department of State. Wilson was also recently awarded a
Doctorate of Humane Letters from Paine College in Augusta, GA.
While growing up in Detroit’s Brewster Projects, her love for
singing blossomed when she befriended Florence Ballard, Betty
of music and their ambition for stardom, the quartet formed a
singing group, The Primettes, and became the sister group of The
Primes, who saw two members go on to form The Temptations.
Together they auditioned for the then fledgling Motown label and
were eventually signed. Betty and her replacement Barbara, both
dropped out of the group, and the remaining trio of Mary, Flo and
Diane became known as The Supremes.
At first, success eluded the girls, who recorded several albums
before getting their first hit. In fact, they were dubbed the “No-
Hit Supremes” until Motown founder Berry Gordy put them in
touch with his top writing and producing team, Holland-Dozier-
as a dream has exceeded beyond Wilson’s wildest imagination.
With an unprecedented 12 number-one hits, including five in a
row – “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Baby Love,” “Stop, In The Name
Of Love,” and “Back in My Arms Again” – The Supremes set the
precedent for super group success.
Wilson worked hard to keep the dream alive even after
Jean Terrell to replace Ross, with Cindy Birdsong having replaced
Florence Ballard. Together, they formed The New Supremes,