03/18/2026
Thanks to generosity of Debbie Southern, the Southern Tennis Foundation launched the Mildred F. Southern Girls Leadership Program in honor of one of the section’s most impactful leaders, Mildred Southern.
Coined Southern Stars as a nod to her mom, Debbie chose to support this initiative because it complemented her mother’s goal for every child to learn to play tennis while fostering leadership skills, especially among girls.
Debbie, a proven leader herself, played at the University of Tennessee and was the Head Women’s tennis coach at Furman University from 1985-2015. She led the team to 19 regular-season championships and 16 SoCon tournament titles.
In partnership with the Women’s Sports Foundation and using the WePlay Interactive curriculum, the Southern Stars program is currently implemented in 10 NJTL chapters, with more to follow later this year. Chapters have already shared the positive impact this program is making on their female youth players. From self confidence and self awareness to communication skills, the spirit of Debbie, Mildred, and their family is being embedded in our female youth throughout the section.
