Award Recipients

This is awarded to distinguished alumni who has achieved excellence in their field of service and embodies Belhaven University’s mission in their life and work.

Representative Ronnie C. Crudup, Jr. was born and raised in Jackson, MS, and is a graduate of Murrah High School and Belhaven University. He is married to Andrea Crudup, and together they have 3 beautiful children. He and his family reside and work in Jackson, where he is the Executive Director of New Horizon Ministries, Inc., and a Mississippi State Representative for District 71.

As a strong advocate for the city of Jackson and the next generation, Representative Crudup has been responsible for numerous fundraising and developmental projects including, but not limited to: affordable homeownership and youth development for nearly 20 years, beginning a food pantry during the height of Covid, coordinating water distribution efforts in Jackson during the water crises, reopening the Hertz Swimming Pool in South Jackson, building  The Ark (a multi-sports complex in Jackson), and most recently, the development of a new skating & event facility in Jackson called The Sanctuary.

Rep. Crudup has secured state funding for numerous projects for the city of Jackson, which includes: the Jackson Planetarium, Livingston Park, Levell Woods Park, and blight funding for South and West Jackson.  One of the most significant bills of legislation he contributed majorly in authoring was the Faith Scholarship in the State of Mississippi, which gives college scholarships to foster youth.

Representative Crudup is a member of numerous boards and advisory councils in the Jackson metro area and continues to serve, making a positive impact throughout Jackson and the State of Mississippi.

This is awarded to a recent graduate of the past decade who pursues excellence in their field and has achieved success as a younger leader.

Katelyn Head is a proud Belhaven University graduate who is thankful for the relationships and experiences that have helped shape who she is today. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their pets, and visiting family in Louisiana whenever she can. Belhaven brought her to Mississippi, and although she doesn't plan on leaving, Louisiana will always hold a special place in her heart.

Since graduating from Belhaven, Katelyn has served in several leadership roles with the Mississippi Department of Corrections. She currently serves as Superintendent of the Mississippi Correctional Institute for Women, where she has the privilege of leading a team and serving more than 900 incarcerated women—a career that she truly feels is a calling. She is honored to receive the Young Alumnus of the Year Award and grateful to Belhaven for the impact it has had on her life.

This is awarded to an alumnus who exemplifies the heart of Belhaven University‘s mission “to serve and not be served.” This designation honors a servant leader of distinction who embraces Belhaven’s mission and serves Christ Jesus in their career, in human relationships, and in the world of ideas. 

Rex A. Dale was born in 1960 in Memphis, TN.  He graduated from Memphis Overton High School in 1977. He then enrolled as a freshman at Belhaven. Rex was elected as president of the 1981 Freshman and Junior classes. He was named in 1981 as a member of the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. Rex played on the Belhaven soccer teams of 1977, 1979, and 1981. He provided assistance for the publications of the 1980 and 1981 White Columns yearbooks.  Rex was appointed as one of the Resident Assistants at Wells Hall. Rex graduated from Belhaven in 1981 with a B.A. in Christian Education. 

He moved back to Memphis, where he met and married his wife, Amy, in 1986. They moved to East Tennessee, where Rex obtained his J.D degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1988.

He worked as a Federal judicial law clerk from 1988 to 1989 before practicing law as a trial attorney.  In 1994, he started his own law firm. In 2010, Rex ran for and was elected as the General Sessions Trial Judge for Loudon County, Tennessee. He remained in that position until he recently retired in June of 2026.

Rex and Amy now reside in Lenoir City, Tennessee. Rex says he shall forever be indebted to Mary Walt and Coach Bill Lytton for introducing him to Belhaven College.

Judy Rhodes Davis graduated Magna Cum Laude from Belhaven University in 1981 with degrees in Vocal and Piano Performance. During her time at Belhaven, she was named Miss White Columns (1977) and Miss Belhaven College (1981), served in numerous campus leadership and music organizations, and was recognized with the Christian Fellowship Award. She credits her years at Belhaven as a season of deep spiritual growth, musical development, and forming lifelong friendships.

After earning a Master of Music from The University of Mississippi, Judy built a successful career in public relations and event planning, serving organizations including the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum, the Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Mississippi Division of Tourism, and the Dixie National Western Festival.

Throughout her life, Judy has faithfully used her musical gifts in Christian ministry, serving on church music staffs, leading worship, and ministering through concerts, revivals, and women’s conferences. She has also served families as a musician for Ott & Lee Funeral Homes for 30 years.

Judy and her husband, John, have been blessed with three children—John Kyle, Ken Harpe, and Leah. As they walked together through significant medical challenges with their children, God met their family with extraordinary faithfulness. Those experiences inspired Judy to write a collection of original songs and devotional reflections that became I Believe! (Now Help My Unbelief): Songs of Encouragement from a Mother’s Heart, a Nashville-produced recording and companion devotional created to encourage parents of chronically ill children. Through her music, writing, and testimony, Judy continues to point others to the hope, healing, and steadfast love of Jesus Christ.

