Dr. Abigail S. Newsome, Director of BioInformatics at Mississippi Valley State University, was recently awarded the Beverly Burton New Board Member of the Year at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Southeast Regional Conference in Montgomery, Alabama, last week.
Last December, Newsome was voted as Chair of the Corporate Board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta. The Board helps support and promote awareness for the eight clubs within the organization. The organization is responsible for eight Delta area Boys & Girls Clubs. With locations in Tunica, Clarksdale, Jonestown, Grenada, Itta Bena, Greenwood, Lexington, and Yazoo City, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta served over 2,200 children last year with the after-all schools.
Newsome is a native of Itta Bena and received her B.S. from MVSU and her Ph.D from the University of Southern Mississippi. She has served on the Local Advisory Committee for the Boys & Girls Club at MVSU and the Corporate Board for the past two years. She also works closely with the Office of International Programs at MVSU to support international students and secure study abroad opportunities for MVSU students. She is married to Dr. Albert L. Love and they have one son, Christopher (Christiana) and two grandsons.
“We have benefitted greatly from Dr. Newsome’s leadership, vision, and active involvement with our management team,” said Boys & Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Delta CEO, David Dallas. “The Burton Award is one of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s highest honors.”
The award was named for Beverly Burton who was a long-time Board Member and volunteer for the Boys & Girls Clubs in Mobile, Alabama. She was later appointed to the National Area Committee by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to help support clubs in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. She was killed in a plane accident in 2006 after giving a speech in Natchez, MS, on behalf of the Boys & Girls Clubs. A scholarship program for club kids also bears her name.
"I had the opportunity to serve with Beverly Burton years ago when I worked with the Boys & Girls Clubs in Mobile, Alabama." said Clyde McGuire, Director of Development for Boy & Girls Clubs of America. "Dr. Newsome embodies the spirit of Beverly Burton. She is truly making a difference for the young people in the Mississippi Delta."
The Beverly Burton award was presented to Dr. Newsome by fellow Mississippian Jon Anderson, former CEO of the Wealth Management Fund for Trustmark Bank. Anderson serves on the Board for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi and serves on the National Area Council of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.