Annual Awards Luncheon
This award is presented to honor women who set themselves apart through their civic, cultural, philanthropic, human service, environmental and professional contributions to our community.
Paraphrasing Robert Lewis Stevenson: The woman is a success who has lived well, laughed often, and loved much: who has gained the respect of intelligent friends and the love of children: who leaves the world better than she found it, whether by an improved flower, a perfect poem or a rescued soul: who never lacked appreciation of the earth’s beauty or failed to express it: and who looked for the best in others and gave the best she had.
The Women of Distinction of Greater Chattanooga committee and all the sponsors say THANK YOU to the many women who have been and will be honored—a huge THANK YOU for making a difference in our world.
Nominations and Sponsorships
Nominations for the 2025 Women of Distinction of Greater Chattanooga are open! Please find a digital or paper nomination form below. Are you interested in becoming a sponsor? Please find our sponsorship form below as well.
➤ WHEN
November 12, 2025
➤ LOCATION
Chattanooga Convention Center
1150 Carter St.
Chattanooga, TN 37402
➤ Benefiting
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
History
In 1985, Loveman’s began a tradition of recognizing ten of Chattanooga’s best dressed women for the personal sense of style and fashion. Since those early years, the award has evolved to symbolize the many extraordinary contributions women have made to our community. These women were actually Women of Distinction, too. In 1993, the Woman of Distinction award was presented for the first time to honor women who set themselves apart through their professional achievements and civic, cultural, philanthropic, human service, and environmental commitments to the community.
Since 1983, more than 300 local women have been honored as Women of Distinction.
A Woman of Distinction is one who:
Volunteers her time to help improve the quality of life for others.
Establishes standards that inspire and encourage other women to achieve their full potential.
Provides leadership and influences decisions that shape and define our city and community.
These women give of themselves through their time, energy, and talents to make a difference in our world. They are wives, mothers, sisters and friends. These Women of Distinction are representative of what every woman does-- -juggling professional careers, families, community service and philanthropic work.
In 2017, The American Lung Association closed its Chattanooga office. Believing that the recognition should be continued, a group of past Women of Distinction Chairs, came together to discuss the best way to sustain and even enhance the event. One of the most significant changes made was to give all of the proceeds to local healthcare entities supporting those dealing with lung and heart issues instead of it leaving the community as in years past.
Women of Distinction
Founding member
* Deceased
Dawn Abel
Bobbie Abercrombie*
Elizabeth Ahmed
Ann McKenzie Aiken
Amelia L. Allen*
Corinne Allen*
Maxine Alper*
Deborah Arfken
Elizabeth Deloris Appling
Rebecca Ashford
Maxine Bailey
Suzanne Bailey
Cathy Baker
Ann Ball
Cathy Barker
Mary Barker*
Julie Baumgardner
Verina Baxter*
Judy Bellenfant
Caroline Bentley
Nancy Berg
Nora Bernhardt
Monique Berke
Ouida Y. Bianco
Claire Binder
Charlotte Boatwright
Dr. Valerie Boaz
Jacqueline Bolton
Alexis Bogo
Rae Bond
Sara Bowen
