Shelby County Trustee

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Alert: due to a power outage at a County data center, our phones and some of our website functions have been negatively affected. We hope to be restored quickly. Thanks for your patience!

The Trustee's Office offers sincere condolences on the loss of a true friend and statesman, State Representative G.A. Hardaway Sr., this morning. Rep. Hardaway has been a valuable partner in many of the legislative and community priorities of our office especially in assisting senior citizens, helping our taxpayers, and moving our community toward financial success. He was kind enough to be our speaker at a forum held last fall on addressing student loan debt and we were working with him on legislation on that subject. Our Baby Budget Basics program for expectant parents at the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center was a thought he had originally when we partnered on his Merry Christmas Baby distribution of baby supplies to the community. He was always available to help and move needed legislation through the process. Our community has lost a vital leader. Rest in peace.

APRIL 30TH, Community Wealth Event by RISE Memphis in partnership with the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center. We will be joined by Probate Court Clerk Eddie Jones' office to discuss legacy planning! Join us!

It is Financial Literacy Month! Yesterday we appeared on Live at 9 to discuss the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center (GMFEC.ORG) success and RISE Memphis upcoming Community Wealth event. Check it out and join us on April 30th! https://wreg.com/on-air/live-at-9/memphis-nonprofit-helps-residents-achieve-financial-stability/

We had a great time on Live at 9 this morning!

RISE Memphis Development Director DeVonté Payton and Shelby County Trustee Regina Morrison Newman joined the conversation to talk about the importance of financial literacy and the free resources available to all Shelby County residents through the Greater Memphis Financial Empowerment Center.

From managing debt to building savings, our community has access to real, personalized support at no cost.

Now it’s your turn to take the next step. Join us for Community Wealth Day on Thursday, April 30 at the Raleigh Public Library from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM. Come connect with resources, get support, and start building your financial future.

Register today at BIT.LY/RISEMEMPHIS!

ALERT!

County government offices, including ours, will be closed tomorrow for Good Friday and will reopen Tuesday morning following the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial day. More below.

More feedback from Adulting 101 Showcase!

For all the women:
Before Women’s History Month comes to a close,
We wanted to share something… in a rhythm that flows.
Here’s to the women — amazing and strong,
Who somehow do everything… all day long.
We’re mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends,
We fix what is broken and somehow make ends.
We’re Trustees, CAOs, leaders, creatives, and more,
And still make it home to ask, “What’s for dinner?” for sure.
We carry the weight no one else sees,
While remembering birthdays and everyone’s needs.
We show up exhausted, still giving our best,
Running on coffee… and what little is left. ☕
We’re therapists, chauffeurs, chefs on demand,
Homework assistants with no lesson plan.
We’re peacekeepers, planners, the glue that holds tight,
The calm in the chaos (well… most of the night 😄).
And let’s be honest, let’s just say it plain—
Without women here… none of y’all would remain.
We bring life into this world (no big deal, right?),
Then raise it with love, day after night.
We juggle, we hustle, we laugh, and we cry,
And still find the strength to keep aiming high.
So here’s to the women — past, present, and now,
The ones setting the standard and showing us how.
May we celebrate loudly, give flowers, take space,
And maybe… just maybe… sit down for a break. 😉
Happy Women’s History Month 💜

Courtesy of Jeremian Bowman, Asst. To the Trustee!

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: WILMA RUDOLPH
From Leg Braces to Gold Medals

Imagine that you are the 20th child born into a poor black family in 1940. You are born prematurely, only weighing 4 1/2 pounds. High-quality medical care is neither available nor affordable. Although you will face more obstacles in your early years than most people face in their entire lives, you will overcome these challenges and go on to achieve fame and glory. This is the beginning of Wilma Rudolph’s amazing story.

Wilma was born in 1940 in Tennessee. Wilma’s mother nursed her at home during her early years through many serious illnesses. However, when Wilma was 5 years old her left foot twisted inward and her mother had to call the doctor. The doctor announced she had Polio and would never walk again, but Wilma and her mother had different plans for her. “My doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother.” Wilma said one Sunday at church as she simply detached her hated metal braces and walked down the aisle.

But Wilma’s story didn’t stop there. With the support of her family—especially her mother—and a commitment to regular therapy, she slowly began to regain strength in her leg. What once seemed impossible started to happen. First, she stood. Then she walked. And eventually, she ran. By the time she reached high school, Wilma had not only left her leg brace behind, but she had also joined her school’s track team, where her natural speed quickly stood out.

Her talent and determination carried her all the way to the global stage. At just 16 years old, Wilma competed in the 1956 Olympics, earning a bronze medal. But she didn’t stop there. Four years later, at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, she made history by winning three gold medals in track and field. She became known as the fastest woman in the world, stunning audiences with her speed, grace, and perseverance.

Wilma Rudolph’s journey is a powerful reminder that where you start does not determine where you can go. She was once told she might never walk, yet she ran straight into greatness and became one of the greatest athletes in the world. Her story continues to inspire people everywhere to push past limitations, stay determined, and believe in what’s possible.