Women of Achievement organization members and individual members reflect a diverse spectrum of Memphis women in races, religions, ages, sexual orientations, and interests. The list of award recipients each year reflects that same diversity.

You can learn more about our diverse group of Women of Achievement Honorees through this index.

List of All Honorees by Category and Year

Women of Achievement Honorees by Category:

Women of Achievement Honorees by Year:

Educating. Celebrating. Inspiring.

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2024 are:
Courage: Vanessa Rodley and Jennifer Murry-Rodley
Determination: Phillis Lewis
Heritage: Madame Florence Cole Tolbert McCleave
Initiative: Ellen Rolfes
Steadfastness: Joy Brown Weiner
Vision: Amy Moses and Sara Lynn Johnson Fultz

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2023 were:
Courage: Anne Stone Carriere
Determination: Barbara Boucher
Heritage: Elizabeth Fisher Johnson and Lillian Wyckoff Johnson
Heroism: Jennifer Pepper
Initiative: Melanie Smith Taylor
Steadfastness: Beverly Robertson
Vision: Lori Spicer Robertson

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2020-2022 were:
Determination: Mahal Burr
Heritage: Citizens to Preserve Overton Park
Heroism: Sandra Ferrell
Initiative: Ayilé Arnett
Steadfastness: Beverly Marrero
Vision: Judy Card

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2019 were:
Courage – Mildred Richard-Edwards
Determination – Rachel Coats Greer
Heritage – Estelle Axton and Cornelia Crenshaw
Heroism – Gabriela Salinas
Initiative – Maxine Starling Strawder
Steadfastness – Dr. Jane H. Hooker
Vision – Dr. Carol Danehower

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2018 were:
Courage – Kamillia Barton
Determination – Rachel Sumner Haaga
Heroism – Tami Sawyer
Heritage – Lois DeBerry
Initiative – Wanda Taylor
Steadfastness – Miriam DeCosta Willis
Vision – Cherisse Scott

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2017 were:
Courage – Rev. Lisa Anderson
Determination – Ines Negrette
Heroism – Rebecca Terrell
Heritage – Mary Magdalene Solari
Initiative – Kamekio Lewis
Steadfastness – Joyce Springfield-Collins
Vision – Ruby O’Gray and Karen Moore

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2016 were:
Courage – Ashley Coffield
Determination – Claudia Haltom
Heroism – Leah Walton
Heritage – Lil Hardin Armstrong and Alberta Hunter
Initiative – Bennie Nelson West
Steadfastness – Dorothy Kirsch
Vision – Linda Sessoms

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2015 were:
Courage — Amerah Shabazz-Bridges
Determination — Shelia Williams
Heritage — Emma Wilburn
Heroism — Dr. Owen Phillips
Initiative — Nadia Matthews
Steadfastness — Barbara C. King
Vision — Bettye Boone

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2014 were:
Courage — Cristina Condori
Determination — Margot McNeeley
Heritage — Bessie Vance Brooks*
Heroism — Meaghan Ybos
Initiative — Gayle Rose
Steadfastness — Martha Ellen Maxwell
Vision — Elaine Blanchard

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2013 were:
Courage — Chelsea Boozer
Determination — Felica Richard
Heritage — Susanne Coulan Scruggs*
Initiative — Karla O. Davis
Steadfastness — Jane Walters
Vision — Judy Wimmer*

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2012 were:
Courage — Vanessa Luellen
Determination — Carolyn Chism Hardy
Heritage — Georgia Patton Washington*
Heroism — Summer Owens
Initiative — Lisa K. Jennings
Steadfastness — Yvonne B. Acey
Vision — Beverly Greene Bond

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2011 were:
Courage — Deb Whalen Word
Determination — Carol Barnett
Heritage — Louise Fitzhugh*
Heroism — Constance McMillen
Initiative — Jenny Odle Madden
Steadfastness — Linda K. Miller
Vision — Cynthia Grant Tucker

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2010 were:
Courage — Teri Craven
Determination — Onie Johns
Heritage — Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie*
Heroism — Jasmine Gray
Initiative — Sonia Louden Walker
Steadfastness — LaVerne Tolley Gurley
Vision — Melvena Leake

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2009 were:
Courage — Africa Gonzalez
Determination — Nancy Williams
Heritage — Alma C. Hanson*
Heroism — Caroline Turns*
Initiative — Jodie Vance
Steadfastness — Gloria Kahn
Vision — Sonja White

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2008 were:
Courage — Corinne Derenburger
Determination — Rebecca Jane Edwards
Heritage — Florence McIntyre*
Heroism — Ashley Michele Sanders
Initiative — Ruth Lomo
Steadfastness — Carolyn Gates
Vision — Phyllis Betts

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2007 were:
Courage — Modeane Nichols Thompson
Determination — Rebekah Jordan
Heritage — Barbara Hewett Lawing*
Heroism — Sheila White Parrish
Initiative — Nancy Hale Lawhead
Steadfastness — Gertrude McClellan Purdue
Vision — Donna Fortson

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2006 were:
Courage — June Mann Averyt
Determination — Regina D. Walker
Heritage — Joan Fulenwider Strong*
Initiative — Susan Stephenson
Steadfastness — Virginia “Ginger” Ralston
Vision — Perre MacFarland Magness

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2005 were:
Courage — Pat Morgan
Determination — Rosalyn Nichols
Heritage — Elizabeth Avery Meriwether and Lide Smith Meriwether*
Heroism — Kathy Kastan
Initiative — Mahaffey White
Steadfastness — Mildred Schwartz
Vision — Ruby Bright

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2004 were:
Courage — Cheryl Cornish
Determination — Carol Prentiss
Heritage — Eleanor “Dicky” Ehrlich*
Heroism — Margaret Rhea Seddon
Initiative —Deanie Parker
Steadfastness — Mary Alice Hubbard McWilliams
Vision — Mickey Babcock

