Sherry Lee (Brown) Toliver
Sherry has a heart for history. While tracing her family lineage back 4 generations, her journey unearthed the depths of truths, pains, and victories that would have remained unknown to those who were born from those hidden treasures. In 2015, Sherry compiled and published the Book – “A History of Lincoln High School”. Her efforts, charted the growth and journey of the students of Ft. Smith Arkansas’ all black High School.
Prior to and during her historical journey, Sherry served faithfully in many roles. Sherry devoted almost 30yrs to the Social Security Administration. In 1993, she and her dear friend founded the Lincoln Echo Newspaper; which later earned the distinction of being the longest running black owned newspaper in the state of Arkansas.
Public Service:
- Prosecuting Attorney's Juvenile Crime Task Force (1997)
- Fort Smith Housing Assistance, Board Member (1990 – 2000)
- State of Arkansas Minority Business Advisory Council (1998)
- Future Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee (2013 - present)
- Fort Smith Parks & Recreation, Commissioner (July 2013 – August 2018)
- Mayor’s Bicentennial Committee (2016-2018)
Volunteer Service:
- United Way Board (1996)
- Lincoln Childcare Center Board (1996-1997)
- Art Center Board (1998)
- Fort Smith Museum of History Board (1999 – 2000)
- Lincoln Alumni Association, President (2010 - present)
- Sunday School Teacher Ninth Street Baptist Church (2010 - 2014)
- Fort Smith Christian Women's Job Corp Mentor (2010-2014)
- Public School Partner in Education, Volunteer (2011 - present)
- Altrusa International Volunteer (2012 - 2015)
- Girls of Promise Planning Committee (2012 – 2013)
- Fort Smith Historical Society-President (2013 - present)
- NAACP- first vice president (2015 -2018)
- FS Museum of History (2016-2017)
- Unity MBC – Bible Teacher (2015-present)
Honors/Recognition:
- Fort Smith Spirit of the Frontier Award (1995
- Mt. Magazine Girl Scout Council Woman of Distinction Award (1996)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award (1997)
- SSA Associate Commissioner’s Citation Award (2004)
- Mayor Ray Baker Perfect Harmony Award (2010)
- Fort Smith Round Table Community Service Award (2011)
- Sebastian County Democratic Party – Hattie Caraway Award (2015)
- Compiled and Published the Book – A History of Lincoln High School (2015)
- Elizabeth McGill Golden Hands Award (2016)
- Gordon Youth Foundation, Inc. Unsung Hero Award (2019)
Sherry is a devoted and loving family Matriarch, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a self-proclaimed scrabble-ologist.
Sherry Lee (Brown) Toliver
Sherry has a heart for history. While tracing her family lineage back 4 generations, her journey unearthed the depths of truths, pains, and victories that would have remained unknown to those who were born from those hidden treasures. In 2015, Sherry compiled and published the Book – “A History of Lincoln High School”. Her efforts, charted the growth and journey of the students of Ft. Smith Arkansas’ all black High School.
Prior to and during her historical journey, Sherry served faithfully in many roles. Sherry devoted almost 30yrs to the Social Security Administration. In 1993, she and her dear friend founded the Lincoln Echo Newspaper; which later earned the distinction of being the longest running black owned newspaper in the state of Arkansas.
Public Service:
- Prosecuting Attorney's Juvenile Crime Task Force (1997)
- Fort Smith Housing Assistance, Board Member (1990 – 2000)
- State of Arkansas Minority Business Advisory Council (1998)
- Future Fort Smith Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee (2013 - present)
- Fort Smith Parks & Recreation, Commissioner (July 2013 – August 2018)
- Mayor’s Bicentennial Committee (2016-2018)
Volunteer Service:
- United Way Board (1996)
- Lincoln Childcare Center Board (1996-1997)
- Art Center Board (1998)
- Fort Smith Museum of History Board (1999 – 2000)
- Lincoln Alumni Association, President (2010 - present)
- Sunday School Teacher Ninth Street Baptist Church (2010 - 2014)
- Fort Smith Christian Women's Job Corp Mentor (2010-2014)
- Public School Partner in Education, Volunteer (2011 - present)
- Altrusa International Volunteer (2012 - 2015)
- Girls of Promise Planning Committee (2012 – 2013)
- Fort Smith Historical Society-President (2013 - present)
- NAACP- first vice president (2015 -2018)
- FS Museum of History (2016-2017)
- Unity MBC – Bible Teacher (2015-present)
Honors/Recognition:
- Fort Smith Spirit of the Frontier Award (1995
- Mt. Magazine Girl Scout Council Woman of Distinction Award (1996)
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award (1997)
- SSA Associate Commissioner’s Citation Award (2004)
- Mayor Ray Baker Perfect Harmony Award (2010)
- Fort Smith Round Table Community Service Award (2011)
- Sebastian County Democratic Party – Hattie Caraway Award (2015)
- Compiled and Published the Book – A History of Lincoln High School (2015)
- Elizabeth McGill Golden Hands Award (2016)
- Gordon Youth Foundation, Inc. Unsung Hero Award (2019)
Sherry is a devoted and loving family Matriarch, grandmother, great-grandmother, and a self-proclaimed scrabble-ologist.
