Dixie Spencer, president of the Bolivar Branch NAACP in Hardeman County, has been named the 2026 Distinguished Award Recipient of the Charles L. White Jr. Leadership Award. The Dixie Spencer NAACP award was presented during the weekend of the organization’s 80th annual state convention, at the Freedom Awards Dinner held Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, in Memphis.
The recognition puts a spotlight on years of volunteer civil rights work in Bolivar and the surrounding Hardeman County communities, including nearby Middleton, according to a report published Monday by The Magnolia Post.
About the Dixie Spencer NAACP Award
The Charles L. White Jr. Leadership Award was created in 2002 to honor the Rev. Charles L. White Jr., who served as the NAACP’s Southeast Regional Director. Recipients are chosen for leadership in the cause of civil rights and for going beyond the call of duty to make sure the policies and principles of the NAACP show up in their own actions.
Spencer recalled White as a hard worker and a serious advocate for people, the report said.
Three Terms Leading the Bolivar Branch
Spencer is serving her third term as president of the Bolivar Branch, which she also refers to as the Bolivar-Hardeman County Branch. She has been a member of the branch for more than 20 years and also serves as secretary of the state conference, a role she said keeps her calendar full of meetings.
Under her leadership, the branch’s local work has included:
Voter registration drives to help residents get on the rolls before elections
Expungement clinics that help people learn whether old records can be cleared
Planned town hall meetings to keep residents informed about what is happening in the county, the state and their local area
“I encourage our branch members to work together and participate in what’s going on,” Spencer said in the report. She added that the work depends on people “who are willing to volunteer and be actively involved.”
Award Shared With Local Volunteers
Spencer accepted the honor in person and said she was receiving it on behalf of the branch members and volunteers who support the Bolivar Branch’s efforts as well.
The award comes at a busy time for civic groups in Hardeman County. Early voting for the Nov. 3 election begins Oct. 14 at the Hardeman County Election Commission in Bolivar, and community organizations across the county have been working to make sure residents know their options for casting a ballot.
How to Get Involved
Residents of Bolivar, Middleton and other Hardeman County communities who want to volunteer with voter registration, expungement clinics or upcoming town hall meetings can reach out to the Bolivar Branch NAACP for information about membership and upcoming events.
Tippah News congratulates Ms. Spencer on the recognition. Have a local award or milestone to share from Middleton, Hardeman County or Tippah and Benton counties in Mississippi? Send it our way.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
