Women in Tyler honors six ‘Women Who Empower’ at annual luncheon

Published 5:30 am Tuesday, March 25, 2025

The Women In Tyler Committee hosted its annual luncheon at the Grove Kitchen and Gardens last Thursday to recognize and celebrate six women who made significant contributions to the community. Over 200 people were in attendance.

“The event this year was well attended and we were very pleased with the turnout,” said committee co-chair Tracy Dews.

This year’s theme “Women Who Empower” celebrates those who uplift, inspire, and support others through leadership, advocacy, mentorship or by fostering opportunities that enable growth and success. It emphasizes creating positive change by empowering others.

“The women selected this year empowered other women to find inner strength, improve self esteem and connect with a variety of community resources that they just needed someone rooting and pointing the way,” Dews said. “When you hear about these ladies’ journeys, we should all walk away motivated to do more to help one another.”

Since its start in 1999, the Women In Tyler Committee has been going the extra mile to celebrate Women’s History Month each March by recognizing and honoring local women who have made significant contributions to the community. Since then, more than 200 women have been honored for being pioneers in their fields.

On behalf of the City of Tyler, a proclamation was given by City of Tyler Mayor Don Warren who declared March 20, 2025 as “Women in Tyler Day.” Committee member Smittee Root talked about Women’s Fund of Smith County, then 2024 Women in Tyler honoree Sharon Wickware introduced each honoree.

The five honorees include Yvonne Atkins, Lisa Ellis, Kimberly Lewis, Kay Pleasant, and Suzy Shepherd. Additionally, Barbara Bass received the 2025 Judith K. Guthrie Legacy of Service Award.

Yvonne Atkins

“Yvonne… came into this world with her hands in the air,” Wickware said. “(She) was born breach and it is said that she threw her hands up and that is what saved her.”

The youngest of six children, Atkins’ family instilled the importance of education but her biggest motivator was her older sister, Paula who cared for the family when their mother was battling health issues. Because Paula had to care for her younger siblings her education was delayed; however, she became the first to attend college, graduating as valedictorian of her class.

“She had such an impact on Yvonne’s life that she named her daughter Paula after her,” Wickware told the audience.

Tragically, young Paula’s life was cut short when she was hit by a car at the age of 11. Following the tragic death of her daughter in 1995, she started a daycare and outreach center to honor her memory.

Atkins dedicated more than 40 years to education, mentoring future teachers and tutoring first- and second-graders. She also preached the gospel and supported young women in any way she could. In addition to her work in education, Atkins has donated to several local charities, including the East Texas Food Bank, Salvation Army, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the African American Museum of Texas, and Elijah’s Retreat. She also volunteers with Love Thy City, Orr Elementary, Ramey Elementary, and the TJ Austin Class 37 Leadership Tyler.

“Although she is technically retired, she still serves as adjunct professor at the University of Texas in Tyler,” Wickware said. “She continues to tutor students in reading and preaches the gospel and ministers whenever she is able.”

Atkis’ accolades include Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Month. She has received awards from Texas College, St. Judge, Delta Sigma Theta, Church of God in Christ, Tyler ISD, and Community Empowerment.

Lisa Ellis

Born into a Navy family, Lisa Ellis spent much of her younger years moving around the country, which strengthened the relationship with her brother as a way of depending on each other.

“This experience also helped her develop the skills to make new friends easily,” Wickware said. “It also gave her the desire to travel and learn about different religions and cultures.”

Ellis started her teaching career in Pearland when she had a seasoned teacher assistant who became her mentor. In 2001, Ellis took her then-6-year-old daughter to East Africa to visit her brother and his family. The visit became a turning point for her as she was offered a teaching position. Ellis lived there for four years, opening up three Children’s Libraries, which were sponsored by the African Embassy.

She returned to the states where she taught at St. Gregory Cathedral School, then Three Lakes and Hogg Middle Schools and finally to Early College High School, where she was named 2024 Campus Teacher of the Year.

Other recognitions include Outstanding Educator for the Texas Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders, and Tyler ISD Foundation’s Night of Shining Stars Distinguished Educators.

In addition to her teaching role at ECHS, Ellis volunteers and helps coordinate the G.I.V.E. (Girls Invested in Volunteer Efforts) program, which is an initiative of The Women’s Fund of Smith County. This program allows high school girls in grades 9-12 to experience the joy of collective giving and grant-making. Since her involvement, G.I.V.E. has grown from a handful of participants to 160 this year, representing a diverse group of high school girls from all schools in Smith County.

