Celebrating Legendary Chattanoogans

The Bessie Smith Legacy Gala stands as a tribute to the enduring impact of individuals who have profoundly enriched Chattanooga's cultural and social tapestry. Named after the legendary blues singer whose soulful voice once echoed through the heart of the city, this gala celebrates those whose contributions have not only uplifted the community but have also fostered a spirit of resilience and unity. Each honoree, through their dedication and vision, embodies the essence of Bessie Smith's legacy, illuminating the pathways toward a brighter, more inclusive future for all residents of Chattanooga.

The Bessie Smith Legacy Award

The Bessie Smith Cultural Center proudly commissioned artist Alex Paul Loza to sculpt and cast a one-of-a-kind work of art for the Bessie Smith Legacy Award. This meticulously crafted sculpture, created through months of dedicated effort and attention to detail, embodies the artistry and legacy of Bessie Smith, the "Empress of the Blues." Loza carefully studied photo references and Bessie’s iconic songs to bring her story to life. As he describes, “My inspiration to craft the Bessie Smith award began with photo references, particularly one where she’s holding a similar pose. Some of Bessie’s iconic songs influenced the design of this statuette, helping to capture the essence of her journey and legacy. 'Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out' speaks to resilience, which is reflected in her strong yet graceful pose, embodying both struggles and victories. The confident expression and the way she holds her shawl were inspired by 'Tain’t Nobody’s Bizness If I Do,' representing her independence and inner strength. The flowing lines of her dress and shawl echo the soulful melody of 'St. Louis Blues,' while the vines pattern on her shawl symbolizes the enduring impact of her music. Just like nature revives after hardship, as in 'Backwater Blues,' these vines represent Bessie’s ability to rise through adversity and how her legacy continues to nurture and inspire future generations.” The result is a timeless tribute to Bessie Smith’s enduring influence on music, culture, and the world.

Watch The Award Unveiling

Relive the joy, inspiration, and celebration from past and present Bessie Smith Legacy Galas, where we honor the changemakers shaping Chattanooga’s future.

Moments That Matter

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Dr. Tommie Brown

Tommie Florence Brown is a retired Tennessee state legislator who represented Chattanooga's 28th District from 1992 to 2012 as a member of the Democratic Party. Born in Rome, Georgia, and raised in Chattanooga, Brown earned multiple degrees in social work from Dillard University and Columbia University. Before her legislative career, she worked in child welfare and taught at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Brown was a key plaintiff in the landmark 1989 case Brown v. Board of Commissioners of the City of Chattanooga, which challenged the political disenfranchisement of African Americans. During her 20-year tenure in the state legislature, she held significant roles on various committees. She was honored as National Social Worker of the Year in 1970, and a Hamilton County elementary school is named in her honor.

Tommie Brown's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Phillip Brown

Dr. Roland Carter

Dr. Roland Marvin Carter, a renowned composer and conductor, is a leading authority on African American choral music. A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Carter earned his BA from Hampton University and an MA from New York University. He taught at Hampton from 1965 to 1989, serving as Department Chair and Choir Director, before joining the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he taught and directed choirs for 24 years. Carter is celebrated for his work preserving and promoting African American music. His arrangements, such as In Bright Mansions Above and Lift Every Voice and Sing, are widely recognized. He founded Mar-Vel, Inc., a publishing company specializing in African American composers, and is the Executive Director of The Roland Carter Institute for Studies in American Music. His contributions to choral music have earned him numerous honors, including honorary degrees from Shaw University and Clark Atlanta University, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Tennessee American Choral Directors Association. Carter has conducted at prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, and served as music director for the Chattanooga Choral Society and the Hampton University Ministers Conference. In 2022, Chattanooga honored him by naming a street after him on the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus.

Dr. Roland Carter's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Roland Carter

Ms. JoAnne Favors

JoAnne Humphries Favors, a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, graduated from the historic Howard High School in 1960, known for its role in civil rights protests. A widow and mother of four, she has eight grandchildren and great-grandchildren and is affiliated with Olivet Baptist Church. She holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and a Certificate in Health Administration from Andrews University, along with nursing degrees. Favors has served as an Associate Professor, Head Nurse, and Clinical Nurse Specialist. She was the first African American woman elected to the Hamilton County Commission, serving from 1998 to 2002, where she helped negotiate the construction of eight schools and supported Volkswagen's Enterprise South purchase. Favors returned from semi-retirement as Executive Director of Southside and Dodson Avenue Community Health Centers, preventing their closure. After being elected to the state legislature for seven terms, she retired in 2018. She held key leadership roles, including Democratic House Whip and Vice-Chair of the TN Black Caucus. Her advocacy focuses on public education, affordable healthcare, and child safety. Favors has received over 100 commendations, including the C.B. Robinson Ambassador Award and the Gordon Street Distinguished Community Leader Award. She is involved in various civic organizations and believes in using her blessings to help others.

