The West Point/Clay County Growth Alliance will hold its 84th annual banquet Thursday at the West Point Civic Center, 130 Sixth St., at 6 p.m.
“The banquet is a great time to applaud all the individuals who are working so hard to make West Point/Clay County a better place to live, work, and play,” said Martha Allen, director of community development for the Growth Alliance.
Community leader and corporate executive Rose Jackson Flenorl will be the keynote speaker.
“Rose has such an amazing story to tell about life, lessons and what you can do with a little hard work and dedication,” Allen stated.
Born in Clarksdale in 1957, Flenorl graduated from Clarksdale High School and the University of Mississippi, where she was elected to the Homecoming Court and become Campus Favorite her sophomore year. During her senior year, Flenorl was nominated as Miss Ole Miss and was the first African-American inducted into the Hall of Fame. That same year, Glamour magazine selected her as one of their “Top Ten College Women in America.” In 2008, she became the first African-American president of the University of Mississippi Alumni Association, an elected position.
As manager of the Global Community Relations and Philanthropy Division of FedEx in Memphis, Flenorl balances corporate duties with her domestic responsibilities. She has been a wife for 27 years and is the mother of a 2008 Ole Miss graduate.
“Flenorl is looking forward to coming to West Point to give an exciting and motivational speech on the importance of community and volunteerism,” said Allen, who noted the event theme is “West Point: Step Up to Stand Out.”
The city”s 2009 Hall of Fame inductee and the Citizen of the Year will be announced, along with several Main Street Awards.
Event tickets ($25) must be bought in advance. For availability, contact Allen at 662-494-5121, or e-mail [email protected]. Dress is business attire. Anthony”s Good Food Market will cater the banquet.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.