This is awarded to a Belhaven School of Education graduate who reflects Ms. Quinn's dedication, commitment, and loyalty to teaching and service to their community.

Glynn Bridgewater earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Belhaven in 1975, with a major in English and minors in music and secondary education.  She earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Memphis State University in 1976.  While pursuing her masters, she taught freshman composition, an experience which showed her the need for quality writing instruction for students.

After one year of teaching in Arkansas, Glynn returned to her hometown (Brownsville, TN), where she taught English at Haywood High School for 41 years.  At HHS, she was instrumental in developing the school’s Distinguished Scholars Program, establishing the state-wide Tennessee Academic Decathlon competition, and directing the school’s writing center.  She also developed and taught elective courses in creative writing and English composition for HHS.  For approximately 20 years, she taught dual enrollment classes in English composition, enabling students to earn college credit while still in high school.

Glynn served on the school’s Leadership Team for many years, led in-service sessions in writing instruction, and edited the school’s accreditation self-studies and state-mandated improvement plans. In addition, she edited a faculty newsletter and a writing-across-the-curriculum newsletter for several years, and she developed the HHS faculty handbook. Upon retirement in 2018, Glynn was asked to remain employed part-time at Haywood High School in a support position.  She continues working in this capacity today.

Using her music background, Glynn served for more than 20 years as choir director at First Presbyterian Church, Brownsville.  She is an elder at FPC and has served as clerk of the Session several times. She is active in the Women of the Church and uses her interest in art to create floral arrangements for the church.

Grateful for her parents who provided a Christian home for her and her brother and two sisters, Glynn also thanks the Lord for directing her to Belhaven, where her faith, friendships, and knowledge were strengthened, preparing her for life as an educator.

This is awarded to a graduate who integrates Christian values and ethics in the marketplace. A servant leader committed to excellence and dedication to serving others.

Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler was a business owner before becoming a proud business administration graduate of Belhaven University. She was elected Mayor in 1981 and is now in her 46^th year of dedicated service. She is the second-longest serving female mayor in America. At 15, she opened an antique shop in Madison and later realized her vision of guiding the city toward its full potential. Under her leadership, Madison is now recognized as one of the safest and most livable cities in Mississippi and in the United States.  Family Circle magazine proclaimed Madison as one of America’s Top 10 Towns for Families. Madison annually is honored by state and national media outlets based on the quality of life created under Mayor Hawkins Butler’s leadership. She was the first woman to serve as president of the Mississippi Municipal League, and she was elected to the board of the Mississippi Public Employees Retirement System, where she chaired several committees. Mayor Hawkins Butler is a former member of the Belhaven University Board of Trustees. Internationally, she was awarded the Royal Order of the Polar Star by the King of Sweden for Madison’s groundbreaking sister city/business partnership. Among her numerous other accolades, the Mayor won the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government and was named “Outstanding Southerner” by Southern Living magazine. With each honor, Mayor Hawkins Butler deflects praise and gives the glory to God, saying, “Madison is the City that prayer is building.”

This is awarded to a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics graduate who has achieved significant success in their professional role and encourages a Christian worldview while discovering innovations and best practices in their field. 

Justin E. Stokes is Deputy Chief Conservation Officer at the National Audubon Society, where he helps lead the organization’s hemispheric conservation strategy across North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Working with a team of more than 500 conservation professionals, he helps advance initiatives spanning conservation, science, policy, and community engagement that drive Audubon's mission across the Americas.

Over the past decade at Audubon, Justin has served in several leadership roles, including leading the organization’s federal government affairs efforts in Washington, D.C., serving as Executive Director of the Audubon Action Fund, Audubon’s affiliated 501(c)(4) organization, and leading Audubon’s South Carolina program. In South Carolina, he helped secure passage of landmark resilience and clean energy legislation and led the successful restoration of a significant seabird sanctuary.

Before joining Audubon, Justin served as Chief of Staff to a Member of Congress and held senior roles with four Members of Congress, the Governor of South Carolina, and a presidential campaign.

A native of South Carolina, Justin earned degrees from Clemson University, Belhaven University, and The Citadel, and completed the Wilson Fellowship in Strategic Management at Harvard Business School. He lives in Charleston, SC, where he is active at Grace Church Cathedral, volunteers with the Charleston Parks Conservancy, and serves on the Governor’s Mansion Commission.

This is awarded to a graduate who has achieved excellence in the Arts professionally and honors the Lord through their creativity. 

