If you’ve ever misplaced your keys, needed a bandaid, felt lost in life, or just needed someone to look you in the eye and say, “You’ve got this,” there’s a good chance that person was a woman. And, if you’re from Okmulgee County, chances are she was also juggling twelve other things while helping you – smiling, maybe sipping coffee from a chipped mug that said something like “World’s Okayest Mom,” and still managing to run a classroom, courtroom, board meeting or bake sale.
March is Women’s History Month, a time when we pause to remember, recognize and finally admit that women have been the backbone of every meaningful movement in history – and also most households and communities. And this year’s theme says it best: “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.”
Let’s be honest, they’ve been doing that since before Congress decided to make it official. But here’s the short version: Women’s History Month started in 1981 as just a week (which is ironic considering women don’t get to take a break after just one week), and after a few nudges from the National Women’s History Project and some wise minds in Congress, it became a full month in 1987. Since then, every President has stepped up to proclaim March as Women’s History Month – and frankly, we should be grateful they didn’t forget. The women probably reminded them.
This month isn’t just about historic figures we learned about in textbooks – it’s also about the women sitting next to you at church, leading your child’s school, treating patients, making laws, or holding your family together with grace, grit, and the occasional “I told you so.”
And right here in Okmulgee County? We’ve got some ‘powerhouses.’ Let’s roll out a (very partial) list. Because when I started it, I quickly realized – this could go on forever.
And if your name isn’t on here, please know: You are loved, valued, appreciated and probably saving the day as we speak – plus I had to stop because it was 2 a.m.
Superintendents shaping young minds: Becky Alexander (Morris), Andrea James (Wilson) and Lu-Vona Copeland (Okmulgee).
Dedicated School Board Members: Krystal Bohannon, Vicky Jones, Dana Mims, Misty Morris, Pam Bealko and Ginny Holder.
School principals keeping the peace, shaping minds and attitudes: Autumn Caldwell, Nancy Mc-Cune, Hilary Dingus, Amanda Adams, Dawn Wallace, Cassie Holleman-Sharp, Jayme Matlock and Leslie Jones.
And yes, shout out to every counselor, coach, dean, teacher, librarian (school and city), cafeteria worker, administrative assistant, custodian, and classroom ninja – a.k.a. “support staff.” You are the village.
At the college level, we salute the staff at OSUIT like Ina Agnew and Katie Quillin, Adult Educators like Fran Colombin and so many of the advisors and teachers at Green Country Tech and a host of others who are shaping the futures of young minds.
Justice with wisdom and heart: Judges Pandee Ramirez, Cynthia Pickering, Deborah Reheard; District Attorney Carol Iski and her staff.
County leaders making things happen: Tonya Day, Lindsay Bunch, Charlie Criner and Ashley Carnes.
Agency rockstars (just to name a few):
• Sarah Rhodes – Okmulgee Chamber of Commerce • Melinda DeSanto and Debbie Hayes – Okmulgee Main Street
• Keyna Pannell-Richardson – Okmulgee County Family Resource Center
• Rose Lynch – Okmulgee County Homeless Shelter • Sarah Cockburn – Okmulgee County Humane Society
• Dr. Sherrie Carter-Greene and the ladies of the Okmulgee-Okfuskee County Youth Services
• Deb Marshall – OADC
• Genny Mooney – Henryetta Chamber of Commerce • And the Beggs Area Chamber of Commerce Ashley Taylor, Janis Watkins, Amy Houser – Treasurer, Kathy Shelby and Brenda Simon.
• All the physical and speech therapists (like Tina Nail) – your work knows no bounds.
Small (and large) business and industry queens keeping Okmulgee County, and all the Main Streets around the area alive and even caffeinated: Liz Staudt, Rhonda McCurdy, Amanda Woods, Chelsea Drinnon, Robin Staudt, Julie Collett, Alice Holleman, Ali Herman, Ashley Morris, Holly Hamilton, Margaret Hess, Mary Lewellen, all of the ladies at The Mall of Okmulgee. That’s in addition to all the restaurants, daycares, photography shops, clothing stores, flower shops, hair and nail salons – you name it, it probably has a female running the show!
And don’t forget the ladies running our Tag Agencies around the area – the DMV angels with the patience of saints.
The city leaders, doctors, lawyers, nurses, religious leaders and their spouses, community advocates and tutors: Rae Ann Wilson, Pat Wilson, Carol Smith, Dawn Carter, Lynda Barksdale, Jill Gibbons, Pat Ward, Tonya Bowie – the list is endless… And those that stay in it for the ‘long haul’ – beloved longtime county employee Jean Gouthier and Dr. Dianna Humphrey, still shaping minds after more than 30 years.
Let’s not forget the incredible women in the National Council of the Muscogee Nation, the judges, department heads, assistants and staff – who lead not only with skill but with cultural strength and vision.
And I would be remiss to not mention all the ladies at the Okmulgee Times and Henryetta Free-Lance, and those of the Cookson Hills Publishers family, who try to keep me focused (most of the time), and those throughout my career in journalism who helped keep the news alive.
And most of all, thanks to the multi-faceted, strong women in my family – my mother, sisters, aunts, cousins and nieces. And always remember those grandmothers who may no longer be present, but their memory remains.
Every single one of these women is an example of this year’s theme in action: “Educating and Inspiring Generations.” They are the reason our kids are learning, our communities are functioning, our voices are heard, and our futures feel possible.
They are the definition of “Moving Forward Together” – because truthfully, they’ve been carrying us for generations.
So if you see one of them this month – buy her a coffee, write a thank-you note, or maybe just give her a genuine “Thank you.”
But don’t stop in April. Or May. Or, well … ever. Because let’s face it: Women have always run the world. We’re just fortunate they let us come along for the ride.
Happy Women’s History Month – from all of us who’ve ever been helped, healed, or inspired by a woman.
So, basically … all of us.
