“You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.”

This quote must have been written with Beverly Robertson in mind. Although the late Prime Minister Winston Churchill, who is credited with this saying, never met her, he would undoubtedly want Beverly to represent what it means.

Ask any neighbor, church member, co–worker, her sorority sisters in Delta Sigma Theta or her Links Inc. sisters, and they would all agree — this woman runs on pure energy and the ‘can do’ attitude that has followed her all of her life.

There is no mystery as how or why she was crowned Miss Melrose High School, or how she excelled at Memphis State University, or the fact that she led the corporate strategy initiatives as the Director of Marking and Communications for Holiday Inn Worldwide for 19 years. When Holiday Inns diversified, instead of moving abroad with the corporation, Beverly and her husband Howard, opened their own marketing and communications firm, TRUST Marketing.

Beverly was recruited to serve as the interim Executive Director of the National Civil Rights Museum in 1997, “My first reaction to the offer was NO! I don’t know anything about the museum industry,” she laughs.

The Board’s response was that they needed someone who understood business. No matter how many exhibits or programs a museum or any non–profit may offer, it’s still about keeping the doors open. It’s about creating funding, hiring talented and competent staff and being fiscally sound. “That was what I needed to hear.”

Eleven years later, the world has literally beaten a path to the doors of the National Civil Rights Museum, with corporations making long term financial commitments, individuals supporting the programs and most of all, the global community embracing the mission of the Museum to inspire participation in civil and human rights efforts globally through its exhibitions, collections and educational programs.

Under her leadership, The Museum has hosted President Nelson Mandela, President Bill Clinton, Bono, Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, Ruby Dee, President Mikhail Gorbachev, President Lech Walesa and Sidney Poitier to name a few. Millions of people have seen images of the Museum on television in the US and abroad.

Still today she remains humble, and the Thomas Briggs Community Service Award comes as a surprise to Beverly. “I just do what needs to be done and help who needs to be helped. That is how I was raised and that is the principle I live by along with Churchill’s quote. If you want a rewarding life you must share your talents, offer compassion and remember the most obvious common denominator: we are all God’s children.”