Ryals named by nonprofit as Woman of Year

The White Hall Progressive Women’s Association named Tabitha Ryals its 2025-26 Woman of the Year.

Approximately 50 attended PWA’s annual banquet held Friday at the James “Jitters” Morgan Community Center in White Hall.

Ryals, of White Hall, has been a member of the nonprofit for five years and said she was “surprised” by the honor.

Ryals said while her son, a junior at White Hall High School, doesn’t qualify for a PWA scholarship, Ryals has plenty of friends with daughters who do.

“I’m trying to spread the word about the scholarships,” she said.

Ryals said education has the power to change lives and make the community a better place.

“The Progressive Women’s Association feels it is important to recognize a woman each year who has gone above and beyond,” said Brenda Doucey, PWA’s spokesperson. “The Woman of the Year is selected by secret ballot, and we reveal our selection at our annual banquet.”

Ryals said, “We don’t do it for the recognition … Everybody in this group deserves an award.”

FUNDING A SOLID FOUNDATION

The evening’s theme was “Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom,” and the saying is often attributed to George Washington Carver.

For their support of the PWA, Kiswire Pine Bluff, Inc. of White Hall was named 2025-26 Business Associate of the Year.

The evening also included a short history of the PWA and two guest speakers.

A previous recipient of the PWA Ann Douthit Memorial Scholarship spoke about her success as a student who graduated debt-free with an occupational therapist degree, in part because of her PWA scholarship.

The newly named White Hall High School Principal, Jennifer Menard, also spoke.

The dinner was a potluck, with Keenan Smith smoking the pork loin that was served.

They also announced the 2025-26 Ann Douthit Memorial Scholarship recipients as Alyssa Amerson, Kinley Atwood, Anna Grace Bailey, Kayla Blevins, Kylee Branch, Kaylee Brasko, Cameron Cobb, Sydney Foster, Elizabeth Harrison, Reese Owens, Nicole Patton, Sarah Catherine Reed, Alex Rongey, Arabella Thyen, Isabella Tomboli, Megan Tyler and Jamie Yarbrough.

Ryals said she was recruited to the group by Amy Dancer, her friend and dental hygienist.

“I thought it was a wonderful cause,” Ryals said.

In addition to raising money for their memorial scholarship fund, they support local causes such as providing clothing and other items for veterans.

Earlier this year, they helped a Jefferson County employee who was dealing with the weekslong county government’s refusal to pay its employees.

Also, each month, they select and donate to a local project, such as a teacher who needs help with classroom supplies.

Each year, the PWA holds two rummage sales, the first in March and the second in September, and an auction in November.

“We do what we can,” Ryals said.

$300,000 STRONG

Doucey said the PWA Scholarship Fund is designed to support young women in pursuing their educational goals, whether attending a technical school or a two- or four-year college or university.

Once a scholarship is awarded, the recipient receives $600 per semester, or $1,200 annually, until graduation.

A recipient must maintain good grades, and a scholarship could be worth $4,800 over four years.

Currently, Doucey said they support 17 women with annual scholarships, which totals $20,400 this year.

Since first offering the PWA Scholarship, the nonprofit has raised more than $300,000 and helped dozens of young women.

Doucey explained the reason for their ongoing fundraising efforts: “We believe education is the key to our future.”

PWA HISTORY LESSON

According to a history written by Doucey and presented at the banquet, the organization was chartered on July 14, 1979.

“Bernice Foster was the one to join so they could charter, and she is the last charter member left,” Doucey wrote.

Their first scholarships were $500 a year, and they earned money by gift wrapping at Walmart and through rummage sales. This year, they’re funding 17 scholarships.

“We are a group of hard-working ladies. We have a lot of fun, and we are there for each other if there is a need,” Doucey concluded.

If you want to donate to the Progressive Women’s Association’s Ann Douthit Memorial Scholarship or become a member, call Brenda Doucey at (870) 247-9406.