Faye Boyle
Sheila Boyington
Julie Brandao
Sandra Brewer Mitchell
Ruth Brinkley
Becky Browder
Darlene Brown
Debbie Brown
Jacqueline Brown
Nicole Brown
Tara Brown
Cherilyn Bryant
Lynn Mosier Bryant
Amanda Faith Buchanan
MaryEllen Locher Burd*
Cam Busch
Priscilla Caine
Betsy Caldwell
Margaret Callihan
Margaret Culpepper Card*
Susan Card
Rhonda Catanzaro
Marilyn Center
Dolores Chandra*
Gail Chapman
Kim Chapman
Susan Cobb
Kim Coffey
Jo Coke
Suzanne Cohn*
Linda Collins
Nancy Collins
Nancy Collum
Janey Cooke
Eleanor Cooper
Beverly J. Cosley
Pamper Crangle
Stefanie Crowe
Gina Maxwell Crumbliss
Jennifer Ley Crutchfield
Shirley Cudabac
Sue Culpepper
Bonnie Currey*
LaTrice Currie
Catharine Daniels
Cynthia Inglis Dale
Elizabeth Davenport*
Leland Davenport
Susan Davidson
Terry Denniston
Robin Derryberry
Darlene Lane-Detman
Gina Dhanani
Karen Diamond
Eva Dillard
Teresa Dinger
Deborah DiStefano
Sandy Brandt Chambers Dittus
Carla Donina
Patti Dungan
Evelyn Miles Duval
Pat Eaker
Marcy Eason
Missy Elliott
Jennifer Ellis
Deborah Harrison Everhart
Helen McDonald Exum*
Angeline B. Fairchild
Terri Farmer*
Connie Farrar
Nancy Tripp Fell
Alva Fields*
Vilma Scruggs Fields*
Sissy Figlestahler
Marj Flemming
Kitty Forbes
Suzanne Noblit Forlidas
JoAnn Forman
Trish White Foy
Judy Franck
Nancy Franks
Joan Frierson
Patti Frierson
Linda Friberg
Charlynne Fry
Kathie Fulgham
Pat Fuller
Myra G. Fuller
Sherry L. Fusco
Elizabeth Gaines
Gail Coulter Gannaway*
Rona Gary
Tanya Gipson
Joyce Godsey
Robin Grant
Autumn Graves
Bonnie Graves*
Vicky B. Gregg
Christy Griffith
Jeanine Alday Grogg
Carolyn W, Guerry
Julie Guerry
Annie Hall
Cindy D. Hall Chandler
Emmy Haney
June Hanks
Becky Fuller Hansard
Jane W. Harbaugh*
Martina Suttle Harris
Dolores Harvey*
Holly Harwell
Linda Harwell
Patsy Hazelwood
Jan Headrick*
Ellen Heavilon
Paula Henderson
Bobbie Hendrix*
Fannie Hewlett
Ardena Garth Hicks
Elaine Hill
Rosemarie Hill
Linda Hisey
Jayne Holder
Katherine Holland*
Terri Holley
Mary Holliday*
Ruth Holmberg*
Everlena M. Holmes
Lynda Minks Hood
Shewanee D. Howard-Baptiste
Kari Hudson
Susie Hunt*
Kristy Huntley
Mai Bell Hurley*
Debbie Ingram
Deanne Irvine
Ronna-Renee Jackson
Dionne Jennings
Janet Jobe
Beverly Johnson
Beverly Pasley Johnson
Donna Davis Johnson
Stacy Johnson
Ginny Johnson
Betty Jolly*
Carolyn Jones*
Eleanor Jones
Jane Kaylor
Margaret Kelley
Mary Killbride
Donna Killian
Marcia Kling
Candy Kruesi
Shawn Kurreleier-Lee
Pam Ladd
Peggy Laney
Charlotte Landis
Clara Lane*
Beverly Langley
Martha Law*
Sharon Law
Donna Fitch Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence
Brenda Lawson
Alison Lebovitz
Tracie LeSar
Mickey Leventhal*
Mary Stewart Lewis
Jill Levine
Mary Jane Levine
Stacy Lightfoot
Katherine R. Lindgren
Jimmy Lou Lindsey*
Marilyn Lloyd*
Ray Long
Virginia Love
Bea Lyons
Daisy Madison
Diane Mason*
Daisy Mauyra-Ballard
Maddin McCallie*
Donna McConnico
Betsy McCright
Terri McDowell
June H. McEwen*
LaFonda W. McGee
Lynn Tepley McGee
Karla McKamey-Valadez
Lynn McKamey
Lyda McKeldiin*
Mary McMillan
Linda McReynolds
Phyllis Mescon
Molly Miles
Gloria Miller
Phyllis Miller
Nancy Mills
Norma Mills
Linda Moss Mines
Nell Mohney*
Kristina Montague
Helen Moore*
Mary Navarre Moore
Sara Morgan
Linda Morris
Jan Moses
Hilda Murray
Joan McNeill Murray*
Carol Mutter
Renee Nail
Carol Newton
Jennifer Nicely
Ruth Obear*
Susan Burkett O’Hare
Tilda Oehmig*
Kirby Oldham
JoKatherine Page
Mukta Panda
Judy Bennett Parker
Diane Parks
Jean Payne
Dana Perry
Rickie Pierce
Susan P. Pierce
Mary Portera
