Influential Mississippians to be recognized for dedicated service
JANS – Our Mississippi Magazine will host its 2026 Honors Gala Saturday, July 18 at the Two Mississippi Museums. William “Bill” Bynum, founding CEO of HOPE, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. HOPE is a family of organizations that includes Hope Enterprise Corporation, Hope Credit Union, and Hope Policy Institute, all dedicated to bringing financial opportunity to the people and places that need it most. The event will also recognize the 2026 Class of Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans. They are:
Howard Ballou, News Anchor & Senior Reporter, WLBT
Jerryl Briggs, President, Mississippi Valley State University
Kristina R. Cherry, Ph.D., Chief Nursing Executive, University of Mississippi Medical Center
Elliott Flaggs, Principal and Counsel, Cornerstone Government Affairs
Errick L. Greene, Ed.D., Superintendent, Jackson Public Schools
Tondra Hall, Senior Manager, Human Resources, Nissan North America-Canton
Tray Hairston, JD, Attorney, Butler Snow LLP
John A. Horhn, Mayor, City of Jackson, Mississippi
Dr. Theresa R. Horne, Vice President, Community Manager, JPMorgan Chase
Ed Johnson, Vice President, Operations, Atmos Energy
DeLana Jones, Manager, Region Customer Service, Entergy Mississippi
Yolett McPhee-McCuin, Head Women’s Basketball Coach, University of Mississippi
Anthony Montgomery, Senior Vice President, Community & Economic Development, Hancock Whitney
Ashley Robinson, Vice President & Director of Athletics, Jackson State University
Connie Siggers-Parker, Human Resources Director, C Spire
Errick D. Simmons, Mayor, City of Greenville, Mississippi
Cheryl W. Turner, International President, Chair of the Board of Directors, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Danielle Williams, SHRM-CP, Director of Human Resources & Administration, Mississippi Business Alliance
Rhea Williams-Bishop, Ph.D., Director, Mississippi & New Orleans Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Portia Ballard-Espy, Ph.D., President and CEO, Mississippi Urban League
Dr. Erica Q. Thompson, Founder and Executive Director, Magnolia Medical Foundation
For ticket information, call Wesley Wells at 662-871-8244; email legendpublishing@comcast.net, or visit https://ourmissmag.com/
