The Southern Crescent Chorale’s 2006-07 season concludes on May 19 at 8:15 p.m. at The Villages Amphitheater, when the chorale will perform "The Fabulous Fifties."

Thanks to my good friend, Nathan Mathews, editor of the "Georgia Genealogical Quarterly," another 19th century sheriff has been found.

He was doing some research for a friend the week that part one of the sheriff's story came out, and it seems their ancestor was one Abner Coker, sheriff about 1850.

We find him in the 1840 and 1850 census, and that in 1849 he married Jane Veal. In 1860 they seem to have disappeared.

Volunteers from Fayette County were among those helping strengthen the community as part of the 19th annual National & Global Youth Service Day. Across the metro area, an estimated 4,500 Hands On Atlanta volunteers participated in over 60 youth-led service projects that address literacy, hunger, public safety, the environment, and other important issues in their communities. National & Global Youth Service Day is sponsored locally by The Coca-Cola Company, and State Farm Companies Foundation serves as the national presenting sponsor.

This month Fayette Senior Services (FSS) joins senior service organizations and older adults across America in commemorating Older American's Month.

Stay in School! Transfer your credit! GMC is enrolling students for classes that start MAY 29th, 2007 for eight weeks. Day, night, and weekend classes are available to suit all schedules.

The Sandy Creek Junior Varsity and Varsity Math Teams have been accumulating some wins over the last few months.

The South Metro Rose Society will be presenting its 22nd annual Rose Show on May 19 and 20 at Hood Avenue Elementary School in Fayetteville. The show is open to the public at no charge. In 2006, over 300 blooms and rose arrangements were entered into competition by area rosarians.

By Jeff Mullin
Special to The Citizen

Carl Crane was the best at what he did.

The Texas native was an aviation pioneer, an early proponent of instrument flight and an instructor pilot who flew the first fully automatic instrument landing.

Mother of the Year - 61+ winner

Our inspiration

Submitted by Cecilia Taylor

My mom was born the seventh child of nine in 1917 to a South Georgia homebuilder (James) and his hard-working wife Alice. The depression happened and they moved to Florida in an old Model T, with seven kids, and a mattress and all other belongings tied on top. There they bore two more children and raised their family, built houses, ran a boarding house for the railroad workers, and became the centerpiece for summer vacations and Christmas celebrations for a house full of grandkids! She showed us that love takes sacrifices and spans many generations.

Mother of the Year 40-60 winner

One of a kind

Submitted by Christie Philyan

My mom should definitely be chosen as Mother of the Year. She has taken on the role of “Mom” all over again.

My sister passed away in 1997 and left behind two beautiful young ladies ages 8 and 9. She never skipped a beat as to what she needed to do.

Mother of the Year - UNDER 40 age winner

The best mama

Submitted by Maygan Barnett

I think my Mama is the BEST mama in the world! She doesn’t make me go to school. She homeschools me. I love being at home with her. She helps me with a problem in math. Even if it takes me all day, she will not get frustrated with me.

See the nine mother's day contest finalists entries in the following posts.

‘An angel to our family’

Chetayla McGruder - 35, Peachtree City

Chetayla is the proud mother of our four children: Nia, 7; Whitney, 4; and twins Zoe and Zion, 7 months old. She is the step mom of two: Jacquinita, 20 and Ronald, Jr., 15; and the grandmother of three: Zykerria, 5; Anterrio, 6; and Jacquez, 3 months old. She prides herself on watching them all grow and making a lasting footprint on their lives, and mine as well. She takes the time out to laugh, talk and play with all of them at their individual stage and level of development.

‘Doing what is right’

Sheila McKenzie - 69, Peachtree City

A new “democratic socialist” Jamaican government made it illegal to depart Jamaica with any money, resulting in a drastic lifestyle reduction for my parents when we came to American in 1977. They moved us here solely to ensure our future higher education. Education was always the family focus. Our American neighborhood was chosen based on the school system, not our limited income. We had to move every time the rent increased just to stay in that school district. That first winter had a record snowstorm. We got new winter clothes, while she simply wore thermal underwear the Jamaican clothes.

Jennifer McKinley
36, Peachtree City

My wife, Jennifer, is the best mother I have had the pleasure and privilege to know and love. My children’s life is her life. Their world is her world. Their life is full of happiness because she is their sunshine and their rain. As days come and go, I know she will be there to warm their hearts and minds with a gentle, warm sunshine and sooth their soul with a cool, cleansing rain caressing their hurts and embracing their fears.

- Kevin McKinley

‘Always there for me’

Joan Neal - 79, Fayetteville

My mother has always been there for me. As a child, she showed me how to ride a bike, climb a tree, dig for worms, make mud pies, build a fort out of pine straw and lots of other fun things. When I started cheering for the Blue Devils, she was always at my games. I started playing basketball at Fayette County High School and she was always there yelling for me and my team. As I became a new mother, she stayed with me to show me the tricks of being a good mother. Now that I have moved back home, I can say, being home with my mother is a joy that every daughter should treasure.