JoAnne Favors' Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Dr. Marva Lee

Mr. John P. Franklin Sr.

John P. Franklin, Sr. was born on April 26, 1922, as the youngest of five children. His father established Chattanooga's first Black funeral home, and his mother was a teacher in the local school system. Franklin attended Howard High School and later enrolled at Tuskegee Institute. After serving in World War II, he returned to Chattanooga, determined to complete his education with the support of the GI Bill. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Fisk University, followed by a master’s degree in education and health from Indiana University. Franklin began his career as the Physical Education Coordinator for Chattanooga's all-Black schools. He then taught at Orchard Knob Junior High, eventually rising to the position of principal at W.J. Davenport School and later Alton Park Junior High, which was later renamed Franklin Middle School in his honor. In 1971, Franklin made history as Chattanooga's first Black elected official when he became the Commissioner of Health and Education. He went on to serve five terms in city government, including four terms as Vice Mayor. A dedicated community leader for over sixty years, Franklin was recognized with numerous awards for his contributions to education and public service. He was married to Eva James Mann Franklin, and together they had two children, as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A man of deep faith, Franklin was a devoted member of Christ Church Episcopal.

John P. Franklin's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Duke and Cheryl Franklin

Mr. Moses Freeman

Moses Freeman Jr., a 1956 graduate of Howard High School, earned his degree from Tennessee State University in 1960, where he was an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Throughout his life, Freeman was dedicated to his community and his church, Second Missionary Baptist. Freeman's career spanned various fields, including serving as a history teacher at Howard High School, executive director of the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, and a city councilman for Chattanooga's District 8. He also worked as a revitalization specialist with the Lyndhurst Foundation and led the Urban Development Corporation Inc., building homes in the MLK neighborhood. From a young age, Freeman worked hard, starting as a paperboy in Chattanooga’s College Hill Courts. His leadership extended beyond work, playing key roles in civil rights activism, including participating in sit-ins during the 1960s and leading efforts to desegregate businesses in Chattanooga. He was also instrumental in fostering peaceful desegregation in local schools like Central and Brainerd High. A life member of NAACP and a dedicated advocate for racial equality, Freeman’s contributions to Chattanooga included serving on various boards and as Vice President of Chattanooga Venture. His lasting impact is celebrated in a mural in the MLK neighborhood, where he built homes and remained a pillar of the community. He was married to Louise Freeman at the time of his passing in 2024.

Moses Freeman's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Louise Freeman

Ms. Vicky Gregg

From 2003 to 2012, Vicky Gregg served as the CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, having previously held positions as President and COO of the company and CEO of its Medicaid MCO, Volunteer State Health Plan. Her extensive experience in healthcare spans direct patient care, hospital administration, long-term care, and health benefits financing, beginning as a nurse technician at Erlanger Regional Medical Center. One of Ms. Gregg’s notable contributions to Tennessee healthcare was her development of “population health” models in the mid-90s, emphasizing the need

for health plans to manage populations across their lifespan, focusing on prevention rather than just treating illness. Throughout her career, she has contributed to several national boards, including a term as Chair of America’s Health Insurance Plans and serving on the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees, appointed by former Governor Bill Haslam. Currently, she chairs EPB. Vicky is recognized as a trailblazer in the healthcare industry, being the first female CEO of BCBST and one of the few women in leadership roles within the sector.

Vicky Gregg's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Susan Gilmore

Mr. Franklin McCallie

After a life-changing event, Franklin McCallie dropped out of college, realizing the segregated Christian college he attended was no longer right for him. He returned to Chattanooga to work as an orderly in a local hospital before serving two years in the Navy. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Tresa Brandfast, he moved to Baltimore to complete his education degree at Towson University and later earned a master's in English education from Harvard University. In 1968, Franklin returned to Chattanooga and expressed his desire to teach at McCallie School, where his father was headmaster, but only if the school was integrated; his father refused. Instead, Franklin applied to Howard High School, where he became well-respected and made a significant impact on his students' lives. In 2013, Franklin and Tresa hosted a gathering of diverse community leaders to discuss racial issues in Chattanooga, leading to the formation of Chattanooga Connected. This initiative aims to improve race relations through building relationships and sharing insights.

