.jpg)
The Jackson Awards were first given in 2006 to honor individuals in our community who exemplify the truest qualities of a leader. The awards are named after President Andrew Jackson, our city's namesake, and presented to individuals who have served as leaders in one of the following areas: The Arts, Education, Healthcare, Leadership, Volunteer Service, and Youth. The award recipients will be honored at the Community Foundation of West Tennessee's annual Charity Gala on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Carl Perkins Civic Center in downtown Jackson.
Trista and Charlie Havner are the owners of Havner’s Frame Shop in downtown Jackson. The Havners are lifelong Jacksonians and share a passion for their hometown, the arts, and community.
Trista graduated from Madison Academic High School and has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Union University. She worked as a teacher at Jackson Central-Merry High School until 2015 when she opened a hand lettering business at theLOCAL. Charlie is a graduate of Northside High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Bethel University. He worked in banking until he joined the family business, Havner’s Frame Shop, in 2012.
Trista and Charlie took over ownership of Havner’s Frame Shop in 2020 and moved the business from Campbell Street to downtown Jackson. Since moving to their current location, they have leaned into building a community around local art in addition to providing quality framing services for customers. They have opened the space for artists to display their collections, and it has become a venue for the arts, events, and celebrations.
In 2022, Havner’s Frame Shop was awarded the Jackson Chamber’s Business of the Year, and the Havners were recognized in 2024 by the Jackson Arts Council with the Heart of the Arts Award. Trista and Charlie have each served on several boards in Jackson, including the Jackson Arts Council (Trista and Charlie), Tennessee Educators Board (Trista), and Phi Mu Alpha History Fraternity (Trista). Both Trista and Charlie are contributors to Our Jackson Home, writing for the journal and online blog.
When the Havners are not working in the frame shop or hosting an art event, they enjoy being on a court or field. Trista and Charlie have two children, Cal and CG, and love to watch the kids play soccer and basketball. Charlie is a golfer and chef, and Trista is creator, always working on projects whether it is writing an article or painting a mural.
Melissa Spurgeon is an educator and a champion for public schools in Jackson-Madison County. She has previously worked as an extension agent for the University of Tennessee Extension Service in adult and youth education and was a K-12 educator for 26 years in local schools. Melissa is currently the Chief of Staff for Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS), overseeing communications and special projects.
Melissa is passionate about the community and enjoys her role in spreading the successes of Jackson’s public schools. In 2022, she spearheaded the beginning of the annual JMCSS Gala. This event is a showcase of the students’ successes from the year, an update on the school system’s progress, and serves as a fundraiser for special projects. Over the past 3 years, the JMCSS Gala has raised over $300,000 to fund initiatives of the school system. Melissa organizes a yearly service day for JMCSS administrators to volunteer with RIFA’s Snack Backpack Program, which serves food-insecure children in Jackson-Madison County.
In addition to her role with JMCSS, Melissa is an executive board member for The Star Center and ex-officio member of the Jackson Symphony Association, representing the Jackson-Madison County schools. She was recognized as one of Jackson’s Most Influential Women in 2024 and has been selected by the Tennessee Department of Education to serve as a Common Core Coach and Read to Be Ready Coach.
Melissa is married to Kyle, and they have 5 children, 2 grandchildren, and a sweet golden doodle. She loves to cook and bake, exercise, and is involved with their church, Fellowship Bible Church.
G. Robert Hopper, D.D.S. is a local dentist dedicated to giving back to the community. Originally from Memphis, Dr. Hopper discovered Jackson while earning his bachelor's degree at Lambuth University. He returned to Memphis to receive his degree in dentistry from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry before moving back to call Jackson home in 1975.
Dr. Hopper practiced with Dr. William L. LaFont for 13 years, and then, he opened his own practice in 1988. During his years as a dentist in Jackson, Dr. Hopper has been a member of several dental organizations, including the Seventh District Dental Society, Tennessee Dental Association, Tennessee Dental Association Foundation (TDAF), American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), Southern Sleep Society, and Dental Lifeline Network (DLN). He served as active medical staff for Jackson-Madison County General Hospital (JMCGH) from 1976 to 2018 for hospital appointments and presented a lecture on dentistry in Haiti at JMCGH in 2015.
With his passion for giving back, Dr. Hopper has volunteered with several clinics providing dental care to underserved communities, such as the Developmental Disability Dental Clinic (1978-2000), See and Smile Clinic(1988-1990), and Health and Healing Clinic (2003-2006). From 2012 to 2019, he traveled to Haiti with the Paul Myers Haiti Medical and Dental Team for 10 days each January to offer dental care.
Dr. Hopper has received several awards throughout his career– Tennessee Dental Association Volunteer Service in a Foreign Country Award (20212-2019), Fellowship in International College of Dentistry (2016),Tennessee Dental Association Fellowship Award (2017), Fellowship in American College of Dentists (2019), and Fellowship in Pierre Fauchard Academy (2023).
Dr. Hopper is an active member of First United Methodist Church and has been in several volunteer leadership roles with the church throughout the years. In his spare time, he enjoys boating, trout fishing, reading, cooking, and traveling. He is married to Karen, and together, they have a blended family, including 6 grandchildren and 2 yorkies.
