Women of Achievement

Women of Achievement 2026 celebrates 40 years of women’s stories, cheers new honorees

Medical warriors, truth-tellers and storytellers will stride the stage on March 29 at the 40th Women of Achievement awards and celebration of National Women’s History month.

Set at Playhouse on the Square, the 3 pm reception will include a book signing for the fourth volume of Women of Achievement essays. Awards will be presented on stage at 4:30 p.m.

Joining 292 individuals and three groups saluted since 1985, the seven new Women of Achievement honorees, pictured above, are:
Courage: Wendi Thomas, journalist, founder of MLK50
Determination: Dr. Patricia Adams-Graves, sickle cell disease researcher and advocate
Heritage: Dr. Evelyn Bassi Ogle, EEG pioneer
Heroism: LaDeia Joyce McNeal, HIV/AIDS activist
Initiative: Dr. Audrey Elion, mental health proponent
Steadfastness: Linn Sitler, Memphis & Shelby County Film Commissioner
Vision: Dr. Gail Murray, professor, historian, author

“This year’s honorees celebrate women who stand up and speak out – to write the truth, to secure health care for marginalized groups, to preserve women’s history and to promote filmmaking,” said co-founder Deborah Clubb, executive director of the Memphis Area Women’s Council. “They exhibit the integrity and tenacity, creativity and passion that make change and make history.”

Nominations for awards come from across the community; finalists are selected by WA members. Essays and photos including the group awards for the Yellow Fever martyrs, local suffragists and the women who saved Overton Park are here on our website, comprising a unique archive of local history.

Three earlier volumes of WA essays and the new fourth volume will be for sale at the March 29 book signing.

Admission is $40 or $20 for students K-12 and should be paid in advance at eventbrite.com or mail checks to PO Box 95, 38101, including names of persons who will attend.

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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 39 years of WA essays honoring 292 women and three 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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