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5 honored at Women of Distinction luncheon
BRANDON HUTCHESON
On Tuesday, Oct. 17, five local women were honored at the Women of Distinction Luncheon held at the E.H. Lannom Jr. Gymnasium on the campus of Dyersburg State Community College. Honorees included Dr. Mary Stuart David, Lindsay Ennis Carol Harris, Emma Reynolds, and the late Katie Winchester, in memoriam. Proceeds from the luncheon were to benefit the Girl Scouts Heart of the South Council. The event began at 11:30 a.m., with DSCC President Dr. Karen Bowyer welcoming those in attendance.
Rev. Gary Meade of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church issued a word of prayer, and Girl Scouts of the South CEO Melanie Schild spoke of highlights of the Girl Scouts.
The DSCC Jazz Choir, directed by Desiree Dolan, performed as those in attendance enjoyed lunch.
The keynote speaker for the event was Rev. Pam Phillips-Burk of Cumberland Presbytery.
Dr. Burk described women of distinction as, “women whose lives have something set apart from others. We are here to celebrate 5 women in our program which sets them apart from others.”
Following Dr. Burk’s speech, Dr. Bowyer returned to the podium to introduce each of the honorees.
Dr. Mary Stuart David earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from Vanderbilt University in 1963 and a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences in 1979. She was selected for Mortar Board at Vanderbilt University during her undergraduate work and was the Outstanding Engineering Science Student in 1973. She has also served the community as a member of the Child Abuse Task Force, instructor of the Family Life Curriculum at Ripley High School, lecturer at DSCC and Parkview Methodist Medical Center on Community Health.
Owner and operator of The Mustard Seed Boutique and Gifts, Lindsay Ennis was next to be honored. Ennis, who held a career in physical therapy, opened The Mustard Seed while holding a full-time physical therapy position as well as a 6-month child at home. In less than 5 years, Ennis now employs over a dozen ladies in Dyer County between the ages of 16 and 60. She has also served as a sponsor of multiple little-league teams, raising funds for Relay for Life, March of Dimes, St. Jude, Color Run, Transitions of Dyer County, among others. The Mustard Seed has funded many youth to attend church camps as well as sponsored adult women to attend Christian retreats. In 2016, Ennis joined the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA) where she has served on many committees and assisted in events such as Girls Night Out, which is a scholarship fundraiser for DSCC.
Carol Harris, after serving 18 years as a registered nurse and Advanced Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, changed careers and opened a retail business specializing in children’s sewing. In 2006, Carol Harris Company was named Small Business of the Year by the Dyersburg-Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, and in 2007, her business was featured in Southern Living magazine as well as the Tennessee Crossroads television show. Harris has served on the Dyersburg-Dyer County Board of Directors, the Dyersburg Downtown Association Board, McIver’s Grant Public Library Board, and the Obion River Regional Library Board. Recently, Harris was appointed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam to the Humanities Tennessee Board.
Emma Reynolds, former full-time faculty member and current faculty emeritus at DSCC, was chosen to direct the Faculty Development Activity for a $2 million, six-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education between 2009-2015. Reynolds served as chair and co-chair of the Annual Office Workers’ Seminar for 25 years, as well as spearheaded the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation program, which establishes the core requirements and standards for DSCC to function as an institution of higher learning. She also supports many community organizations including Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics of Tennessee, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Matthew 25:40 of Dyersburg, The Southern Poverty Association, American Cancer Society, Dyer County Rescue Squad, Feed the Children, Relay for Life, Institute for Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Research, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Dyersburg Union Mission. Reynolds was inducted into the University of Tennessee’s Black Hall of Fame as an ‘Outstanding Graduate’, and she has served as a member of the steering committee for the establishment of an Academic Boosters Club for Dyersburg High School as well as secretary for the Dyersburg High School’s Academic Boosters Club.
Representing Katie Winchester were sister Janie Clements and First Citizens National Bank Chairman President and COO Judy Long as well as Chairman and CEO Jeff Agee.
Winchester began her banking career with First Citizens in 1961. During her tenure, she served as bank chairman emeritus, chairman, president and CEO. She served on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission as chairperson and as chairperson of the Commission’s Audit Committee. Winchester also served on the Federal Advisory Council, Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington, D.C. as the first female to serve as member of the council; Federal Bank Reserve of St. Louis, Memphis Branch Advisory Board; Baptist Memorial Health Care Systems Inc., Memphis, chairperson of Corporate Board; chairman of BMHCC Board of Trustees; Dyersburg/ Dyer County Chamber of Commerce chairman; UT Martin chairman, Dunagan Chair of Banking; Tennessee State Advisory Board chairman, Division of Rehabilitation Services; Tennessee Bankers Association’s Board of Directors, the first female to serve on the board; University of Tennessee Development Council, Knoxville and Martin; DSCC Foundation Board chairperson; United Way of Dyer County chairperson; Tennessee Economic Growth Board; American Bankers Association Community Banker’s Council; Dyer County Chapter American Red Cross chairperson; Dyersburg/ Dyer County YMCA Board of Directors; and Dyersburg Kiwanis Club.
All honorees/ representatives took a moment to thank everyone for the honor.
Sponsors for the event included:
Ambassador level – Becky and Michael Heckethorn
Senior level – First Citizens National Bank
Cadette level – Security Bank
Junior level – D&B Properties (Sonic), Dyersburg State Community College, Faith Deliverance Apostolic Church Inc., Tennova
Brownie level – Ford Construction, Missy Smitheal, Bart and Molly Williams
Daisy level – Dr. Pamela Evans, Neighborhood Pharmacy, King and Judy Rogers, White and Associates Insurance
Special thanks were also given to the Women of Distinction Committee members, Dr. Karen Bowyer (chair), Whitney Allmon, Reba Celsor, Penny Guthrie, Kerrie Heckethorn, Esther Hugueley, Judy Long, Dr. Kimberly Martin, Jennifer Nunley, Missy Smitheal, and Molly Williams.