The Ann Stallard Award for Excellence and Leadership
Guests at the 2025 Salute to Women of Achievement event witnessed YWCA Greater Atlanta’s surprise tribute to Atlanta business and civic leader, Ann Stallard, renaming its Woman of Achievement Award the Ann Stallard Award for Excellence and Leadership. Stallard is YWCA Greater Atlanta’s only lifetime board member, and served as board president of the national YWCA from 1991 to 1996, and the Global Board of the World YWCA in Geneva, Switzerland, from 1996 to 2002.
Salute to Women of Achievement is YWCA Greater Atlanta’s annual luncheon that celebrates remarkable women who embody the YWCA mission and showcases their exemplary leadership and dedication to making a positive impact in Atlanta. May 8, 2025 we celebrated 10 phenomenal Women of Achievement.
Since its inception in 1984, our YWCA Academy of Women Achievers has grown to include more than 300 women who are making a difference in the lives of many.
2025 Salute to Women of Achievement
This year’s recipient of the Ann Stallard Award for Excellence and Leadership:
Donna Hyland – President and CEO, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
This year’s inductees:
Ashley Carson – EVP, Atlanta Division President, SouthState Bank
Kwajelyn Jackson – Executive Director, Feminist Women's Health Center (Atlanta)
DeRetta Cole Rhodes, PhD – Executive Vice President & Chief Culture Officer, Atlanta Braves
Elizabeth Correll Richards – President, The Correll Family Foundation
Leslie Schreiner, CPA, CDP – SVP, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta
Jewel Burks Solomon – Managing Partner, Collab Capital
Pamela Stewart – Chief Customer Officer - Retail, The Coca~Cola Company
Belisa Urbina – CEO & Co-Founder, Ser Familia, Inc.
Janis Ware – Publisher & Editor, The Atlanta Voice / Voice News Network
Here are some highlights from the 2025 Salute to Women of Achievement:
Class of 2025
Donna Hyland
Ashley Carson
Kwajelyn Jackson
DeRetta Cole Rhodes
Elizabeth Correll Richards
Leslie Schreiner
Jewel Burks Solomon
Pamela Stewart
Belisa Urbina
Janis Ware
Class of 2024
Paige Alexander
Deisha Barnett
Gina Espinosa-Meltzer
Chanel Frazier
Julia Houston
Kaye Husbands Fealing
Ayesha Khanna
Lauren Koontz
Maya Penn
April Ross
Class of 2023
Misty Fernandez
Venessa Harrison
Sarah Irvin
Jenna Kelly
Katie Kirkpatrick
Carrie Kurlander
Beth Lowry
Saadia Madsbjerg
Fay Twersky
Carolyn Young
Helene Gayle
Class of 2022
Chloe Barzey
Nicole “Nikki” Clifton
Sharmen Gowens
Nancy Quan
Leocadia I. Zak
Class of 2021
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
Class of 2020
Alicia Philipp
Kali Beyah
Lori Billingsley
Martha Brooks
Kathy Colbenson
Cynthia Day
Pat Gardner
Kim Greene
Condace Pressley
Bentina Chislom Terry
Sandy Welfare
Class of 2019
Liz Blake
Allison Dukes
Sharon Gay
Sonya Halpern
Soumaya Khalifa
Helene Lollis
Juliette Pryor
Blythe Robinson
Erika Shields
Martha Wilber, M.D.
Andrea Young
Class of 2018
Erica Qualls-Battey
Dr. Debra Carlton, M.D.
