Grayson County TXGenWeb

JoAnn Perkins

Denison Herald
February 12, 2014
by Donna Hunt

JoAnn Perkins grew up on Tower Lane in Denison and credited Texoma Business and Professional Women, Pat Welch, Cora Bell, Lee Alyce McGrew and Donna Lorance for their leadership and encouragement to accomplish her achievements. She was voted Woman of the Year in 2014 by the Texoma B&PW Club.

From B&PW she became involved in the Region VI and Texas NACCP, Unit 6352, and then in 2006 was elected president of that unit. She brought home the Torchebearer's Award from the state NACCP conference in 2007 "lighting the way for civil rights, justice and community service."

Her focus was on building bridges instead of walls in the community which with her help produced some lasting relationships.

She was most proud of the Sherman and Denison units of the NACCP being combined during her term as president and the name being changed to the Grayson County unit to include all the county.

She first went to Washington, D. C. to march on Capitol Hill to preserve the Voting Rights Act, and then attended the inauguration of President Barack Obama, traveling 24 hours one way to stand about six hours to witness the historic inaugration. She said that was "one of the most exciting times in my life."

At the end of her life, she was still giving to her church, neighbors, grandchildren, adult children and community. Bring all those
roles together and you'll find compassion and generosity inside each heart.