Column: Inspiring Women 2025 Awards

(Disclaimer: Columns often contain opinion. Special thanks to Clare Weser, Mary Frances Hendrix, Ken Monroe, Audrey Monroe and Nomi Stanton for photographs)

It’s all in the name.

When it comes to “Inspiring: Women of Augusta” Magazine, that’s what it’s all about —  stories of inspiring women designed to inspire other women (and men too).

According to Merriam Webster, the word “inspire” means to “impel, motivate” and “to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on.”

On Thursday, the first Inspiring: Women of Augusta awards luncheon at Flowing Wells Theatre honored six inspiring women from the area.

For the inaugural event, I took the reins and chose women who’d inspired me.

In my 37 years in journalism, I’ve met a lot of people who inspired me. I’ve interviewed Grammy-award winning singers, professional athletes, Olympians, high-ranking military officials, a few astronauts and successful businesspeople.

I’ve also met those who are making their own mark on their world, but in a quieter and maybe even, overlooked way  – grandmothers going back to school to get their college degrees, people who were once homeless but now give back to the homeless through a ministry they started, an artist who finally landed a show.

Life can be full of challenges, and in 37 years, you will face many of them. Hearing someone else’s story often helped me hold on for another day. It gave me the push I needed to make it through. Just interviewing someone provided a nugget that I could hold onto.

Dr. Lisa Maddox – Inspiring: Determination

Dr. Lisa Maddox brought a keynote speech about the challenges of racism and abuse that her mother faced and overcame in her lifetime. Her mom was a schoolteacher who raised a woman of inspiration.

Lisa simply thought she was the guest speaker; she didn’t know was she was there to get an award.

Lisa has always excelled.

After graduating from Aquinas High School, she attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She became a medical doctor and after an illness took part of her leg, she’s excelled on the court, field and ice with wheelchair sports. Her goal is to compete in the Paralympics.

Read more about Lisa here.

Audrey Monroe – Inspiring: Individuality

Audrey Monroe is a vintage model who turns heads wherever she goes.

As a child, she fell in love with the fashion of  “White Christmas.” But the look of that era wasn’t cool in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In 2019, she decided to leave convention behind and wear whatever she wanted.

And now, anytime you see her, she’s wearing a glamorous look from the era of fashion that makes her happiest.

A story I wrote on Audrey for “Inspiring: Women of Augusta” magazine won a third place in the human-interest category at this year’s Georgia Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Read more about Audrey here.

LaVerne Gold-Frazier – Inspiring: Giving

 I’ve known LaVerne Gold-Frazier for about 30 years. She’s the epitome of class and grace.

She worked with the United Way of the CSRA for 40 years retiring as its president and CEO in 2018, but giving back to others wasn’t about a job. It’s a way of life for her. She helped form Women in Philanthropy.

In retirement, she continues to volunteer at several organizations and serve on committees. She works with organization that serve the youth and arts. And she’s involved with her church.

She was another of those people who I distinctly remember sitting at her desk and soaking in her words without her realizing it. Talking with LaVerne wasn’t always an interview. It was a lifeline.

Carol Rezzelle – Inspiring: Faith

Carol Rezzelle is another woman who has given me such nuggets of wisdom over the years, saying exactly what I needed to hear when I needed to hear it.

I’ve known her at least 20 years and I’ve watched her as she transformed Enopion Theatre Co. from a small performance group utilizing space wherever they could to raising money to build a theater that houses productions year round and holds classes.

Building a theater is quite an accomplishment! That’s a massive undertaking. Through her vision, dedication and faith, she opened a theater 25 years after that first one-woman show.

Read more about Carol and Flowing Wells Theatre here.

Maela Groshong – Inspiring: Future

I first interviewed Maela Groshong and her dad, Gabe, when they ran in the Augusta Half/10K/5K in 2023.

She was in third grade at the time.

I’ve always been impressed with anyone who can run a longer distance than home plate to first base without wanting to die.

But Maela was already a pro using the opportunity to spend time with her dad, not to mention that she was born with only one leg.

A born go-getter, Maela did something that impressed me even more. Gabe told me that just before she turned six, she asked to stay up past her bedtime so she could read a chapter book.

Readers change their world.

Maela received the Inspiring: Future award because her future looks inspiring, and I believe she will inspire future generations.

Read more about Maela here.

And last but not least – the award I couldn’t get through without tears.

Nona Zimmerman – Inspiring: Living

 My mom, Nona Zimmerman.

While she doesn’t think so, she’s pretty impressive.

She worked while my brother and I were growing up, but she managed to be at my chorus concerts, plays and every softball game I played in my four years at Aquinas. Away games, especially road trips, were attended by my parents, Lisa Maddox’s parents and Laura Garren’s parents. There might be a few others, but you could always count on them.

When my kids came along, she was still working but was at everything they did. Trust me, my kids were super busy. All three graduated from Davidson and took dance with Ron Jones and Columbia County Ballet. Plus my son was part of the Augusta Junior Players and Augusta Players for several years.

My mom authored a book a couple of years ago (available at the Book Tavern; it was illustrated by my brother.

I can’t put everything into this column. She’s accomplished things in her own quiet way and just by living has provided an excellent example of work ethic, resilience and strength.

She’s also got a feisty/sassy side.

I can’t tell you how many times my daughter (who lives) with her has sent me a text that simply said “your mother.” That’s usually followed by a text from me that says “what did she do now?”

Even after spending six weeks in the hospital and nursing home rehabilitation this year, she’s taken two solo trips to Nevada to see my aunt this year. I’d tell you her age, but I wouldn’t want to endure her wrath..

Many thanks to Dr. Dennis Skelley of the Georgia Rehabilitation Institute for sponsoring the event, to Ashley Brown, who loved the idea of the luncheon and talked me into it with five months of preparation, to Nomi Stanton, who is my second-best cheerleader after my mom and Carol Rezzelle for the use of your beautiful dream theater.

Thanks also to Regina Brejda at 4P Studios for making such a beautiful and special award for out recipients, Ken Monroe of Food Thyme Food for the incredible lunch and to Stephanie Stuckey for your support and fabulous pecan logs.

Ashley and Carol are already asking about next year.

Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years. She’s won multiple Georgia Press Association awards, is the recipient of the 2018 Greater Augusta Arts Council’s media award and was named Augusta Magazine’s best local writer in 2024 and 2025. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.