Willie Mae Samuel, 2020 HOC Award Recipient

A native of Allendale, South Carolina, Willie Mae has been a resident of Rome And Floyd County for 50 years.

She received her undergraduate degree from Paine College in Augusta and her Master’s degree in English from Atlanta University with a concentration in African-American Studies.  She spent 31 years as a classroom teacher of high school English.

Since retirement she has involved herself in many phases of volunteer work.

*Child Advocate for Youth Programs sponsored by her Sorority
* Volunteer organizer and instructor for 100 Black Men’s Black History Bowl
* Founder of Gateway Performing Arts Troup
* Community Outreach Coordinator for Thankful Baptist Church Soup Kitchen
* Director of Cultural Arts of Fairview/E.S. Brown Restoration Project
*  Director of Fairview Glee Club Singers
* Advisor for Domestic Violence Organization
*  Assistant Program Coordinator-East Rome Association’s Senior Group at Fielder Center
* Director of Friday Night Drama Presentations Martin Luther King Celebration
*  Contributing Writer for Rome News Tribune
*Director/Founder African American Connection for Performing Arts 2006-Presnt
*Judge for League of Women Voters Annual Poetry Slam Contest
* Board Member of the AHHA Organization in Cave Spring

Nominated by Quida Sams and Laney Stevenson “The word “love” is also an action word.  It is what it does. Willie Samuel-Sams loves this community and demonstrates this love in her daily living”.

 

Dr. Ryland and Jennifer Scott, 2020 HOC Award Recipients

Rome is very fortunate to have “Power Couples” in our community.

One such couple is Dr. Ryland and Jennifer Scott.

Together they have participated in the following
* 5 International Mission Trips to Guatemala, Honduras Mexico
* Board Members of Restoration Rome
* Foster Parents
* Founding Members of Young Life Ministry

Individually they also contribute:

Dr. Scott:
* Championed and Implemented ERAS protocol(Enhanced Surgical Recovery)
* Developed Bariatric Program in Rome
* Deacon, First Presbyterian Church

Jennifer:
*Open Door Home board 2003-2017-Past Chair
*Several teaching and committee roles at First Presbyterian Church
* South Rome Redevelopment committee 2017
*Fundraising for South Rome Early Learning Center
* Community Foundation of Greater Rome Grant Committee
* Mentor to Moms n Recovery
* Heart Walk Committee Honoree 2008
* Heart of the community Young Heart 2010

One nominator said of them” They make a wonderful married team raising triplets of their own.  Through public speaking and private counsel. Many couples have benefited from their openness of marriage and realities of raising kids”

 

Peggy Nash, 2020 HOC Award Recipient

 A graduate of Shorter College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in education from Berry College, Peggy is now a retired Floyd County educator. She can be found volunteering at many places in Rome.

Volunteer Activities and recognitions have or do include:

*Teacher of the Year 1993
* Participates with Retired Teachers of Rome
* Former Pink Lady at Floyd Medical Center
* Junior Service League, Sustainer in 2001
* St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Missions, Outreach, Loaves and Fishes and Children’s Church
* Former Chiaha Board Member
* Volunteer Toys for Tots
* Volunteer Good Neighbor’s Ministries
* Former Board of Chieftain’s Museum
* Volunteer Rome Community Kitchen
* Friends of the Library
*Pepperell Elementary School Volunteer and Mentor
* Good Neighbors Ministry

Peggy has one son, Robbie, and his wife Autumn and two granddaughters, Callie and Hannah Grace

 

HOC Supporting Happy and Healthy Hearts!

Recent Heart of the Community award honoree, Stephanie McElhone, helped the Rome YMCA put the Heart of the Community grant to great use! Some of the resources were used to help children from the YMCA’s Outreach site to learn swimming and water safety. 

Below is a very much appreciated Thank you letter from Ms. McElhone regarding the YMCA activities for these youths. 

     

Dear Wanda,  

 

The children from the Y’s Outreach Feeding site had a chance to come to the Y over Spring Break to hon their swim skills.  

 

I thought you might enjoy a few pictures and a copy of our new swim test posters hanging up at Restoration Rome and at the YMCA.

 

A special thank you to the Heart of the Community Foundation for supporting heart healthy activities at the YMCA. 

 

Please know these children are MUCH better prepared to be safe around water with your support.

