Jerre Parsons Williams believes in the importance of maintaining relationships and the value of volunteering.

 

Jerre is a native of Houston who continues to be involved with her friends and fellow alumni from Memorial High School. As a teenager, she volunteered for the United Way of Houston, The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show, and Texas Children’s Hospital. While attending the University of Houston, Jerre fell in love with PBS and began a long volunteer relationship with the company.

 

Now retired, Jerre was one of the highest ranking women insurance executives at Aon, formerly Alexander and Alexander. She was very involved in the insurance industry, serving at the local, regional, and national levels, and received numerous honors, including Texas Insurance Professional of the Year for Region VI, which includes Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas, in 2010, and Leadership Insurance Professional of the Year for Texas in 2009.

 

Jerre’s time is now spent in service to the community. She has been a member of Victory, a branch of the American Cancer Society, since 2001. On its board of directors, she served as president from 2018 to 2019, first vice president from 2017 to 2018, parliamentarian from 2014 to 2018, and a member-at-large from 2016 to 2017 as well as from 2019 to 2020. She was chair of the Cattle Baron’s Ball, 2017 to 2018; chair of the Holiday Shopping Card from 2007 to 2008 and from 2008 to 2009; chair of the Cattle Baron’s Ball committees from 2003 to 2021; chair of the nomination committee from 2019 to 2020; and a member of the nominating committee in 2008, 2009, 2017, and 2018.

 

HITS Theatre is another organization Jerre cares deeply about. Its mission is to deliver professional art training to all children regardless of their financial background. She served as secretary of the board of directors from 2005 to 2007; chair of the events committee in 2004, 2006, and 2010; chair of the finance committee in 2008 and 2009; a member of the board development committee in 2002, 2007, 2008, and 2010; chair of the Tent Party at Miller Outdoor Theatre from 2007 to 2009; a member of the board of directors from 2001 to 2010; and has been a member of the advisory board since 2010.

 

Jerre has been a member of The Houston Junior Forum, a non-profit women’s organization committed to providing charitable service for children, youth, women, and senior adults in the greater Houston area, since 1992. On its board of directors, she served as president from 2001 to 2002, vice president of fundraising and development from 2000 to 2001, vice president of membership from 1999 to 2000, parliamentarian from 2005 to 2006, and secretary from 1998 to 1999. She was also gala chair for 2010 and 2011, luncheon chair for 2005, and gala committee advisor for 2001. As well, she has been a member of the past presidents council since 2011.

 

Other venerable organizations Jerre is currently, or has been, involved with are: Women of Distinction; American Cancer Society, Gulf Coast & East Texas; Houston Symphony League, for which she has served as VP finance, a member of its executive board, and 2022 Houston Symphony Ball underwriting cochair; Junior Forums Inc.; Memorial Women’s Club; Cornerstone Family Ministries; Catholic Charities; Memorial High School; Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation; and Mission of Yahweh. She also supports numerous other community organizations through volunteer work, membership, and charitable donations and is on the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation 2022 Winter Ball leadership team.

 

In recognition of her commitment to so many, Jerre is a 2022 American Cancer Society Holiday Shopping Card Honouree; was named one of Houston’s Women of Distinction for 2019; was the recipient of the Yellow Rose of Texas Award in 2011; was named Volunteer of the Year, 2005 for the Houston Independent School District; and received Outstanding Community Service Organization, Association for Fundraising Professionals in 2001.

 

Jerre and her husband, Dennis, celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in September 2021. Their son, D. W., lives in Newport Beach with his spouse, Sokha Song. Jerre loves to cook, Creole and French cuisine, especially; read and watch murder mysteries; decorate; and travel with her husband. She is also a self-described car nut, mad about vintage Mercedes Benz and other vintage cars. Her penchant for vintage has carried over into a collection of vintage jewelry.

 

Jerre says of her volunteer work that she loves helping and meeting new people, and that she has been blessed with getting to know so many lovely hard-working ladies, all striving to help.

 

It is for all the reasons mentioned above, and many more, that Jerre Parsons Williams has been named a Top 20 Inspiring Woman Impact Maker for 2022.