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Northwest Announces New Scholarship: The Woolfolk Sisters, Judy Woolfolk Weeks and Bonnie Woolfolk Smith, Memorial Endowed Scholarship

by Sarah Ashley Smith-Hutchinson

Senatobia, MS (05/29/2026) — The Northwest Mississippi Community College Foundation is excited to announce that the Woolfolk Sisters, Judy Woolfolk Weeks and Bonnie Woolfolk Smith, Memorial Endowed Scholarship has been established and will be awarded to a student starting Fall 2026.

Both born in Tate County to Wesley and Robbie McCullough Woolfolk, the Woolfolk sisters had a long legacy in Tate County and the Senatobia community. Bonnie was born in the Arkabutla community and the family moved to Senatobia when she was two years old. At the age of eight she became "big sister" to Judy who was actually born in their childhood home in downtown Senatobia. Both girls grew up, attended Senatobia City School and other than a brief time after each were married, lived in Tate County their whole lives.

Bonnie married her high school sweetheart, Jimmy Smith of Coldwater, right out of high school. They immediately moved to San Diego where Jimmy was stationed during his time with the U.S. Navy. Upon returning to Tate County, the couple lived in Senatobia for several years before moving their family to the community of Poagville, where they resided until their two sons, Artie Smith and Randall Smith, grew up. Artie and his wife, Tina, live in Senatobia and have one daughter, Alyssa Smith Hoshell. She and her husband, Chris, have two children, Aiden and Adley. Randall and his wife, Teri, live in Hernando and have one son, Jordan Smith. Bonnie had a long career at People's Bank, now First Horizon, as the bank teller who was known for greeting everyone with a cheerful smile. Upon her retirement from the bank, she purchased the Buster Brown Children's Clothing Store in Senatobia. Once she retired, Bonnie loved spending time with her friends and family, especially the grandchildren, and even enrolled in various classes at Northwest. She and Jimmy enjoyed fishing and camping before they began helping care for their parents.

After high school, Judy attended Northwest, where she enjoyed every minute of cheering on the Rangers and was selected to serve on the Homecoming Court for two years. She married George Weeks, also from Senatobia, and they had a short stint in Starkville while he finished college at Mississippi State University. Judy and George became avid State fans and brought their "Bulldog Spirit" back to Tate County. They settled in Senatobia and chose to raise sons, John David Weeks and Bill Weeks, among family and friends. John David lives in Como with his wife, Emily, and together they have three daughters, Katie Lee Weeks, Ella Rivers, and Sims Rivers. Bill and his wife, Kellye, live in Strayhorn and together have six children Wes Weeks, Madison Weeks, Cooper Weeks, Mackensey Phelps, Skylar Weeks, and Bryson Weeks. Judy worked at Magnolia Heights School while her sons attended there. In addition to her work in the headmaster's office, she was the cheer sponsor and photographer. She then went to work for Northwest in the Financial Aid Department, where she worked for over 20 years. When Judy passed away in 2020, her Magnolia Heights School Family honored her life and service to education with a memorial tribute and dedicated the 2020 Chieftain Yearbook in her memory. In September 2021, she was recognized posthumously with the Magnolia Heights Athletic Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Woolfolk Sisters' connection with Northwest Mississippi Community College actually began as children with their father, who was one of the original security guards on the Northwest Campus. The Woolfolk Legacy with the College continued from there. First to attend was Judy from 1965 to 67. Next on campus was Bonnie's oldest son, Artie, who received a football scholarship for 1976 to 78 and her now daughter-in-law, Tina, was on the cheer team during the same two years. Bonnie's younger son, Randall, followed from 1978 to 80, on a football scholarship and his wife, Teri, attended 1980 to 82 and was also on the cheer team. Judy's oldest son, John David, hit the field on a football scholarship from 1989 to 91. Attending from 1991 to 93 was Bill, Judy's youngest son. To date, quite a few of Bonnie and Judy's grandchildren have also been a Northwest Ranger: Alyssa Smith Hoshell, Jordan Smith, Wes Weeks, Madison Weeks and Mackenzie Phelps.

The Woolfolk sisters were pillars of the community known for their kind words of encouragement. "They were the sweetest, kindest people I've ever known. Both were faithful Christians who served as teachers and more in their local churches" John David said about his mother and aunt. Bonnie and Jimmy were members of the former Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Poagville. Later in life, they attended Senatobia First Baptist. Senatobia Church of Christ was where Judy and George worshipped and where she was still attending at the time she passed away. Members of Judy's church and others who worked with her at Northwest initially started the scholarship fund in Judy's memory.

After Bonnie passed away in February 2025, her son asked that memorial gifts be directed to the Judy Woolfolk Weeks Scholarship Fund.

"My mom dearly loved her sister and they both loved Senatobia, Tate County, and Northwest," said Artie. "Our family has been shown so much love over the years, I knew giving back was the right thing to do."

Judy's son later suggested adding Bonnie's name to the scholarship, and with his brother's approval, the scholarship was renamed to include both sisters. Artie and Tina expressed how meaningful it was to visit the Foundation Office and make the final gift needed to fully endow the scholarship. They shared that both Bonnie and Judy were givers, and this scholarship will be a way to give forever. Both the Smith family and Weeks family are grateful to all who contributed in memory of their mothers. The Woolfolk Sisters, Judy Woolfolk Weeks and Bonnie Woolfolk Smith Memorial Endowed Scholarship will support a Tate County student who has at least a 2.0 grade point average.

Media Attachments

Judy Woolfolk-Weeks (left) and Bonnie Woolfolk Weeks (right). Photo provided by Artie and Tina Smith

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