 

With gratitude, Steph 

 

Jeff and Mary Margaret Mauer, 2019 HOC Award Recipients

Through decades of service to the community, the Mauers have committed their lives to the foster care crisis in Rome and Floyd County. They serve as Co-Founders of Restoration Rome.

Mary Margaret is a native of Homerville, GA and Jeff was born in Plainfield, Illinois. Jeff and his family moved to Rome when he was 10 years old.  The Mauers attended Oxford College and Emory University where they met.  They married shortly after graduation.  Mary Margaret received a Ph.D. from Georgia State University in Biological Sciences and Jeff received his degree from Shorter University in Business Administration.

Service Activities for Mary Margaret include:

  • Global Impact International – Foster Care Services
  • Junior Service League – Past President & current Sustainer
  • DAR Constitution Week
  • Leadership Rome
  • Co-Founder Floyd Faith Coalition for Families
  • Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center Board -Past Chair
  • Murphy-Harpst Auxiliary
  • Providence Preparatory Academy Board
  • Church Sunday School Teacher, Vacation Bible School Director, and Leader of Foster/Adoption Ministry

 

Service Activities for Jeff have included:

  • Chairman, Global Impact International Board
  • Community Engagement Pastor at Three Rivers Church
  • Young Presidents Organization
  • Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board
  • Rome Floyd County Commission on Children and Youth Board
  • Providence Preparatory Academy Board
  • Darlington School Board
  • Heritage First Bank  Board
  • Greater Rome Existing Industry Board
  • Criminal Justice Board
  • Rome YMCA Board
  • Boy Scouts of America NWGA Board
  • Harbor House Board
  • Heart of the Community Board
  • Floyd College Board of Regents
  • Leadership Rome
  • Rome Floyd County United Way

Nominated by Ryland and Jennifer Scott. “Having personally experienced the process of becoming foster parents they began to understand the definition of the word crisis. They responded to the call with the creation of Restoration Rome.”

Nancy Knight, 2019 HOC Award Recipient

A native of Rockmart, Georgia and a B.S. Degree graduate from the University of Georgia, “Nancy shatters the myth that people who work full time don’t have time to serve their community” Allison Watters.

Her Community Service activities include:

  • Co-Founder of North Georgia Animal Partnership
  • Co-Founder of Claws for Paws
  • Chieftain’s Museum Past Board Member
  • Chieftain’s Plant Sale Chair
  • Leadership Georgia
  • Heart of the Community Past Board Member
  • Rome Floyd Chamber Board and Executive Committee
  • St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Finance Chair
  • Chair- Rector Search Committee
  • Chair Building Renovation
  • Senior Warden
  • Loaves and Fishes

Nancy and her husband, Jack are small business owners and the parents of three adult children, Ford, Katherine and Cliff and a house full of rescue dogs.

“She rarely says “no” when asked to help” Ginny and Doc Kibler

2019 Heart of the Community Awards of Honor Recipients

On Saturday, February 9, 2019, eleven of Rome’s “unsung” heroes will be honored at the Heart of the Community Awards of Honor gala called “An Affair of the Heart.”  For 32 years, Redmond Regional Medical Center has sponsored these awards to recognize and honor individuals whose commitment through volunteer service has made this community a better place in which to live, work and raise a family.

Our 2019 recipients include: 

For more information:  Wanda Whitten, 706-802-3924 or ticket Information here, or Heart of the Community Facebook.

Tannika King, 2019 HOC Award Recipient

Tannika has called Rome home since 1990 when she moved from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She was a graduate of Rome High School and earned a B.A. Degree from Berry College in Communications. She currently serves as the Director of Communication at Darlington School, where she has been for 15 years.

Her Community Activities Include:

  • Board Member and Past President of the Sexual Assault Center Board
  • 2017 SPLOST Citizens Advisory Group
  • 2013 and 2017 Rome-Floyd Citizens for Progress (SPLOST YES)
  • Chairperson, Citizens for Roberson
  • Court Participant and Prom Queen, A Night to Remember: An Adult Prom for Alzheimer’s Association
  • Leadership Rome Participant and Volunteer, Rome Chamber of Commerce
  • Committee Member Rome Run for the Rescue Animal Welfare Fundraiser
  • Harbor House Adult Spelling Bee Participant
  • Board Greater Rome Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
  • Board of Directors Rome International Film Festival

 

Tannika lives in Rome with her 12-year old Jack Russell mix, Asa.

