Last week, Dr. Juel Smith, along with Ms. Dottie Berger MacKinnon, and Ms. Deanne Roberts, (posthumously) were inducted into the Commission On The Status of Women Hall Of Fame. The ceremony was held at the Tampa Convention Center, on Thursday, March 28th. The Hall Of Fame was created in 2011 to pay tribute to women in Hillsborough County who have made significant contributions for the betterment of the citizens. Among her many other contributions, Dr. Smith helped establish the Institute on Black Life and the Center for Africa and Diaspora at the University of South Florida, becoming the first African American woman to do so. Members of The Links, Inc., of which the honoree is a member, were on hand for the Induction Ceremony and luncheon. Shown from left to right are: her daughter, Babette Shannon, Marie Beard, Joan Dawson, Gloria Andrews, Dr. Juel Smith, (the honoree), Margarette Spears, Odessa Banks, Donna McRae and daughter, Gina Spicer at the induction ceremony. (Photography by Toby Scott, of Chow and Scott Keepsakes).
