Aldermen: Judge Donald to be recognized at Olive Branch board meeting

An item to honor the accomplishments of Olive Branch native Judge Bernice Bouie Donald will be unveiled during the Feb. 4 Board of Aldermen meeting in Olive Branch.  

In his newsletter to residents, Mayor Ken Adams pointed out that Judge Donald, an alumna of Olive Branch High School where she graduated as an honor student, was among the first African Americans in DeSoto County to attend during school integration in 1970 during Judge Donald’s Junior year. 

Judge Donald was the first African American female judge in the history of Tennessee (1982); first female bankruptcy judge in Tennessee (1988); first African American female bankruptcy judge in the history of the United States; first African American female federal judge in Tennessee (1995) as appointed by President Bill Clinton; first African American female judge to serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals appointed by President Barack Obama (2011); the first African American female officer of the 400,000 member American Bar Association; and on October 19th, 2024 the City of Memphis designated Front Street between Poplar Avenue and Beale Street as “Judge Bernice Bouie Donald Street.” Honorary signs were installed along the route to pay tribute to her trailblazing career.

Olive Branch Board of Aldermen – Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

Southaven Board of Aldermen – Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

Hernando Board of Aldermen – Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.

Horn Lake Board of Aldermen – Tuesday, Feb. 4, 6 p.m.