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Each year, YOUR Williamson has the privilege of shining a light on a group of extraordinary women whose lives reflect the very best of our community. These are women who give generously of their time, talents and hearts; often behind the scenes, rarely asking for recognition. They are leaders, mentors, caregivers, creatives, advocates, visionaries—and their impact is undeniable.
The 2025 Ladies of Distinction come from different backgrounds and represent a wide range of industries; from public service to business, philanthropy, education and beyond. Some are lifelong residents with deep generational roots in Williamson County. Others, like so many who now call this place home, arrived with only a suitcase and a dream. What they share is a commitment to leaving things better than they found them, and the grace, strength and persistence to do just that.
These women are remarkable, not just for what they've done, but for doing it with resilience, humility and heart. Whether leading a classroom or a company, launching a business or a nonprofit, mentoring young people or helping a neighbor in need—each of these ladies have quietly changed the landscape of our community in meaningful and lasting ways. We honor them not because they asked for it, but because their stories deserve to be told. Their lives remind us that true leadership is rooted in service, and real legacy is measured by the lives we touch. These women are proof that you don’t need a spotlight to make a difference—but sometimes, it’s time to turn one on.
To each of this year’s honorees—thank you. Thank you for your example and your unwavering dedication to the place we all call home. We are proud to share your stories. And we are even more proud to know you.
Meet Our 2025 Iconic Women of Williamson
Patty Bearden
A vibrant spirit whose heart beats for community, Patty Bearden has spent the last 27 years turning Franklin into her beloved home—one volunteer effort, one handshake, and one flower arrangement at a time.
Originally from Knoxville, Patty moved to Franklin with her husband John and quickly discovered the secret to building a new life: getting involved. “I moved here not knowing anyone but my husband,” she says. “I stayed because I found a community that welcomed me with open arms.” At the urging of friends she calls her “angels along the way,” she joined Williamson Inc. as an ambassador, launching a lifelong journey of service. Over 23 years, Patty was named Ambassador of the Year three times and became known for her boundless energy and welcoming smile.
Patty’s love of community blossomed into a rich career in sales and marketing at Franklin Flowers and Gift Gallery and later at WAKM Radio, where she continues to promote the people and events that make Williamson County thrive. Her passion for florals led her to build a small family business creating holiday and event décor alongside her daughter and granddaughters.
One of Patty’s greatest commitments has been to the Franklin Noon Rotary Club, where she has served for over 20 years, including on the Board of Directors and Foundation Board. As Community Relations and Marketing Director for Rotary and the Franklin Rodeo, she works year-round to raise vital funds for those in need. Her dedication has been recognized with multiple awards, including Rotarian of the Year (three times), the Paul Harris Fellow Award (three times), the Franklin Rodeo Spirit Award, and her proudest honor: Rotarian of the Decade in 2018. “Service to others is the true heart of community,” Patty says. “The rewards of serving others are beyond comprehension.”
Patty’s heart for service extends to many causes, including Franklin Tomorrow, High Hopes Development Center, Goodpasture Christian School, and NHC Cool Springs, where she teaches floral design to residents. She hopes her legacy will be clear: “I believe the greatest blessing is finding ways to give a helping hand when the opportunity arises.”
For Patty Bearden, volunteering isn’t an obligation—it’s a way of life, and a joyful testament to the community she loves, that so dearly loves her back.
Deborah Faulkner
For nearly two decades, Chief Deborah Faulkner has called Franklin home—a place she was drawn to for its rich history, stunning landscape, and deep sense of community. A Nashville native with a passion for public service, her move to Franklin was sparked by a serendipitous moment. After hearing author Robert Hicks speak about the “Widow of the South” and the efforts to preserve the Eastern Flank Battlefield, she drove down to look at homes. One had just gone on the market that day—she was the first to see it and immediately knew it was home. She still lives there today.
