Taking nominations from readers, Call Newspapers featured four women with South County ties as “Women in History” during the month of March. Here’s a look back at these extraordinary women and their accomplishments.
Enjoy reading about these women who have changed or are changing their communities for the better, and if you have any suggestions for South County Women in History, you can submit nominations to us next year.
Jessica Grib is a survivor who now helps others through her nonprofit organization
Jessica Grib: Concord resident Grib in 2017 co-founded Save The Mommies, a nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness of pregnancy-induced heart failure and peripartum cardiomyopathy or PPCM — heart failure that occurs during the last month of pregnancy up until five months postpartum.
A vocal advocate about PPCM, Grib led an effort encouraging Gov. Mike Parson to pass a proclamation declaring May 3 through 9 as “PPCM Awareness Week” in Missouri, which he did in February.
New Oakville principal destined to be a teacher, loves job in Oakville
Tamara Sunkett: This past month, Sunkett marked eight months as principal at OHS. When not in her office or supporting teachers, she could be found playing basketball and volleyball with students in gym class.
“We’ve got an amazing, amazing staff and obviously very amazing students. I think what I’ve most enjoyed is being a part of a school community and a school culture that is still really exciting about doing well and being great,” said Sunkett. “It’s very obviously a community of care. Our teachers care deeply and you can see that in every moment that they interact with our kids… Our kids are the same way. I see kids being great friends and great comrades and great supports and caring about each other and the school.”
For decades, former Rep. Earlene Judd lived to serve
Earlene Judd: Former South County legislator Earlene Judd served the state of Missouri from the early 1980s until her death in December 2019 with a sense of humor and goodwill.
Midwest BankCentre’s Veta Jeffery develops a community
Veta Jeffery: Although it has roughly $2 billion in assets, Midwest BankCentre still relies on the economy of St. Louis to grow and for everyone in St. Louis who does not use a bank to start using one, an initiative Jeffery calls “taking banking to the people.”
