She Inspires in every issue
Story by Cassie Graham • Photography by Laura McBryde
Lafreda Doctor
LEADING A LEGACY
“ON MY HONOR, I WILL TRY: TO SERVE GOD
and my country, to help people at all times, and to live
by the Girl Scout Law.” At Girl Scout Troop meetings, the
Girl Scout Promise echoes through rec halls of churches,
community centers, and homes of volunteers. The Girl Scout
Law is spoken from the hearts of Daisies all the way through
Ambassadors. Perhaps Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Patties,
and Samoas have made the Girl Scouts famous, but there
is so much more to the organization than just irresistible
cookies.
Behind each troop of scouts are devoted leaders that
scouts can look up to. Leading one such troop is Lafreda
Doctor. As a child, Lafreda was a Brownie herself. Years
later when Lafreda became a mother, she served as the
Den Mother of the Cub Scouts at her church, New Ebenezer
Baptist Church. Soon, her youth minister approached her
about helping out with the Girl Scouts. Agreeing to “help
out,” Lafreda went through the training required by Girl
Scouts. Thinking she was just going to be assisting with
troop activities, Lafreda was surprised when she was later
asked to lead the troop.
Agreeing to lead the Girl’s Scout Troop at New Ebenezer
has been a blessing for her. When Lafreda first began as
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FEBUARY 2016
leader of the troop, there were four or five little girls. For the
past eight years, the troop has continued to grow as a result
of Lafreda’s positive impact on the organization. Today, the
troop has grown and totals thirty young women ranging in
ages 5 to 17. “My scouts inspire me. Watching them grow
from young girls to young women is such a blessing. My
favorite thing to see is watching shy Daisies and Brownies
come out of their shells. When they volunteer to open meetings in prayer and leave their moms at the door, I know they
are becoming more confident.”
Lafreda knows that girls deal with a lot of various things,
whether at school or home. From the media to models, girls
have a mix of messages to sort through in determining what
and who they “should” be. At Girl Scout meetings, Lafreda
strives to make it a safe, judgment-free environment. Young
women are encouraged to be themselves and love themselves—the way God created them. According to Lafreda,
“When scouts are comfortable and confident in themselves,
they feel safe to come right out and say, ‘I love the Lord, I
love myself and who I am as an individual.’” Statements
like these from her scouts make it all worth it. Though too
humble to admit it, Lafreda is the reason her scouts aren’t
afraid to be themselves and open up to her. “I just love these
girls as if they were my own children; I think that is why we
connect so well.” These young women have been known
to tell Lafreda more than they tell their own mothers! “Unless it would bring harm to them, I keep the conversations
between the girls and me to myself. They need to know they
can talk to and trust me.” She gets to know each girl individually on a personal level to be able to help them believe in
themselves.
In addition, Lafreda is known as being one of the most
organized scout leaders in the area. S