Erby, Others to Receive Trailblazer Awards

TUPELO, Miss. (Press Release) — Mississippi’s first and only Chief U.S. Marshal, and the Catholic nun who headed one of Mississippi’s nationally-recognized community hospitals, will be honored as two of the nine 2015 Mississippi Trailblazers during the 13th annual Mississippi Trailblazers Awards Ceremony and Black Tie Gala, May 9, held at the BancorpSouth Conference in Tupelo.

U.S. Marshall Dennis Erby of Columbus, appointed by President Barak Obama for Mississippi’s Northern District in 2012, will receive the Mississippi Trailblazer of the Year Award. He will be presented by U.S. District Judge Michael Mills.

Sister Dorothea Songdoreth, who served as President and CEO of Jackson’s St. Dominic’s Hospital for 17 years, will receive the Leonard Morris Award for Public Service and Integrity.

This year’s event marks the 13th consecutive year the event has been held. The Mississippi Trailblazers Awards is Mississippi’s only statewide awards ceremony honoring individual Mississippians for their contributions to racial and cultural diversity and inclusion. State Representative Steve Holland and his mother, Lee County Justice Court Judge Sadie Holland, are the 2015 Tupelo Trailblazers, annually honoring a Tupelo/Lee County resident for their significant local contributions to diversity and inclusion. Rep. Holland has championed such causes as health care expansion and full state funding of early childhood education. Judge Holland’s contribution comes in the fact that she is Lee County’s first and only female justice court judge.

Other 2015 Mississippi Trailblazers include:

·         Dr. David Marion, Jackson – Mississippi Trailblazers Leadership Award – Vice Grand Basileus of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

·         Dr. Cindy Ayers, Jackson – INSPIRE Award – Pioneering community activist and community development leader.

·         Jessie Pennington, Jackson – Legacy Award – First Managing Attorney for North Mississippi Legal Services

·         Clementine Cooper, Jackson  – Dr. Robert C. Khayat Distinguished Award for Diversity and Racial Reconciliation –  Author and President of Bilingual Works, an outreach organization to the Hispanic community.

·         Calvin Buchanan, Oxford – Mississippi Trailblazers inaugural “First Award” – named Mississippi’s first African American United States Attorney in 1996.

“Each year, it is our aim to honor individuals who have had a real and tangible effect on  not only on how diversity is furthered, but also on how the lives of others are affected. This year’s class of Mississippi Trailblazers represents that aim to its highest degree. This is one of the most impactful groups we’ve ever had.” said Rev. James Hull, Mississippi Trailblazers President and CEO.

Hull explained how several of the 2015 Mississippi Trailblazers have made significant contributions through their professional accomplishments and personal contributions:

·         Dr. Cindy Ayers: A founder and former chairwoman of the Jackson-based First American Bank, the state’s only African American bank at the time.

·         Dr. David Marion: the first and only Mississippi to hold one of the top two offices in the international public service fraternity. By holding the Vice Grand Basileus position, Dr. Marion is in a position to eventually be elected to the fraternity’s highest office.

“Each of this year’s Mississippi’s Trailblazers has shown vision and integrity in their pursuit of a better Mississippi” Hull said.