HISTORY

The inception of Tuskegee United Women's League was the brain child of charter member Betty L. Sharpe.  Betty envisioned an organization of unified Tuskegee-Macon County Women working together to promote education, children and the elderly in Macon County, Alabama.  Betty called on several women whom she knew could get the job done.  Fourteen women answered Betty's call and accepted her proposal to start the Tuskegee United Women's League on March 8, 1998.  

 

On June 16, 1999, the Thomas Reed Memorial Scholarship was established and an executive board was elected.  Gwendolyn T. Moore was voted the President and Jo Ann C. Grant, Vice-President; Amelia W. "Mickey" Peterson, Secretary/Treasurer and Mary D. Crenshaw, Chaplain.

 

On October 10, 1999, the organization received its Charter and the Honorable District Judge Aubrey Ford, Jr., of Macon County, Alabama, inducted fourteen members into service.  Also on this date, the Tuskegee United Women's League held its first Recognition Banquet/Thomas Reed Memorial Scholarship Drive at the Kellogg Conference Center on the national historic campus of Tuskegee University. The Honorable Demetrius C. Newton, the first African American Pro Tempore of the Alabama House of Representatives, was the guest speaker.  On this day, Mr. Detroit Lee, Sr. was recognized and awarded the organization's Trial Blazer Award for his outstanding contribution to equalize education in Macon County, Alabama.

 

The Tuskegee United Women's League was incorporated on March 8, 2000.  Since its corporation, the organization has awarded numerous Thomas Reed Scholarships.  The first recipients of the scholarships were Tiffany Nettles, Notasulga High School and Catrina McMillan, Booker T. Washington High School.  The organization presented the Tuskegee-Macon County community with its first societal Father/Daughter Ball on April 7, 2000.  Some other TUWL activities include giving school supplies to Tuskegee Public School, sponsoring a black history month oratorical contest at Booker T. Washington High School (initiated February 2000, this is now an annual affair), 100 Outstanding Students Program of Macon County and presenting a roast for the Honorable Judge Aubrey Ford, Jr.

 

The Tuskegee United Women's League, Incorporated continues to engage in several successful education projects with the school system and community.