Franklin McCallie's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Franklin McCallie

Rev. Paul McDaniel

Reverend Paul A. McDaniel became Pastor of Second Missionary Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN, in August 1966. He was a dedicated leader in both the church and the community, focusing on the welfare of all people. Under his leadership, the church grew in membership, facilities, and innovative ministries like the Bus Ministry, Evangelism School, and Church Koinonia Federal Credit Union, expanding its outreach. Born in Rock Hill, South Carolina, Reverend McDaniel earned a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College, a Master of Divinity from Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, and a Master of Arts from the University of Rochester. He also received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Friendship College. A strong civil rights advocate, Rev. McDaniel worked with the Unity Group, led student protests, and served on the Tennessee Human Rights Commission. He was elected as a delegate to the 1977 Tennessee Constitutional Convention, winning a U.S. Supreme Court case regarding clergy participation. He served five terms on the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners, holding the chairman position for five one-year terms. Reverend McDaniel held leadership roles in the NAACP, National Baptist Convention, and Rainbow PUSH Coalition. He was married to the late Edna P. McDaniel and later to Linda Isadore McDaniel until his passing in 2021.

Rev. Paul McDaniel's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Pastor Ernest Reid

Mr. Irvin Overton

Irvin Overton, a Chattanooga native and the youngest of eight children, graduated from Howard High School in 1959. He earned a B.A. from Dillard University, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Public Health while serving as Administrator of the Alton Park Community Health Center. In 2017, he earned a Certificate in Theology from the Atlanta Interdenominational Theological Center. Irvin’s career began in 1964, teaching History, Economics, and Sociology at Howard High, where he coached athletics and developed the first community school program at Alton Park Junior High. In 1968, he transitioned to healthcare administration, working with the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Community Action Agency before becoming Administrator of the Alton Park Health Center. He later became the first African American to hold an executive management position at Erlanger Health System, where he led key initiatives. Irvin has been a dedicated social and political activist, promoting affirmative action, equal opportunity, and minority employment. He has served as President of the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Tennessee Public and Teaching Hospital Association. Irvin continues to contribute to the community as Chairman of A Night to Remember, Inc., and the Kappa Foundation of Chattanooga. He is active in his church and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and is married to Leslie Joyce Kilgore Overton.

Irvin Overton's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Irvin Overton

Dr. Edna Varner

Dr. Edna Varner was the first in her family to attend college, with both of her parents later earning their GEDs. As the eldest of eight siblings from a family of pastors, educators, military officers, and artists, Edna holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is completing her doctorate. She spent 20 years teaching middle and high school, later serving as an assistant principal and principal in Chattanooga schools. After retiring, she became Director of Leadership Development at Cornerstone Literacy and is now Senior Advisor for Leading and Learning at the Public Education Foundation. Edna has testified before the U.S. Senate Education Committee on education reform, with her leadership articles featured in national journals. She has earned numerous awards, including the Bessie Smith Trailblazer Award and Woman of Distinction, and serves on multiple boards. A past president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and The Links, Inc., she is passionate about causes like Read 20, Ballet TN, and the Mayor’s Council for Women. She credits her faith for her achievements, often citing Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Dr. Edna Varner's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Dr. Edna Varner

Judge Walter Williams

Judge Walter F. Williams, a 1970 graduate of Howard High School, earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Business from Morehouse College in 1974, graduating Magna Cum Laude and being elected to Phi Beta Kappa Society. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law in 1977, graduating with honors as an Earl Warren Fellow. After working as Special Counsel for the IRS from 1977 to 1980, he joined his friend John W. McClarty in the firm McClarty & Williams, specializing in personal injury, corporate, estate, and municipal law. In 1991, Williams achieved his dream of becoming a judge when he was elected Judge of Chattanooga City Court, where he was known for his no-nonsense approach and innovative alternative sentences. He served for 12 years before returning to private practice in 2003. In addition to his legal career, Judge Williams taught marketing and business law at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for eight years. He later became a partner in McKoon, Williams, and Gold, and was appointed as an Administrative Hearing Officer for Chattanooga in 2017. He is a member of several professional organizations, including Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. Judge Williams retired from practice in 2015 after a distinguished career serving the city of Chattanooga. He is married to Gwendolyn Williams.

Judge Walter Williams's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Judge Walter Williams

James Brewer Sr.

James Brewer, Sr. is the founder and president of Brewer Media Group, a leading multimedia company dedicated to informing, inspiring, and connecting the Chattanooga community. Through his visionary leadership, Brewer has built a platform that amplifies local voices, celebrates diversity, and strengthens civic engagement. His commitment to service extends beyond broadcasting he has been a steadfast supporter of nonprofits, education, and community-building initiatives that improve quality of life across the region. Known for his integrity, mentorship, and passion for people, Brewer has cultivated a legacy rooted in empowerment and opportunity. His work has not only shaped Chattanooga’s media landscape but has also fostered meaningful dialogue and collaboration among its citizens. Brewer’s impact continues to resonate through the countless lives and organizations touched by his generosity.

