Ladies of Distinction: Iconic Women of Williamson 2026

Honoring the Women Who Shape Our Community

Each year, YOUR Williamson has the privilege of celebrating a group of extraordinary women whose lives reflect the very best of our community. These are women who give generously of their time, talent and hearts; often behind the scenes, rarely asking for recognition. They are leaders, mentors, caregivers, creatives, advocates, visionaries - and their impact is undeniable.

The 2026 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. 

Elaine Anderson

Born and raised in Williamson County, Elaine Anderson has spent her life serving the community she loves so dearly. It is not uncommon for Elaine to regularly run into people on the street whose lives she has changed for the better, and these encounters remain one of her favorite parts of living and working in the county.

Elaine became familiar with the concept of working hard, as a child, on her family farm. When tough times came around, her family banded together. Their ability to lean on each other has influenced how Elaine moves through her community. As she looks back at her childhood self, Elaine says she would tell her: "to keep up the strong work ethic,” but never forget to “stop and smell the roses.”

The “roses” in Elaine’s life take on different forms. Her late husband, Floyd, being one of them, as well as her daughter and grandson. Elaine’s greatest personal accomplishment in life is the time spent with her family.

In 1967, Elaine took a chance and  applied for an open position in the county clerk’s office. She was hired on the spot and started working the next morning. Years down the road, in 1998, Elaine became the Williamson County Clerk and remained in the position until 2021. In 2023, after almost fifty nine years of serving her community, Elaine received the special, well-deserved honor of being inducted into the County Officials Association of Tennessee (COAT) Hall of Fame, representing the County Clerks Association of Tennessee. 

She has been an inspiration to strangers and loved ones alike.  Her grandson, Jeff Whidby, now serves as the County Clerk, taking over for his grandmother in 2021.

Denise Andre

The beautiful historic courthouse in Franklin’s square caught the eye of young law student Denise Andre, setting up for a dream that would very soon become reality. For the last twenty years, Denise has presided on the bench in General Sessions Court. Prior to that 2006 election, where she was elected as a judge, Denise practiced as an attorney. To make the move to “Judge Andre,” it took serious consideration and prayer, and her one condition was that the race was to be run fairly.

The view from her first few years on the bench motivated Judge Andre to make a change that impacted lives, especially the lives of those facing addiction. Along with the help of many others, in 2010, Judge Andre started the first recovery court in General Sessions, the DUI Recovery Court. It was this mission that proved to be her purpose in life, as she says, a purpose to “help restore lives in our community while helping to make our roadways safer.”

Judge Andre is inspired by those who overcome extreme hardships to excel despite the challenges. It is because of this that she says she “approaches difficulties with optimism.” The fact that her work can directly improve a life is what motivates her to work harder, and she strives to always think outside of the box.

In the words of Judge Andre: “It takes hard work, perseverance and opportunities to reach success in one’s life, but success is never achieved alone. In life, everyone needs the help of others along the way to achieve their goals. I always want to remember those who helped me along the way. Without them, success could not be accomplished. They are truly the jewels in one’s life.”

Ellen Boyer

Since 2013, Ellen Boyer has graced Williamson County with her integrity, warmth and consistent kindness. She co-founded The Brett Boyer Foundation nine years ago with a mission to change and save lives. When Ellen lost her first child at seven months old due to a heart defect and Down Syndrome, she wanted to find a way to celebrate her daughter’s Down Syndrome and fund research into congenital heart defects that could save the lives of other children. 

Ellen serves as the president of the foundation and has seen many lives saved, improved and extended; bringing hope to the one in one hundred children born with CHD. Ellen and the Brett Boyer Foundation have now reached beyond Williamson County, extending their hearts to families around the country. For Ellen, knowing that a new family will receive a CHD diagnosis every fifteen minutes propels her to support the flow constantly.

Just as Ellen shows up for other families, she shows up for her own, making sure that her two children never miss out because of her hard work, but instead, learn from it. Ellen and her husband, Bo, encourage their children to find the joy and love in service of others; sharing their passion and continuing the mission.

Evelyn Hickerson

Evelyn Hickerson is a native of the historic Natchez Street community, and it was her upbringing in Williamson County that gave her the necessary tools to give back to the community in such a monumental way. As a child, she watched her father aid struggling families from his small-town grocery in the Natchez neighborhood, and his gestures showed Evelyn that this was not merely about food, but about hope. As she says, her community “found strength in unity” and “shared the responsibility of nurturing families;” with love being their most powerful resource.

Evelyn founded Gentry’s Educational Foundation to carry forward the legacy of her parents. The mission is to help children grow and thrive through the life-changing impact of education. Having been a kindergarten through fourth-grade teacher in Williamson County Schools and the Franklin Special School District, Evelyn was equipped with all of the passion and commitment to create change in this space.

Evelyn is a woman who says she is “inspired by her faith, her family, and the responsibility to be a good steward of the opportunities she has been given.” The sense of community in Franklin fuels her efforts, as well as her husband, Robert. Evelyn refers to Robert as her “rock,” and a well for “wisdom and spiritual guidance.” The people of Franklin have become to Evelyn an “extended family” through the relationships she has built in friendships, colleagues and families served through Gentry’s.

Ondrea Johnson

Fifth-generation Tennessean, Ondrea Johnson, has her roots grounded in Williamson County and has flourished within the community. According to Ondrea, the county is “more than just a subdivision,” and encapsulates enormous amounts of goodness. Ondrea sees Franklin as a place where “people put their politics and differences aside,” and “roll up their sleeves,” to show up for the community.

