The Troy United Women’s League will recognize nine distinguished guests from throughout the county at its Annual Scholarship Banquet tonight at the Trojan Center Ballrooms.

Shelia Jackson, TUWL publicity chair, said there are many members of the Pike County community who are deserving of recognition for the good works and good deeds that they do.

“Each year, the Troy United Women’s League selects nine distinguished guests from among many to be recognized at our scholarship banquet,” she said. “We thank each and every one for their contributions toward making Troy and Pike County such a wonderful place to live, work and raise a family.”

Jackson said the TUWL 2019 Distinguished Guests come from all walks of life and each one has played a unique role in the Troy and Pike County communities.

The TUWL 2019 Distinguished Guests are Richard V. Mosley, Sr., Dionne Blair, Maceo Henderson, Tracy Johnson, Renee Williams Dickerson, Betty Baxter, Anthony Terrelle Foster, Jacqueline Henderson and Darien Ellis.

Mosley worked for the Alabama Department of Corrections and the Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles and Bill Jackson Chevrolet.

After retirement, he dedicated himself to serving his community.

Mosley is an original member of Mama Jane’s Coffee Club, a group of men and women who conduct fundraiser for various causes in the community. He is a member of Trojan Tailgaters Alumni Chapter and fundraises for scholarships. He volunteers at the Colley Senior Complex and purchases meals for deserving seniors at the Troy Nutrition Center. He is an active and involved member of Greater St. Paul AMC Church.

Dionne Blair, a Goshen native, is in her 22nd year as an educator and is the principal to the students at Selma Street Elementary School. She was recognized by the Dothan City Schools with an Excellence in Education award. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Blair’s mission is, as Maya Angelou stated, “not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” 

Maceo Henderson is a senior engineer with Panasonic Automotive Systems of America. He travels the world managing new product development and global manufacturing in the automotive infotainment industry. He is the executive director of the Walter J. Henderson Foundation which focuses on community service and academic development. He chairs Next Step Education of Atlanta that provides opportunities for post graduate development and continued education for graduating high school students.  He volunteers with Meals on Wheels.

Tracy Johnson is a graduate of Pike County High School. She earned a degree in practical nursing from Wallace College. She has worked in several health-care settings including hospitals, nursing homes, hospice cares and is currently in mental health.

Tracy contributions to society include working closely with her clients, talking to them, listening to them, taking care of them and, most importantly, treating them like human beings, treating them with dignity and respect.   

Betty Baxter is a native of Enterprise but has made her home in Brundidge since 1982. She is the assistant of Sunday School and president of the Matron Department of Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church.  Baxter is member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was employed for 26 years with Fruit of the Loom and 10 years with Russel Athletic Company in Brundidge before she retired. Baxter is currently in her second term as the Brundidge City Council member from District 1.

Anthony Terrell Foster is a native of Brundidge. He is a barber in downtown Brundidge. He is the co-founder of The Trendsetters, a community support group. He is also the Worshipful Master of Anchor Lodge 86 PHA of the State of Alabama.  Foster said he has been blessed to purchase commercial property in the downtown area of Brundidge. He earned a degree in ministry from Bethel Bible College and Seminary where he received an honor for the highest grade point average.

Jacqueline Henderson is an award-winning early childhood through fifth-grade educator. She has more than 20 years of experience servicing economically disadvantaged and Title I students in the Fort Worth Independent School District. She also served as an instructional leader, teacher mentor, published curriculum writer and independent professional development consultant. While continuing as a second-grade educator, Henderson is impacting teacher quality nationwide as a national scorer for new math teachers.

Darien Ellis is a teacher, coach and mentor in the Bullock County School System. He is a native of Troy. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education from Columbus State University where he received the Health Professions Most Outstanding Student Award and the CSU Certificate of Academic Honor. At Bullock Country, Ellis received the WAKA Golden Apple Award in recognition for his excellence in teaching and leadership.

Jackson said all Troy United Women’s League 2019 Distinguished Guests have made, and are continuing to make, significant contributions in their places of work, in their churches and in their communities.

“We congratulate them all on what they have done and look forward to the contributions they will make that will be of benefit to their communities now and in the future,” she said.