Kathleen and her husband were the founders of the National Association of Black Hospitality Allies Incorporated, which was based in Atlanta. We started NABHA three years ago. We received national exposure, and support from most of the major hotel operating / franchise companies said Gary Cross.

The mission of NABHA was to create relationships for the mainstream practitioners and Black business people across the nation. We were able to accomplish this via conducting seminars and workshops in major markets and on college campuses. Kathleen served as a member of the board of directors for NABHA, and its director of education. She had been working towards establishing NABHA as an official chapter of the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Motel Association. She received her degree from San Jose State University, at California and was an accomplished educator in many of the public and private school systems across America.

Shortly after the NABHA third annual conference which was held in December 1999 in Macon,GA. Kathleen was stricken with serve stomach disorders. A physical checkup revealed that she would need to receive a appendectomy as well as the removal of her uterus. During this routine surgery in January of this year, it was discovered that she had become affected with abdominal cancer. This knowledge prompted her and her husband to dissolve the non-profit association which they began and focus all of their time and attention towards this matter.

Kathleen and Gary celebrated their seventh year anniversary on August first of this year and on August 16, she went on to be with the Lord. Kathleen will be truly missed. The hospitality industry has suffered a great loss.

Gary Cross will now attempt to continue carrying the banner that he and his wife began some years ago!