Leading Ladies of Mississippi found its roots in a small group of visionary women who recognized a glaring gap in support for women within our state. Since our founding in 2020, we’ve proudly expanded to touch the lives of countless women across Mississippi, embodying the mission to empower and enable women through impactful community service events. Our dedication to fostering an environment where women can learn, grow, and connect sets us apart. Unlike any other, our unique blend of services and events offers an invaluable support system for women to achieve personal and professional milestones.

What makes us unique isn’t just the range of community services we offer; it’s the profound impact these services have on the women we serve. By organizing events that are as enriching as they are empowering, we provide a platform for women to build skills, gain confidence, and connect with a supportive network. Through these initiatives, we’re not just helping women; we’re shaping leaders and changemakers in Mississippi.

Mission Statement

Leading Ladies of Mississippi is a nonprofit, community-centered service organization, with a primary focus on empowering, uplifting, supporting and helping women succeed, while taking on leadership roles through projects that positively impact the community. 

Vision Statement

To be known as the premier nonprofit organization that leads with integrity, fairness, and humility while providing a clear and honest outlet for communication in order to mentor and develop a league of ladies through a respectful, enjoyable, and professional environment where service excellence is provided throughout communities in Mississippi. 

Leading Ladies of MS is known for the rich tradition of service and leadership. With that, comes a passion for growth and an urge to persevere. As a leader, one of the greatest qualities one can possess is a mindset to learn while growing in the skill of leadership and gaining wisdom through experiences. In an effort to become an upstanding Woman Leader as illustrated by the profound Proverbs 31 Woman or in the Book of Esther one must first be trained and have an understanding of where the foundation has been rooted in an effort to become wiser in the pursuit of empowering others. 

The year of 2020 is a year that many will never forget. It’s the year of CoVID 19 and the pandemic that left many of us isolated and needing an outlet to express our innermost feelings, and the greatest need to help those that were losing their jobs and personal belongings due to this devastation. 

July 1, 2020, Lady Glenetta Duren publicly introduced a call of duty that originated from a personal vision. This personal vision of Lady Duren called upon a team of 50 ladies that would exemplify leadership, commitment, passion, initiative and a dedication of unity and hard work. 

By July 10, 2020, The organization officially had 34 ladies recorded as the first official members on the roster of Leading Ladies. This is also the documented date of existence. The organization is also represented by the color purple which symbolizes royalty, nobility, luxury, power and ambition. 

On February 26, 2022, the first pinning ceremony took place at the original home seat of the organization, Carthage- Leake County at its public library. The Purple Diamond inductees became official members and March 2, 2024 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon the Amethyst Emeralds were pinned and announced as members after receiving their formal introductions, paraphernalia, and welcoming address from their matriarchs of the organization. 

August 6, 2020, at 7:00 pm via Zoom, it is recorded as the first official business meeting session of the organization. Officers were nominated and voted on within that week and announced on November 11, 2020. 

The civic duties of the organization include participation in government, church, community-based societal issues, and volunteerism. These duties have extended from Attala, Leake, Madison, Scott, Rankin, Hinds, and Sharkey Counties along with neighboring Delta counties during the March 2023 tornado events. From 2020 to today Leading Ladies of MS has high expectations for assisting the empowerment of support in our Mississippi communities. As each project that is put into action by each project chairperson, it is with unity, compassion, love, and a sharing spirit that the organization’s good deeds spread abroad as we capture the mission and vision of Leading Ladies of Mississippi in the most dignified way.