Currently serving as Chief of Police for the City of Franklin, Deborah leads a nationally accredited agency of over 150 employees, dedicated to protecting and serving our vibrant, growing community. Her distinguished law enforcement career spans decades, including roles as Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and Inspector General for the State of Tennessee, where she oversaw TennCare fraud investigations.
A trailblazer in her field, Deborah holds a doctorate from Vanderbilt University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Leadership Franklin, Leadership Nashville, and Leadership Middle Tennessee. She serves as Chair of the Tennessee POST Commission and is past president of the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. Her accolades include the Athena Award, Academy for Women of Achievement, Spirit of Leadership Award, and Law Enforcement Medal from the Sons of the American Revolution.
What means most to her, however, is knowing her late parents were proud of the woman and leader she became. “That is a memory I will cherish all my life,” she says.
Deborah’s faith and purpose have guided her through divine coincidences, including discovering a Great Uncle who died in the line of duty as a police officer—an uncanny connection she only learned years into her own career. Today, she keeps his photo in her office and wears a St. Michael medal every day.
Her legacy is one of courage, compassion, and mentorship—instilling strength and heart in the next generation of officers who wear the badge in Franklin.
Cordia Harrington
Entrepreneur, leader, and philanthropist, Cordia Harrington has built a life—and a legacy—on creating opportunities for others. Known affectionately (and famously) as “The Bun Lady,” Cordia’s journey from McDonald’s franchisee to CEO of Crown Bakeries is filled with both humor and heart.
Born in Waco, Texas, Cordia moved frequently throughout her childhood—living in Buffalo, New York, and attending high school in St. Louis before graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. In 1996, she planted roots in Williamson County, settling in Lynnwood Downs where she still resides today with her husband, Tom. It was a business venture—building a bakery to serve McDonald’s—that brought her to the area, but it’s the people that made it home. “Franklin offers the charm of a small town, yet we’re close to the cultural richness of Nashville,” she shares.
Cordia is the CEO of Crown Bakeries, formerly Tennessee Bun Company, a business that now includes nine manufacturing plants, over 1,700 employees, and produces more than 600,000 baked goods per hour. Her entrepreneurial spirit and servant leadership have opened doors far beyond the walls of her facilities. Through Crown Bakeries, Cordia has helped fund scholarships, support missions, and impact lives across the country.
Active in her community and beyond, Cordia has served on the Belmont University Board of Trustees, chaired the 2022 Heritage Foundation Ball, and is a member of First Presbyterian Church Nashville.
One of her most cherished memories happened on the last day of her Leadership Nashville class, when four classmates staged a roast in her honor—donning plastic buns and christening her “The Bun Lady.” The nickname stuck, later echoed by national media and even President George W. Bush during a visit to her bakery. Ironically, the nickname traces back to an earlier jest when, as the only woman in her McDonald’s franchisee co-op, she was placed on the “Bun Committee”—a moment that, in hindsight, sparked her journey into baking history.
Cordia’s personal mission is simple and profound: Create Opportunities. Make a Difference. Impact Lives. And for everyone who knows her, it’s clear she does just that—every single day.
Judy HayesPhotography by Carole Robinson or Southern Exposure Magazine
A fourth-generation Williamson Countian, Judy Hayes has spent her life sowing seeds of service across the community she’s always called home. Raised on Eastview Farm in Burwood—the very land her great-great-grandfather settled in 1805—Judy learned early the value of hard work, education, and community care. “I was driving a tractor before I was driving a car,” recalls Judy.
After graduating from Franklin High School in 1960, Judy earned her degree from Lipscomb University in just three years and stepped into a life of service through education, teaching at both Bethesda and Grassland Elementary Schools. But a career twist came when her husband Jim asked her to help with their new radio station, WIZO. That “temporary” summer gig turned into 14 years of connection-building, ad sales, and unforgettable stories—including the time she and a colleague drove through a truckers’ strike to rescue a shipment of bunnies for an Easter promotion.
