Girl Scouts to Honor Women of Distinction Wednesday

LaVay Chambers has dedicated her life to those who need the most help: children and the elderly. For forty years, LaVay taught elementary students and due to her Masters degree in education and certifications in special education, was often able to teach students with learning disabilities. Throughout her career she was consistently involved in Parent-Teacher organizations, at one point serving as the organization President in Comanche.

Currently LaVay dedicates much time to her fellow senior citizens. She is president of the Area Agency on Aging based in Abilene and is the go-to person for May Senior Citizens Association. Her determination ensures that local senior citizens regularly receive hot meals and have opportunities for social interaction. She is also active with the May Ex-Student committee and its homecoming celebration, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Bill Doggett Workshop Center. An active board member with the May Community Center, LaVay has helped host the center’s Fall Fun Fest for local children, in turn raising funds to support the center’s upkeep. She is also active with the center’s City Wide Garage Sale, potluck suppers and grant writing efforts. She is a trustee and meeting chair for the Wolf Valley Cemetery Association and a member of the Retired Teacher Association. The daughter of two pioneers, LaVay has one sister, three brothers and a 92 year old but very active mother, Ona Mae “Billie” Chambers. The fourth generation of Chambers in the Brown Count, she and her family enjoy their well-established annual family reunion every August.

Glenda Lemke, Brownwood

Reaching back to her days as a 12 year old babysitter and extending through her teaching career Glenda Lemke has nurtured children for a half century. For 32 years she taught elementary students through the public school system. Today she continues as a substitute teacher throughout Brown County including with the T.R. Havens prison unit where she helps the men work toward their GEDs.

In addition to teaching, Glenda cares for the overall well-being of the community’s children. She began her board of directors service with the Pearl Griffin Latch Key, a day care center for low-income families, in 2001. She is a past Treasurer and President for the organization. Glenda was also one of the first members of the local Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, program when it began eight years ago. Through CASA she advocates on behalf of children in the legal system, helping to ensure that the child’s well-being and happiness are a represented priority. A committed volunteer, Glenda uses her time at the T.R. Havens prison unit to discuss the importance of fatherhood with the incarcerated men and to understand more about experiences of many CASA children. Glenda also serves on the Weekday Preschool Board for First United Methodist Church. Her selfless legacy inspires others to describe her as “helping anyone who crosses her path, no matter the need big or small.” Glenda and her husband, Doran, have one daughter, Kara, son-in-law, David and two grandchildren, Case and McKenzie.

Wanda Thacker Martin, Brownwood

Wanda Thacker Martin and her late husband of 34 years, Dennis Thacker, founded Toys for Kids in 2002 with the hope that every child would receive gifts at the holidays, regardless of their family’s financial circumstance. As the owners of Grand Starz ballroom and bingo hall, the family was also fortunate enough to have a space available for the fledgling program. In 2009, seven years after its creation, Toys for Kids provided holiday gifts for an inspiring 1,500 Brownwood area children. For their generous spirit and helpful nature, the Thackers were 2004 recipients of the Goodwill Ambassador Award.

Retired from Brownwood Regional Hospital after 22 years in hospital administration, Wanda’s goodwill toward others can also be seen in her volunteerism with the American Cancer Society’s Relay for a Life and past involvement with the American Heart Association. Currently she is also involved with 4-H as a means of supporting her granddaughters’ interests and passions. It is Wanda’s wish that her granddaughters and all girls “get an education and know they can face adversity and still go on to be successful.” In 2008 Wanda married Scott Martin, creating a blended family of her three daughters and his two sons. The couple also has six granddaughters.

Judith Ozuna, Brownwood

Judith Ozuna is a teacher who directly and positively impacts the lives of her students. As a teacher for Early High School, she goes above and beyond serving as the Key Club faculty advisor since 2003 and as sponsor for the Early Hispanic Leader Group. For her contributions, Judith was honored as both Early High School’s and Early ISD’s Teacher of the Year in 2007. Her professional excellence is only matched by her earlier academic excellence. In 1996 she was valedictorian of Early High School and was on the Dean’s and President’s List at Howard Payne University. She graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She is also certified in Spanish and in English as a Second Language.

Judith is active throughout the community. She has touched and impacted numerous causes such as Brown County Toys for Kids, Angel Food Ministry, UNICEF and more. She has taken five mission trips to Mexico, is a Sunday school teacher and a former youth director for Nueva Vida Baptist Church. A natural born leader, she is president of the Women’s Missionary Unit chapter of at Nueva Vida Baptist Church, secretary for Heart of Texas Hispanic Baptist Fellowship and a board member for Anchored Love Ministries of San Antonio. Judith hopes all girls “experience the satisfaction of making a difference in someone’s life and become genuine servant leaders who change their schools, community and the world.” She and her husband, Juan Ozuna, have been married 12 years. They have one son, Kaleb, 4, and are expecting their second child.

Sandra Tucker, Bangs

Sandra Bradshaw Tucker strives everyday to nurture those around her and help them grow. Through her ongoing commitment to her own family and the foster care system, it is clear that she is fulfilling her calling. Upon aiding her grandson, DeOctavious, through a traumatic hospitalization, she adopted him to give him the best life possible. Additionally she has been a foster mother to 16 other children and recently legally adopted another son, Michael. For all of these children, Sandra’s maternal, compassionate and supportive persona provides a better childhood and hope for a bright future.

In addition to her commitment to youth, Sandra is committed to the overall development of her community. After attending many events to honor African-American history in larger Texas cities, Sandra decided it was time her own community recognized the contributions of African-Americans. In 2000 she founded the Bangs Black History Committee, an organization dedicated to “helping build a diverse community through hearts and hands.” Currently she serves as the organization’s President. She is also a board member for the Small World Child Development Center and Brown Community Advisory Council of TYC. She is a past member of the Family Services Center, LULAC, Voter Registration Committee of Bangs, Texas and Two Steps of Coleman. Sandra is a graduate of St. Phillips College and is currently a student at Texas State Technical College pursuing certification in Chemical Dependency Counseling. She has three children, two adopted sons and nine grandchildren.

Distinguished Workplace for Women:  Citizens National Bank

Citizens National Bank encourages and supports women’s leadership in the workplace by promoting family values and responsibilities. These values, coupled with the bank’s continuing commitment to employee well-being, have created an atmosphere of trust and loyalty. Additionally, Citizens National Bank encourages employees to pursue civic, social and community activities that build their leadership skills, deepen their connections to the community and provide meaningful services.