The 15th Annual Black Pioneer Women of Excellence Awards Ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 18, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at Hawkinsville Missionary Baptist Church, 7463 Pinewood Dr.
This annual program event is presented by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter Incorporated, to give honor to distinguished women of color in the community.
This year’s Black Pioneer Women of Excellence are being awarded in the fields of education, social services, community services/volunteerism and economic development.
The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc, Chattanooga Chapter will honor these women: Dr. Fannie Hewlett in the field of education, Charlie Mae Scruggs Hurt in the field of education and community services and Beverly A. Pasley Johnson in the field of government services/community development.
Dr. Hewlett began her career at Chattanooga State in 1979 as an instructor in Behavioral Sciences. She was selected as the department head for Social and Behavioral Science in 1989 until she was promoted to dean, and then to vice president for Academic Affairs in 2001. In 2011 she was named provost and vice president and served until her retirement June 30, 2014. She was awarded provost emeritus status upon retirement. In 2012 Dr. Hewlett was honored by the Tennessee Legislature as an outstanding educator, she received the college’s Eye of the Tiger Award for 2010-2011, and the
Chair Academy Exemplary Leadership Award. She also earned numerous accolades for teaching excellence through the years. Dr. Hewlett is currently serving as interim president at Chattanooga State.
Mrs. Johnson served as the first female administrator of the Department of Neighborhood Services and Community Development. In this mayoral appointed position for eight years, she managed 40 employees and an annual budget in excess of $5 million. Her responsibilities included overseeing the city’s residential code enforcement program, neighborhood relations activities and HUD entitlement programs. Her career in Chattanooga began in the city of Chattanooga’s Public Works Department, where she was hired as the first female and African American to serve in the position of deputy commissioner of Development and Administration. In this capacity she managed the Better Housing and Inspection Division. She was subsequently appointed deputy administrator of Public Works where she was second in charge of managing over 600 employees and a $20 million annual budget. Ms. Johnson has served her community in numerous capacities and participated with several organizations to implement life-changing opportunities for both disadvantaged women and girls. Ms. Johnson was interest group leader for the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Chattanooga Chapter, Inc. She is a charter member of the Chattanooga Chapter and served two, two year terms as chartering president. She has been a member of the Coalition’s National Board of Directors since 1999.
A native of Huntsville, Ala., Mrs. Hurt served as educator with the Chattanooga Public School System for 31 years. A graduate of Howard High School, she received her formal education from Alabama A and M University earning a Bachelors in Secondary Education and a Masters of Education from UTC. She also pursued additional studies from John Herron Art Institute at Ball State University, Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee. The majority of her career was spent as an instructor at Riverside and Howard High. When some African American teachers began to take advantage of teaching opportunities elsewhere, Mrs. Hurt’s position was that if she had anything to offer, she wanted to offer to her own people. She received the “Teacher of the Year” Award from the Evans Foundation in 1971 and 1984, was inducted into the African American Educators Hall of Fame, and is a Charter Member and Past President of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Beta Pi Chapter. Mrs. Hurt has served as a community advocate for over 50 years. She has served in various capacities of leadership at Second Missionary Baptist Church and is an active member of the Glenwood Neighborhood Association. She also worked with the United Way of Chattanooga to establish a community reading center for youth and the Glenwood Recreation Center, which is still thriving today. Recognized by city officials and local nonprofit leaders for both her tenacity and diplomacy, she worked successfully with city officials to preserve and remodel the Glenwood Recreation Center, as well as to create a permanent greenspace in the community known as Jewel Park. Charlie Mae Scruggs Hurt, Educator and Community Advocate, is a rare jewel and living history book deserving of recognition and embodies the qualities of a Black Pioneer Woman.