(The Dallas Examiner) – Tabitha Brown, Emmy-winning actress, social media influencer and best-selling author; and Tammy Franklin, advocate, motivational speaker and wife of gospel music icon Kirk Franklin, were honored at the 2025 Women of Influence Awards Luncheon along with 14 other women from across the U.S.

The event, held March 21 at the Statler Hotel in downtown Dallas, was presented by Cheryl Magazine and Soul Reborn, a nonprofit organization that focuses on transforming the lives of disadvantaged, disenfranchised and previously incarcerated women. Dr. Cheryl Polote Williamson, editor-in-chief of Cheryl Magazine, best-selling author, award-winning filmmaker and executive producer, was the award presenter.

Co-hosts of the luncheon were Nicole Baker, Emmy-nominated television anchor and Roni Talley, author, actress and film producer.

Also receiving awards were:

• DeDe McGuire – radio host, philanthropist and community activist
• Karen Boykin-Towns – vice chair of NAACP National Board
• Egypt Sherrod, HGTV star and real estate broker
• Shani Hosten – vice president of audience strategy at AARP
• Sheryl Adkins-Green – former chief experience officer at Mary Kay Inc
• Erica Terry Derryck – communications professional at Intuit
• Raven Nicole Barnes – vice president at The Confidence Group and youth advocate
• Tamira Chapman – owner of Storehouse in A Box and publisher at Storehouse Voices
• Teri Ijeoma – master trader and investment educator
• Denise Polote-Kelly – grief recovery specialist and life coach
• Britni Ricard – founder and CEO of Cota Skin Care
• Kimberly Sweet – Emmy-nominated multimedia journalist and timber farmer
• Dr. Jill Waggoner – family practice physician and health advocate
• Patricia Adams Williams – founder of She Empowerment Global

The first award was presented to Ricard. In the hotel lobby the night before, Ricard asked Williamson why she had been chosen as an honoree.

“I’ll tell you in front of everybody tomorrow,” Williamson responded.

During the award presentation for Ricard, Williamson explained why she knew Ricard deserved to be honored.

“God laid Britni on my heart because when I was on social media one day as well as reading in Essence, I saw where in December, you gave all your tenants free rent in your building,” Williamson explained, followed by cheers and applause from attendees.

“And that’s not it. I see you all the time, unsolicited, where people will order products from you, and you will go get $100 bills from the bank and place them in [shipping] boxes. You are the woman that God showed me that you truly have a heart for Him and a heart for women.”

Ricard took the stage to graciously accept her award.

“Sometimes you always question, why me? But today I feel like, why not me?” Ricard said.

Williamson then introduced Boykin-Towns as someone who creates opportunities for all women to win, is full of love and always willing to show up for others.

“These are perilous times that we are living in. We look every day to see the actions that are being taken and for some of us, we are anxiety-ridden. For others of us, we are trying not to see what’s going on, and for others, we understand that this is our time. This is our moment,” Boykin-Towns said during her acceptance speech.

As Sherrod prepared to accept her award, Williamson spoke of her willingness to show others the path to success.

“I honor you today for how you love on women, for how you teach us that we can be the best,” Williamson said.

“Thank you for lifting other women up and showcasing our brilliance and our resilience and the power of Black women in business,” Sherrod said in turn.

“Our success cannot be about money alone. It cannot be about our resumes, our bank accounts, our accolades. It has to be about the sum of our deeds and the amount of lives that we touch during our brief time here.

“Success has never been about personal achievement. It’s about creating opportunities for giving back and pulling forward as we climb every step of the way – making sure if I’m the first one in the room that I won’t be the last one.”

Award honorees were selected based on their talent, integrity, leadership in their respective industries, as well as their philanthropic work with worthy causes that support women and future generations of women.

“Women continue to make significant contributions to society across various industries. The ladies we honored today are a testament to this, as each of them – many pioneers in their craft – have directly and positively impacted their respective fields, paving the way for other aspiring women,” Williamson said.

Following the awards portion of the luncheon, Soul Reborn was presented with a combined $60,000 in donations, including $10,000 from Cynt Marshall, former CEO of the Dallas Mavericks.

The luncheon was attended by over 600 women from all over the country. Attendees took part in a welcome reception, networking and vendor tables prior to the start of the luncheon. A performance by Clover the Violinist echoed melodic sounds as guests were seated for lunch. Gift bags provided by Intuit included sponsored items from vendors such as Cookie Society, Mrs. Linda Seasoning, Ivory Luxe and I Know skincare company.