‘Women of Vision’ inducts two honorees
By Perrin Smith
Inside the Arnold Hall theater the lights go dim. Spotlights go off one by one, illuminating the golden relief portraits adorning the walls. Every relief shows the profile of a notable Savannah woman, displaying the likes of Flannery O’ Connor and Juliette Gordon Low. Each woman is a powerhouse of historical importance and modern-day inspiration.
This year, two more honorees were inducted to the prestigious list of women: Clermont Huger Lee and Suzanne Shank.
Lee was a noted designer and architect of some of Savannah’s most famous gardens and parks. During her life, Lee was a preservationist, renovating the likes of the Owens-Thomas House and the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace.
Suzanne Shank, known internationally as the “two trillion-dollar woman” was one of the first women of color on Wall Street. Her story of progress and her life from Savannah to Wall Street is equal to all the other illustrious women she stands beside.
The ceremony started with a documentary detailing the lives of the women on the walls; giving the details of their inspiring deeds and accomplishments. Then, their actions were spoken out in a poetic verse delivered on stage.
Two past honorees, former Savannah Mayor Edna Jackson and Miriam Center, took to the stage to give speeches on pushing boundaries. Jackson, famous for being the first African-American woman to hold the office of mayor, and Center known, among many other actions, for creating a Savannah real estate business that rivaled any of her historically male-controlled competitors.
Primed by the many inspirational speeches and performances, two spotlights illuminated this year’s honorees for a final time. Shortly after, the ceremony closed with a bang when SCAD’s Honeybees took to the stage and delivered a rendition of “Lean on Me,” ending the night with loud applause and motivated spirits.
