Order of Easter Star’s AWARDS LUNCHEON June 29th

June 25, 2013, WGNS Radio

Venus Chapter #61 of the Order of the Eastern Star invites the public to attend their HONORS AWARD LUNCHEON at the Bradley Academy Museum (415 S. Academy St.). This will be Saturday, June 29th from 11:30 to 1 at Bradley Academy Museum.

Racquel Peebles, Mary M. Wade, and Nancy Vaughn are being honored. For more information, phone 615-867-2633.

Honorees

Racquel Peebles

Local Attorney Racquel Peebles is a native of Smyrna, Tennessee and a graduate of Smyrna High School. She attended Memphis State University where she graduated in 1993 with her Bachelors of Arts and went on to attend and graduate from Emory University School of Law with her Juris Doctorate in 1996. After law school she chose to stay in the Atlanta area to begin her career. In 2003, she returned to Middle Tennessee to practice law. Over her 17 year career, Attorney Peebles has performed legal work in the areas of real estate, juvenile, family, bankruptcy, criminal law, adoption and business & corporate law. Attorney Peebles’ practice is located at The Victory House in Smyrna where she currently counsels and represents clients in business & corporate law, family law (primarily adoptions: grandparent, step-parent, private, and foster parents with the Department of Children’s Services), and wills, probate & estates law.

On January 12, 2011, Attorney Peebles was sworn in as a member of the bar with the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C.  Peebles participates in community seminars and workshops on legal topics to educate and counsel citizens on matters affecting their personal and business endeavors.  Her professional motto is “dedicated to providing sound legal counsel in the stewardship of life and business.” She is a firm believer in educating and informing clients as well as family and friends who need her assistance.

In addition to practicing law, Attorney Peebles was a classroom instructor with the University of Phoenix from 2001-2008, where she taught law and employment classes to undergraduate and graduate students. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and the Rutherford-Cannon County Bar Association.  Racquel Peebles has two children whom she home schools and participates in many activities that focus on their educational development.  Without a doubt she is devoted to her family, profession, and community.

Mary M. Wade

Mrs. Mary M. Wade is married to Rev. Goldy Wade and they are the proud parents of three adult children: Michael (Kim), Thelisa (Alton) and Melanie (John). Mrs. Wade is the proud grandmother of Meigan, Jordan, Aislyn, Malcolm, Alton Jr., Kimia, and Brianna. She is a committed member of the community and volunteer. She is a member of the Franklin Rd Church of Christ, where she is a teacher of the Ladies Adult Class.

In 1998, Mrs. Wade was the first African American Female elected to the Murfreesboro City School Board and has served as its chair since 2008.  She has received the designation of Master School Board Member Level V. She has served on the Tennessee School Board Association Executive Board.

Mrs. Wade was elected President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Rutherford County Alumnae Chapter 2010 and served until 2012. She served with professionalism and humility. She led her chapter to receive the 2011 Regional Membership Award.

In May of 2013, Mrs. Wade was the speaker for Wee Care Day Care Kindergarten Graduation.

Her accolades include the following achievements:
~Member of the Southern Regional Leadership Team/Conflict Resolution; NAACP  Life Member; 2010 Unity Hero MTSU Black History Month; 2012 F.A.I.T.H First African American in the History of Murfreesboro “Living Legacies;” 2012 Educational Presenter @Delta Days at Nations Capital, Washington DC; Willie McGowan Community Service Award; Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and “Women” Doers of the word, not Hearers only” Award of New Hope Baptist Church, Murfreesboro

Community Involvement:
~Read To Succeed Executive Board;

~MTSU Community Advisory Committee;
~Chair of The Adult Rehabilitation Board;
~Middle  Tennessee Insurance  Professionals -Past President;
~2010,2011,2012 Executive Board Member Chamber of Commerce Youth Rutherford and DARE Speaker

Mrs. Mary Wade says she is “very thankful for Jesus  Christ blessing her to serve him, her family and her community.”

Nancy L. Bryson Vaughan

Mrs. Nancy L. Bryson Vaughan is married to Y. T. Vaughan (Retired Military) and they have 4 children, which one son is deceased.  She has four step-grandchildren and two great grandchildren.  She has one son-in-law and one daughter-in-law.

Mrs. Vaughan began her educational achievements as a 1953 graduate of Holloway High

School and in 1957, she graduated from Tennessee A & I State University (which is Tennessee State University now). Her post graduate studies were completed in 1979, where she received her Masters Degree at Middle Tennessee State University.

Mrs. Vaughan taught in the Rutherford County School System for 28 years and 10 months prior to her retirement.  She received her Career Ladder Teacher  – Level II certificate, which she was the first Black teacher from Rutherford County School System to pass the fast track to become a career ladder teacher.  She was the Director and teacher of theMiddleTennesseeStateUniversity– Continuating Education Economic, Science and Math Academy for sixteen (16) years.

She taught in the Mid Cumberland Headstart Program for two years as a Director and teacher.  While her husband was stationed at the Tori Station, Okinawa Base, she was a GED Instructor for the United States Military (Army) for three (3) years.

Mrs. Vaughan professionals organizations includes the National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association, Rutherford County Retired Teacher’s Association and Delta Kappa Gamma, which is in-active at the current time.

Her community involvements are numerous and are as follows:

American Business Women’s Association – served as President, Program, Education and Ways and Means Chairperson as well as the Founder of the Blossie Butler Scholarship; Domestic Violence Board of Directors from 1970 – 1984; Bradley Academy Historical Association – Board of Directors, which she organized and directed the first Juneteenth Celebration in Rutherford County; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Rutherford County Alumnae Chapter – former Corresponding Secretary and organized the first Juneteenth Celebration for the Chapter; a member of Church Women United and served as the secretary and public person; Better Homes and Gardens Club – served as President from 1998 – 2001; member of AARP; City Federation of Colored Women’s Clubs and the Southeastern Association of Colored Women and Youth Clubs.

Her Professional recognitions include the following:

Woman of the Year for the Heart of TennesseeChapter of ABWA in 1991;

Teacher of the Year from Thurman Francis Junior High Schoolin 1976-77 and 1980-81;

Recognized by the Rebecca Carney Temple #789 of the Daughters of the Elks organization as one of the 100 local women, who were Outstanding in their fields of business, professional and community services in 1991; Who’s Who America’s Teachers 19993 and 1997; African American History Month Committee at Middle Tennessee State University in 2001 Honoree for Recognition of Outstanding Contribution to the Murfreesboro Community and the Community Service Award for Outstanding Volunteer Contributions, which was given by SunTrust Bank and the Daily News Journal on April 3, 2001.

Author and revised the following articles of history “The History of First Baptist Church from 1853-2000 as the Church Historian and as the Educational Director of Bradley Academy Museum & Cultural Center as a volunteer in which she presented a workshop “Restoration and Use of the Old Building for Historic Purposes.” to the Tennessee Museum’s Association as a representative from Middle Tennessee State University Historical Department.

Mrs. Vaughan is a member of First Baptist Church on East Castle Street in Murfreesboro.  She serves as a secretary for Circle #2, member of the General Mission, Women’s Bible Class, Bible Study’s teacher for Circle #2, Bible Study Fellowship, Inc., BSF (International), presently, she is a Sunday School Teacher for the Adult Bible Class, and member of the Ardent Workers Mission.

Mrs. Vaughan is the Church Historian and she has authored and presented the play “Bethel” for First Baptist Church in November of 2011 and Rutherford County/Murfreesboro Bicentennial in 2012 at Patterson Park Community Center, which tells the history of First Baptist Church and it’s first Pastor, Nelson Grover Merry.

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