Judy’s heart for animals and agriculture extended into public office when she was appointed to the Williamson County Commission in 1986, where she served for nearly 30 years. Her imprint is seen countywide: she helped establish the Williamson County Animal Center, led the creation of Veterans Memorial Park, developed the Williamson Recycles program, and promoted the building of the Agricultural Exposition Park. She even co-discovered the land that would become Timberland Park on the Natchez Trace.
Judy was instrumental in shaping the Broad Based Tax Relief for the Elderly program, and served on boards guiding land purchases for schools, parks, and recreation centers. She also helped merge three local chambers into Williamson Inc., becoming the first chair of the Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Despite decades of service, Judy remains humble. “Everything I am and everything I’ve done is because other people got me interested and other people helped me,” she says. “This is truly a servant community.”
Judy Hayes is a visionary, yes—but more than that, she’s a neighbor, a mentor, a memory keeper, and a living reminder of what community care really looks like.
Alma McLemore
Born and raised in Franklin’s historic Natchez neighborhood, Alma McLemore is a lifelong resident of Williamson County and a powerful force for unity, history, and faith within the community she so deeply loves. “There’s a closeness and spirit of unity here,” she shares. “The people care for one another, and you see it in the nonprofits, the government, and the community as a whole.”
A graduate of the Leadership Franklin Class of 2000 and the City of Franklin Citizens Police Academy, Alma’s decades of service began with a call to action: an invitation to join the board of the Williamson County Emergency Relief Fund. That spark ignited a passion for serving others that has never waned. She went on to become a charter board member for both Habitat for Humanity and Community Housing Partnership, and has served on countless boards and task forces, including WAVES, Franklin Tomorrow, Mercy Children’s Clinic, New Hope Academy, the Battle of Franklin Trust, Columbia State Foundation Board, and the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County, where she now serves as President and CEO. Alma also serves on the Franklin Municipal Planning Commission, the Franklin Housing Commission, and the City Civil War Commission.
For Alma, service is not a civic duty—it’s a divine calling. “The greatest achievement in my life is understanding my purpose and becoming a Christian,” she says. “Everything else flows from that.” Her legacy, she hopes, will be defined by love, compassion, and lifting others up to fulfill their purpose, too.
Her faith was tested and affirmed during a pivotal moment for the African American Heritage Society: raising funds to purchase and restore a historic home at 264 Natchez. The goal seemed lofty—until, on Juneteenth, donor Emily Magid called with a million-dollar gift. “God sent so many angels to help,” Alma says. “It takes many hands to accomplish big things.”
Alma McLemore is living proof that one person, anchored in faith and guided by service, can shape a better, more inclusive future—hand in hand with an entire community.
Pam Stephens
Born and raised in Williamson County, Pam Stephens has spent her life serving the community she so dearly loves. A proud graduate of the first senior class of Page High School in 1976, Pam’s roots in the Bethesda community run deep—an upbringing steeped in faith, hard work, and family values.
After building an early career in human resources out in Shelbyville, Pam answered a higher calling when her father urged her to return home and join the family business: Williamson Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Services. “I told him I cried at Hallmark commercials and Little House on the Prairie,” Pam laughs. “But he said that’s exactly what would make me a good funeral director.” It was a leap of faith that changed her life—and countless others’—forever.
Today, Pam’s impact stretches across industries and communities. She has served as President of the Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, the Cemetery Association of Tennessee, and the Southern Cemetery, Cremation, and Funeral Association—a regional organization spanning sixteen states. In 2024, she was named President of the State Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers for Tennessee. Locally, she has served on the boards of Williamson, Inc., Cumberland Bank, Franklin Synergy Bank, and Columbia State Community College, where the Innovative Lab at the Williamson Campus bears her and her husband’s name. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Williamson Health Foundation and President of A Vintage Affair.
Pam’s proudest achievements are personal as well as professional. She credits her late parents, Clyde and Nellie Stephens, for instilling the values that guided her, and her husband, Tim Kalthoff, for being her steady rock. She is a devoted mother, stepmother, and “Mimi” to nine beloved grandchildren.
