Girl Scouts to honor Justice Sharon Lee at Trefoil luncheon

The Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians will honor retired Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon G. Lee on Thursday, October 3, at 11:30 a.m. at the 2024 Trefoil Society Luncheon held at The Foundry,747 World’s Fair Park Drive, Knoxville.

Each year, Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians pays tribute to distinguished women in the region who exemplify the spirit of Girl Scouting at the luncheons held in Knoxville, Johnson City and Chattanooga. The Knoxville luncheon will honor Justice Lee for her remarkable achievements, leadership and inspiration for future young women.

Lee earned many badges as a Girl Scout in her hometown of Madisonville before she became a trailblazer on the bench. She graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Business and College of Law and was the first woman to serve as attorney for Monroe County, the city of Madisonville, city of Vonore and as Madisonville city judge. When she was appointed to the Tennessee Court of Appeals in 2004, she became the first woman to serve on the Eastern Section of the court in its nearly 80-year history.

Lee later was appointed to the Tennessee Supreme Court in 2008 and served as chief justice from 2014-16, only the third woman to hold that honor. When Lee retired in 2023, her portrait was hung in the Tennessee Supreme Court, the first portrait of a woman to be displayed in that courtroom.

“We are excited to honor Justice Lee, a pioneer for women who demonstrates how far Girl Scouts can go,” said Lynne Fugate, CEO of the Girl Scout Council of the Southern Appalachians. “Justice Lee is a great example of a Girl Scout who grew into a distinguished leader in her field and paved the way for future generations, which is the very essence of what Girl Scouting represents.”

All community members are invited to purchase a ticket to attend the luncheon on Thursday, October 3, at 11:30 a.m. at The Foundry on the Fair site. Tickets are $75 and are available at TrefoilSociety.org.

Gretchen Crawley is chief communications officer for Girl Scouts of Southern Appalachians.