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Pictured is United Way Director of Finance Charlotta Ferguson, right, presenting the award for Agency Director of the Year to Avis Phillips.

Pictured is United Way Director of Community Investment Ruby Green, right, presenting the award for Volunteer of the Year to Clara Shorter.

Pictured is United Way Director of Community Investment Ruby Green, right, presenting the award for Community Investment Committee Volunteer of the Year to Dr. Shelly Plett.

Pictured is United Way Director of Community Investment Ruby Green, right, presenting the Spirit of Vicksburg award to Ergon Refining, Inc. Accepting on behalf of Ergon is Human Resource Director Maribel Melo.

Pictured, from left, are Taliyah Curry, winner of the Tre’Vion Jayden Gray Memorial Scholarship; Ryan Hadley Grey and Tatum Watts, first runners-up for the Bruce Alan Ebersole Jr. Memorial Scholarship; and Lauren Flagg, first-place winner of the Bruce Alan Ebersole Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

Pictured, from left, are 2025 United Way Board Chair Tyler McNeal, 2024 Board Chair Fermika Smith and Director of Community Investment Ruby Green. (Photos by Blake Bell/The Vicksburg Post)

Pictured is United Way Director of Finance Charlotta Ferguson, right, presenting the award for ​​Campaign Coordinator of the Year to WaterView Casino’s Nancy Lindsey.

Pictured is United Way Director of Finance Charlotta Ferguson, right, presenting the Leadership Award to Virginia Campbell.

The United Way of West Central Mississippi packed Levee Street Warehouse Wednesday for this year’s annual meeting and awards ceremony.

Each year, United Way uses the opportunity to gather as a time to reflect upon the successes of the past year, while honoring outgoing board members and announcing incoming members. The meeting is also United Way’s annual event for announcing yearly awards and scholarship recipients.

United Way Executive Director Michele Connelly said 2024 was indeed a year worth celebrating.

“As Brandon Lake’s song ‘Gratitude’ says, ‘All that I have is a hallelujah,'” Connelly said. “The word hallelujah is often used to express joy, gratitude and reverence. And today, we come together to celebrate not just what we do individually, but what we can accomplish when we unite as one.”

Fermika Smith, 2024 United Way board chair, also praised the efforts of board members, volunteers and the community as a whole during 2024.

“It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the 2024 board chair,” Smith said. “Vicksburg has been my home for almost 47 years. As I continue along this journey of being committed to growth and the progression of the city that raised me, I’m grateful to have served in the capacity of board chair of this amazing organization that shares that same commitment.”

Smith also recognized members of the United Way of West Central Mississippi Board of Directors returning for 2025, including: Christopher Barnett; Joshua Brown; Talbot Buys; 2024 Community Investment Chair David Cox; 2024 Treasurer Ginger Donohue; 2024 Campaign Chair Michael Foley; Dr. Terence James; Liz Johnson; Jeremy Kyser; Connie Linzy; Crista Sturgis Lovette; 2024 Vice Chair Tyler McNeal; Paige Payne; Lauren Powers; Orlon Derrick Smith; Derrick Stamps; Sharonda Taylor.

Smith also recognized outgoing 2024 board members Lynn Foley, Jennifer Grey and Josie Mayfield Hudson.

This year’s awards included: Leadership Award, Virginia Campbell; Volunteer of the Year, Clara Shorter; Spirit of Vicksburg award, Ergon Refining, Inc., accepted by Ergon Human Resource Director Maribel Melo; Community Investment Committee Volunteer of the Year Dr. Shelley Plett; Agency Director of the Year Avis Phillips; Campaign Coordinator of the Year Nancy Lindsey.

Also honored during Wednesday’s ceremony were Community Investment Committee members Don Brown, Glennard Warren, Chris Chatham, Patsy Counts, Donohue, Chris Gann, Gregory Linzy, Toni Lowe, the Rev. Beth Palmer, Dr. Jill Pierce, Plett, Audrey Randle, Johnny Reynolds, Christy Thornton, Oscar Denton, Mitchell Johnson and Clara Kilman.

Additional thanks was given to School Chair Candy Sias-Thompson; CFC Chair Charlotta Ferguson; United Way Partner Agency Chair Ruby Green; Supper on the ‘Sip Chair Ali Hopson; Prospect Campaign Chair Lynn Foley; and Director of Marketing and Resource Development Alyssa Lick.

United Way also handed out a number of scholarships, including the Tre’Vion Jayden Gray Memorial Scholarship of $500 to Vicksburg High School graduate Taliyah Dashae Curry and the Bruce Alan Ebersole Jr. Memorial Scholarship of $500 to Vicksburg High School graduate Lauren Johnae-Marie Flagg. In a two-way tie for first runner-up for the Bruce Alan Ebersole Jr. Memorial Scholarship, and $300 each, River City Early College graduate Tatum Carol Watts and St. Aloysius graduate Ryan Hadley Grey were each recognized.

Incoming Board Chair Tyler McNeal said 2024 was a great year for the United Way, adding he looks forward to more success in 2025.

“New challenges and change are nothing new to United Way and this staff,” McNeal said. “In fact, it’s what they thrive on. So, as we tackle the task of shaping our identity, some rebranding and just exactly how we meet the evolving needs of our service area, I have full faith that United Way will continue to be the same friend the community has counted on for the last 72 years.”

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