Ondrea has done her part to show up for the people of Williamson County, and more than that, she has shown up for our animals. Ondrea has been the Director of Williamson County Animal Center for eight years; working in innovative ways to change the way that we approach animal care. WCAC has been recognized nationally for programs such as the Pawsability Program, which helps adults with intellectual differences have meaningful volunteer experiences with animals. Ondrea says that WCAC has a mantra of:  “you can’t help animals without helping the people who care for them.”

Between the humans and the animals of Williamson County, Ondrea keeps a busy schedule. On her cattle farm, Ondrea and her husband, Glenn, raised five children together, all of them growing up to follow in their mother’s footsteps - giving back to their communities with open hearts. As Ondrea looks back on her younger self, she says she would tell her: “This all adds up to something beautiful,” and beautiful it is. All of the stamina, gumption and kindness that Ondrea brings to this community is simply irreplaceable.

Mary Lankford

When a young Mary Lankford set out to pursue a career, she thought about what she loved and went from there. Mary is a people-person and has always found great meaning in building and maintaining strong connections. It was her enjoyment of working with people that drew her to banking, allowing the opportunity for her to help others make important financial decisions. Mary has worked in banking and mortgage lending for forty-five years in Franklin and Williamson County. Her focus has been lending and community relations; fostering relationships with local businesses, organizations and residents.

In her career at Liberty Bank, Mary says she transformed a “lackluster” division into one of the bank's most profitable areas, all while keeping the team intact and fostering their growth. Mary, involved in many organizations in Williamson County, also spearheaded the Crocs for Troops campaign, sending almost 1,000 Crocs to Afghanistan to service members and women in the 1st Battalion of the 327^th Infantry Regiment of the 101^st Airborne Division.

Being involved in the community is of the utmost importance to Mary, including civic, professional and local initiatives. Alongside her community engagement, Mary’s personal life with friends and family is, as she says, her “greatest source of happiness,” and the source of her “balance, perspective and strong sense of purpose.”

Pamela Lewis

Pam Lewis has been in Williamson County since 1993 and has continually spearheaded preservation and reclamation efforts in Franklin. One of her greatest accomplishments was purchasing and protecting the historic Harrison House and its surrounding acreage. Pam’s other preservation projects include: The Eastern Flank, Collins Farm, the battlefield land on Columbia Pike and so much more.  

Pam, an already published writer, most recently released Benjamin Franklin - America’s First Rockstar, as she gifted the City of Franklin this year, with “Ben on the Bench,” a lifesize Benjamin Franklin statue placed in downtown Franklin as a celebration of the town's renowned forefather and namesake. Pam Lewis has not only preserved Franklin’s past - she has re-personalized it, reminding the city who it was first and welcoming the next generation into that ongoing history.

Time, Pam recognizes, is “our most valuable resource,” and she has not squandered it. For Pam, there is so much to “accomplish, see, help and embrace,” in the world. She is a jack of all trades, participating in tai chi, art, reading (at least three books at a time), writing, travel, karaoke and even working as the President and CEO of PLA MEDIA, an award-winning PR and marketing company. If you happen to see her on the streets of downtown Franklin, chances are that she will be talking to one of her many admirers - little “collisions of community” as she calls them. Franklin is a better place with Pam in it, complete with grace, kindness and, especially, her sense of humor.

Doris McMillan

Doris McMillan has touched many lives in her thirty-eight years in Williamson County, knowing that civic engagement is key to a thriving community. As Doris says, “the heart must remain intact with the actions and devotion of duty when asked to serve.”  Doris's twenty years with New Hope Academy reinforced her stated “triangular lifestyle” of “family, church and school.” As the Alumni and Community Relations Manager, Doris has the opportunity to equip young hearts and minds with the tools they need to flourish. 

Doris has been involved in a multitude of philanthropic efforts, including, but not limited to: Mercy Healthcare, Jack and Jill of America Inc., The Tennessee Historical Commission and more. It is the coming generations that inspire her dedicated work, ensuring that she plays her part in securing a better future for all children and their families.

Doris’s family and faith are the cornerstone of her life, grounding every effort and accomplishment. As a mother to three daughters, Doris has learned that loving and being loved unconditionally is the most rewarding aspect of living. 

According to Doris, “a life of purpose yields great rewards - personally and professionally.” Doris worked as the seamstress for country music icon Naomi Judd for twenty-three years and now has two dresses on exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Marianne Schroer

Marianne Schroer made Williamson County her home in 1982 and has caused tidal waves of change since her arrival. Her career, accomplished and meaningful, has impacted the community in a multitude of ways.

When Marianne arrived in Franklin, she immediately recognized the value of this community’s past and has done her part to preserve Franklin’s history - including serving on several community boards, including Franklin’s Charge, the  African American Heritage Society, Carnton and The Heritage Foundation. At the time of the merger between Carnton and the Carter House, Marianne was President of Carnton, playing a large role in the creation of the Battle of Franklin Trust (BOFT), where she was later President as well. During her time at the BOFT, she received the McGavock Award, one of many awards she has received over the years. 

Though technically retired, Marianne is still devoted to the community. After serving as Williamson County CASA’s executive director for seven years, Marianne continues her work for children experiencing trauma. She also serves on the Boards of Leadership Franklin, TMA Group, Toussaint L’Ouverture Cemetery and Tennessee CASA.

Marianne has worn many hats throughout her life, building a career defined by dedication and meaningful impact. Yet for all she has accomplished professionally, the roles she holds closest are those of wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister and friend.