Nominate the 2023 distinguished woman
The Cleveland County Commission for Women is seeking nominations from the community for its 31st “Distinguished Women’s Banquet” in November.
The group wants to honor women who have made significant contributions to the lives of others and to the community.
The banquet will be held on Nov. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the LeGrand Center.
Valerie Boyd is chairing the 2023 banquet committee with Tanzy Wallace co-chairing.
Nomination forms may be picked up at:
Eugenia H. Young Memorial Library, 104 Howie Dr., Shelby
Ruby C. Hunt YMCA library, 1322 Patrick Ave., Boiling Springs
Mauney Memorial Library, 100 S. Piedmont Ave., Kings Mountain
Spangler Library, 112 Piedmont Dr., Lawndale
Applications must be returned by mail, email or given to a member of the commission by Sept. 18. People can mail nominations to Cleveland County Commission for Women, Post Office Box 1953, Shelby, NC 28151-1953 or email CCCCommissionforWomen@gmail.com.
Members of the Commission are: Betsy Wells, Diane Davis, Cathy Robertson, Debra Blanton, Mary Accor, Valerie Boyd, Joyce Coleman, Shirley Lail, Linda Martin, Robert Miller, Tanzy Wallace, Jill Camp and Christine Cribb.
The nomination process is confidential and nominees must not be told.
Some of the selection criteria includes:
Maximized Potential - makes the most of every opportunity
Pioneered - not that she was necessarily the “first,” but she opened doors for other women
Contributions - makes significant contributions in many areas, not just excellent in her job
Remains in Touch with Her Roots - maintains ties to Cleveland County.
Rising Star - One distinguished woman award will go to a rising star in our community.
Nominees are selected without consideration of age, national origin, ethnicity, or political affiliation.
Past distinguished women from 1992 to 2021 include:
(1992) *NC Senator Helen Rhyne Marvin, *Joyce Cashion, * NC Representative Edith Lutz, *Martha Lee Scruggs, *Rosalynd Gilliatt, *Grace Hamrick, *Doris Borders, Patty Dorian, *Dorothy Edwards, * Aileen Ford, *Ellen Powell, Dot Roark
(1993) Chinetta Brooks, *Arrie Ellis, * Virginia Raymer
(1994) Marietta Floyd, Jacqueline Lavender, * Thelma McVae
(1995) Nancy Abasiekong, Suzi Kennedy, Linda Thrift
(1996) Anganette Homsley, *Dr. Lonnie Proctor, Elizabeth Shipley
(1997) Dr. Dottie McIntyre, *Esther Plummer, Kay Archer Price,* Betty Withrow
(1998) *Julia Banks, *Adelaide Craver, Anne Short
(1999) *Barbara Brock, * Erma Drum, Madge Wray
(2000) *Rosaline Hunt, Emily Ousley,* Jackie Rountree
(2001) Commissioner Mary Accor, the late Fay Webb Gardner, *Katie Norris, Page Sherer
(2002) *Beverly Shuford, * Kathleen Hamrick,* Ezra Bridges
(2003) Karla Haynes, *Brenda Page, *Betty Roberts
(2004) LouVerne McCray, Jane Bryson Blake, the late Bess Gardner Hoey
(2005) *Betty Jean Mauney, *Aloyse Jones, * Annie Farley Dawkins
(2006) Margie Christopher, Shirley Lail, Phyllis Sims
(2007) Dr. Nellie Aspel, *Lucille Evans, *Mary Neisler
(2008) Shirley Brutko, *Daeira Roberts, *Evelyn West
(2009) Jo Boggs, Lillie Hinton, Zita Roberts
(2010) *Sibyl Dixon, Jeanne Patterson, Suzette Ross, Elizabeth “Lib” Stewart
(2011) *Lou Ballew, * Helen Barrow, Elizabeth “Lib” Revels,* Ruth Wilson
(2012) the late Annie Ross “Guynell” Beam, Dr. Collette Deviney, Patti Ellis Norman, Stella Neisler Putnam
(2013) Dr. Laura Bingham, Jane Cooke, Mary Degree, Dr. Jane King
(2014) Libbey Lavender, Dr. Linda Hopper, Betsy Wells
(2015) Dr. Shannon Kennedy, Sharon Martin, Marguerite Mebane
(2016) Gaye DeVoe, Shearra Miller, Macy Stinchcomb, Rev Frances Webber
(2017) Doris H. Dedmon, Ramona Gash, Kathryn Hamrick, Kathy Wilson
(2018) Tropzie W. McCluney, Bess-Alice H. Phifer, Venita A. Roberts
(2019) Susan Allen, Betty Gamble, Dr. B. J. Zamora
(2020) No Banquet—COVID
(2021) Carol Ann Hoard, Lisa Proctor, Teresa Wingo
(2022) Amy Ledford Allen, Julia Clark-Smith, Annie C. Thombs
This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Nominate the 2023 distinguished woman
