Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee
Women of Achievement celebrates seven women during National Women’s History Month Seven local women were celebrated on March 30 in a ceremony in the spacious sanctuary of First Congregational Church, at the 39th Memphis Women of Achievement awards. The Women of Achievement honorees for 2025 are:Courage: Lauren Williams-Batiste, organized successful neighborhood opposition to a proposed industrial sawmillDetermination: Kayla Gore, builds housing for trans …
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 …
Women of Achievement 1986 STEADFASTNESS for a woman with a lifetime of achievement: Verla Petit Verla Petit has devoted her life to service to the downtrodden, the forgotten and the rejected at Memphis Union Mission. She has given 35 years — first, as executive secretary, and since 1976 as director — to provide food, shelter …
Women of Achievement 1986 INITIATIVE for a woman who seized the opportunity to use her talents and created her own future: Eunice Carruthers As one of the 12 children in her family in Arlington, Tennessee, Eunice Carruthers made hats for dolls and decorated her own head with bows, flowers and ribbons. She carried that childhood …
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT 1986 HEROISM for a woman whose heroic spirit was tested and shown as a model to all in Shelby County and beyond: Nina Katz Nina Katz is a survivor of the Holocaust and as such has spent her life working with special insight to combat racism, sexism and anti-Semitism. She shares her …