Dr. Jesse Noote grew up in the New Orleans area, where he cultivated a lifelong love of music.  After graduating from Belhaven in 2003 with a B.A. in music, he became a choral director at French Camp Academy, where he taught and led worship for eight years.

In 2007, he was awarded the Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year by the Mississippi Music Educators Association. He went on to obtain master’s and doctoral degrees in choral conducting, both from the University of Southern Mississippi. In 2016 Jesse was voted Teacher of the Year by his colleagues at Presbyterian Christian School.

Jesse has served at several schools and churches in his career, including First Presbyterian Church in Meridian, Mississippi, and Presbyterian Christian School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

He is currently the Director of Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Jesse is also a composer with Canorous Music Publishing and enjoys serving the choral community as an adjudicator for local and state festivals.

Jesse lives in Hattiesburg with his beautiful wife, Leah. Together they have three children: Carter, 11; Kason, 9; and Haven, 6. 

To a graduate who has been influential in their pastoral or service-ministry, building the Kingdom through their work.

Sherry Lanier, a native of Atlanta, Georgia, graduated from Belhaven University in 1979 and did additional studies at RTS. She and her husband, Steve, are the parents of Dr. Amanda Bailey (’01), who is married to Dr. Brad Bailey (’00), and she is known as “Momsie” to Hayden and Brett Bailey.

Sherry served with Steve at Youth for Christ for over 25 years. She taught Explorer’s Bible Study, a community class of over 200 women. She also led an inner-city Bible study for women in the home of Dr. John Perkins. In 2004, she and Steve were instrumental in planting Redeemer Church, a multicultural PCA church in Jackson, which later led to the founding of The Redeemer School, providing Christian education for inner-city youth. She has served on numerous boards, including the Center for Pregnancy Choices, Neighborhood Christian Center, Mission First, and Tri-State Voluntary Agencies Active in Disasters. She has served as a Regional Advisor for PCA Women’s Ministries and as an Advisor to the PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries.

In 2005, in response to Hurricane Katrina, Sherry helped develop the ministry of MNA Disaster Response. This ministry coordinates the PCA’s response to disasters across the U.S. and Canada, making an eternal impact on thousands of lives.  After 21 years of service, Sherry honorably retired from Disaster Response.

Currently, she and Steve are partnered with Deeper Still Missions to help keep pastors and missionaries on the field. They also serve as the mentoring couple for MTW Thailand.

To an alumnus of distinct Christian character who impacts the broken world through their service to Christ and others by serving the oppressed, by advocating equality and justice, or by offering faith-based humanitarian relief.

David Moran, sensing the call to pastoral ministry at Belhaven (class of 1974), has enjoyed 45 years serving bilingual/multicultural, multi-congregational church development in Hispanic USA, and training church leaders internationally. He has mentored Spanish-speaking candidates to ordination using personally created methodologies. Moran’s D.Min. dissertation (RTS) on Hispanic American bilingual/bicultural ministry preceded his Manual on the same for MNA of the PCA. David’s pastoral work includes 20 years in inner-city Houston creating a fully bilingual Hispanic Church, and 20 years pastoring in Key Biscayne, Florida, where they added a Portuguese-speaking congregation to English and Spanish. Drawing from decades of training pastors in half a dozen Latin countries, these experiences morphed into the non-profit CITA-EDU, Inc. Clase Internacional de Teologia Aplicada, an online Master’s in Divinity program offered free to 6000 students (and growing) in 20 Spanish-speaking countries.

To an alumnus whose mature understanding of the Christian faith, has been instrumental in their commitment to build their local community.

Anne Bernice [Boney] Sietman is a 1966 Belhaven College alum who majored in Elementary Education. For the next 10 years, Bernice taught in both public and private schools, including as a self-supporting missionary in the heart of Appalachia. After marrying her husband, Dan, she enjoyed serving in their local church wherever they were stationed throughout his US Air Force career. Following his retirement from the Air Force, her husband was called to serve on the pastoral staff at their church, where they served as leaders of the College and Career class, taught pre-marital classes, and led an addiction recovery ministry for 15 years. During this time, they also became involved in jail and prison ministry. Bernice has continued to serve the incarcerated for the past 17 years, including leading a Christ-centered recovery ministry in Ohio’s women’s penitentiary and teaching a weekly Bible study to sexually abused incarcerated women in the addiction recovery unit. Bernice has taught Bible studies in her home for women coming out of addictions, neighborhood women, women in their local homeless shelter, and ministered in nursing homes.  In working with Child Evangelism Fellowship, she has taught children in neighborhoods, public parks, inner-city drug areas, and public schools. Bernice continues to serve in their local church by helping with VBS and singing in the choir. She enjoys bicycling, having ladies for brunch, traveling to state parks with her husband in their RV, and having cookouts with their children and grandchildren.