Women of Achievement

Women of Achievement 2025 celebrates changemakers who persevere and blaze the way

The courage, determination and heroism of women — no matter the barriers or circumstances – were celebrated once again on March 30 at the 39th Women of Achievement awards. An immigrant artist, a trans woman, a barrier-breaking judge and advocates for women’s health and safety will share the stage at Memphis’s premier celebration of National Women’s History month.

The Women of Achievement honorees for 2025 are:
Courage: Lauren Williams-Batiste, organized successful neighborhood opposition to a proposed industrial sawmill
Determination: Kayla Gore, builds housing for trans people of color
Heritage: Joyce Blackmon, first female and African-American vice president at MLG&W
Heroism: Gwendolyn Turner, domestic violence survivor and advocate
Initiative: Maritza Dávila-Irizarry, Puerto-Rican born acclaimed printmaker, art educator
Steadfastness: Judge Julia Smith Gibbons, federal appeals judge and first woman appointed to a court of record in Tennessee
Vision: Dr. Nikia Grayson, midwife and chief clinical officer at city’s first birth center

Seven awards are given each year to women in our community who have shown courage, determination, heroism, initiative, steadfastness and vision. We honor a woman of generations past whose accomplishments still enrich our lives today, with the heritage award.

“This year’s honorees celebrate women who stand up, speak out and open doors for other women,” said Women of Achievement co-founder Deborah Clubb, executive director of the Memphis Area Women’s Council. “Our 2025 honorees blazed pathways to judicial, corporate and visual art careers and push daily for full access to healthcare, housing, safety and healthy neighborhoods. Each one exhibits the tenacity, creativity and passion that make change and make history.”

The stories of 285 individual women and three groups – the suffragists, martyrs of the yellow fever, and the women who saved Overton Park – have been honored and documented here on the Women of Achievement website. A three-volume book series captures biographical essays and photographs of WA honorees through 2004.

The ceremony was on March 30, 2025 in the main sanctuary at First Congregational Church. The spacious and bright sanctuary reflected the inspirational stories of our seven honorees. Each honoree was given a unique handmade plate by local potter Katie Dann. The honoree’s story was read, and we celebrated and were inspired by each of these remarkable women.

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Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail

The Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail is a project to document, remember, and celebrate the women of Memphis, Tennessee that have made a lasting impact on the city through their work and lives. Compiled by Dr. Beverly Bond, Dr. Margaret Caffrey, Judy Card, Deborah Clubb, Dr. Gail Murray, Jimmy Ogle, and Laura Todd, the brochure and information is the first of its kind in Memphis. Our goal is to raise funds to expand the project in hopes to share the stories, history, and vision of these remarkable Memphis women.

Click here to learn more about the Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail.

Read 35 years of WA essays honoring 257 women and two groups or tour the new Memphis Women’s Legacy Trail from the safety of your personal car – all of this can be found here on our website.

JOIN or RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP

Using this Donate button you can make your Women of Achievement dues payment online. More membership information can be found by clicking the button below.

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