2025 Remarkable Women nominee: Women’s Honor Court

HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) — Tall, stately gates stand along the Henderson riverfront signaling you’re about to enter hallowed ground, a place of honor: The Henderson Women’s Honor Court.

Local artist and arts advocate Jule McClellan sparked the idea of the park 35 years ago.

She took her idea to Henderson County leaders and with the help of two judge executives and a fundraising committee, she turned the empty county lot into her dream.

The Women’s Honor Court was dedicated in 2014.

Surrounded by grass, plants and flowers that will explode come spring, stand eight plaques of extraordinary honor. Like Mary Willie Arvin, a Red Cross nurse, or Lucy Bakewell Audubon, married to John James Audubon.

And there are those making a difference today such as Bobbie Weathers Jarrett, the Executive Director of Henderson Housing Authority.

In the middle of these esteemed women, stands the main wall with rows of names submitted by families and friends who donated to inscribe the honor in perpetuity. And in the middle, Jule McClellan. A fitting honor for this remarkable woman who has made it her mission to uplift other women.

On June 1, a second wall honoring dozens more Henderson women will be dedicated. The donations to secure an inscription pay for park upkeep.