TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Dr. Robin Hickerson, Amy Thomas, Judy Morgan, Sonja Hubbard, and Trish Reed gather on August 23, 2025, for the Texas A&M-Texarkana Gourmet Dinner.
artists, clinicians, and student competitions with cash prizes. Each year, 60 to 90 students from 10 area piano teachers participate. Her role in launching the Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council reflects that practical idealism. As past president, she helped build sustainable systems for education, exhibitions, and performances. That same focus appears in her work with Texarkana Women for the Arts and supporting the Texarkana Symphony Orchestra as both patron and advocate, understanding great music does not just entertain. It inspires, educates, and connects audiences across generational and cultural divides. Some of Judy’s most impactful work happens in the spaces between, the organizations that do not make headlines but make daily life possible for the most vulnerable members of the community. Her son Ryan beautifully describes the impact of the Kelley- Morgan legacy on his life, adding a little humor just as his mom would. “My mom illustrates how you live for God and live for others. Her passion to encourage community, come together for a greater cause, and enjoy the experience while doing it leaves a lasting impression on all of those blessed to know her. She demonstrates that giving back is both a responsibility and a privilege—and nobody said it had to be boring. She has left a lasting mark on many Texarkana charities: Opportunities, Texarkana Symphony Orchestra, Race for the Cure, CASA, just to name a few. She also proved that giving time is invaluable, and she quickly became the favorite Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church, with donuts always in hand. My mom has profoundly impacted the A&M system with countless years of devotion to education, as my grandparents did, bringing together and inspiring many generations. She might have been the last one to pick me up every day from St. James, but at least I knew it was always for a good cause.” She helped establish the local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure effort, bringing resources and visibility to breast cancer
awareness and support when the disease still carried whispers and stigma. Her advocacy for CASA of Northeast Texas puts her voice behind some of the community’s most vulnerable citizens, specifically children who need trained advocates to speak up for their best interests. Often teary-eyed when speaking at a CASA event, Judy demonstrates her love and compassion for the children. As beautifully stated by her dear friend Mary Katherine Weber, “Judy Morgan’s zest for life, boundless energy, and her generous heart have literally changed the lives of tens of thousands in our community, and after years of working on so many worthwhile projects with Judy, I can honestly say that her gift of friendship has meant the most to me. To Judy’s family, her many friends, and to our community, she is and always will be irreplaceable.” Judy seems to feel the magnitude of her life’s work and aptly insists on sharing the spotlight with others. “The success of any organization that I have been a part of has been a true community effort,” she said. “At the first luncheon hosted by the Women of Hope & Courage, I looked out at the room filled with the same women who helped launch Race for the Cure. It was a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished through the bonds of friendship and shared purpose. The strength of a supportive and loving community cannot be overstated. Bonds of friendship, along with faith and family, are among life’s greatest blessings. My deepest gratitude goes to the faith passed down by my loving parents, and to the incredible family whose love continues to inspire my children, their spouses, and my precious grandchildren.” When asked how she wants to be remembered, Judy responds simply, “My legacy is being a mother and a grandmother. I want my children and grandchildren to be proud of the life I have lived, and I want God to say, ‘Well done, thy good and faithful servant.’” And if her life’s work is any measure, those words have already been written beside her name.
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COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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