Mrs. Cynthia Lee is married to Ephron Lee, has two beautiful daughters, Katherine and Amber, and one son-in-law, Michael. She enjoys cooking, entertaining, shopping, traveling, and volunteering. She attends First Missionary Baptist Chruch where she is a member of the Julia Moore Christian Women Society. She is also chairman of the Hospitality Committtee of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Mississippi Gulf Coast. Cynthia believes that a person can achieve anything he or she sets their mind to stating that she lives her life by her parents’ often repeated phrase, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”

Mrs. Cynthia Lee with Mississippi State Conference President, Derrick Johnson

Rosie Kersh, Smith County Branch

Mrs. Rosie Kersh is a member of the Smith County branch of the NAACP and has been a member since 1972 and has served as 1st Vice President for over 20 years. Rosie is married to Arthur Kersh and is the proud mother of Andrea and Angela. Rosie is a retired school teacher having taught for over 45 years in the Mississippi Public School System. She attends Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church and she is a member of the Smith County Democratic Party Executive Committee, the Smith County Economics Board, the Smith County Voter’s League, the Smith County Retired Teachers Association, the NEA, and the Solomon Union Note Singers. Rosie believes that her success and happiness in life is due to her faith in God, always remembering, “to God be the glory.”

Mrs. Rosie Kersh

Mrs. Ellie Dahmer

Ellie Dahmer attended Alcorn A & M College, transferred to Tennessee State A & I, and received a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in 1947. Mrs. Dahmer later did summer graduate studies at Indiana University and also earned an Elementary Education Certification from Jackson State University.

She was married to Vernon F. Dahmer, Sr. and was his most trusted confidant and biggest supporter. She was also an eye witness to the verbal threats, economic intimidation tactics, and violence directed towards her husband as a result of his Civil Rights activity.

Mrs. Ellie Dahmer with MS State Conference President Derrick Johnson