Beam receives Broyhill award

Throughout history, women have worked hard to attain the rights they have today, but those rights didn't come without much struggle and sacrifice.

Several members of the community and Caldwell County education system joined the Caldwell County Council for Women at Cedar Rock Country Club Wednesday afternoon to celebrate Helen Beam, a woman who has made a difference in the community and this year's Satie Broyhill Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.

The Satie Broyhill Lifetime Achievement Award is named in honor of Satie Broyhill, who also helped pave the way for women in Caldwell County and beyond.

“Because of the many community and civic contributions she made during her lifetime, it is highly appropriate for the Caldwell Council for Women to have named this award for Satie Broyhill,” said Dr. Sharon Pennell, vice-chairwoman for the Caldwell County Board of Education.

The award is designed to recognize individuals who have exemplified Broyhill's ideals and made contributions in Caldwell County in the areas of education, youth issues, programs designed for child development, promotion of cultural events, development of more productive, involved and responsible citizens, and county beautification.

The keynote speaker at the event was Chief District Court Judge Robert Brady, who spoke about the journey women in history have made toward equality. Brady discussed The Declaration of Sentiments, a document signed in 1848 at the first women's rights convention in Seneca Falls, N.Y. At the convention, women demanded to be acknowledged and respected by society and to share the same rights as men, using the Declaration of Independence as a model.

“(The Declaration of the Seneca Falls Convention) was signed by 100 people; 32 were men,” Brady said. “It changed the way women were viewed in society.”

Caldwell County Council for Women President the Rev. Betty Suddreth said the awards are one of the ways the organization supports education.

“This is what our board is all about,” Suddreth said. “It's great to see great women doing great things. We're all about education, and I'm going to do everything in my power this year to get more money for scholarships than we've ever gotten. I want to see more people in Caldwell County work toward having our children get an education.”

Beam will join previous winners of the award, including Eloise Setzer, Janet Wilson and Dr. Caryl Burns. When Linda Coffey announced this year's winner, she referred to Beam as a woman of great character, faith and morals.

“She is a retired school teacher, and her life-long profession has been in education,” Coffey said.

Coffey said Beam's service in the area of education, community causes and youth development embody Broyhill's philosophy of life.

“She is a very loving and caring lady,” Coffey said. “I can think of no other person as deserving as her to receive the Satie Broyhill Lifetime Achievement Award.”

The award was presented by Suddreth, who called Beam her “example of a woman.”

Beam humbly accepted the award as a servant of the Lord and said she did not view herself as worthy of such an honor.

“I feel very blessed to have been a part of Caldwell County Schools and Caldwell County itself,” Beam said. “I have learned a lot. I will give (God) all the honor and glory for anything I've ever done because I could not do any of it without Him.”

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