Eldra White, recently retired executive director, Memphis City Beauiful, is the recipient of Keep Tennessee Beautiful鈥檚 2026 Love Where You Live Award. White was recognized for her decades-long contribution to litter-prevention, community greening, and volunteer mobilization. KTnB Executive Director Missy Marshall presented the award during this year鈥檚 official kick-off of Keep Tennessee Beautiful Month, the Greatest American Cleanup and awards luncheon held in Memphis.
鈥淚t was a privilege to serve as executive director at Memphis City Beautiful for more than 30 years and it is an honor to receive this special award,鈥� White said. 鈥淚 have lived in Memphis my entire life and am fortunate to be part of a caring community who works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for all Memphians and helps make the city I love more beautiful.鈥�
Eldra White served as executive director of Memphis City Beautiful, dedicating the past three decades of her career to environmental stewardship and community improvement. Under White鈥檚 leadership, the organization supported more than 500 community cleanups annually, engaged thousands of volunteers and removed significant amounts of litter and debris from public spaces. Her role included program development, partnership building, volunteer coordination, and public outreach. White鈥檚 work is rooted in decades of practical leadership, strategic planning, and her ability to mobilize residents toward shared environmental goals, making her a respected environmental leader in Tennessee.
In 2019, White helped launch the 鈥�901 Keep It Clean鈥� anti-litter campaign, a citywide effort focused on education, behavior change, and civic pride. She supported urban forestry initiatives, including a 2022 partnership with One Tree Planted that resulted in the planting of 100 native trees in underserved neighborhoods. White consistently exceeded her formal duties by mentoring volunteers, assisting on-site during cleanups, and helping neighborhoods sustain improvements. Her leadership empowered residents, strengthened partnerships, and created lasting environmental and community benefits.
鈥淓ldra White鈥檚 contribution to litter prevention and environmental education is immeasurable,鈥� Executive Director Missy Marshall, Keep Tennessee Beatuiful, said. 鈥淗er leadership, environmental impact, and commitment to community engagement created a lasting legacy of cleaner, greener, and more engaged neighborhoods across Memphis and Shelby County, Tennessee. She is a champion.鈥�
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