Memphis Women Who Serve

Leadership We Can Learn From

The current coronavirus crisis has caused so many changes in our lives, jobs and families that a few of us might have forgotten Women’s History Month! Today, we tip our hats to the women whose compassion, conviction and innovation have carried our city through its biggest challenges.  

The Angel of Beale Street 

Known affectionately as the Angel of Beale Street, Julia Hooks was a musician, activist, educator and caregiver who fought fiercely for Memphis’ most underserved citizens. A teacher and principal, she was an advocate for quality public education and juvenile justice reform. Over the course of her many careers, she also served as a charter member of Memphis’ NAACP, an officer of the juvenile court, and founder of the Old Folks and Orphans Homes. 

Tennessee’s Pioneer Nurse

In 1877, the yellow fever left 8-year old Lena Angevine as the sole survivor in her immediate family. In 1889, she became the first graduate nurse in Tennessee, and in 1897 she founded the Tennessee College of Medicine and Nursing. The very next year, she led a volunteer team of Memphis nurses to Cuba, where she became the chief executive nurse and only woman officer in the U.S. Army. Her life was full of “firsts”, but she is most remembered for her work with the medical team that proved mosquitoes were the carriers of Yellow Fever — conquering a disease that had devastated Memphis. 

Memphis Children’s Champion

As a young woman in Alabama, Sarah Leath took care of her brother's children after his wife died. When her own husband died, she raised her two young sons alone. In 1850, she donated the plot for Memphis’ first widows’ and orphans’ asylum, which grew into the nonprofit enterprise Porter-Leath — which has continued to care for children and families while evolving to meet the community’s needs. Today, Porter-Leath provides vital health and social services to over 12,000 Shelby County children and families at the earliest opportunity.

Memphis is known as a giving community because of exceptional women like this, and we invite you to continue their legacy by supporting our community now, when it matters most. Please consider donating to the Mid-South COVID-19 Regional Response Fund. Your gift will help local nonprofits providing immediate relief, recovery, and resiliency efforts.