LAWTON — Mayor Stan Booker recently honored three citizens for going above and beyond for the Lawton Fort Sill Community every day.
Lawton citizens Adriene Davis, Barbara Curry and Wyonna Alberty were recognized as “Extra Mile Heroes” in honor of “Extra Mile Day” on Nov. 1, a day when the country celebrates the capacity for individuals to create “amazing and positive change in ourselves, our families, our organizations and our communities.”
Davis, founder of Hungry Hearts Feeding Ministry; Curry, founder and CEO of Women That VOTE Arts Corporation; and Alberty, member of Lawton’s Race Relations Commission, all volunteer their time and efforts through various initiatives in the community, while advocating for positive change and growth.
Here are short biographies of the three women, supplied by the city of Lawton:
Adriene Davis
Adriene Davis was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and came to Lawton the way many people do – via the military. After more than 30 years, Lawton is her home.
Davis was primarily raised by her grandmother, who instilled in her a passion for cooking and for taking care of other people. Davis’ love for feeding people was reflected in many ways, from feeding soldiers who could not make it home for the holidays to launching the Hungry Hearts Feeding Ministry.
The inspiration for Hungry Hearts came in 2015, when Davis saw a young man who was begging for food one day, with his family sleeping in a car in a store parking lot. The encounter opened Davis’ eyes, and the idea for Hungry Hearts was born.
Hungry Hearts’ mission is to stop hunger in Lawton by providing resources to needy people, promoting growth and sustainability. The organization provides free meals, and groceries as needed, to elderly people, homeless people, veterans and anyone who needs some help to get by.
Hungry Hearts also provides personal hygiene items and a prayer for those who ask.
A donor gave the old American Legion building to Hungry Hearts in 2019, but the building needed an upgrade and new kitchen equipment. Thanks to the hard work of Davis and Hungry Hearts, the renovated building opened to the public in September.
Donations may be picked up and dropped off at the site, and Hungry Hearts has a full kitchen. Two hydroponic towers allow volunteers to grow produce year-round.
Davis also volunteers around the community, in addition to her work with Hungry Hearts.
Barbara Curry
Originally from west Philadelphia, Barbara Curry and her family have called Lawton home since 1995.
Curry served in the U.S. Army Reserves, where she met her husband, Leon. She ran a successful home daycare for 10 years.
Curry began volunteering as a candy striper in Philadelphia when she was 15. Her work led to many more years dedicated to helping other people, and she began volunteering nearly everywhere she could make a difference in someone’s life.
Starting with every nursing home in Lawton, Curry also dedicated her service to church; Comanche County Memorial Hospital as a patient advocate; Hospice of SW Oklahoma; the Great Plains Chapter of the American Red Cross as a caseworker and action disaster team leader; Aspire Home Health and Hospice; and the Lawton Chamber of Commerce.
Curry spearheaded the Senior Preparedness Project for Lawton and surrounding areas, and she often gives presentations for the elderly at the Center for Creative Living. She also volunteers as a delivery driver for the Center for Creative Living, delivering meals to homebound seniors.
Curry is a member of Lawton Business Women and serves on the executive board for the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women and the Lawton Philharmonic Orchestra. She has been involved with the Lawton Chamber of Commerce Red Coat Ambassadors, Leadership Lawton and other organizations.
She is the founder and CEO of Women that VOTE.
Curry’s community service awards include American Red Cross Volunteer of the Year, Comanche County Woman of the Year, the American Red Cross Hope Award and the Sheila O. Lee Volunteer of the Year Award from the Lawton-Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce.
Wynonna Alberty
Wynonna Alberty was born into a military family at Ft. Still Station Hospital. She is retired from civil service and lives in Ward 5, and she is a four-time cancer survivor.
Alberty’s past volunteer services include:
• Cast member of the Holy City Passion Play.
• Chairwoman of the Douglass Elementary Head Start Parent Committee.
• One of the original members of the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women.
• The first African-American president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary 563.
• Past chaplain for the VFW District 14 Auxiliary and 5263 Auxiliary.
Alberty’s current volunteer activities include serving on Lawton’s Race Relations Commission, assisting with distribution for the Kaleo Foundation for Veterans and working as a mediator at the Comanche County Courthouse. She also coordinates the Angel Tree and Turkey Ministries for Bethlehem Baptist Church.