The general membership of the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort is being called upon to decide this year’s recipient of CARE’s Living Legend award.
Voting in person at the Charleston Arts Center (CAC) ends this Friday, March 4, at 4 p.m. Online voting will close Friday at midnight.
The organization will present the award to one individual who has made a difference in the Charleston community.
This year, nominations were sought from the general public and the names of six nominees were submitted to CARE officials: Glenna Callender, Dr. Stuart Denman, Dr. Ed Meek, Ruby Pernell, Alice Gray Robinson and Robert Salmon.
While anyone in the community could nominate a person for the award, selection of the 2016 recipient will be decided by a vote of CARE members only.
Anyone may join CARE, and annual membership fees are available for $20 for individuals and $40 for a family. To join, visit the CAC on Court Square or join online at www.charlestonartscenter.com.
Current CARE members whose email addresses are known to the organization have been sent an electronic message featuring photos and biographical sketches of all six of this year’s nominees. The email contains a link to an online ballot. Each member may vote only once, and each ballot must include the name of the voter. Any ballots not bearing the voter’s name will be disqualified. The deadline to vote online is Friday at midnight.
This year’s Living Legend award will be presented during a public ceremony at the CAC.
For more information about CARE membership or the Living Legend award, call the CAC at 647-0942.
Submitted biographical sketches of this year’s Living Legend nominees are as follow:
Glenna Callender taught 18 years in the public education field at East Tallahatchie School District in her beloved hometown of Charleston. During this time, she was selected as Teacher of the Year, and was nominated for Art Educator of the Year. She served as the Whole School Initiative director for the middle school for four years and also taught art to students in various community programs.
After retiring from teaching, she helped to establish the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort, where she served as president and executive director. She now serves on the board of directors. In 2009, she received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, and CARE was chosen from nine counties by the same organization for the “STAR Award,” for best nonprofit organization of the year, while she served as its director.
Callender’s love for teaching, the arts and Charleston have been on display during her entire tenure with CARE. She has established many programs for the community, including after-school arts programs, summer art camps, Saturday art classes, CARE’s beautification program and more. She has also worked to help establish community events, such as the Gateway to the Delta Festival, the Charleston Farmer’s Market, the Charleston Film Festival and numerous art exhibits and book-signings.
Dr. Stuart Denman was born and raised in Charleston. He graduated from East Tallahatchie High School in 1960, where he was active in 4-H Club and won a national award for his swine project during his senior year. He attended Mississippi State University for his undergraduate studies, then went on to Auburn University, where he received his doctorate in Veterinary Medicine.
In 1962, he married Judy Coker Denman, also of Charleston. In 1966, Dr. and Mrs. Denman opened Denman Animal Clinic, where Denman still strives daily to rewrite the definition of hard work and dedication.
Married 54 years, the two have worked side by side in the veterinary practice for 50 years.
Denman has served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Cowart Baptist Church for many years. He is very proud of his faith in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was instrumental in the founding of Strider Academy and served on the board of directors for many years. Currently, he serves on the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Board of Directors and the MVMA Board of Directors and the Examination Board.
Dr. Ed Meek has been a hard-working leader since his school days in Charleston.
After school each day, he worked for the local newspaper, The Mississippi Sun. Also, at a young age he earned the Eagle Scout Award.
Following high school, he attended the University of Mississippi. As a student, he encouraged and mentored Charlestonians entering Ole Miss. After graduation, he worked at UM, founding work-study programs for students in need and finding jobs throughout the nation for Charleston students after they graduated.
He and his wife, Becky, donated over $5.4 million to establish the Meek School of Journalism at Ole Miss. They have offered scholarships to Charleston students who choose to study in the field of journalism and new media.
Meek remains a huge supporter of his hometown of Charleston. He and Becky have funded several art and education programs for local children.
He was instrumental in forming Charleston’s relationship with Catherine Woodyard, which led to a “Needs Assessment,” which she used for her thesis. Through this assessment, the Tallahatchie General Hospital and Jim Kennedy connection came about, leading to the new James C. Kennedy Wellness Center in Charleston.
