Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee
Women of Achievement 1995 DETERMINATION for a woman who solved a glaring problem despite widespread inertia, apathy or ignorance around her: Ruth Knight Allen Ruth Knight Allen is determined to help native people, and she brings all the power of her spirit and her Cherokee-Choctaw heritage to that task. Ruth came to Memphis from Hattiesburg, …
Women of Achievement 1988 STEADFASTNESS for a woman with a lifetime of achievement: Mary Robinson When she was 16 Mary Wright Sullivan Robinson graduated as Valedictorian from her high school. She was awarded an academic scholarship to college but World War II and family considerations prevented her from attending. After years of work in a …
Women of Achievement 1988 HEROISM for a woman whose heroic spirit was tested and shown as a model to all in Shelby County and beyond: Nancy Hastings-Sehested Despite the repeated refusal of the 14.6 million-member Southern Baptist Convention to approve the elevation of female ministers to the pastorate, Rev. Nancy Hastings Sehested continued to seek …
The 38th annual Women of Achievement celebration ceremony on March 3 was a great success! Eight local women were celebrated for changemaking leadership on March 3, 2024 at the 38th Women of Achievement awards and celebration of National Women’s History month. The Women of Achievement honorees for 2024 are:Courage: Vanessa Rodley and Jennifer Murry-Rodley, Mid-South …
Women of Achievement 1988 HERITAGE for a woman whose achievements still enrich our lives: Julia B. Hooks The life of Julia B. Hooks spanned 90 years and encompassed much of the history of the United States. Julia was born free in 1842, the daughter of a former slave. Her mother, Laura, was the daughter of …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 1988 COURAGE for a woman who, facing active opposition, backed an unpopular cause in which she deeply believed: Alzada Clark In a 25-year career as a labor organizer, Alzada Clark has braved personal threats and racial epithets in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. In 1965 she became the first black woman organizer …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 1987 DETERMINATION for a woman who solved a glaring problem despite widespread inertia, apathy or ignorance around her: Willie Pearl Butler When she moved to Memphis as a young woman, Willie Pearl Butler worked hard to support herself and her family. She was employed successively by the Chisca Hotel, Loeb’s Laundry, the …
Women of Achievement 1987 HERITAGE for a woman whose achievements still enrich our lives: Ida B. Wells and Myra F. Dreifus This year we honor posthumously two women who achievements still enrich our lives. Although the details of their lives appear dissimilar, they complement one another. One was a Southerner who moved north to complete …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 1987 HEROISM for a woman whose heroic spirit was tested and shown as a model to all in Shelby County and beyond: Frances Coe While others of her generation busied themselves with lady-like traditions of the South to which they were born, Frances Edgar Coe stepped into the public arena in the …
Women of Achievement 1987 INITIATIVE for a woman who seized the opportunity to use her talents and created her own future: Dorothy Gunther Pugh In 1977 young dancers in Shelby County had almost no opportunities to perform. Luckily for them, a broadly trained dancer and highly talented instructor named Dorothy Gunther Pugh noticed. She envisioned …