MWLA is proud of its Outstanding Woman Lawyer Award, given annually to honor the Mississippi female lawyer who has demonstrated the greatest accomplishments during the previous year. Prior recipients include Dr. Carolyn Ellis Staton (1995), Pat Flynn (1996), Dr. Mary Ann Connell (1997), Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Lenore Prather (1998), Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Mary Libby Payne (1999), Amy Whitten (2000), Constance Slaughter-Harvey (2001), Professor Patricia Bennett (2002), Margaret Williams (2003), Colette Oldmixon (2004), Professor Deborah Bell (2005), Joy Lambert-Phillips (2006), Sharon D. Bridges (2007), Christy D. Jones (2008), Patti Gandy (2009), Judy Guice (2 010), La’Verne Edney (2011), Lynn Fitch (2012), Tiffany Graves (2013), and Justice Ann Lamar (2014), Amanda Green Alexander (2015), and Rebecca Wiggs (2016). Membership in MWLA also provides a unique means for fellowship and networking with other members, including bi-monthly lunch meetings from September to May with speakers on various topics, and gathering for socials. MWLA has also sponsored networking events with other women professionals, including a joint luncheon meeting with the Mississippi women legislators. The Association actively seeks opportunities to network with women in other professions. MWLA is proud of its accomplishments over the years, its renewed vitality and growth in the past several years, and the goals that it can achieve in the years to come.Past MWLA Presidents
Terms(s)
Name
1976-1977
Martha Gerald
1977-1983
No Information Available
1983-1984
Zenora Williams
1984-1985
Suzanna Baker
1985-1986
Julie Sneed
1986-1987
Anna Furr
1987-1988
No Information Available
1988-1989
Lynn Fitch
1989-1990
Joy Lambert Phillips
1990-1991
Leyser Q. Hayes
1991-1992
Linda Thompson
1992-1993
LeeAnn Neely
1993-1994
Betty Ruth Fox
1994-1995
Sandra Shelson
1996-1997
Susan R. Tsimortos
1997-1998
Kristina M. Johnson
1998-1999
Kellye R. Piro
1999-2000
Alleen McLain
2000-2001
Deanna Mosley
2001-2002
Christi Carroll
2002-2003
Aileen S. McNeill
2003-2004
Debra M. Brown
2004-2005
Mary Jacq Easley
2005-2006
Latoya Merritt
2006-2007
Latoya Merritt
2007-2008
Mary Clay W. Morgan
2008-2009
Amanda Green Alexander
2009-2010
Tiffany M. Graves
2010-2011
Melissa T. Carleton
2011-2012
Jennie S. Pitts
2012-2013
Tami L. Munsch
2013-2014
Jessica Dupont
2014-2015
Greta L. Kemp
2015-2016
Brandi D. Gatewood
2016-2017
Wendy H. Ellard
2017-2018
Catoria Martin
2018-2019
Jessica Murray
2019-2020
Catherine Bell
2020-2021
Ellen Patton Robb
Past Lifetime Award Winners
Year
Name
2007
Justice Kay Cobb
2008
Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander
2009
Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson
2010
Judge Mary Libby Payne
2011
Shirley Norwood-Jones
2012
Prof. Carol West (posthumously)
2013
Constance Slaughter-Harvey
2014
Vicki Slater
2015
Cindy Mitchell
2016
Margaret Ellis
2017
Pshon Barrett
2018
Dean Patricia Bennett
2019
La’Verne Edney
Past OWLA Winners
Year
Name
1995
Dr. Carolyn Ellis Stanton
1996
Pat Flynn
1997
Dr. Mary Ann Connell
1998
Justice Lenore Prather
1999
Judge Mary Libby Payne
2000
Amy Whitten
2001
Constance Slaughter-Harvey
2002
Prof. Patricia Bennett
2003
Margaret Williams
2004
Collette Oldmixon
2005
Prof. Deborah Bell
2006
Joy Lambert-Phillips
2007
Sharon D. Bridges
2008
Christy D. Jones
2009
Patti Gandy
2010
Judy Guice
2011
La’Verne Edney
2012
Lynn Fitch
2013
Tiffany Graves
2014
Justice Ann Lamar
2015
Amanda Alexander
2016
Rebecca Wiggs
2017
Judge Latrice Westbrooks
2018
Judge Tiffany Grove
2019
Jennie Eichelberger
History & Purpose of MWLA
Mississippi Women Lawyers Association (“MWLA”) is comprised of women representing all facets of the legal profession including private, corporate, and government practice, judiciary, academia, and law students. MWLA was founded in 1976 by a group of thirty women attorneys from throughout the State of Mississippi to enhance and develop the image of lawyers in Mississippi, promote fellowship among the members of the legal community, and advance women in the legal profession. Today, there are approximately 1500 women lawyers practicing in Mississippi in all sectors of the profession, many of whom are members of MWLA. Community involvement and philanthropy are significant parts of MWLA’s involvements. The Association emphasizes the importance of the attorney’s role in giving back to the community through projects that benefit charitable organizations, the provision of scholarships to outstanding law students, and pro bono work. The Association also awards the Martha Gerald/MWLA scholarship in honor of MWLA’s first president, Martha Gerald, to female law students at the University of Mississippi School of Law and the Mississippi College School of Law.
In 2007, MWLA began the tradition of nominating a Lifetime Achievement Award, given annually to honor a Mississippi female lawyer has served as a trailblazer for women in the profession. Prior recipients include Mississippi Supreme Court Justice Kay Cobb (2007), U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Allan Alexander (2008), U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson (2009), MS Court of Appeals Judge Mary Libby Payne (2010), Retired Professor Shirley Norwood Jones (2011), Professor Carol West posthumously (2012), Constance Slaughter-Harvey (2013), and Vicki Slater (2014), Cynthia “Cindy” Mitchell (2015), and Margaret Ellis (posthumously) (2016).