Majida Mufti HILMI

1930 - 2017
Mrs. Majida Hilmi, a member of the prominent Mufti family of Jordan, passed away on 9 May 2017, after a short illness. Born in Amman, Jordan, she was the daughter of Said Mufti, who served as Prime Minister of Jordan in 1950, 1955 and 1956, and Najieh Mufti. Mrs. Hilmi was 86.
Majida Hilmi and her family arrived in the United States in 1971. A lifelong educator who spoke several languages, she taught Arabic at Columbia University's Comparative Literature Department, and later at the United Nations International School in New York.
In the 1950's she established the Girl Scouts in Amman, which later expanded all across Jordan. She was known to many in the Circassian diaspora as a noble and dignified woman, who will be remembered for her dedication and commitment to the preservation of Circassian culture and identity. She was a staunch advocate, especially for Circassian youth through her undying support for various endeavours, such as the Circassian Education Foundation and the Narts' Dance Ensemble. In 2011, she was honored for her work with the Circassian Education Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mrs. Hilmi has been a role model to both young and old with her humanitarian work. Among her countless life accomplishments, she participated in a number of world-wide humanitarian relief efforts, and was an active member of Women for Peace. Mrs. Hilmi was also one of the founders of the Islamic Heritage Society in New York, where she served as a Board Member and as the United Nations Representative.
Majida Hilmi is pre-deceased by her husband Jawdat Hilmi. She is survived by her four children, Khaldoun Hilmi, Rania Bolotok, Sirene Hilmi and Faridoun Hilmi; her daughters-in-law Irina Axoxova and Julie Bolt; her son-in-law, Omar Bolotok; her brother Basil and sisters Huda, Jeanette, and Tamara. Her family and friends will miss her warmth and profound love, her thirst for learning, her high intellect and the way she inspired everyone she met to become a better human being.