On Thursday, March 12, 2015, members of the Black Belt
Treasures Book Club (Black Belt Book Bag) attended the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame Installation Ceremony on the Judson College campus in Marion, AL. As
Alabama’s only college for women, Judson is the perfect home for the Alabama
Women’s Hall of Fame (AWHF). This was not the first installation ceremony I had
attended. Actually, the first three times I attended were in March of 1977 –
1979 as a Judson College student. After graduating and moving back to
Birmingham, I honestly thought little more about the AWHF events each spring. But
in 1988, I returned to Judson to serve as an administrator, and for the next
ten years each March, I along with Judson’s students, faculty, and staff,
attended the Hall of Fame Installation Ceremonies. Without doing a little
research, I cannot tell you the women who were installed during all of those
years, however, each year the event was a true highlight for me. Why you may be
wondering? Well, first of all the women being installed were shining examples
of ordinary women who made extraordinary differences - in their communities and
professions, as well as the lives of their friends and families. Secondly, the
keynote speakers were inspirational; and finally, the individuals speaking
about the contributions of the inductee’s lives consistently shared with great
ardor. So, how could an ordinary woman aspiring to make a difference in her
world not be inspired?
In many ways, last week’s ceremony was much the same as in
the past. The speaker, The Honorable Terri Sewell, U. S. Representative for
Alabama’s 7th Congressional District, gave an exceptionally,
inspirational speech encouraging all in attendance to “tell your own stories”
as proud Alabamians. She encouraged young women in the audience to be civic
minded, to believe in themselves as natural born leaders and to strive to make
a difference. She was a masterful speaker, sharing personal stories of growing
up in Selma, Alabama, being a student in an integrated high school, and later
at Princeton University. The audience
was challenged intellectually and touched emotionally by her words.
The difference in this year’s installation for me was the
fact that I had known personally the woman being installed – Alabama’s beloved Kathryn Tucker Windham. I will not claim to have been her close friend, although she
always made me feel as if we had a long history of friendship. But in honesty,
we were more acquaintances. I did not come to know her until she was well into
her 80’s and I in my 40’s. I had heard of her all my life because of the books
she had written. The first memory of meeting her was a steaming hot, summer day
at her home in Selma. I was in the company of several others. The purpose of
the visit was to capture her picture as well as that of her dear friend Charlie Lucas, “Tin Man”. The memory of that day will be one I cherish for the rest of
my life. On that particular afternoon, I sat at the feet of “Miss” Kathryn, as Johnna Bush, portrait artist, snapped photos of her while she told stories,
with Charlie standing at her right shoulder sculpting with wire. The photos
taken that summer day would serve as Johnna’s inspiration as she painted the
Black Belt Treasures signature portrait entitled, Celebrating our Black Belt Treasures. “Miss” Kathryn would later
offer suggestions for the setting of the portrait to include the rich dark soil
of the Black Belt with a little white church in the background.
Storytelling was such a part of “Miss” Kathryn that every
conversation I ever had with her was mesmerizing. I have many more memories of
this precious lady – the opening day of Black Belt Treasures, riding in the
backseat of the car with her as we traveled to Birmingham for a ceremony to
honor her, her visit to the Black Belt Treasures Gallery with her daughter,
Dilcy Windham Hilley, an author visit and book signing at BBTCAC, and
storytelling during a Folk Life Festival at BBTCAC on a cold, November day
(when she refused to allow me to move her speaking venue inside), just to name
a few. Then, there are the handwritten
notes still tucked away in my desk drawer – replies of confirmation when she
was asked to make speaking appearances, or notes of encouragement and
appreciation for the work being accomplished through BBTCAC.
During the Installation Ceremony, as I listened to Deborah Rankins Tunstall, Assistant Director of the Alabama Southern Libraries, and the
Kathryn Tucker Windham Library and Museum, and Norton Dill, Director of the
2004 documentary film, Kathryn: The Story of a Teller, I could envision the “Miss” Kathryn they spoke of so
endearingly, and could hear her Southern voice spinning tales to include
history, humor and emotion.
“Miss” Kathryn, a friend to so many, cared not the color of
your skin nor your position in life. She approached every individual she
encountered with respect and honesty – often times with great bluntness, but
always with a genteel, Southern politeness. While we may have been more
acquaintances than longtime friends, I was inspired by her in so many ways with
the most important being to tell my stories and those of my family. I was blessed to have known her.
The installation of Kathryn Tucker Windham as a member of
the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame is without a doubt the most significant of the
ceremonies I have attended thus far. It was truly an honor to be among her
family, friends and greatest fans celebrating her life and legacy.
A bronze plague bearing an inscription and her likeness, is
located in the Hall of Fame Museum on the first floor of Asa Howard Bean Hall
on the Judson College campus in Marion, Alabama. For more information, visit http://www.judson.edu/.
Sulynn Creswell
Executive Director