- Kathy Neal Brown

‘One of the best!’

Ernestine Simmons - 78, Peachtree City

Someone once said that God couldn’t be everywhere, so He created mothers. Well, He gave our family one of the best! My mother-in-law, Ernestine Simmons, has been taking care of other all her life.

‘A great role model’

Peggy Thomas - 46, Fayetteville

Her talent has been instrumental at helping kids struggling academically in her roles as a trained Fayette County Parent Liaison and as owner and director of our tutoring service.

‘Family go-to person’

Marie Washburn - 67, Peachtree City

After 30+ years in education and getting three kids through college and married, Mom retired. But what a retirement it has been! The greatest beneficiaries of Mom’s time are her family. Mom is the family go-to person. Even after great personal loss with the deaths of both of her brothers and her sister within six months last year, Mom still puts the needs of her children and grandchildren ahead of her own needs.

- Kristi Rapson

‘Leading by example’

Susan Webber - 56, Peachtree City

I remember our mom working hard, and there were those rare days and nights when we couldn’t be with her, but I also remember having everything my heart desired. I still can’t figure out how she did it. She stayed up nights and created artful, tender messages of love, featuring our favorite toys or cartoons, on napkins to go in our school lunches.

‘A+’

Jeanie Wyper - 59, Peachtree City

Two years ago our youngest son (living out of state) got a divorce after five years of marriage. Jeanie did not hesitate to help care for our grandsons. She traveled every two weeks to care with love for her grandsons, then back home to Georgia to maintain our home.

• Andrew Zheng, of Peachtree City, has been named among the first group of Merit Scholarship winners in 2007. Approximately 1,000 outstanding high school seniors have won Merit Scholarship awards financed by some 300 companies, foundations, and other business organizations. These scholars were selected from finalists in the 2007 National Merit Scholarship Program who meet the criteria of their scholarship sponsors. Zheng was awarded a National Merit Northrop Grumman Scholarship. Northrop Grumman Corporation, based in Los Angeles, Calif., is a global corporation primarily serving the defense and electronic systems requirements of governments, commerce, and industry in the U.S. and friendly nations around the world. Northrop Grumman Corporation annually supports Merit Scholarship awards for the sons and daughters of employees. Zheng, a student at Starr's Mill High School in Fayetteville, plans to have a career in medicine or healthcare profession.

Fayette County was laid out as a result of the Creek Indian Treaty of 1821. The first officers of the county were probably simply chosen among the few hundreds of people who had first arrived. The state of Georgia decreed that each new county must locate its county seat equidistant in the county.

The public is invited to the Memorial Dedication to honor and remember Beth Choate Wortmann (1971-2006) to be held on Wednesday, May 23, at the Peachtree City Tennis Center at 6:30 p.m. Based upon Wortmann’s years of service to the local community, the City of Peachtree City has chosen to recognize her. The Southern Crescent Tennis Association has donated a memorial plaque which will be located at the tennis center and dedicated at this event.

The Sandy Creek High School choruses will perform their annual spring show on Friday, May 4 and Saturday, May 5.

American Legion Fayette County Post 105 annually recognizes outstanding members of our community law enforcement and emergency services with their 2007 Public Safety Awards. Shown at this year's Public Safety Recognition Dinner are Kevin Ingram, Fayetteville Police Dept., Chester Cannaday, Peachtree City Fire Dept., Keith Isaac, Peachtree City Police Dept., Donnie Davis, Fayette County Fire and Emergency Services, and Post 105 Commander David Niebes. Not pictured are Jason Akins, Peachtree City Fire Dept. and Bill Rieck, Fayetteville Fire Dept. Photo/Special.

Two Fayette County residents, Alisha Thompson and Mandy Malinofsky, are participating in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk in Atlanta. They have pledged to walk 60 miles over three days and raise at least $2,200 each to support the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation.

Lucy Best, art teacher at Tyrone Elementary, was recently nominated to the Original Works Art Institute Fall 2006 Honor Roll.

Educator Ron Clark, who is well known for his extraordinary success in recognizing the “untapped potential” of the disadvantaged children in rural North Carolina and in inner-city Harlem, recently toured Christian City's Home for Children.

Over 80 girls participated in this year’s Pure Fashion runway show. From left, Pure Fashion models and residents of Fayette County, are Elizabeth Cuneo, Alison Boyle, Mamie Shepherd, and Victoria Cuneo. The event was held at the Georgia World Congress Center on Sunday, April 15. The event featured a lunch show and a dinner show. Russ Spencer, from Fox News, was the emcee and the popular group, Everlife, from the Disney Channel provided entertainment. Photo/Special.