Coweta County Citizen of the Year Nominees Announced
From Staff Reports
The Coweta County Citizen of the Year award ceremony will be held January 25, 2024. The prestigious event is sponsored by the Kiwanis Clubs of Coweta County.
It will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Newnan Centre.
The award honors an individual showing outstanding leadership and citizenship within the community, someone who has demonstrated exemplary vision, civic pride, and a strong commitment to a better Coweta. A nominee is selected by previous COTY winners. The 2023 winner was Cynthia Bennett.
Below are the 10 nominees for Citizen of the Year:
• April Anderson – Since 2016, April’s Backpack Buddies of Georgia has served school children with meals for the weekends. Currently, Backpack Buddies serves more than 1,300 children each week. Her charity of choice is Coweta Community Foundation – Coweta Street Park Initiative.
• Dee Berry – She is a founding member of the Grantville Kiwanis Club. Dee has served on several committees and is a member of the Grantville City Council. Her charity of choice is the Grantville Kiwanis Club.
• Pat Craven – Retired from the school system after more than 30 years, Pat has served on many civic, non-profit and cancer organizations. Her charity of choice is The Cancer Support Group.
• Pamela Gabel – Is the founder of the Sustainable Housing Task Force and spearheads the Coweta Nonprofit COVID response and Non-profit Tornado Response weekly meetings. She is also very active in the American Red Cross. Her charity of choice is the Southern Arc Dance Theater.
• Dean Jackson – Heads up public relations for the Coweta County School System and a former president of the Newnan-Coweta Chamber of Commerce. His charity of choice is the Coweta Community Foundation.
• Doug Kees – A longtime musician who has taught guitar throughout the county, as well as traveling nationally with big name acts. He is the owner of Musicology, which has taught thousands of students and adults how to play various instruments. His charity of choice is The Donald W. Nixon Centre of the Performing and Visual Arts.
• Gerald Kemp – A senior executive with Ameris Bank, he has worked extensively with youth in the Coweta County School System. He is former president of the Newnan Rotary Club, United Way and former chairman of Elevate Coweta.
• Dr. Jaami Rutledge – Is a long-time member of the Newnan Cultural Arts Commission. She has worked extensively on improving and upgrading the Wadsworth Auditorium and bringing music and art performances to Greenville Street Park. Her charity of choice is Bridging the Gap.
• Chris Stephens – Is the chief executive officer for Coweta-Fayette EMC. He is a strong supporter of the utility’s Operation Round Up, which allows members to “round up” their bill to the next dollar. That money is then used to promote a wide range of non-profits and students. His charity of choice is Operation Round Up.
• Robert Guy Ward – Is with Atlantic Bay Mortgage. He has served as president of the Newnan Coweta Board of Realtors, Habitat for Humanity and the Coweta County Fellowship of Christian Athletes. His charities of choice are Habitat for Humanity and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The deadline to purchase tickets for the event is Friday, January 13. Tickets are $50 and tables are available at $400 and $500. Contact Nancy Walden at 770-596-6428 or [email protected].
The Newnan Centre is located at 1515 Lower Fayetteville Road, Newnan.