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2003 were:
Courage — Laurel Reisman
Determination — Mars Child, Harriet McFadden, and Polly Glotzbach
Heritage — Ethel Niermeyer*
Heroism — Wanda Henson and Brenda Henson
Initiative — Hazel Moore
Steadfastness — Nancy Bogatin
Vision — Mariel Loaiza and Marcela Mendoza

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2002 were:
Courage — Tandy Gilliland and Patricia Merrill
Determination — JoeAnn Ballard
Heritage — Juanita Williamson*
Heroism — Sharon Pollard
Initiative — Joyce Cobb
Vision — Nancy B. Sorak

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2001 were:
Courage — Anne Shafer
Determination — Debbie Norton, Jalena Bowling and Denny Glad
Heritage — Marion Keisker*
Heroism — Jodie Gaines Johnson
Initiative — Cordell Jackson
Steadfastness — Lois Freeman
Vision — Janann Sherman

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2000 were:
Courage — Molly Meisenheimer and Helen Adamo
Determination — Bernice Donald
Heritage — Charl Ormond Williams*
Initiative — Rachel Shankman
Steadfastness — Elizabeth Toles
Vision — Donna Sue Shannon

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1999 were:
Courage — Susan Mackenzie
Determination — Bert P. Wolff
Heritage — Lucille DeVore Tucker*
Heroism — Sandra Harrison
Steadfastness —Carlotta Stewart Watson
Vision — Frances Grant Loring

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1998 were:
Courage — Doris Bradshaw
Determination — Shelia Tankersley
Heritage — Lucie Campbell*
Heroism — Alison Williams
Initiative — Tonga Nguyen
Steadfastness — Jeanne Dreifus
Vision — Ellida Sadler Fri

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1997 were:
Courage — Novella Smith-Arnold
Determination — Deborah Cunningham
Heritage — Sara Roberta Church*
Heroism — Lisa Herdahl
Initiative — Karen Shea
Steadfastness — Frances Dancy Hooks
Vision — Deborah M. Clubb

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1996 were:
Courage — Frances Goodman McMahon
Determination — Doris Walker
Heritage — Marion Griffin*
Heroism — Pauline Jones Hord
Initiative — Evelyn Thorpe-Hibbler
Steadfastness — Ann Bell
Vision — Elinor ‘B’ Bridges

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1995 were:
Courage — Nickii Elrod
Determination — Ruth Knight Allen
Heritage — Dorothy Sturm*
Heroism — Sandy Sanders and Patty Wallace
Initiative — Elnora Payne Woods
Steadfastness — Marjorie Raines
Vision — Theresa Okwumabua

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1994 were:
Courage — Georgia King
Determination — Shera Bie
Heritage — Elizabeth Phillips*
Heroism — Sarah Clayborne
Initiative — Veronica Coleman-Davis
Steadfastness — Mattie Sengstacke
Vision — Paula Casey

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1993 were:
Courage — Eunice Wilson
Determination — Ola Mae Ransom
Heritage — Cora Price Taylor*
Heroism — Anne White Kenworthy
Initiative — Edith Kelly-Green
Steadfastness — Selma Lewis
Vision — Audrey May and Vickie Scarborough

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1992 were:
Courage — Teresa Rae Dowdy
Determination — Dorothy “Happy” Jones*
Heritage — Judith Schwarz Scharff*
Heroism — Viola Harris McFerren
Initiative — Peri Motamedi
Steadfastness — Alberta Gaines
Vision — Patricia Howard

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1991 were:
Courage — Rita Underhill
Heritage — Lena Angevine Warner*
Heroism — Shirley Baliss
Initiative — Franketta Guinn
Steadfastness — Ellen Correll
Vision — Karen Williams

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1990 were:
Courage — Jocelyn Wurzburg
Determination — Virginia Dunaway
Heritage — Suffragists of Shelby County*
Heroism — Dinia Cruz
Initiative — Elaine Lee Turner and Joan Lee Nelson
Steadfastness — Mertie Buckman
Vision — Elma Neal Roane

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1989 were:
Courage — Josephine Burson
Determination — Joyce North
Heritage — Mary Treadwell, Georgia Harry and Patricia Walker Shaw*
Heroism — Alma Lovett
Initiative — Carol Coletta
Steadfastness — Althea Price
Vision — Carol Lynn Yellin

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1988 were:
Courage — Alzada Clark
Determination — Lucille Ewing
Heritage — Julia B. Hooks*
Heroism — Nancy Hastings-Sehested
Initiative — Thom Thi Bach
Steadfastness — Mary Robinson
Vision — Marilou Awiakta

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1987 were:
Courage — Margery Rumbarger McSweeney
Determination — Willie Pearl Butler
Heritage — Ida B. Wells and Myra F. Dreifus*
Heroism — Frances Coe
Initiative — Dorothy Gunther Pugh
Steadfastness — Susie Bryant
Vision — Astrid Braganza

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1986 were:
Courage — Maxine Smith
Determination — Joan Turner Beifuss
Heritage — Yellow Fever Heroines and Martyrs*
Heroism — Nina Katz
Initiative — Eunice Carruthers
Steadfastness — Verla Petit
Vision — Lorrine Cunningham

The Women of Achievement honorees for 1985 were:
Courage — Minerva Johnican
Determination — Angie D’Agostino
Heritage — Frances Wright*
Heroism — Arlene Stamm
Initiative — Judy Peiser
Steadfastness — Zana Ward
Vision — Bonnie Thornton Dill

Areas of Action

Our “Areas of Action” index is in progress and includes:

Women of “Firsts”
Educators
Women Business Owners

Click here to view honorees by year.