A Paris businesswoman has been named as a winner of the Sterling Awards 2025: 20 Most Influential Woman In West Tennessee. LaShonda Williams lives in McKenzie and is owner-operator of Lakeway Nutrition in Paris. She, along with Lori Dillahunty and Brittany Martin, represent Carroll County. Henry County Juvenile Court Judge Vicky Snyder also is a previous Sterling Award winner.
Dr. Margaret Taylor, president of Jackson Area Business and Professional Women, announced the winners of Sterling Awards 2025: 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee, the Outstanding Woman Military Veteran and the Sue Shelton White Award.
The 20 Most Influential Women in West Tennessee 2025 are: Carroll County, Lori Dillahunty, Brittany Martin, LaShonda Williams; Chester County, Courtney Bingham, Kim Morris; Hardeman County, Judge Harriet Thompson; Henderson County, Judge Mary Jowers; Madison County, Virginia Conger, Delois Dailey, Anita Hamilton, Mamie Hutcherson, Sarah Jones, Brenda Locke, Pam McCarty, Dr. Liz Mayo, Twana Miller, Angela Snider, Debbie Swacker; Tipton County, Rose Stemmons; Weakley County, Rafielle Freeman.
Winning the 2025 Outstanding Woman Military Veteran Award is (Ret.) U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Peg McLean.
Winner of the 2025 Sue Shelton White Award is Sara Barnett of Jackson, partner at Spragins, Barnett & Cobb, PLC.
The Sterling Awards 2025 ceremony will be held at 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 15, at the J. Walter Barnes Conference Center at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. There is no fee to attend. A reception will follow the awards presentation.
For information about nominating women for the 2026 Sterling Awards, email Jacque Hillman, editor of the Sterling Awards magazine, at jacquehillman@gmail.com.
These are highlights of LaShonda Williams’ career.
Title: Entrepreneur; owner Lakeway Nutrition and Rexair Distributor
Lives: McKenzie
Education: West Carroll High School, Jackson State Community College
Among many contributions to West Tennessee: LaShonda is a distinguished entrepreneur with over twenty-five years of experience. She has a passion for business but she is also a dedicated philanthropist and loves serving her community. LaShonda holds various positions in the community including Board Chairman of the McKenzie Special School District, Henry County Chamber Board Member, McKenzie Rotary Club Member, Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant Board Member and Judges Chairperson, Henry County Healthcare Foundation Board Member, and Miss Volunteer America Staff Member. LaShonda’s previous roles include West Tennessee PBS Board Member, Northwest Tennessee Head Start Vice-Chair and Chairperson, McKenzie Middle School Parent Advisory President, and Community Pre-K Advisory Council Member. She recently has been appointed to the Foster Care Board of Carroll County. LaShonda regularly finds a need in the community; promotes it, supports it, and acquires the entire community for help. LaShonda is frequently known for discovering families lacking and aiding them financially, providing staples, and ensuring children are cared for and schooled. LaShonda volunteers in the community wherever there is a need.
Awards, Community Leadership: LaShonda is a recent graduate of the WestStar Class of 2024, she received the C.P. Boyd award selected by the graduating class. She is also a graduated of Leadership Henry County. LaShonda has attained numerous accolades, a few include Small Business of the Year and recognition in the media for Black History Month. Additionally, she has achieved top Sales in Rainbow Cleaning System and Top Volume and Top Producer in Herbal Life.
Did you know? LaShonda is a single mother to two daughters; Alajah who is a sophomore at Middle Tennessee State University and Aleecia who is a sophomore at McKenzie High School. She was adopted at an early age and has overcome a lot of obstacles in her life. LaShonda lives on a farm and is a country girl at heart.