'Anything is possible': Jackson Woman of the Year dedicated to service, community
In recognition of a life dedicated to service and giving back to the community, Jackson-native Judy Renshaw was honored as the 71st Woman of the Year.
Renshaw grew up on a farm in the Beech Bluff area where her family grew their own food and she attended the same school, kindergarten through 12th grade.
Wanting to immerse herself in the business world after graduating high school, she attended West Tennessee Business College in 1966.
Renshaw has had the opportunity to see Jackson grow and evolve through the decades. Her 40-year tenure at the Jackson Chamber of Commerce (Greater Jackson Chamber) allowed her to witness that evolution firsthand.
Today, she remains a Beech Bluff resident with her husband of 40 years, Dennis. They have four children and seven grandchildren.
"There's no place like home, and Jackson is home," Renshaw said.
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A life of service
Renshaw's community involvement has reached virtually every sector of the Jackson community.
"My parents were in service and growing up in a church setting, that was another environment where you put others before yourself, and I guess God just gifted me with a talent for administration," she said.
She is a Founding Board of Director for the Tennessee Association of Community Leadership, an organization committed to fostering and supporting community leadership throughout the state.
A regular volunteer in a number of telethons, auctions, and fundraisers dating back to the early 1980s, she says service and volunteerism are her "God-given talents."
In 1992, she graduated from the WestStar Leadership Program, a regional leadership program aiming to maximize the potential of communities. She has since served on the board of trustees, the alumni council and continues to be a volunteer coordinator today.
When asked about the evolution of Jackson's growth and development through the years, Renshaw says she learned that "anything is possible."
"If you have leaders in your community who work together, then there's nothing that you can't achieve," she said.
Since 1996 and up until last year, she's been on the Board of the Directors for the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse and has served on various committees.
She was a member of the Jackson Exchange Club for 25 years, both as a member and its president at one point, and has served on the Jackson Arts Council's Board of Directors for nearly 30 years.
She retired from the Jackson Chamber in 2015, concluding her 40-year long career as the Senior Vice President of Business and Community Services.
Her volunteerism and community involvement is reflected in the nearly two dozen community leadership and service awards she's received since 1980.
While maintaining a steadfast role in Jackson to this day through volunteer work, Renshaw was chosen last year to serve on the Board of Lay Elders for Northside Church in Jackson, of which she and Dennis are members.
Surprise announcement of Woman of the Year
The Jackson Rotary Club presented Renshaw with the award on Feb. 21 at First United Methodist Church.
Renshaw says her friend finessed her into attending under the guise that she would be speaking to Rotarians about the upcoming Andrew Jackson Marathon on April 6, an event in which she will be serving as a volunteer.
Dennis knew she'd be receiving the award for weeks ahead of the ceremony.
He said it was difficult to keep a secret and was sure that she knew.
"She's really been an encourager to me and to the family and to watch her be able to excel on her own and do so well in the community, and drag me along to different places and doing different things, it's been really good," Dennis said.
"She's done it on her own. I've tried to support and encourage her, but I think she's encouraged me, if you will."
Renshaw says she was oblivious up until the presenting speech mentioned that the honoree was a 40-year member at the Chamber.
"It was just very humbling to win something like that because you're not doing it for the recognition," she said.
Along with a thoughtful video message from 2023 WOTY recipient Elaine Christian, nearly a dozen other former recipients of the award showed up in support of Renshaw.
She encourages everyone, and particularly young generations, to volunteer and strive to make their community as better place.
"You can't start too young as parents getting your kids involved," she said. "There are so many facets of your community and volunteer service. It just helps you to see all those things in a unique way."
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Jackson Rotary Woman of the Year dedicated to service, community
