Roberta Jackson Trailblazer Awards

Awards ceremony honors women who have made a difference in the local community

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

The Roberta Jackson Women’s Trailblazer Awards were held this past Saturday to honor Women’s History Month in West Memphis. The award is presented to women who have worked to forge new pathways for women and/or contributed significantly to the West Memphis community and were created to honor and recognize overlooked and undervalued individuals who’ve made great contributions to their communities for many years.

Roberta Jackson, a trailblazer in her own right, was born in Wilson, Arkansas in 1924 and dedicated her life to serving her community. After graduating from Neutie’s Beauty School in Memphis, she opened Roberta’s Beauty Shop in West Memphis and remained a successful beautician for 57 years. In 1977, she was elected to serve as Councilwoman for Ward Five, Position One, on the West Memphis City Council, where she served for twenty- four years.

During her tenure, she worked with five mayors, including West Memphis first and only female mayor

See JACKSON, page A3

During the awards luncheon, two of Roberta Jackson’s children, Mrs. Sandra Davis and Mr. Robert Johnson, were honored with the Trailblazers Award in remembrance of their mother’s legacy.

Photo submitted JACKSON

From page A1

Joyce Ferguson, and played a significant role in initiatives such as establishing the first Crime Stoppers Program in West Memphis and advocating for the recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a holiday. In recognition of her service and dedication to the citizens of West Memphis, the Neighborhood Center was renamed the Roberta Jackson Neighborhood Center in 2010.

The Center, which had been closed for several years due to vandalism and disrepair, was reopened in June of 2022 after much demand from local residents. The reopening of the center marked a new chapter for the community, as it once again became a hub for gatherings and meetings for citizens.

During the awards luncheon, two of Roberta Jackson’s children, Mrs. Sandra Davis and Mr. Robert Johnson, were honored with the Trailblazers Award in remembrance of their mother’s legacy. The event was emceed by Mrs. Patricia Lane, with keynote speaker Honorable Tiarra Tanner delivering a powerful message of empowerment and inspiration.

In addition to honoring the memory of Roberta Jackson, the event also recognized several outstanding women who have made significant contributions to the West Memphis community. Among the recipients of the Roberta Jackson Women’s Trailblazer Awards were Dorothy Wallace, Lorraine Mohammed, Helen Harris, Shawna Rhinehart, Emily Scarbrough, Clara Ferron, Shirley Brown, Anita Bell, Thula Thomas, Cherilyn Minnis, Lavonda Taylor, Lola Adaway, Mary Toney, Betty Basemore, Romona Taylor, Sachivo Horton, Ora Breckenridge, Julie Ibara, Annette Johnson, and Jessica Price.

The ceremony served as a reminder that the work of empowering women is ongoing, and the trailblazers of today continue to inspire and motivate others to join in the advancement of women’s rights and opportunities to continue blazing trails for the women of the future.

Several outstanding women from the West Memphis community were honored at the awards ceremony and luncheon.

Photo submitted