On Thursday, May 4, 2023 at 2:00pm the Okaloosa Commission on the Status of Women (OCSW) hosted their annual Women of Honor event at the University of West Florida (UWF) Emerald Coast Campus. Congratulations to these Women of Honor who were recognized in 2023 by the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women
Front row (l-r) LaShana Douville, Michelle Carmical, Rochelle Brown, Kathy Marler Blue and Kathie H Blue. Back row (l-r) Sheila Hale, Caralee Gibson, Kristen Genrich, Letrich Milligan-Gainer, Cindy Frakes. Lija Eldridge, Maureen Bierman and Chair of the OCCSW Sabina Zunguze.
Front row (l-r) Quanda Pace, Clara Oates, Mary Bell Lundsford, Joyce Loughrige, Teneka Lock. Back row (l-r) Pam Strecker, Deborah Stone, Doris Scaife, Christine Pratt, Jan Pooley, Belva Parrott and Chair of the OCCSW Sabina Zunguze.
The “Women of Honor” was first established as “Wall of Honor” by the OCCSW in 1997 as an idea of its members who thought it would be a nice way for someone to honor the women in their lives whose works might be unknown to most others. Examples could be a mother, a co-worker, an organization member, a teacher, either living or deceased, who made a difference in the nominator’s life. The event is always held in May around Mother’s Day for those who might want to honor their Mom.
Each woman’s name was added to a plaque that hangs on the Wall of Honor at the UWF Emerald Coast campus library. A letter that includes the honorees photo and brief nomination bio along with the names of the person or people who nominated her, will be placed in the Book of Honor below the plaque. At the Women of Honor Ceremony, details about who they are and the impact they had on the nominator or our community will be shared.