About Us

League History

The Charter of the Halls Crossroads Women’s League was registered in Knox County, Tennessee, in February of 2005, and was organized exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  The League was founded by Martha Arnold-Charnay, who possessed a vision of a women’s organization that would fit this criteria.  He original Board members were:  Martha Arnold-Charnay, Janie DeLozier Branam, Brenda Stout Gratz, Alice Rucker Loy, Connie Sumter Sharpe, Mildred Bledsoe Norris, Bobbie Godfrey Wyatt, Anne Huff Payne, Anna Coleman McManus, Susie Vineyard LaRue, Sandra Massingale Smyth, Janet Smith Bower, Ellen Smith Fox, and Esta Arnold.  Martha served as president of the League in 2005 and 2006; followed by president, Carol Haynes Bayless in 2007; president, Shelba Howard Murphy in 2008 and 2009; president, Sandra Massingale Smyth in 2010; Janis Cheek Crye in 2011 and 2012; Mariblair Curby Smith in 2013; Shelba Howard Murphy in 2014 & 2015; Mary Gardner Carroll in 2016 & 2017 and current president Susan Branam Smith in 2018.

Halls Crossroads Women’s League has had an average of 75 to 85 active members throughout its existence and consists of a unique group of women who are passionate about the Halls community and gifted with energy and leadership skills.  We have roots in Halls Crossroads, love of the Halls community, and an unselfish dedication to make our community an even better place in which to live.  As stated in its Charter, our specific objectives are to arouse interest in the social, economic, educational, cultural and civic conditions of the Halls Crossroads community and to engage in activities of value in meeting charitable needs and preserving the history of Halls Crossroads.  Through an organization such as the Halls Crossroads Women’s League, varying talents and experiences are brought into strong focus on all types of community needs.

The Halls Crossroads Women’s League is very proud of its accomplishments in the past years, and hope that you have noticed and benefited from our efforts.  Our members have spent many hours of work in the areas of volunteer service, beautification, historical preservation, charitable outreach, promoting education and honoring seniors and our honorary members.  The League has provided volunteers for Tennova Residential Hospice in Halls for several years, and the hours served are innumerable.  Community Litter Cleanups are organized by the League at least two times annually, and we maintain litter pick-up for Andersonville Pike, Griffith Road and a portion of Hill Road in the county’s Adopt-A-Road program.  The League sponsored a program placing park benches in the Halls Greenway Park and throughout the community, historical markers at specified locations, a flagpole at Clayton Park as a 10-Year Anniversary project, and a covered swing in memory of Virginia Heiskell Sharp at Clayton Park.  The support of the Thomas Hall Cemetery cleaning, fencing and marker placement was a recent accomplishment that made us proud.  The HCWL Closet assists families with clothing and school supplies, and hundreds of volunteer hours are represented there.  The League is supportive of the Halls Food Pantry, Halls Welfare, and has assisted with utility bills.  Two scholarships are given each year by the League to deserving senior girls at Halls High School.  The Halls Outdoor Classroom also receives support from HCWL in efforts to encourage education.  In 2017 the League started a Jr. HCWL for girls at Halls High School to provide a means to accumulate community service hours and to assist the League in community activities.  The League meets at the Halls Senior Center monthly and is grateful for the opportunity to help there in many ways for the enjoyment of our seniors.  The League is pleased to have several Honorary Members who are from the Halls community, and who have made many contributions during their lifetime.  Honoring them is our pleasure.

The Halls Crossroads Women’s League has several fundraising projects through the year.  We have had a Dogwood Luncheon, the Chili Chowdown, rummage sales, the Annual Fall Gala, a Derby Day, Christmas Home Tour, and our largest fundraiser, the HCWL “Halls Has It” Golf Tournament in August.  In addition, we are planning to have a 5K Race and cookbook in the near future.  If you have participated in one of these, we thank you and hope to see you at one of the future events.

When you support our League, you are supporting our community.  We are dedicated to continually making a difference in our community at every opportunity.