The Community Foundation of West Tennessee is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Jackson Awards. Nominations will remain open through June 30, 2026.

Since 2006, the Jackson Awards have honored individuals whose leadership and service reflect the very best of the Jackson-Madison County community. The awards recognize outstanding contributions in the following categories: Arts, Education, Healthcare, Leadership, and Volunteer Service.

“These awards shine a light on the people who make Jackson stronger every day,” said Melissa Spurgeon, CEO of the Community Foundation and a past Jackson Award recipient. “Having experienced the honor personally, I know how meaningful itis to be recognized by your community. We encourage everyone to take a moment to nominate someone whose leadership and service deserve to be celebrated.”

Nominees must live or work in the Jackson-Madison County area and demonstrate a strong commitment to improving the quality of life in the community.

Award recipients will be honored at the Community Foundation’s annual Charity Gala on Saturday, November 14, 2026.

Nominations can be submitted online at https://forms.gle/CpXAw9oLPef3qENBA.

A complete list of past Jackson Award recipients is available below. Please contact Haley Fortune with any questions at haley@cfwtn.org.

The Charity Gala is the Community Foundation of West Tennessee’s signature annual event that celebrates generosity, leadership, and community impact. Hosted on the second Saturday in November, the event features an awards program, silent auction, complimentary bar, elegant dinner, and live entertainment. Learn more at www.TheCharityGala.org.

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Jackson Award Recipients 2006-2025

2006
David Fite – Service to Business
Don McLeary – Community Service
Dr. Jim Price – Community Service
Dr. Melvin Wright – Healthcare
Sally Rainey – Volunteer Service

2007
Patsy Camp – The Arts
Vicki Lake – Community Service
Dr. Don Lewis – Healthcare
Roger Murray, Sr. – Leadership
Harbert Alexander, Sr. – Volunteer Service

2008
Billy Worboys – The Arts
Dr. Barnett Scott – Community Service
Dr. Roy White – Education
Dr. Dean Currie – Healthcare
Carl Kirkland – Leadership
Doug Roth – Volunteer Service

2009
Margaret “Kakky” Tanner – The Arts
Brenda Whalley – Community Service
Dr. Nancy Zambito – Education
Jim Moss – Healthcare
James L. Exum – Leadership
Doris Freeman – Volunteer Service

2010
Pat Alford – The Arts
Kathryn & Tyler Swindle – Community Service
Bob Alvey – Education
Dr. Jake McInnis – Healthcare
Sharon Younger – Leadership
Becky Fly – Volunteer Service

2011
Lendon Noe – The Arts
Roy Heatherly – Community Service
Rayna Bomar – Education
Sammie Arnold – Healthcare
Clark Shaw – Leadership
Polly Carter – Volunteer Service

2012
Kathi Leatherwood – The Arts
Mike Hewitt – Community Service
Dr. Joe Mays – Education
Dr. Bobby Higgs – Healthcare
Kathy Watts – Leadership
Frannie Smith – Volunteer Service

2013
Sue Blass – The Arts
Anita Kay Archer – Community Service
Donna Agnew – Education
Dr. Eugene Reese – Healthcare
Hal Crocker – LeadershipJodie Parrish – Volunteer Service

2014
Pat Brown-Seltzer – The Arts
Steve Bowers – Community Service
Dr. Verna Ruffin – Education
Dr. Don LaFont – Healthcare
Kyle Spurgeon - Leadership
Tawnya Moore – Volunteer Service

2015
Bill Hickerson – The Arts
Michelle James – Community Service
Dr. Logan Hampton – Education
Dr. Vernessa Davis-Tharpe – Healthcare
Judy Renshaw - Leadership
Val Exum – Volunteer Service

2016
Jacque Hillman – The Arts
Jerry Gay – Community Service
Stuart Hirstein – Education
Carl Rudd – Healthcare
Curtis Mansfield – Leadership
Darren Lykes – Volunteer Service

2017
Wanda Stanfill - The Arts
Leslie Jaco – Community Service
Linda Austin – Education
Dr. Joseph Rowland – Healthcare
Robert Alderson – Leadership
Charlene Walker – Volunteer Service

2018
Melinda Reid – The Arts
Tammy Buchanan – Community Service
Dr. Allana Hamilton – Education
Dr. David Roberts – Healthcare
Gerald “Buster” Ferguson – Leadership
Dan Brooks – Volunteer Service

2019
Tommy Rhodes – The Arts
Bob and Donna Frankland – Community Service
Eric Jones – Education
Dr. Clyde Smith – Healthcare
Todd Swims – Leadership
Jane Alderson – Volunteer Service

2022
Sherry Freeman – The Arts
Shelley Hayes – Community Service
Dr. Marlon King – Education
Kim Tedford - Healthcare
Ben Ferguson – Leadership
Elaine Christian – Volunteer Service
Grayson Hart – Youth

2023
Andrew Boks – The Arts
Dr. Jeremy Tubbs – Education
John H. Weston, Jr. – Healthcare
Young Kim – Leadership
Jackie Utley – Volunteer Service
Elvia Trejo Reyes – Youth

2024
Trista and Charlie Havner – The Arts
Melissa Spurgeon – Education
G. Robert Hopper, D.D.S. – Healthcare
David McCall – Leadership
Wendy Trice Martin – Volunteer Service
Tim Stratton - Youth

2025
Stedman Roebuck – The Arts
Jack Wood – Education
Ron Kwasigroh – Healthcare
Gail Gustafson – Leadership
Heath Williams – Volunteer Service
KaBao McCarver – Youth