Sisters Network San Francisco Chapter

Chapter Leadership

Gail Bishop: Founder & President

Gail Bishop, breast cancer survivor since June 2000 reoccurrence December 2004 and April 2008 is recognized as an activist icon in San Francisco. Gail has been dedicated, loyal and passionate for helping women of all races and ages become aware of the seriousness of breast cancer. She has focus especially to African American women informing them of the aggressive tumor that most African American woman is diagnosis with. The tumor is called estrogen negative which is not treatable like estrogen positive which has more options for treatment.

Gail was born and raised in San Francisco where she now serve her community doing outreach educating, supporting and helping the under serve and others about breast cancer awareness. Since two thousand and one Gail has been the president of Sisters Network SF Chapter Affiliate of Sisters Network, Inc. Sisters Network, Inc. is the first African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization in the US. There are 43 chapters throughout the US. Gail also is a member of the Community Advisory Council, Committed Sistahs at Work and sit on the advisory board for LifeLine.

Gail has received awards from National Council of Negro Women, Inc. SF Section 2006, Community Service Awards (2003, 2004 and 2006) and NAACP Leadership and Commitment Award (1999).

Gail is divorced and has two daughters and six grandchildren that she is proud of and make just about all of her grandsons football and basketball games. Gail love sports going to Pop Warner, High School to NFL and NBA games. She is very active and outgoing. Gail love traveling and living her life everyday as if it was the last day. Gail attends St. John Missionary Baptist church and is very active in Bible study and Sunday school.

Vivian F. Walton: Vice President

Vivian F. Walton was born at San Francisco General Hospital on June 19, 1955 in San Francisco, California. She is the 2nd of 3 daughters born to Jean and Arnold Williams of Daly City, California. Vivian attended Elementary and Junior High School in San Francisco and graduated from High School in Daly City. She has been married to her husband Glen E. Walton, Sr. for almost 30 years and they have 1 son, Glen E. Walton, Jr.

On May 26, 1999, Vivian was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in the right breast after discovering a lump and having it checked immediately. A lumpectomy was performed and chemotherapy and as well as radiation therapy soon followed the surgery. After 6 years of enjoying her “cancer-free” life, Vivian’s cancer returned in the same breast as diagnosed in July of 2005. A mastectomy was performed with the decision not to have reconstructive surgery. Shortly after she was fitted for a prosthesis.

Today Vivian is celebrating almost 3 years cancer free for the 2nd time around and gives all the credit to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing her to live to make a difference in someone else’s life. You will often hear her say how grateful she is to have just this moment which she cherishes as if it were her last moment because life is too short to sweat the small stuff! Vivian is a member of the Sister’s Network, Inc. San Francisco Chapter and serves as Vice President under the leadership of Gail Bishop. Participating in a cancer organization was a desire Vivian had for several years and now serving under Sister’s Network is a dream come true!

Shirley Foreman-Palmer: Treasurer & Secretary

A native of San Francisco, California, Shirley Foreman-Palmer is a Breast Cancer Survivor and Community Outreach Worker for the Bayview Hunters Point Health and Environmental Resource Center. She has progressive experience in the cancer services field planning Breast Health workshops, Community Outreach, along with providing patient services for low-income and underserved population. She combines alternatives and regular medicine in her personal health care. Shirley enjoys working with people to promote health and well being.

Shirley is currently serving as Treasurer & Secretary of Sister’s Network (San Francisco Section), a National African-American breast cancer survivorship organization, in addition to serving as the President, of the National Council of Negro Women (San Francisco), a national origination improving the quality of life for African-American Women. Also serving as Administrator of the St. Mark Institutional Missionary Baptist Church, organized in 1954 by her father, the late Pastor Emeritus Reverend R. J. Foreman. Served as Past-President of the United Church Secretaries Alliance, a community of church secretaries who’s goal is to encourage and establish high educational standards that will be acknowledged as excellence by the larger Christian Community

Shirley is married to Edward L. Palmer, mother of four children, grandmother of seven, and great-grandmother of one. Shirley enjoys reading traveling shopping listening to music, and she really enjoys quiet time while watching the breath-taking views of the Pacific Ocean (Rockaway Beach, Daly City, CA).