Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Earle
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The Charmettes Incorporated, a 501c3 organization, begin in Palm Beach County, FL in June 1951. Friends Frankie Drayton (Thomas) and Gwendolyn Baker (Rodgers) decided to call together young women of similar ideas, philosophies, and backgrounds to join in a united effort to have more organized, diversified social and civic activities. Over the next years, several women in the area expressed interest and were added. In 1955, The Charmettes were incorporated, and the organization began to expand.
In 2007, The Memphis Metropolitan Chapter (formerly the West Tennessee Chapter) was added. There are now twenty chapters in six states and Washington, DC.
In 1981, The Charmettes, Inc. adopted cancer research and education as our national project and recognized the Howard University Cancer Research Center as the institution with which we would partner. To date we have contributed more than one million dollars to the work of cancer research and services at Howard University. In recognition of our contribution and dedication, the university honored the organization in November 2007 with the naming of The Charmettes, Inc. / Gwendolyn Baker Rodgers Infusion Suite.
Charmette chapters have been involved in innovative and important community services since our inception.
The Memphis Metropolitan Chapter provides services to youth, the elderly and families in need through monetary services and donations. We sponsor local fundraising projects to support these efforts as well as our national project. Some of the organizations that we have served in the local area are AGAPE, Ronald McDonald House, and the Memphis Union Mission.
We have served as hosts at local health fairs and worked with other organizations such as Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) and Memphis Police Department (MPD) to host educational forums in the community.
Charmette members are dedicated, accomplished, concerned and committed women who work in their communities to make our world a better and more productive place. Our chapters take pride in a legacy of service and sisterhood and look forward to a strong future.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would say one of the challenges is really getting the community involved. Since the pandemic, we find it sometimes more difficult to get the community excited about coming together, but it is getting better.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am retired federal worker with the Internal Revenue Service. Along with being a wife of a 40-year educator and raising four children, I am most known for my singing. I began as a soloist in my youth and went on to lead various a cappella Christian Singing Groups most recently The Memphis Christian Ensemble for over 30 years. One of the highlights of this endeavor was leading the group to perform on the house floor of the Tennessee State Legislature. I became a member of the Memphis Metropolitan 16 years ago where I been an active participant in many community service events and activities and now serve as the current Chapter President.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important aspect and lesson of my journey and as a Christian is to be kind, respectful, and earnest. I find that when those qualities are reciprocated, it makes life’s challenges easier to overcome.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thecharmettesinc.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialcharmettesinc/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MemphisMetropolitanChapter/
