Hillsborough County Friends of the Commission on the Status of Women

 Past Women's Hall of Fame Inductees

2011 Charter Class

Mary T. Brown Cash

First Florida registered nurse of African American heritage

Elizabeth "Betty" Castor

First woman elected to the Hillsborough County Commission and the Florida State Cabinet, first Woman President of the University of South Florida

Helen Gordon Davis

First woman from Hillsborough County elected to the Florida House of Representatives

Cecile Waterman Essrig

First woman elected to the Hillsborough County School Board – the first woman to be elected to any major political office in the county

Pat Collier Frank

County Commissioner, Florida House of Representatives, Florida Senate, Clerk of Court

Sandra Warshaw Freedman

First woman Mayor of the City of Tampa

Clara C. Frye

Founded first Negro Hospital in Hillsborough County

Adela Hernandez Gonzmart

Concert pianist, patroness of Hispanic Culture in Ybor City and founder of the Ballet Folklorico of Ybor

Sylvia Rodriguez Kimbell

First African- American woman elected to Hillsborough County Commission

Sadye Gibbs Martin

First woman Mayor of Plant City, the first African-American woman elected mayor of a major city in Florida

2012 Class

Phyllis Hendler Busansky

Hillsborough County Commissioner and Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections

Gwendolyn Martin Miller

First African-American woman elected to the Tampa City Council, and the first to serve as Council Chair

Jan Kaminis Platt

Hillsborough County Commissioner, Tampa City Councilwoman

2013 Class

Dottie Berger MacKinnon

Hillsborough County Commissioner, Co-Founder of Joshua House

Deanne Dewey Roberts

Founder of Creative Tampa Bay

Dr. Juel Shannon Smith

Founding director of USF Institute for Black Life and the Center for Africa and the Diaspora

2014 Class

Nancy Torbett Ford

Considered one of the area's first feminists, she urged women to seize real political and business command, Co-Founder of The Athena Society

Senator Arthenia Joyner

A Florida Senator whose personal life reads like a chronicle of struggle for equal justice because she has not lived history, she made it

Eleanor "Ella" Collier McWilliams Chamberlain

Tampa's first advocate for women's rights

2015 CLASS

Dr. Sylvia Marion Carley

A pioneer in leadership development, created the national summit, "Black, Brown and College Bound" to increase retention, achievement, and graduation rates in higher education

Matilda Martinez Garcia

La Gran Dama de Tampa and a devoted human rights advocate

Josephine Howard Stafford

Tampa's first female Assistant City Attorney and municipal court judge, paved the way for a generation of women in the legal profession

2016 Class

Lee Bird Leavengood

As a leader in the founding of USF, Leavengood forged a trail for women and seniors through her commitment to education, volunteerism and philanthropy

Betty Reed

As a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 2003-2014, Reed's skillful use of grassroots advocacy, compromise and cooperation resulted in legislation positively impacting health, education, seniors and those with disabilities

2017 Class

Carol Morsani

Morsani based a lifetime of action on a philosophy of “learning, earning and returning.” She is recognized as one of the Tampa Bay area’s most cherished philanthropists and community leaders

Gwendolyn Woods Stephenson

The longest serving president of Hillsborough Community College (1997-2010), Stephenson was an innovative and inspiring educator who worked to make higher education accessible to all and to connect it with the increasing needs of Hillsborough County

Geraldine McKinnon Twine

As a young wife and mother in the segregated south of the 1960s, Twine defied barriers. In the face of social and societal obstacles, she acquired professional credentials, attained academic degrees, and continues to provide valuable volunteer services to the community

2018 Class

Julianne Holt

As elected Public Defender of the 13th Judicial Circuit, Holt has defended and protected the rights of the poor and, often, voiceless members of our community for 25 years

Sylvia Campbell, M.D.

The first female surgeon in Hillsborough County, Campbell is fearless in her support of those enduring breast cancer treatments and relentless in her commitment to share wellness, love and goodness both within our communities and throughout the world

Ann Porter

The first director of Hillsborough County's Head Start program, Porter has devoted her life to service as an advocate for low-income, minority and elderly Hillsborough County residents

2019 Class

Carolyn House Stewart, Esq.

Stewart is the 28th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the first attorney to serve as the International President of this 110-year old organization

Joanna Tokely

Tokely has a 56-year span including accomplishments as an educator, civic leader, volunteer, civil rights advocate, and supporter of women's rights throughout Hillsborough County and the United States

Maryann Ferenc

Ferenc is co-proprietor of Mise en Place, is a successful business owner and leader, as well as a passionate advocate for business in Tampa Bay

2020 Class

Mary Alice Dorsett

A spirited civil rights activist, Dorsett tirelessly advocated for the rights of African Americans. She challenged inequalities and advocated for the marginalized, poor, and homeless

Doretha Wynn Edgecomb

Edgecomb's vocation as an educator spanned decades of desegregation. The Education, Prevention, and Intervention Center's Doretha Edgecomb Female Symposium empowers students and creates strong women

Janett Spraggins Martin

Trailblazing public servant Martin grew up amid sweeping social change. She was the first African American and only the second woman in Tampa's 137-year history to serve as City Clerk

2023 CLASS

Fran Davin

A trailblazing public servant, Fran Davin has been a champion for women’s rights, education, civil rights, marginalized people, environmental issues, and local and state legislation.

Judy Genshaft

During her 19-year presidency, Dr. Judy Genshaft led the University of South Florida to historic achievements for student success, academic rigor, research and innovation, philanthropic investments, and economic development.

Margarita Gonzalez

A progressive public servant, Margarita Gonzalez, a native of Cuba, was instrumental in the creation of many nonprofit scholarship endowments and was the first woman President of Tampa Hispanic Heritage, Inc.

2024 CLASS

Marsha Passmore

Born and raised in Plant City, Marsha served as a City Commissioner for six years, winning her first election by only two votes. She gravitates to an endless number of causes that will make the community better, and with her strong faith in God see’s everyday as perfect, some are just more perfect than others.

Alex Sink

The first female Chief Financial Officer for the State of Florida. She is a graduate of Wake Forest University and taught at girl schools in Sierra Leone and at the American School of Liberia. Her mission ins to empower the people of Florida, focusing on elevating underrepresented public and private citizens.