Amy and Gaines Dempsey, 2023 Awards of Honor Recipients

Amy and Gaines Dempsey

Gaines is a native of Rome and Amy, a native of Cedartown. They are graduates of Darlington School and the University of Georgia.

Amy is a nurse in Labor and Delivery at Atrium Health Floyd. Gaines is the owner of Dempsey Appraisal Company. They have three daughters, Cade, Callie and Eloise.

As parents of a special needs child, they were interested in Extra Special People which operates in Athens. One component of ESP programs is Java Joy. This is a coffee catering business which trains & employs adults with special needs. It is run like a business; Joyristas are interviewed for positions and are provided with opportunities to interact with others and show their strength and spread joy. Several have grown in their employment with Java Joy and have secured other jobs in the community.

Working with ESP on an expansion plan for the city of Rome, Java Joy was first brought to Rome by the Dempseys. With their faithful leadership, advocacy, and fundraising the Dempseys have championed ESP for Rome. ESP provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Nominator: “Java Joy/ESP is poised to do remarkable things. Since ESP began in Rome with Java Joy in 2020, it has already done amazing things. Success stories have already happened. None of this would have been available if the Dempseys had not seen the need and taken a leap of faith.”