Profile on Ms. Minnis

Longtime West Memphis educator has more than half-a-century in education

By RALPH HARDIN

ralphhardin@gmail.com

Her friends and family might call her Cherilynn, but for generations of students at West Memphis High School and the Academies of West Memphis, the revered educator is simply “Ms. Minnis.”

Minnis was just one of several local legends profiled by Therapeutic Focus, an outpatient therapy clinic based in West Memphis, for Black History month on their Facebook page, along with Coach Irving Clay, Earle Mayor Sherman Smith, Dr. Angela Davis and Marine Sgt. Ladell Maples.

In her profile, Minnis is described as, “A compassionate and exemplary educator in Crittenden County. She is most noted for her dedication and devotion to serving the students in her community. She was born in Amanca, a Black farming community once located in Crittenden County. With a zeal for learning yet bound by the limited educational opportunities afforded to Black students in the 1940’s, she was educated in a two-room building, that consisted of combined classrooms for Kindergarteners through 4th graders in one room and 5th through 8th graders in the other room.”

The write-up continues with Minnis’s pursuit of an education and her teaching career.

“Because the educational process was not expansive for Black students at that time, she was sent to Wedlock school, which had individual classrooms per grade. Mrs. Minnis graduated as valedictorian of Wedlock (8th grade), transferred to Wonder High School and later graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Philander Smith College, which was one of the few black Universities in Arkansas. After acquiring her degree, she chose to return to the West Memphis community as a teacher. She has a passion to produce writers, thinkers, and progressive learners and who will move forward in life.”

Mrs. Minnis has devoted her life to educating others. Her life’s mission as a teacher is to produce productive citizens, who can be a benefit to society. She is celebrating her 53rd year teaching in West Memphis.

West Memphis native Cherilynn Minnis keeps paying forward the benefits of getting an education, teaching in her home community for 53 years and still going.