‘Grit & Grace’: Panel seeks to inspire local women
Published 12:20 pm Friday, May 2, 2025
Laura Creel Burt, Executive Director of the Alabama State Foundation, speaks about Grit 101, a teens program division of Women of True Grit. Seated, from left, are Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson, Marsha Folsom, Edie Hand, Julie Mobley and Jan Matthews. Photo courtesy of Billy Brown
From left, are Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson, NASA Physicist; Lindy Coons, President of Athens-Limestone Association of Realtors; Pammie Jimmar, President/CEO of Athens-Limestone Chamber; Sunny Brown, comedienne; Marsha Folsom, former First Lady of Alabama; Edie Hand, international author and founder of the Women of True Grit Franchise; Julie Mobley, Health Expert; Jan Matthews, founder of MTM Educational Enrichment and former NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center for Procurement professional; Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, 39th President of Athens State University and Laura Creel Burt, Executive Director at Alabama State Foundation. Photo courtesy of Billy Brown
From Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, Edie Hand and Pammie Jimmar. Photo courtesy of Billy Brown
More than 100 young women from Athens City and Limestone County high schools gathered at Athens State University to attend Grit & Grace: Breaking Barriers & Leading Boldly. Scheduled in conjunction with Athens State’s inauguration festivities for President Dr. Catherine Wehlburg, the event, on April 24, consisted of a panel of women with impressive careers and inspiring stories, led by Women of True Grit author, Edie Hand.
Wehlburg welcomed the students and VIP guests, followed by a standup set performed by comedienne Sunny Brown, and keynote speech by Edie Hand. The panel included Dr. Shelia Nash-Stevenson, NASA Langley Research Center; Marsha Folsom, former Alabama First Lady; Julie Mobley, Cullman Internal Medicine; and Jan Matthews, founder of MTM Unsung Heroes, Unity in Community, and other local nonprofits. Pammie Jimmar, Athens-Limestone Chamber President, closed the event with a Q&A session.
The panelists shared stories of perseverance through difficulties in both their personal and professional lives. They each identified with a “Pearl of Hope” that embodies a certain aspect of life: passion, self-esteem, courage, leadership, etc.
Hand, during her keynote speech, described the origins of the pearls meaning of Women of True Grit, and the importance of passing stories of triumph throughout generations.
“I use the metaphor of a pearl formed inside an oyster shell through irritations from a speck of grit to form these different colors of pearls” Hand said. “In life we go through irritations that teach us tools of how to get from hard to beautiful situations. GRIT- Great Resilience is Transformative.”
Jimmar worked to bring the Women of True Grit franchise to the Athens-Limestone community.
“It is difficult at a young age, or any age really, to see a world of possibilities ahead, but no immediate way forward,” Jimmar said. “We all need someone to root for us and reinforce our spirit of hope and endurance … hopefully, some young ladies left today embracing that.”
“It was an honor to welcome such an inspiring group of women and students to our campus,” Wehlburg said. “Events like Grit & Grace show us that no matter our background or challenges, we all have the potential to lead boldly and lift others along the way. That’s what true grit and grace are all about.”
The Women of True Grit series is a collection of more than 60 stories, interviews, and on-air segments about successful women who have overcome extraordinary obstacles. Featured women share stories from all walks of life, including the worlds of business, entertainment, science, medicine, education and healthcare. Recently, Jimmar and Wehlburg had their experiences added to this collection. To dive deeper into the Women of True Grit franchise, visit https://ediehand.com/women-of-true-grit.
The event was presented by the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Athens State University, and the Women of True Grit franchise.