Daryll Griffin
Beth Holder
Erika James
Anne Kaiser
Mary Laschinger
Wonya Lucas
Mary Pat Matheson
Beatriz Perez
Wendy Stewart
Class of 2017
Ann Cramer
Ann Curry
Ann Stallard
Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell
Edie Cofrin
Lisa Gordon
Dr. Valerie Camille Jones
Stephanie Mains
Ileana Martinez
Teresa Roseborough
Joanne Smith
Yvonne Thomas
Dr. Mary Wilson, M.D
Class of 2016
Billye Aaron
Liz Blake
Shan Cooper
Sandra Deal
Francesca Gary
Lila Hertz
Meredith Leapley
Julie Miller-Phipps
Qaadirah Rahim
Sarah-Elizabeth Reed
Julie Seitz
Class of 2015
Carol Tomé
Erika Alexander
Myra Bierria
Luncinda Bunnen
Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen
Charmaine Davis
Kelly Loeffler
Bari Love
Patrise Perkins-Hooker
Dr. Sita Ranchod-Nilsson
Lisa Williams
Class of 2014
Rev. Dr. Joanna M. Adams
Lisa Cremin
Beth Finnerty
Dana Halberg
Danita Knight
Paulette Norvel Lewis
Michelle Nunn
Natosha Reid Rice
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice
Nita Sardana
Charmaine Ward
Class of 2013
Rosalind Brewer
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Mary Brock
Janine Brown
Stacy Cole-Bell
Denise Harrod
Holly Hughes
Cheryl Lomax
Mary Moore
Marian Pittman
Tisha Tallman
Class of 2012
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Kim Anderson
Amy Brady
Kelly Dolan
Terri Badour
Noni Ellison-Southall
Donna Hyland
Glenda Minkin
Brenda Muhammad
Leslie Sibert
Lottie Watkins*
Class of 2011
Kathy Betty
Rabbi Analia Bortz
Molly Burke
Emily Ellison
Tad Hutcheson (Y’s Man)
Dr. Elizabeth Kiss
Penny McIntyre
M. Yvette Miller
Sheryl Sellaway
Geri Thomas
Class of 2010
Nancy Grace
Stacey Abrams
Cathy Adams
Dr. Sheryl Gabram
Marsha Johnson
Teri McClure
Katy Barksdale
Erica Qualls-Battey
Sylvia Russell
Christine St. Clare
Class of 2009
Pearl Cleage
BJ Bernstein, J.D.
Renay Blumenthal
Anna Cablik
Lesley Grady
Eve Higginbotham, M.D.
Linda Klein, J.D.
Brenda Reid
Lovette Russell
Suzanne Sitherwood
Chilton Varner, J.D.
Class of 2008
Pinney Allen
Lisa Borders
Susana Maria Chavez
LaJean Gould
Lisa Marie Hamilton
Cecilia Houston-Torrence
Dr. Candace Kaspers
Penelope McPhee
Rhonda Mims
Louise Sams
Class of 2007
Leah Ward Sears
Juanita Abernathy*
Larrie Del Martin
Elise Eplan
Gloria Goins
Nancy Hall
Patricia Harris
Marian Lucia
Shirley Mitchell
Margaret Reiser
Pamela Stephenson
Class of 2006
Stephanie Blank
Claire Arnold
Leona Barr-Davenport
Carol Hunstein
Elizabeth Omilami
Melanie Platt
Anne Quatrano
Judy Tabb
Marvonia Walker
Evonne Yancey
Class of 2005
Evern Cooper Epps
Rebecca Blalock
Juel Pate Borders-Benson
Ada Lee Correll
Audrey Hines
Elisabeth Marchant
Kay Scott
Linda Selig
Janet Street
Ray Uttenhove
Harriette Watkins
Class of 2004
Charlayne Hunter-Gault
Carolyn Banks
Janis Dubow
Rebecca Franklin
Virginia Gorday
Virginia Hepner
Harriet Hessam
Helen Smith Price
Jenny Pruitt
Laura Turner Seydel
Julia Wallace
Class of 2003
Dorothy Fuqua*
Patricia Barnard
Carolyn Byrd
Brenda Cole
Joan Garner*
Sara González*
Deva Hirsch
Kathy Klatt
Hala Moddelmog
Susan Neugent
Connie Stokes
Class of 2002
Shirley Franklin
Vicki Escarra
Margaret Greene
Beverly Hall*
Valerie Jackson
Dorothy Yates Kirkley
Vicki Palmer
Maria Saporta
Nancy Gordy Simms
Cathy Woolard
Class of 2001
Jane Fonda