Still giving to Charleston, Meek was instrumental in helping with the Gateway to the Delta Festival, and currently serves on the advisory board of CARE.
Ruby Pernell began her nursing career at Tallahatchie General Hospital at the age of 50.
Previously, she worked at the shirt factory in Charleston to supplement family income. When the factory closed, she decided to get her GED and go to college to earn her degree in nursing. She commuted to Northwest Junior College for two years, while working part-time at Piggly Wiggly. It was hard for her, and the studying was rigorous, but her determination resulted in her receiving her RN license.
She worked with all the “old school” hospital staff: Mr. Ergle, Peggy Cole and Dr. Lewis. The hospital fell on hard times, but as a faithful employee she kept plugging along.
When the hospital management changed and many changes were made at TGH, Ruby was, and is, one of the hospital’s biggest cheerleaders. While she no longer works the hospital floor, she give gives breathing treatments to nursing home residents five days per week and offers them encouragement and brightens their days.
Her work ethic and strong Christian faith have molded her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Having worked at Tallahatchie General Hospital for 32 years, and still working at the age of 82, Ruby Pernell definitely fits the description of a “Living Legend.”
Alice Gray Robinson is a lifelong resident of Tallahatchie County. She served as an educator for 41 years on both the East and West sides of Tallahatchie County. Her teaching career began shortly after graduating from high school. Her early teaching years were spent teaching students on the west side in the elementary schools of Escary, Saint Mark and Swan Lake. Later, the school board transferred her to the east side of the county, where she provided instruction to students at Holly Grove School and Charleston Middle School.
She retired from her professional career in 1996 but has continued to impart wisdom to everyone she meets.
She received the Dedication and Loyalty Award from the Charleston Chapter of the National Charleston Day Organization; appreciation for dedicated services from the East Tallahatchie School District; faithful and dedicated services award from Union Grove Church, where she is a member; Distinguished Outstanding Heroine award; Birdia Keglar Legacy certificate for supporting efforts; Humanitarian Award for church, home and community from the Cross of Christ Love Center; 2015 Trailblazer award from Alvis Grove Baptist Church; and committee chair for the souvenir booklet, Charleston Chapter of the National Charleston Day Organization.
She serves and has served in many roles at her church. She is a member and past president of the choir, former Sunday school teacher, acting Sunday school secretary, chair of the Women’s Day program, committee member of the Women in White program and advisor to additional church activities. She is a member of the Tallahatchie County Association and Convention, where she serves as the secretary for the Usher Board and Sunday school convention.
She is also a member of the American Cancer Society, United Voices of Hope, Heroines of Jericho (previous secretary for the local and district courts), National Charleston Day Organization, NAACP, Blue Cane Little Hubbard Community Organization, Retired Teachers Association, TRIAD, and START.
She has been a leader in her local community by being instrumental in working with county leaders to provide needed upgrades to roads, bridges and the water system.
Robert Salmon has been a registered pharmacist for over 47 years and is a Nationally Certified Disease State Manager in diabetes, asthma and lipid management.
He graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1967 with a BS in pharmacology. He has been a consultant to Tallahatchie General Hospital and Extended Care Facility. He was the chief and first full-time pharmacist at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman and has served as commissioner and vice mayor of Charleston. He is president of Southern Discount Drugs and CEO of the Diabetic Shoppe, FootMindBody in Charleston.
He so strongly appreciates the success he has experienced that he is constantly striving to give back to his community in a variety of ways. His volunteer activities are simply a part of how he lives. He is an active member of Charleston Methodist Church, singing in the choir and chairing the board of trustees. He annually hosts a Christmas party for 20 children of limited means, which includes a chance to meet Santa and each child receives a large number of presents.
Through the Soles for Souls organization, Salmon donated 100 pairs of shoes to the victims of the Haiti hurricane. He often donates shoes and diabetic testing supplies to charitable organizations throughout the state, including victims of tornadoes and hurricanes.
In 2015, Salmon was a Mississippi Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence award winner. He also has received a Health Champion award from the Regional Health Council of the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.
Because of his contributions to his community, he was asked to serve as grand marshal for the Charleston Christmas parade.
