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2014 Visionary Woman: Vivian Anderson Castleberry

The annual “Visionary Women” luncheon presented by Juliette Fowler Communities was held Tuesday at the Dallas Convention Center.

While guests enjoyed lunch prepared by Omni Dallas Hotel, they were welcomed by WFAA-T.V Anchor Ron Corning, who emceed the program.

Located in the Lakewood neighborhood of Dallas at 1234 Abrams Road, Juliette Fowler Communities is the only intergenerational residential community in Dallas. It provides a loving, Christian environment to senior citizens, those living independently or in need of assistance; long and short-term rehabilitation care; foster care residences for children under age 18; and the newly constructed “Ebby House,” which provides a residential home and mentoring programs for young women who have aged out of foster care. Juliette Fowler Communities is affiliated with the Christian Church. (Disciples of Christ)

The 2014 “Visionary Woman” was Vivian Anderson Castleberry and the recipient of the newly established faith and service award was Texas Christian University student, Effie Husbands.

Guest speakers included other Dallas women of vision, Kevin Ann Willey, vice president and editorial page editor of the Dallas Morning News and local icon, Gloria Compos, who spent nearly thirty years at WFAA-TV (Ch 8).

 Vivian Castleberry was a Texas Trailblazer in a city known for a “male dominated business culture,” Willey said. When met with opposition, Castleberry chose to go “over, under or around.”

Campos said that Castleberry paved the way for women. As a young journalist from Harlingen, Texas, Campos said she often wondered if she should have even come to Dallas, but that Castleberry encouraged her to stay, telling her that she could do whatever she set her mind to do.

 In 1956 Vivian Castleberry was a news reporter in an era when there were few women in the industry.

 She became the first editor of the Dallas Time Herald Women’s News — a section of the paper normally devoted to brides, weddings and feminine topics. However, Castleberry began writing about child care, women’s health and other issues plaguing women of the 1950s. 

 The name of that section of the paper devoted to women was changed from “Women’s News” to “Living” under Castleberry’s editing.

 She was also the first woman to use the title “Ms.” when appropriate in her editorials.

 After retirement from the Dallas Times Herald, Castleberry began a new career as activist and humanitarian in the community. She wrote four books and she was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.

 She was founder of the Women’s Center of Dallas, The Dallas Women’s Foundation, the Greater Dallas Community of Churches,  Peacemakers Incorporated and she co-founded the Family Place — the first women’s shelter in Dallas.

 At age 91 Castleberry is still active in the community, saying that she just doesn’t have time to retire.

 She is also a very entertaining speaker, proven at Tuesday’s luncheon. When talking about her late husband, Curtis Castleberry, she shared how he would encourage her to do whatever she wanted to do and promised to help her accomplish it. “He always did” she said, “although I had to sometimes remind him.”

 As Castleberry spoke to the audience, there was a reaffirmation for all mothers and grandmothers, “girls with dreams, become women with vision.”

 “I was raised in East Texas during the Great Depression, but my mother kept the vision of college alive. She never said 'if' you go to college, but 'when' you go to college. She was the most influential person in my life.” Castleberry said. Following her mother's guidance,  Castleberry did attend college at the prestigious Southern Methodist University.

This year’s “Visionary Woman” and others like her are role models for women across America.

 

Visionary Women lunch Castleberry and Willey.jpg
Pastor and members of Central Christian attending
Wednesday, 14 May 2014