By Alaina Denean | The Selma Times-Journal

Local celebrity and famous storyteller, the late Kathryn Tucker Windham, became a permanent part of history Thursday when she was inducted into the Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame at Judson College in Marion

At the ceremony, Windham’s son, Ben Windham, and her daughter, Dilcy Windham Hilley unveiled a new plaque that features, a portrait of Windham and a short biography.

“She was Kathryn Tucker Windham to a lot of people, [but] she was mother to me,” Hilley said. “It’s just such a privilege and just such an honor for our family.”

When the plaque was unveiled, a room full of people stood to their feet to honor Windham, who touched the lives of so many.

She was an avid storyteller, playwright, photographer, popular public television and radio personality and author of 29 books.

She began her career at the age of 12 and worked at multiple newspapers throughout her life, including The Selma Times-Journal.

After retiring from journalism, Windham founded the Tale Tellin’ Festival in Selma that continues as an annual event.

Windham joined the ranks of Helen Adams Keller, Julia Strudwick Tutwiler, Amelia Gaye Gorgas, Tallulah Bankhead, Mildred Westervelt Warner and others in the Hall of Fame Thursday. Hilley could not be more thrilled to have her mother recognized alongside these women.

“There are women that you’ve read about in history books that you’ve heard about all your life. For my mother to be a part of that group of women, is pretty amazing for me,” Hilley said. “It’s just a shame that somebody has to be deceased for two years before they can be inducted because she would have enjoyed the day so much. But, the family is just so pleased by this and so happy that she was recognized.”

The keynote speaker for the event was Congresswoman Terri Sewell, a Selma native and the U.S. Representative for Alabama’s 7th congressional district. Sewell expressed the value of storytelling and told stories herself of her childhood in Selma and her time in the halls of Congress.

Sewell’s first job was a storyteller at the Selma and Dallas County Public Library, and she attributes that to much of her success.

“I’d like to think growing up in Selma and telling those stories at the Dallas County Public Library and telling those stories around the world has helped me be a better law maker and policy maker,” Sewell said. “If we don’t tell our stories, others will tell our stories and they may not get it right. We have to tell our stories. That’s what Kathryn Tucker Windham taught us.”