Marie Barnes
Diana Buntin
Mary Harris
Nina Hickson
Barbara Loar*
Linda A. Parrish
Paula Rosput
Mtamanika Youngblood
Class of 2000
Judge Glenda Hatchett
Clara Axam
Jacquelyn Belcher
Cathy Cox
Delores E. Cross
Ronnie Gunnerson
Carolyn Kenny
Soon Paik
Janet Rechtman
Phyllis F. Schwartz*
Kathleen Toomey
Class of 1999
Carol Jackson
Mary Bullock
Nellie D. Duke
Renee Glover
Marjorie Fine Knowles
Rubye Lucas
Audrey F. Manley
Pat Mitchell
Rogsbert Phillips
Judy Turner
Pat Upshaw-Monteith
Class of 1998
Ingrid Saunders Jones
Candy Berman
Betty Cook
Christine Farris
Amanda G. Hyatt*
Elizabeth Long
Karen Elaine Webster Parks
Peggy McCready Schwall*
Beverly Thomas
Dorothy J. Tracy*
Ruth West
Class of 1997
Judy M. Anderson
Amanda Brown-Olmstead
Evern Cooper Epps
Connie Winifred Curry
Sallie Adams Daniel
Stephanie Davis
Camille Davis-Williams
Angela Gittens
Judy Hanenkrat
Julie Keeton
Deborah Richardson
Class of 1996
Shirley Clarke Franklin
Barbara Balser
Nancy Boxill
Karen Duckett
Roulettei Gildersleeve
Mary Long
Ivenue Love-Stanley
Sally McDaniel
Thelma Wyatt Cummings Moore
Nan Orrock
Polly Simpson
Class of 1995
Beverly Bailey Harvard
Kathy Ashe
Jacquelyn Barrett
Barbara Cleveland
Hattie Dorsey*
Jo Edwards
Gail Evans
Anne Harper
Pamela Hoffman
Clare Richardson
Gail Tusan
Class of 1994
Myrtle Davis
Valerie Ferguson
Barbara Gifford
Sondra Rhoades Johnson
Liane Levetan
Beth Schapiro
Georganna Sinkfield
Ann Stallard
Lucy Vance
Class of 1993
Jean Childs Young*
Alice Ball
Sandra Barnhill
D. Gayle Gellerstedt
Patsy Hilliard
Patricia Lottier
Grace Phillips
Beatrice A. Ruffin
Cynthia Tucker
Patricia M. Tunno*
Patricia Willis
Class of 1992
Monica Kaufman Pearson
Jocelyn Dorsey
Maritza Keen
Melody McCloud
Kathryn McDonagh
Frances Freeborn Pauley*
Anne Sparrow
Sue Wieland*
Elizabeth Wilson
Kathleen Ziegler
Class of 1991
Mary Gellerstedt*
Billye S. Aaron
Marva Brooks
Donna Paulette Carson
Melita Easters
Ryland McClendon
Jan Pringle
Pamela Pryor
Carol Reiser*
Ruth Schmidt*
Class of 1990
Johnnetta B. Cole
Ollivette Allison*
Barbara Miller Asher*
Byllye Avery
Barbara Bruner*
Bettye Davis
Marion Delaney-Harris*
Mary B. Jordan*
Mylle Bell Mangum
Iris Miles
Mary Margaret Oliver
Alicia Phillipp
Evelyn Ullman
Class of 1989
Marie Walters Dodd
Juanita Baranco
Lorri Christopher
Teresa Clark
Susie LaBord*
Mary O’Connor
Alexis Scott
Alana Shepherd
Cathey Steinberg
Isabel Gates Webster*
Class of 1988
Sally Jessy Raphael
Louise Richardson Allen*
Ella Mae Brayboy*
Barbara Carter
Delores Crockett
Gretta Moll Dewald*
Sherry Frank
Carolyn Stradley
Jackie M. Ward
Class of 1987
Gladys Knight
J. Veronica Biggins
Dianne Harnell Cohen
Eleanor Jay Davis
Sheryl Gripper
Betty Jacobson
Maxine McNutt
Joyce Ogletree
Ruth E. Stanley
Class of 1986
Coretta Scott King*
Ellen L. Acquaviva
Paula Bevington
Carol D. Cherry*
Xernona Clayton
Suzanne Elson
Evelyn Gibson Lowery*
Gloria Randall Scott
Betty Siegel*
Jane Smith*
Betty Smulian
Class of 1985
Elaine Alexander
Dorothy Beasley
Anne Cox Chambers*
Ann Curry
Freddye S. Henderson
Grace Towns Hamilton*
Lillian Webb*
Margaret Lupo*
Nanette Wenger
Class of 1984
Rosalynn Carter*
Johnnie L. Clark
Ann W. Cramer
Barbara King*
Skipper Morrison*
Eleanor L. Richardson*
Deen Day Sanders
Judith Taylor