James Brewer Sr.'s Honoree Video

Johnny Holloway

Johnny Holloway is a retired TVA associate engineer and lifelong civil rights advocate whose courage and leadership helped shape a more equitable Chattanooga. As a key plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit that transformed the city’s government structure, Holloway played a pivotal role in ensuring fair representation for all citizens. A devoted member of the NAACP and the Unity Group, he has spent decades advancing justice, equality, and community empowerment. Beyond activism, Holloway has been a tireless advocate for youth, championing programs like PUSH for Excellence and launching free breakfast and reading initiatives in underserved schools. His work has uplifted generations, creating pathways for education and opportunity. Through perseverance, faith, and service, Johnny Holloway has built a legacy that continues to inspire progress and unity throughout Chattanooga.

Johnny Holloway's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Johnny Holloway

Judge Curtis Collier

Judge Curtis L. Collier made history as the first African American U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee, appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1995. Throughout his distinguished career, he has exemplified fairness, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. Known for his thoughtful leadership on the bench, Judge Collier has presided over complex cases with wisdom and compassion, earning the respect of peers and the public alike. Beyond the courtroom, he has been a dedicated mentor, inspiring future generations of lawyers and judges to serve with purpose and honor. His lifelong dedication to civil rights and equal access has strengthened the fabric of the Chattanooga community, ensuring that justice remains both principled and inclusive. Judge Collier’s legacy continues to uplift and guide all who follow in his path.

Judge Curtis Collier's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Judge Curtis Collier

Rayburn Traughber

Rayburn Traughber is a respected leader whose decades of service advanced government reform, education, and affordable housing in Chattanooga. A graduate of Riverside High School, he earned his B.A. from Kentucky State University and M.A. from Fisk University. Selected as one of only twenty-seven fellows nationwide for the National Endowment for the Humanities Program, he studied at the University of California. Traughber began his public service as Administrative Assistant to City Commissioner John P. Franklin, helping establish youth counseling centers and promote voter education. In 1987, Governor Ned Ray McWherter appointed him Commissioner of Employment Security, overseeing 1,500 employees. Later, as President and CEO of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise and Executive Director of the Chattanooga Community Housing Development Organization, he led efforts to expand affordable housing.

Rayburn Traughber's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Rayburn Traughber

Ronald Harris

Ronald Harris retired in 2024 after an outstanding 40-year career with BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, where he served as Vice President of Corporate Workforce Diversity. A trailblazer in promoting equity and inclusion, Harris earned national recognition for creating a more representative and compassionate workplace culture. Guided by humility, faith, and a deep sense of purpose, he has dedicated his life to empowering others, both in the corporate world and through his continued work as a pastor and mentor. His leadership has inspired organizations to embrace diversity as a strength and individuals to realize their fullest potential. In every role, Harris has modeled service, integrity, and grace, leaving an enduring legacy that continues to shape Chattanooga’s business, faith, and civic communities for generations to come.

Ronald Harris' Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Ronald Harris

Howard High School Class of 1960 Sit Ins Activists

The Howard High School Class of 1960 in Chattanooga made history through their courageous stand against racial segregation. As teenagers, these students, many just 17 or 18 years old, became some of the city’s earliest civil rights activists when they organized and participated in lunch counter sit-ins to protest the injustice of segregated public spaces. Inspired by the national movement that began in Greensboro, North Carolina, they took bold action at local establishments in downtown Chattanooga, knowing they risked arrest, violence, and expulsion. Their peaceful demonstrations challenged deeply entrenched systems of discrimination and helped spark a wave of youth-led activism that would transform the city. Notably, during these protests, Chattanooga became the first city in the nation to use fire hoses on its own citizens, an act that underscored both the danger these students faced and the strength of their resolve.

The Howard Sit-In Activists displayed remarkable bravery and unity in the face of hostility. Their actions not only brought attention to Chattanooga’s racial inequalities but also forced meaningful change in the community’s conscience. Many of these young men and women went on to become lifelong advocates for justice, education, and civic engagement, carrying forward the same determination that fueled their stand for freedom. More than six decades later, their legacy continues to remind future generations that progress often begins with the courage of ordinary people choosing to do what is right, even when the cost is great.

The Howard Class of 1960's Honoree Video

Acceptance Speech By Robert Parks

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