Her journey, she says, has been guided by angels—both heavenly and earthly. From Treva, aka “Nana,” who helped her raise her children as a single mother, to countless mentors who gave her strength, Pam sees her life as a testament to grace, grit, and gratitude.
Pam hopes her legacy will be one of mentoring others, serving families with compassion, and showing that success is measured not by accolades, but by the seeds of kindness and hope we leave behind.
Lynda Stone
For over three decades, Lynda Stone has poured her heart into the Puffy Muffin—not just as a business, but as a ministry of encouragement, excellence, and love. A native of Washington, D.C., Lynda’s early life included a few formative years in Japan before she and her husband Jack settled in Williamson County after meeting at Lipscomb University in the 1960s. They’ve called this community home ever since.
Founded on a deep belief in servant leadership, Lynda’s vision for the Puffy Muffin was never just about food. It was—and remains—about people. “God gave me the people who’ve worked with us,” she says. “My job was to get behind whatever He was doing in their lives.” From mentoring employees to nurturing a culture of integrity and excellence, Lynda’s passion for teaching leadership has touched generations. Many staff have stayed 25 years or more, a testament to the values and care she models daily.
With her daughters by her side—Kristi, now CEO, and Ali, who founded the cake department—Lynda built not just a family business but a beloved community institution. A guest once told her that Puffy Muffin is “a place where life happens.” For Lynda, no higher compliment exists.
A powerful moment of divine encouragement came during a rare shopping day in Franklin when she heard a familiar voice—it was John Maxwell, whose “Maximum Impact” teachings had mentored her through the early years of business. He later prayed over every inch of their new location, an act Lynda still sees as part of Puffy Muffin’s continued success.
Her accolades include the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, the Williamson County Impact Hall of Fame, and the Ann Huff Volunteer Award, among many others. But to Lynda, awards aren’t what matter most. “Success is measured by the legacy you leave,” she says.
That legacy is clear: a life spent uplifting others, helping them become who they were created to be. “If those who worked with us or dined with us remember that they were deeply loved, deeply valued, and encouraged to reach beyond what they thought possible—then that is the reward.”
Mindy Tate
For more than four decades, Mindy Tate has been a voice, a connector, and a storyteller for Franklin and Williamson County—helping shape not only how this community is seen, but how it sees itself.
Originally from Nashville, Mindy grew up attending David Lipscomb schools before making her way to Franklin as a young reporter for The Review Appeal. “I got a job here and never left,” she says. That job became a calling—and over the next 30 years, Mindy would help document the region’s explosive growth while staying grounded in its roots. Her media career culminated in 2005 with the launch of the Williamson Herald, fulfilling her entrepreneurial spirit and giving the community a new voice. “It was the culmination of many years of work in the newspaper industry, which had batted me down a few times,” she says. “But we made it happen.”
Mindy’s legacy goes far beyond headlines. She’s been a founding force behind Franklin Tomorrow, a nonprofit she’s helped guide for 25 years. She’s served on the Williamson County Library Board, the City’s Public Arts Commission, and is a proud member of the Downtown Franklin Rotary Club. A lifelong advocate for inclusive spaces and civic connection, she’s also helped promote projects like Ellie G’s Dream World, an inclusive playground coming to Pearl Bransford Park.
What she loves most about Williamson County isn’t just the charm or the progress—it’s the people. “I love being able to share the story of how Franklin became what it is,” she says. “This place didn’t spring up from the ground. It was built by people who gave their time and talents. We’re living the fruits of their labor.”
Mindy’s career has been full of what she calls “Godwinks”—divine coincidences that remind her of the life she’s built and the lives she’s touched. Whether it’s someone recalling a story she once wrote or thanking her for a small connection that made a big difference, she’s always reminded of her purpose.
“I hope my legacy is that I was a connector—of people, of projects, and between the past, present, and future.”
