Emeritus Board
The United Conference for Women began in 1976 with the vision of about 20 women, friends who has known each other since childhood and worked together in church, youth, and music ministries.

Emeritus Board Founders

Verna Holley
Emeritus President
The Lord caused UCW to grow. So we had to look for places that could accommodate our schedule, places we could afford, and places that were nearby for those who we thought would attend. We also received help from a group called Religious Conference for Meetings Association. Their Conferences helped those attending to plan successful meetings with how-to's, hotels, and the like. We agreed on the conference theme from a translation of the verse in Colossians 2:6-7 TLB, and based on that verse came up with our theme, "Daily Strength for Daily Needs."

Jeanne Johnson
Emeritus Vice President
“Participation in the United Conference for Women has been a wonderful way to fulfill my missionary dream by sharing with women how to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, and that it is possible to develop a daily walk with God. Being able to minister alongside the other members of the Executive Board, many of whom I have known since my early teens, has also been a HUGE blessing! Over the years we have shared the normal ups and downs and highs and lows of life—births, graduations, marriages, death-- and became a built-in support system for each other"

Jessie Reeder
Remembering Emeritus Board Member
“United Conference for Women is essentially a group of women who have been friends for more than 40 years. Many of us knew one another since we were 8, 9 and 10 years old. We have raised our children as a part of United Conference for Women. And many of the women who have come now are family and friends. We are united first to Jesus Christ and then to one another.”

Shirley Baker
Emeritus Board Member
“We came to understand that such a ministry was needed for 'our' ladies that would provide warm
welcomes and address the issues we face.”

Mae Lewis
Remembering Emeritus Board Member
Said in 2015 “I remember that it was too late to get our registrations into the Winning Women
Conference and we were encouraged by older women. I can remember them telling
us we could do the same thing, if we wanted to do it.” Ethel Holley, mother of Jessie Reeder, told the women: “Start your own conference.”
