%20LOGO%20for%20Museum.jpg)
Board of Directors
Pure Professionalism
Ramona Mathis
President
Community Liaison
Ramona is married to Michael S. Mathis, a native of the Centertown area and they have two lovely daughters, Rachel and Abigail. They were joined in union in 1994.
Ramona is originally from Central Louisiana, where she was born and raised in Marksville, Louisiana. She is the daughter of the late Calvin P. Bernard. Her mother is Beverly M. Desselle – Bernard. She has one sister and brother. She joined the United States Air Force in 1987 after graduation and served seven years on active duty. She has been living in McMinnville, TN with her family since 1996.
She believes in the knowledge of history as she conducted a research of her family heritage and submitted her DNA with Ancestry in August of 2013. Her ancestry roots are of East Central Louisiana Acadians, Pointe Coupee, Avoyelles and French Settlers. Her ethnicity estimate results are as follows: France 39%, England & Northwestern Europe 38%, Germanic Europe 9%, Ireland & Scotland 8%, Basque (Spain) 3%, Sweden 2% and Indigenous Americas – North 1%. She has traced a paternal (on her father’s line) 6th great-grandmother, as a slave woman having a daughter with a white man. Her 5th great-grandmother, Lucile “mulatress” born in 1760 in Pointe Coupee, Louisiana. Lucile had a daughter, Suzanne (Suzan) born 1787, with Simon Bouchard, “dit” (called) LaVallee, born 1752. Suzanne is her 4th great-grandmother. Simon wrote a letter of freedom of, mulatress, Lucile on February 12, 1781.
She has been employed by the United States Department of Agriculture since September 2000.
She became an Alderwoman for the City of Centertown, where she resides, since November of 2016. She currently serves as a member of The Power of 100 Warren County and is a blood donor for the American Red Cross. She enjoys the art of painting as she picked it up as a hobby in December of 2014. She is an active member of the Bates Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church, where she serves on the Outreach Committee. She loves spending time with her family and friends. She is a strong believer of volunteer service, as we are all called to be servants.
Wally Bigbee
Building & Grounds Chair
Dr. Wallace ‘Wally’ Bigbee Sr.
Dr. Wallace Bigbee Sr. was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas and raised near Memphis, Tennessee. He earned his M.D. degree from the University of Tennessee. He received two years of Post graduate training from Erlanger Hospital and served two years as a physician in the U. S. Army.
With sons Wally Jr. and Randy, he and wife, Tuck, came to McMinnville, Tennessee as it looked like a good place to live and raise children. A new hospital was under construction and there was great need of additional physicians, having only 7 doctors for 23,000 people.
Wallace opened his office in 1961 as a Family Practitioner and attended the birth of about 800 babies, and treated patients of all ages. He practiced at Faulkner Springs, the Medical Clinic, Warren County and River Park Hospitals. Dr. Bigbee retired in 1998. Another son, Rick was born. All sons earned the Eagle Scout Award from Boy Scouts of America.
As he knew that outdoor exercise was necessary for good health, he has been active in maintaining and developing many trails in Middle Tennessee. These include work on the Cumberland Trail, trails in Short Springs Natural Area, Edgar Evans, Old Stone Fort and Rock Island Parks. He led the Savage Gulf Preservation League. Dr. Bigbee was one among many who worked to get the Savage Gulf as a State Park. He has maintained the five miles of trails on Cardwell Mountain and encouraged Eagle Scouts to do Service Projects there. He is instrumental in developing, with volunteer workers, a 2.1 mile long hiking trail along the Barren Fork River between Ramsey and Rocket Parks.
Dr. Bigbee has received many honors including Scouting’s Long Rifle and Silver Beaver Awards, and Tennessee Trails Association’s Life Achievement Award, also served 12 years on the State Conservation Committee, and 3 years on the Council for Greenways and Parks. He serves on the McMinnville Greenway Council.
The Bigbee Trail is named in his honor.
Jeff Martin
Board Member
Jeffery Martin and his wife Treva have one son Trevor and wife Morgan Martin, four grandchildren; Jaytton Baker, Amaya, Tee, and Reese Martin, and one daughter Courtney Martin.
He has been in the field of education for 38 years including serving as a classroom Teacher, Assistant Principal, and presently Director of Attendance for Warren County Schools.
His hobbies include hunting, fishing, golf, and family time.
Erin Wolford
Public Relations Chair
Erin Wolford is the daughter of Wayne and Mary Wolford. She currently lives in Memphis, Tn. Her father is a well-known community advocate, and Curator of the BHMWC. Her mother is a successful Entrepreneur with her own massage practice. She also previously worked with the WC Drug Court helping to change lives.
Erin holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from the University of Memphis. While earning her degree, she utilized her marketing skills and was able to improve key metrics for a couple local businesses. She found a passion for other cultures and how other cultures do business. This led her to take up Japanese as a second language.
Post University, Erin worked in the financial sector and then at a multinational commodities trading company. She was a Logistics Coordinator at Pure Dairy INC, U.S. division. After that she has been honing her skills in supply chain and is presently a Supply Chain Costing Analyst for Louis Dreyfus Commodities. They are a globally recognized company which she helps to optimize costs to various customers all over the world. Specifically in their Cotton Platform.
When not working, you can easily find her with her furry companion, Grizzly Bear. She is also quite the foodie and loves to try all the local eateries Memphis has to offer. Don’t get her started on who has the best BBQ!
Michael Harris
Advisor
Rev Michael Harris is the Pastor at North Hills Church of God of Prophecy. He and his wife, Munice Harris, spend countless hours helping their community of McMinnville, TN.
Felicia Smith Hernandez
Board Member
Felicia Smith Hernandez lives in Morrison, Tennessee. She graduated
from Warren County High School in 1991 and attended one year of college at
Martin Methodist College. She is the mother of two girls, Oshe and Tee and
has a son named Isaac. Felicia also has a granddaughter Amelia and a
wonderful son-in-law, Claudius.
Felicia has been involved in many small groups helping the Warren County
community, especially families. She was an active member of the McMinnville
Lions Club from 2015-2020. As part of this worldwide organization, she
helped obtain eyeglasses and hearing aids for those unable to afford these
essential medical aids. Her organization also awarded two scholarships
annually to high school seniors with hearing or vision impairments and
Felicia presented these scholarships.
Felicia was elected as a board member due to her desire to bring new ideas
to the Board, her ability to help organize events and work with the
community and also due to her quest to learn more about her history and the
history of Warren County, Tennessee.
Rebecca Roberts
Assistant Curator
Rebecca Roberts attended Bernard Highschool in 1957-1969. Native to McMinnville, she later moved to Denver Colorado, from 1969-1995.
Rebecca has had numerous jobs, among them are store manager, factory worker, nursing home, and retail just to name a few. A jack of all trades, Rebecca has a love for history and a connection to her McMinnville roots. She currently assists in all things needed at the museum, most notably, the research, archive, and collating of artifacts and collections. Her work has been pivotal in the start of the museum since its inception.
Rebecca is a parent, grandparent and great grandparent. She is the granddaughter of McMinnville entrepreneur Scipio and his wife Polly Roberts.
Tee.