The General Federation of Women’s Clubs has many awards for states and clubs, but the GFWC Jennie Award is the only national honor that recognizes individual members for personal excellence.

Russellville’s GFWC Book Lovers Study Club has nominated Susie Hovater Malone for the 2024 GFWC Jennie Award.   

The award highlights clubwomen for their spirit of independence and persistence through their roles as volunteers within their clubs, representatives of their communities and as members of their families.

The award is named in honor of GFWC’s founder, Jane Cunningham Croly, who wrote for national newspapers under the pseudonym “Jennie June.”

Club members are nominated by their clubs to compete at state, regional and national levels for the Federation’s highest honor.

One clubwoman from each of the eight Regions will be honored at the 2024 GFWC Annual Convention in Chicago. All eight national GFWC Jennie Award honorees will be awarded round-trip transportation to attend the convention.

Malone has served the community through organizations such as GFWC Book Lovers Study Club; GFWC Alabama Women’s Club Board of Directors; Cultura Garden Club; Delta Kappa Gamma Alpha Upsilon Chapter; Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council; Franklin County Retired Educators Association; and Russellville Education Association, to mention a few.

She has been dedicated to making her hometown the best it could be. She has served tirelessly for Russellville’s youth, civics, church, education, society and historic preservation.

Malone is a graduate of Russellville High School and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of North Alabama. She taught in the Russellville City Schools system for 34 years, serving as RHS Yearbook/Tiger Track Newspaper sponsor; Future Business Leaders of America co-sponsor; Homecoming Court coordinator; Miss RHS Pageant director/coordinator for 33 years; varsity and junior varsity cheer coach for 10 years; and on various community, state and national committees.

Restoration of the Historic Roxy Theatre has been a major project she has been dedicated to for several years as president of the Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council.

She has supported and worked for the beautification and restoration of downtown Russellville through her membership in Cultura Garden Club and served as Every Light a Prayer for Peace chairwoman for several years.

She has been a member of Russellville First Baptist Church for years, where she is active in the adult choir; Sunday school; Women’s Ministry; Homecoming Committee as chairwoman; Vacation Bible School; mission trips with youth and senior adults; and various other church committees.

Rules for this nomination include submitting 25 pages of supporting materials, including title page and letter of introduction; statement of member’s good standing in GFWC, emphasizing her entire lifetime of service; letters of endorsement from the club’s president and from a representative from another organization; newspaper stories; and pictures.