The Lawrence County Historical Society has announced award recipients for its annual banquet, scheduled to take place on October 10. Tickets for the event are available for $30 and can be purchased by contacting society board members Colton Babbitt, Mike Doyle, Zachary Elledge, Darlene Moore, Leslie Reed, Jon Walter, or Sue Whitmire. Payments are also accepted via CashApp at $lchsar1815. The deadline to purchase tickets is October 5.
The City of Walnut Ridge and the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce will receive the Preservation Award in recognition of their work on the historic 1908 Iron Mountain Depot. Recent renovations to the depot include significant roof repairs and updates to the interior, particularly in the passenger waiting area and Chamber offices. These improvements coincide with modernization efforts for Amtrak’s passenger platform located at the site.
Nancy Matthews of Jonesboro will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the living category. Matthews has dedicated decades to researching and preserving the history of Lawrence County, particularly through genealogy projects. Her meticulous documentation includes walking and photographing headstones in numerous cemeteries throughout the county, including over 7,000 in Lawrence Memorial Park. Matthews also authored a book, *Working Through the Past*, which serves as a beginner’s guide to family history research.
The late Reta Goff Covey of Walnut Ridge will posthumously receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Covey was a longtime educator and civic leader who advocated for Lawrence County history through her volunteer work during key historical events such as the U.S. Bicentennial in 1976 and Arkansas’s Sesquicentennial in 1986. Covey also wrote engaging community histories that appeared in local newspapers, leaving a lasting legacy of storytelling and preservation.
The annual banquet will be held in Walnut Ridge, offering an opportunity to celebrate those who contribute to preserving the area’s history and cultural heritage.