“When asked what makes her feel successful, Lisa responds that she has had many moments but it is more so when she received notes from current and past students,” Wickware said. “She feels successful when her students feel successful.”

Kimberly Lewis

Born shortly after the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Kimberly Lewis’ birth was far from ordinary. Doctors at the Medical University of South Carolina ignored her father’s desperate pleas to help his hemorrhaging wife, forcing him to race her to McClenna-Banks Hospital, a black-only facility. She was delivered by C-section and named after the newly discovered Kimberly Diamond Mines in South Africa.

Lewis excelled in school, graduating in the top 10% at St. Andrews Parish High School. She continued her education and earned a B.A. in Fine Arts with a Minor in Communications. She worked for the Post-Courier Newspaper as a ‘copy girl,’ then as obituary clerk and eventually as a reporter.

“Kimberly then started a non-profit counseling program, which ran for two years before her volunteer work led her to Goodwill,” Wickware told the audience.

After completing her Master’s degree in Adult Technical Education, she became the CEO of Goodwill Industries in Huntington, W. Va. She then moved to Tyler in 2013 to assume the CEO position of Goodwill of East Texas.

In 2019, Lewis founded Motivational Muse, LLC, where she provides public speaking and executive coaching. She has authored several books, including The Fourth Generation, A Seat at the Table or Part of the Meal: Creating a Culture of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (nominated for the 2020 Terry McAdam Book Award), and Biases, a guide to uncovering unconscious biases. Her latest release, Against All Odds, is a collaboration with international speaker Lisa Nichols. Additionally, Lewis contributes to Forbes Magazine as a member of the Forbes Nonconcil and chair of the Forbes DEI Forum.

Lewis has received national and international awards for her work, including the Clarion Call Award in 2018; the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Champion Award in 2020; the PJ Trevethin Award for Staff Training Development in 2023 and the Love Thy City Humanitarian Award in 2024. In addition to her accolades, she received a $5 million award from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.

“When asked about her most successful moments, (Lewis) states that it has been watching her two daughters succeed,” Wickware said. One daughter is an attorney in Houston and another is obtaining her Doctorate in Political Science from the University of Illinois.

Kay Pleasant

For Kay Pleasant, church isn’t just a place of worship — it is her social circle and extended family that has given her friendships that have stood the test of time. Born in Tyler, Pleasant and her childhood centered around the church and was even teaching Sunday School as a teen.

Pleasant is the product of polar-opposite parents: “Her father (was) a humble, unassuming man focused on making a difference in individual lives,” Wickware said. “Her mother is a force of nature. She was a bold leader with a vision for a better world and used her talents to break barriers in public education.”

Whether in the classroom or a training center, education has always been at the heart of Pleasant’s career. In addition to teaching, she and two of her co-workers started Service on Site, which provides consulting and network solutions for business and development.

“Even after retiring, her passion for teaching and empowering others remains unwavering,” Wickware said.

Pleasant’s greatest joys are her two children and four grandchildren. However, her life was forever changed when she lost her husband to suicide. In the wake of this devastating loss, Pleasant felt a strong need to understand suicide more deeply. This journey led her to a meeting of the Smith County Behavioral Health Leadership Team, where she connected with individuals involved in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s Out of the Darkness Walk.

Knowing she had to be a part of it, Pleasant became a board member and a volunteer with the North Texas Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention where she continued to educate, advocate, and promote healing alongside the Out of the Darkness Walk committee. In this committee, she found herself in a variety of roles from president to treasurer to chair.

“One of Kay’s most successful moments was co-chairing her first Out of the Darkness Walk in 2018 and attending as a loss survivor,” Wickware said. “She was in awe of the number of people gathered, each of them touched by suicide in some way.”

As a widow, Pleasant learned to embrace this chapter in her life with a certain amount of gratitude.

“(For Kay) being single has not meant being alone,” Wickware said. “It has meant discovering new joys, deepening relationships, and living a full, happy life.”

Suzy Shepherd

After unexpectedly becoming a single mom, Suzy Shepherd recognized the need for a supportive community for single mothers. This led to the creation of two nonprofit organizations: Shine and Warrior Women.

