River City native Dora Smith was honored with the Vicksburg Homecoming-Benevolent Club’s highest accolade Saturday night when she was named the 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the organization’s 49th annual banquet.

Presenting Smith with her award was Homecoming-Benevolent Club President Willie L. Glasper Sr., who said she has worn many hats during her decades of service to the River City, including that of nurse, teacher and police officer.

“She has worked diligently in the community and everybody knows her,” Glasper said. “She stands for what this club and organization stands for. This award is given to an individual, or individuals, who has demonstrated and shown distinguished humanitarianism toward the organization and the Vicksburg, Warren County community.”

Smith, who is an active member of the Homecoming-Benevolent Club, is also the first Black woman to have served on the Vicksburg Police Department, Glasper said.

Glasper said Smith graduated from the Mississippi Law Enforcement Academy in 1977 and passed the civil service examination to become the city’s first Black female police officer. Smith served as a desk sergeant and was named officer of the year before transferring to the juvenile division.

“In her tireless efforts to help children to reach their better life, she worked with the child abuse shelter counseling runaways,” Glasper said.

Smith retired from the police department as managing supervisor of the youth department in 2003.

Smith herself said she was honored to receive the award.

“Without you all, I wouldn’t have made it,” she told the crowd. “Thank you all for coming. I’m proud of all you all.”

Smith’s past civic activities include membership in the NAACP, Law Enforcement Association, Alcorn State University National Alumni Association, River City Rescue Mission, and the Essence Social and Civic Club, where is she is a founding member.

Among her accolades earned throughout her years of service are Officer of the Year at the American Legion; Woman of Distinction with the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce; RiverWalk Casino Happy Hero; and recognition for community service from U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson.

Smith attended the IBM School of Automation in Indianapolis, where she obtained an Associates of the Arts degree; Tougaloo College, where she majored in elementary and secondary education; Alcorn State University, where she graduated on the Dean’s List with a bachelor degree in education and psychology; and Hinds Community College.

At the onset of her career, Glasper said, Smith worked in the Marion County Hospital as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), as well as in the Vicksburg Warren School District as a substitute teacher.

Smith is a longtime member of King David No. 1 Missionary Baptist Church, where she serves as the program coordinator for the Women’s Ministry.

Smith has been married to Charles Smith Sr. for more than 50 years and the couple has reared five children, including twin sons Dwayne and Wayne; sons, Charles and Chandler; and daughter, Char’Dori. She is also the grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of two.

In addition to recognizing Smith at Saturday’s banquet, the club also presented the awards for 2024 Humanitarian of the Year and the 2024 Business of the Year to Trudy Hall James-Brown and the Vicksburg Daily News owner David Day, respectively.

Additionally, the club announced the recipients of the essay and oratorical competition and this year’s scholarships, totaling $9,500.

Winners of this year’s Junior High Essay Contest were Peyton Funchess, Aidan Lumpkin, Makenzee Sessions and Ri’Kelle Nixon. Winners of the High School Oratorical Contest were Cameron Nailor, Landon Lumpkin and Brandon Nailor.

Local students receiving scholarships toward their college educations were: Jack Esparza, Grant Jones Jr. Memorial Scholarship; Kei’Mya Walton, Rosie Lee Shields Scholarship; M’Kyla Stewart, Eugene and Jessie Lee Stevens Memorial Scholarship; Torrey Turner II; A’Lon Drayton, Dee’s Babycakes Scholarship; Gaylon Turner Jr., Delores Thomas Bullock Memorial Scholarship; Shantelle Caldwell, Johnnie Stanfield Memorial Scholarship; Erin Darden Jr., Pearl Connection Scholarship; Ryan Nelson, James and Gayelord Carpenter Scholarship; Joshua Brown, Charley Mae Johnson Scholarship; Destiny Perkins, Pearl Connection Scholarship; Khalil Cook, Gladys Ferguson and Brig. Gen. Robert Crear Scholarship; Christian Henderson, Booker T. Wilson Memorial Scholarship; Davian Williams, Leroy and Jessie Lee Terrell Memorial Scholarship; Javien Liggins, Mozella Flaggs Memorial Scholarship; Tony Peters, Gladys Ferguson and Brig. Gen. Robert Crear Scholarship; Kelvin Richardson, Zelmarine A. Murphy and Patricia A. Segrest Scholarship; Kaliyah London; and Taylor Smith, Markeda Mims Memorial Scholarship.