David McCall is the Executive Director for the Ned R. McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center and has a diverse background in theatre arts.
David was raised in Greenfield, Tennessee, and he participated in the Jackson Children and Teen Theatre and Jackson Theatre Guild during childhood and high school. After graduating from Greenfield High School, David earned his bachelor’s degree in music and performance from Murray State University. Following college, he was hired as an actor and company member at the Barter Theatre in Virginia and later moved to New York City, where he taught voice and speech to Broadway and international recording artists.
In 2022, David returned to West Tennessee to invest what he had learned back in the community. As the Executive Director for The Ned, he has revitalized the theatre and performance programs and increased attendance to events. His focus on community outreach and actively working to reflect Jackson on the stage has helped grow the enthusiasm for The Ned and other arts organizations.
A few of David’s career highlights and awards include achieving Head of Vocal Development for New York Vocal Coaching, serving as vocal coach to cast members of Broadway's Matilda and Billy Elliot, helping write, produce, and direct a series of viral videos (Downton Abbey at 54 Below; Russian Broadway Shut Down), directing It's a Wonderful Life, The Wedding Singer, and 9 to 5 for the Jackson Theatre Guild, and producing Dreamgirls for The Ned in 2023, which became a cultural landmark for Jackson. In addition, he organized and launched Teen Tours for The Ned's Teen Theatre, which brought the Julius Caesar tour to over 1,700 youth and seniors over the course of two weeks.
Wendellyn Trice Martin, known by Wendy to her family and friends, is a native Jacksonian and a retired educator from the Jackson-Madison County School System (JMCSS). Although retired, she continues to contract with JMCSS and currently works at The Bridge Academy, teaching a credit recovery class to assist high schoolers with graduation.
Wendy received her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Fisk University and Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University. During her tenure with JMCSS, she taught at various levels and was a coach for cheerleading, track, and cross country. She has also served as Site Director for the YMCA, dance instructor for National Youth Sports programs, and Special Events Coordinator for Jackson Recreational and Parks Department summer camps.
As President of the Society for African American Cultural Awareness (SAACA), Wendy coordinates cultural events for Jackson and the surrounding counties, including the African Street Festival, Harlem Nights, Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, Miss Juneteenth Jackson Scholarship Pageant, and the Gil Scott Heron Project and Concert. She also serves as an Election Commissioner (Secretary) for Madison County.
Wendy has organized community canvassing and marches to inspire people to vote. She works on the committee for the Jackson International Food and Art Festival, managing the talent and stage, and serves on the Children’s Theater Company Advisory Board, where she assists in teaching. Wendy is presently developing a pictorial museum, “Sarah’s House” in East Jackson for the Black History of Jackson.
As a trailblazer for her community, Wendy has been recognized with several awards, including Lane College’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award (2023), Influential Women of Jackson (2023), Sterling Award Recipient (2023), Mother Liberty Social Justice Award, Citizen of the Year by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Giraffe Award (2024). Wendy is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Society Inc., serving on the Social Action Committee and the International Involvement and Awareness Committee (Co-Chair).
Wendy is a member of the Historic First Baptist Church, where she spearheads Unity Festival and servers as Chairperson of Community Evangelism. She is married to Joe, owner of Martin’s Headquarters in downtown Jackson. They enjoy their blended family of five beautiful daughters, two handsome sons, and adorable grandchildren.
Tim Stratton is an educator, a coach, and an advocate for equal opportunities in sports. He earned an Education Specialists Degree (EDS) in Superintendency from Arkansas State University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Union University, and “All But Dissertation” (ABD) in his Doctoral Degree (EdD) in Educational Leadership in School Reform from Union University. Tim has worked in education for 25 years, serving as a teacher, administrator, and coach, and currently works at Northside High School.
Throughout his career in education, Tim has been dedicated to fostering equality and diversity in sports for children. In 2023, he opened a fund with the Community Foundation of West Tennessee – All Children Play. The fund’s mission is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to participate in sports by working with school and community sports programs, supporting athletes from low-income families with equipment and materials, and helping with West Tennessee’s Special Olympics.
In addition to his service through All Children Play, Tim volunteers with the regional Special Olympics, school and community sports events in Jackson, and church activities. He hosts game nights through CoachTSGaming, a program created to keep at-risk teenagers out of trouble.
During his tenure as an educator and coach, Tim has been a principal and assistant principal for Level 5 schools and coached several NFL players, including former Tennessee Titan, Willie Rose. He has previously been recognized by the Commissioner of Education (Tennessee) as an effective leader of a reward school and was honored as Offensive Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year locally.
When he is not teaching or coaching, Tim hosts a radio and digital TV show to call play-by-play recaps of sporting events. He is married to Dr. Beth Stratton, a professor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and together, they enjoy traveling with family and friends.
Meet our 2024 Class of Jackson Awards. We look forward to recognizing these leaders for their contributions to Jackson.
Learn More Learn More
Meet the 2024 May and Dr. A. Barnett Scott Service Award recipients - Dr. Sandra Dee and Eduardo Morales.
Learn More Learn More
Meet our 2024 Tigrett Award recipients - Alice and Carl Kirkland.
Learn More Learn More