“Suzy’s life mission is to share her personal experience of having God’s love and understanding, the experience of making mistakes, receiving grace, and moving on,” Wickware told the audience.

After earning her degree in social work, Shepherd worked as a social worker for the homeless and at a halfway house for women. This experience deepened her empathy for the real-life stories of people facing difficult situations and prompted her to explore entrepreneurship. At one point, Shepherd moved to Tyler, obtained her teaching certificate, and taught kindergarten and first grade.

In 2013, Shepherd launched the sisterhood with a Mother’s Day dinner, providing women an opportunity to share and celebrate their stories. The event, which began with 30 women, grew to over 800 by its third year. The program transitioned to Love Lives Here, focusing on growing and sustaining healthy relationships.

Shepherd then shifted her focus to create Shine, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting single moms. The program’s curriculum includes financial counseling, parenting support, and building a sense of community based on principles of faith.

In addition to her work in teaching and nonprofit development, Shepherd is also a published author. Her works include Where Love Is, featured on Right Now Media, and You Are a Warrior. She also contributed to Tyndale’s Every Woman’s Bible.

Shepherd’s accomplishments include being honored by the League of Women Voters for Women’s Equality Day and receiving the Remarkable Woman Award from KETK in 2021. She is also a member of Leadership Texas Women and Leadership Tyler, Class 32.

She considers her most successful moments to be those spent connecting with women during Shine Nights.

“Women see the event as an opportunity to grow and develop in their own future,” Wickware said. “Hearing their stories is inspiring, and they share how they wouldn’t have made it through their difficult times without the community of Shine.”

Barbara Bass

Hon. Barbara Bass is the 2025 recipient of the Judith K. Guthrie Legacy of Service Award.

“Because this award is named after my friend Judith Guthrie, it’s an even more humbling award,” Bass said. “I’ve seen her invest in this community for years. She’s put herself out there to make a difference in the lives of people, and she’s done it just totally selflessly. So being named in her honor as the Judith K. Guthrie Legacy Award recipient this year is very humbling.”

Bass’ journey into leadership began with the lessons taught by her father, who encouraged her to believe she could achieve anything. This belief led her to become the first and only woman, so far, to serve as mayor of Tyler.

Before stepping into public office, Bass had a distinguished career in public accounting that spanned over 40 years. After graduating from Texas A&M Commerce, she was hired at a public accounting firm, becoming the first woman they ever employed. She stayed there for five years before joining Gollob Morgan Peddy — Certified Public Accountants, with the goal of becoming a partner.

“She developed enough business within five years that she reached her goal to become a partner,” said Wickware. The firm, which started with just eight employees, grew to more than 100 by the time Bass retired in 2019.

Even after retirement, Bass continued to pursue her passion for numbers. She attended auctioneer school, turning her talent into a fun and fulfilling endeavor by hosting fundraising auctions that benefit nonprofits.

“As a fun endeavor, she uses her talent for fundraising auctions that benefit non-profits,” Wickware noted.

Always on the “cusp of change,” Bass broke barriers in local leadership, becoming the first woman to chair both the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce. She was also the second woman to chair the Economic Development Council.

Currently, Bass serves as Chair of the UT Tyler Development Board, Treasurer of Camp V/East Texas Veterans Community Council, and Chair of the Mercy Ships Foundation. Her decades of service have earned her numerous accolades, including the T.B. Butler Award in 2017, Tyler’s Most Outstanding Citizen Award, and the Good Turn Award — Distinguished Citizen Award from the East Texas Boy Scouts. She also received several regional awards during her time as mayor. Bass served as mayor for six years until term limits prevented her from continuing.

“Barbara was also recognized with the WC Windsor Award, which she says gave her a ‘tremendous amount of confidence,’” Wickware added.

In 2021, the committee added the Judith K. Guthrie Legacy of Service Award to honor Guthrie and other women for continuing years of service to the community. Women in Tyler Day is not intended to be a fundraiser, as excess funds go to the Women’s Fund or other organizations that benefit Tyler area women and children.

“The women of the Women In Tyler look forward to working with the City of Tyler and our community every year to honor the dedicated women in the Tyler area,” Dews said. “With our theme this year, we chose women who help other women excel and grow through individual empowerment. We need to recognize those who push us to be better.”