Haynes named ACCG’s Emory Greene Leadership Award winner
Early commissioner honored at ACCG conference in Savannah
By Terry Lewis
ARLINGTON — Early County Commissioner and Arlington native Jeffery Haynes was honored at the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s annual conference in Savannah last week. Haynes was awarded the association’s 2018 Emory Greene Leadership Award.
There are two different awards given each year at the conference: the Emory Greene Leadership Award and the Jerry R. Griffin Excellence in Public Service Award.
The Emory Greene Leadership Award recognizes a county commissioner who has made significant contributions at the state and local levels.
“I am humbled because the great citizens in Early County, my fellow commissioners — Charlie Sol, Ladonne Durham, Taylor Bridges and June Merritt — all the county employees, including County Administrator Spencer Mueller and Road Department Superintendant Greg Weathersby, played a major role in this,” Haynes said. “This award is for the people who continue to stand with me as we try to make our communities and our county the best place in the state to live in. To all my family and friends, thanks for your prayers and support.
“Keep ignoring the distractions and let’s move forward. God bless you, and God bless Early County.”
The ACCG conference was about people coming together from across the state to share perspectives about issues facing their communities in a forum provided by ACCG.
Haynes was the first African-American elected to the Early County Commission.
The Emory Greene Leadership Award is named in honor of late Bibb County commissioner. As Chairman of the Board, Greene was recognized as an outstanding leader in his home county, but he was also admired as a statewide leader in his service on numerous boards and commissions. Georgia has a total of 810 commissioners in its 159 counties.
Haynes has served as chairman of Early County’s Public Safety Board, the Regional Commission, is a volunteer coach and sponsor of the Early County Recreation Department. He is founder of the Arlington Ceola-Alexander Prayer Breakfast, pastor of the Saint Mathis and New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, president of the Early County Ministerial Fellowship, president of the county’s Fifth Sunday Fellowship, founder of The Basketball Club, and has served on numerous ACCG committees.
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