Twenty Years of Strength: NAACP Mother of the Year Program Honors Local Women
{2025 Winners Minister Gwen Robinson crowned and May Price runner-up/ Contributed Photo}
The NAACP Mother of the Year Program was first held on May 2, 2004, at New Faith Full Gospel Fellowship Center, where the late Apostle Derek Kelly served as pastor.
The purpose of the program was — and remains today — to honor the female heroines of the Lexington and Davidson County community. These are women who were not afraid to stand on the front line, to serve as drum majorettes for the community, and to put their feet on the ground by vigorously raising funds to help the NAACP further its initiatives, achieve its goals, and remain a vital part of Lexington.
For more than 20 years, the NAACP has been in awe of the “Mothers” who have stepped forward and volunteered their time and energy to make this program a success. As the organization celebrates this milestone, it offers its most sincere thanks to the “Mothers” who have helped sustain the NAACP-Davidson County Chapter.
Because of their commitment and dedication, the NAACP continues to support the National NAACP and the NAACP North Carolina State Conference. The chapter also provides scholarships to city and county high school students, adopts children and families during the Christmas season, supports Washington Park Pool and Splash Pad, offers free Days at the Pool for community children, hosts Back to School events, and participates in other community events.
The “Mothers” participating in the 20th Year Program are Noki Anderson and Vena Gilley-Tysinger.
Anderson
Gilley-Tysinger
The program will be held Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 3:30 p.m. at New Life Worship Center, 171 Garden Drive, where Bishop Dennis Clodfelter serves as pastor.
The NAACP asks the community to continue showing unwavering support for its “Mothers” in their endeavors, as well as for the NAACP-Davidson County Chapter.
Reigning NAACP Mothers Down through the Years 2004- 2025 2024- Mother Evelyn Gilley 2025- Mother Gwendolyn Robinson 2004- Mother Aquila Sampson 2005- Mother Pearlee McMillian 2006- Mother Hazel Cross 2007- Mother Arlene Pinnix-Morrow 2008- Mother Gwendolyn Harris 2009- Mother Earldine Smith 2010- Mother Margaret Buggs 2011- Mother Ruth Holmes 2012- Mother Annette Henderson-Smith 2013- Mother Brenda Wyatt 2014- Mother Lillian Neely Stoner 2015- Mother Connie Russell 2016- Mother Lena “Sally” Perkins 2017- Mother Gloria Cross 2018- Mother Wanda Turman 2019- Mother Faye Craven-Boger 2020- Mother Anita Hargrave 2022- Mother Ruth Brice Houston 2023 Mother Jean Leverette Washington
