About Us

History

The DWSC was formed in the early sixties following the formation of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women in 1958. Ms. Rilla Morgan Woods, a proud Tennessean, became the first President of the National Federation of Democratic Women in 1972. As a result of this illustrious history, the DWSC is a charter member of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women (TFDW) and the National Federation of Democratic Women (NFDW). Consequently, members of the DWSC simultaneously hold membership status with the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women as an automatic membership benefit from our local club. While the DWSC has strong ties with the TFDW, the DWSC maintains its independence today.

2025 DWSC Executive Committee

• Gortria C. Banks, President | Chief Operating Officer | Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc.
• Tyra Turner-Cleasant, Vice-President | Retired | Organizational Leadership
• Katrina Thompson, Recording Secretary | Chief Inspector of Programs | Shelby County Sheriff's Office
• Juliette Middleton-Moore, Assistant Recording Secretary |Owner/Realtor
• Adrienne Davis, Treasurer | Product Owner | Fidelity National Financial
• Jessica Indingaro, Esq. | Chief Administrative Officer | Shelby County District Attorney's Office

Committee Chairs

• Operations/Election Committee - Melissa Taber
• Membership Committee - Katrina Thompson
• Outreach Committee / Government and Community Liasion - Sarah Freeman | Committeewoman for District 31 and History Professor | Arkansas State University
• Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs: Gortria C. Banks and Tyra Turner-Cleasant

Liaisons

• Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women - Rosemary Winters
• Shelby County Democratic Party Affiliation - Sarah Freeman and Cherryl Pigues Crite
• Webmaster - Justin Carter