Meet Our Board Secretary: Myrtice Landers
July 24, 2025 – 2 min read
Name and Board Title
Myrtice Landers, Board Secretary
Tell us a little bit about your background – personal and/or professional.
I am a widow with four adult children. I obtained all three of my higher education degrees (BA in Psychology, MA in Education and Ed.S. in Counseling) from the University of Florida. I like being a 'helper' in my community and church, love the serenity and peace of the sunrise over water, grateful to be part of my children and grandkids lives, and enjoy self-care. I have a passion for promoting suicide awareness and widows support.
Work history: (1) After working 30 years as an academic advisor and coordinator of advising at the Univ. of South Florida, I retired in 2011. (2) For approximately 28 years, I have served as finance secretary and administrative assistant for my church organization.
I serve as Tampa West Coast District Board of Director's secretary for the last six years. (3) Started teaching at COGBF Technical Institute in 2017. This is my church’s higher education instruction of learning.
Volunteer: AFSP St. Pete Out of the Darkness Walk Committee, Bay Point Elementary and Thurgood Marshall middle school’s School Advisory Committee, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc Gulf Coast chapter member, TAPS mentor, and church committees.
The following is a list of skills I have learned from work and life experiences and work
• management, organization, planning - working with groups for event planning
• financial skills - the use of various financial software (Quicken, Excel) to manage the books, share reports, budget, etc.
• editing - at the national level of my church organization, I serve as one of the editors of written publications.
• listening and counseling skills - being a 'ear' to problems; problem solver
What city do you call home?
St. Petersburg, FL
Where did you grow up?
Born in Sparta, Georgia. As an infant, parents moved to Lakeland, FL
What are some of your favorite hobbies?
No specific hobby. I enjoy watching hallmark movies
Why did you become involved with AFSP-Tampa Bay?
I want to learn and help with decision making, share ideas, and move from a 'reader' about mental health and suicide awareness to an influencer. Impact my community, spread awareness after my son died by suicide June 2015.
What was your first introduction to AFSP?
St Pete Out Of The Darkness Walk in 2016. I can’t recall how I learned about the walk but I recall Thuy warmly accepting me on the walk committee.
What is one of the most important things you would share with the community about AFSP?
AFSP equips the community with tools and resources for awareness, support, loss survivors, and advocacy. I appreciate the awareness presentations covering all demographics. AFSP addresses mental health and suicide assures in a way that non-heath professionals will understand and equip themselves to help others.
Anythying else you'd like to share?
There is hope.