Loretta Prater
Helen Pregulman
Marcie Pregulman
Jeanne Flint Rahlfs*
Sister Judy Raley
Susan Raschal
Linda Rath
Barby Wilson Reeves
Janelle Reilly
Margaret Reisman
Susan Rich
Jean Battle Richardson
Jody Riggs
Yvonne Ring
Cindy Rix
Marty Robinson
Sally Lindsay Robinson
Donna Roddy
Caroline Rogers
June Scobee Rodgers
Sandra Rowland
Rhoda Ruffner
Lorie Mallchok Runge
Marti Rutherford
Valerie Rutledge
Julia Sanford
Molly K. Sasse*
Jeanne Scanland
Krystal Scarbrough
Carolyn Schaerer
Virgina Schmissrauter*
Colleen Schmitt
Pam Schulman
Rachel Schulson
Eleanor Schwartz*
Donyel Scruggs
Christie Sell
Ronelle Sellers
Cindy Sexton
Patricia Shackleford-Gray
Virginia Ann Sharber
Minnie Sherman*
Laurie Shipley
Frances Simmons*
Cyndee Rice Sims
Pris Siskin
Dr. Cathie Smith
Chris Smith
Darlene Smith
Frances S. Smith
Judy St.Charles
Barbie Standefer
Pat Starke*
Lila Statom
Susan Stein
Betty Stocker*
Harriette Stokes
Ann Marie Stone
Judy Street
Scottie Summerlin
Florence V. Summitt*
Angela Supan
Rebecca Smith Suttles
Elaine Swafford
Mary Tanner
Betsy Chapin Taylor
Julie Taylor
Amy Thomas
Lizabeth Thomas
Charlesetta W. Thompson
Linda C. Thompson
Eileen Thornton
Greather Tinker*
Cindy Todd
Loraine Torrence
Brenda K. Turner
Shelia Ullenberg
Jerri C. Underwood
Nancy Underwood
Edna Varner
Amy S. Walden
Caroline McGuire Walker
Joy Walker*
Karen Walsh
Nicole Watson
Ann Weeks
Sue Anne Wells
Kristina C. Wick
Ellen Whitaker*
Kim White
Bonnie Williams
Gwen Williams
Marie Williams
Mary Anne K. Williams
Merri Mai Williamson
Lillie Wills
Barby Wilson
Finette Winer
Sue Winston
Dakasha Winton
Florence B. Witt*
Barbara Wofford
Diane Wolford
Tracy L. Wood
Lynn H. Woodworth*
Jo Ann Yates*
Marsha Yessick
Ginny Young
Jean Burke Young
Pinky Young
Sonia Young*
Tammy Zumbrun
Tennessee Women of Distinction
Lois Riggins Ezell
Tennessee State Museum Director
1993
Marilyn Lloyd
3rd District United States Congresswoman
1994
June Scobee Rodgers
Founding Chair of Challenger Center
1995
Martha Ingram
Nashville Businesswoman and Philanthropist
1996
Pat Summitt
University of Tennessee Lady Vols
Head Basketball Coach
1997
Wilma Dykeman
Tennessee Historian and Author
1998
Dr. Nell Mohney
Author, Columnist and Motivational Speaker
1999
Mary Costa
Internationally Acclaimed Soprano
2000
Patricia Neal
Oscar-Winning Best Actress
2001
Venus Lacy
Olympic Gold Medalist
2002
Ruth Holmberg
Newspaper Publisher, Arts Patron & Philanthropist 2003
Ruth Street
Community Leader and Philanthropist
2004
Alice Lupton
Community Leader & Philanthropist
2004
Norma “Butch” Mills
Community Leader & Philanthropist
2005
Jo Ann Yates
Community Leader & Philanthropist
2006
Sonia Young
Community Leader, Arts Patron and Writer
2007
Marcia Kling
Television Personality and Philanthropist
2008
Vicky Gregg
Retired CEO BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Community Leader
2009
Dr. Phyllis Miller
Doctor
2010
Rickie Pierce
Educator
2010
Susan Elliott Rich
Lawyer
2010
Mai Bell Hurley
Community Leader and Philanthropist
2011
Patsy Hazelwood
State Representative
2012
Maxine Alper
Mary Barker
Dr. Neil Mohney
Jo Ann Yates
Diamonds of Distinction
2013
Kim Creswell
Broadway Vocalist
2014
Debbie McKee
Fowler Business and Community
Leader/Philantropist
2015
Ann Scott Davis
Mayor, Athens, TN
2016
Holly Warlick
University of Tennessee Lady Vols
Head Basketball Coach
2017
Thelma Louise Mandrell
Tennessee Country Music Singer
2022
Crissy Haslam
Former First Lady of Tennessee, Philanthropist, and Children’s Education Advocate
2023