Press Release: May 12, 2025
Okaloosa Commission on the Status of Women
For more info, contact Jeanne Rief at (850) 685-8027
On Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 2:00pm the Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women (OCCSW) hosted their annual Women of Honor event at Wright Baptist Church on Beal Parkway
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. The event is always held in May around Mother’s Day for those who might want to honor their mom.
Each woman’s name is 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 near the plaque. At the Women of Honor Ceremony, details about who they are and the impact they had on the nominator will be shared.
The 2025 Women of Honor pictured here are:
Kathy Alexander nominated by Okaloosa Federated Republican Women
Dana Allen nominated Joy Makela
Tierra Barclay nominated by Sports Clips
Annette Breton nominated by Donna Pearson
Dr. Betsy Christianson nominated by Joy Makela
Vanessa d’Aquin nominated by Cindy Bray
Second row:
Elizabeth “Libby” Hill nominated by Charlotte Eschmann
Kiiya Hillsman nominated by Ayajah Hillsman-Sprague
Maria Howell nominated by Joy Makela
Theri Isaac nominated by Joy Makela
Narissa Jenkins nominated by Healing Hoofsteps
Carol Kelley nominated by Kathy Miller
Carrie Knife nominated by Kelley Fuller
Third row:
Bonnie Nabors Pittock (represented by her son Jimmy Nabors) nominated by Integrious Solutions
Dr. Gail Shorter-Judson nominated Horace Judson
Dina Smith nominated by Joy Makela
Lisa Smith nominated by Diane Fraser
Ann Wallther Sprague nominated by Annette Henderson Brown
Julia Gracela Webb nominated by Barbara Britt
First row:
Karen Englert nominated by Melinda Sousa
Trisha Graham nominated by Megan Blanco
Helen Harris nominated by Karen Lauer
Sharon Herbison nominated by Tom Barefoot
Back row:
Dr. Eleanor McCain nominated by Bridgeway Center
Linda McCooey nominated by Daughters of the American Revolution
Brianna O’Brien nominated by Kelly Fuller
The Okaloosa County Commission on the Status of Women was established by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in Resolution 95-09 on February 1, 1995. The purpose of the OCCSW, through research, education and communication, is dedicated to the elimination of all barriers to a woman’s achievement of her fullest human potential.
For more information on the OCCSW visit the website occsw.com or call 850-685-8027.