Judge Tammy Stokes

Honored to have been a guest of Anthony Phillips and my cousin and soror, Dr. Donna Bowers Phillips, as she hosted an unforgettable evening. The elegance in that room, shared with my sorors, was unmatched, and the band Soul Sessions? An absolute highlight! I also left with a powerful piece of history: the late Sol C. Johnson and the late Sidney A. Jones were among the founding members of Savannah State University's chapter of Omega Psi Phi.

Adoption hearings are the BEST! There is nothing quite like watching a family become official. Pure love. Pure joy. Pure purpose.

Attended the 2026 Juneteenth Dreams Fulfilled Scholarship Gala and loved reconnecting with familiar faces while meeting new ones. The best part of the evening was celebrating my friend Lillian Grant‑Baptiste as one of the honorees. Grateful to be part of a night that honors history and community.

Happy Monday!

Every Monday is a choice. A choice to rise before the noise starts. A choice to silence the voice that says "not yet." A choice to show up, not when conditions are perfect, but because you decided that today is the day.

Excuses are comfortable. They're familiar. They hold you back quietly, convincingly, one postponed decision at a time.

But here's what I know to be true: strength isn't the absence of doubt. It's the decision to move anyway.

The most successful people didn't wait until they were no longer fearful. They learned to act anyway. They built the habit of embracing discomfort and over time, that habit became their identity.

So today, I challenge you to think about your excuses. Not to judge them, but to understand them. Because on the other side of every excuse is a sharper, more resilient, and more capable version of yourself than you believed possible.

Be stronger than your excuses. Not just today, but everyday.

The 5th Women in Business Conference was absolutely amazing! Hearing the different stories and perspectives reminded me why we show up, keep pushing, and lift each other along the way. To every woman in that room, thank you for your transparency and your strength. We are truly better together!

to 60 years of purpose and impact! Happy 60th Anniversary to Goodwill Southeast! 60 years of good people doing good work, transforming lives and strengthening communities one person at a time. I am so proud to be a small part of this incredible mission.

There is something powerful about casting a vote for yourself. It means you believe in what you stand for and the people you serve.

Happy Monday!

This quote has always reminded me that audacious goals aren't just about the destination, they're about who we become in the process.

When we aim high, we push ourselves beyond what feels comfortable. We build resilience. We discover capabilities we didn't know we had. And even if we don't hit that original target, we end up somewhere extraordinary. We end up far beyond where we would have landed if we would have played it safe.

Too often, we limit ourselves before we even start. We think "that's too hard" or "who am I to aim that high?" But here's the truth: Growth lives outside your comfort zone.

This week, challenge yourself to set one goal that feels just slightly out of reach. Not reckless, but bold. Not guaranteed, but worth pursuing.

Because the real risk isn't in aiming too high and missing, it's in aiming too low and hitting.

What an honor to be part of the 7th Annual Pastors and Community Leaders Appreciation Luncheon hosted by Curtis V. Cooper Primary Health Care, Inc.

Grateful to share the room with Pastor Charles P. Roberson Sr., D. D., Pastor Yolanda Roberson, Commissioner Buford, SSU President Dr. Jermaine Whirl, Dr. Aimee Bellmore, Ph.D., and Dr. Eric Mason, true pillars of our community.

Thank you to CVC for continuing to honor those who serve and uplift us.

Happy Monday!

Sometimes the most powerful advice is also the simplest:

Begin.

Not tomorrow. Not when you have all the answers. Not when conditions are perfect.

Today. Now. With what you have.

That project you've been putting off? Begin.
That difficult conversation? Begin.
That skill you want to learn? Begin.
That goal that feels too big? Begin.

We spend so much time waiting for the right moment that we miss the most important truth: the right moment is the one where you decide to start.

You don't need to see the entire staircase. You just need to take the first step. Clarity comes through action, not before it.

Every expert was once a beginner. Every success story started with someone who simply chose to begin: messy, imperfect, uncertain, but moving forward anyway.

Whatever you've been waiting to start, this is your sign. Begin today.