Nominated by Frank Beacham and others: Frank says “Tannika is blessed with outstanding people skills and leadership skills, and she tirelessly uses those to serve Rome and Floyd County.”

 

Harry Brock, 2019 HOC Award Recipient

 

A native of Rome, Harry truly loves this community. He graduated from the University of Alabama before returning to Rome.  Before entering real estate and starting his own business, he worked in the bicycle industry.

He has contributed to the enhancement of our community through his more than 20 years of active volunteer service.

His Activities:

  • Downtown Development Authority – Past Chair
  • Rome-Floyd Chamber of Commerce – Past Chair
  • Rome-Floyd Development Authority – Past Chair
  • Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau – Past Chair/Current Board Member
  • Heart of the Community – Past Chair
  • Local Organizing Committee for Tour de Georgia – Past Chair
  • Leadership Rome Graduate
  • Leadership Northwest Georgia Graduate
  • Leadership Rome and High School Leadership Rome Coordinator
  • Vice-Chairman Open Door Children’s Home
  • Past Board Member of YMCA
  • Founding Member and  Board Member of TRED
  • Member of Rome-Floyd Land Bank Authority
  • Former Board Member of Georgia Highlands College Foundation
  • Recipient of the Wesley F. Johnson Award of Merit for Leadership
  • Recipient of the William M. Fricks Award for Downtown Development

 

Harry and his wife, Dawn, are parents of two children, Bailey and Cooper.

 

Nominators have said of Harry: “Harry is known to all those “who work behind the scenes” as a trusted friend, one who personally gets things done/makes things happen and someone who leads with integrity with the best interest of our citizens and community at heart.”

“Harry is engaged in our community in so many ways, he has a servant’s heart, he gives his time for the right reasons.”  Allison Watters

 

Chris Kerr named 2018-2019 Chair of Heart of the Community Foundation

Chris Kerr has been elected the 2018-2019 Chair of the Heart of the Community Foundation.
Kerr is a commercial and residential sales agent at Hardy Realty. A native of Rome, Chris returned in 2015 after working in New York and Los Angeles for 18 years. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and was chosen by the Georgia Rotary Student Program to attend the University of Oslo in Norway. He also received a Master’s degree from the Annenberg School at The University of Southern California.

In addition to the Heart of the Community Foundation, Kerr is a member of the City of Rome Public Arts Committee, the Rome Rotary Club and serves on the Board of Directors for the Rome Area Council for the Arts and the Rome Floyd Chamber. Kerr also is a graduate of the 34th class of Leadership Rome.

Other members of the Heart of the Community Board include: Angie Beard, Brenda Bowen, David Brearley, Kristy Stoner-Brown, Steve Graves, Nancy Hunter, Judy Ingram, Dawn Irmscher, Chris Jackson, Kristi Kent, Mary (Mai Mai) Kelly, Mandy Maloney, Monisha Patel, Elaine Price, Mimi Richards, Lauren Sklar, David Smith and Esther Vaughn.

Elm Kid’s Enterprises, 2018 HOC Business Award Recipient

Elm Street Enterprises at Elm Street Elementary School, a STEM curriculum designed for learning through entrepreneurship, giving back, and developing a world vision, including enterprises such as:

  • Sugar Kids Beauty
  • Elm Kids Construction: “Tiny House – Big Dreams”
  • Elm SCENTsational Slime
  • Maker Market on Elm Street
  • PAWSitive Kids
  • Creative Technology Design
  • Caring & Giving

Elm Street Elementary School is a Georgia STEM certified school and one of five in Georgia selected as a “2017 Family Friendly School.” At Elm Street students are learning through a business and engineering design model as early as Kindergarten. Along with enterprises and entrepreneurships, the school works toward social awareness and giving back to the community. Using funds raised through it’s many businesses, the school has supported the Rome Community and beyond. Examples include:

  • Six Months supply of food for the Rome Community Kitchen
  • Corporate Sponsor for the Floyd NICU unit
  • Refurbishing of the Ronald McDonald House
  • Providing a student-built “Tiny House” for a homeless veteran; second house under construction
  • Fundraising for the Salvation Army through a Fun Run and donations
  • Family Crochet event to make mats for the homeless from 50,000 recycled Plastic bags
  • Donated over 80,000 bottles of water to Hurricane Harvey victims, partnering with The Museum of Flight
  • Animal shelter support and projects
  • CARE packages to overseas troops
  • Provided a family in need with transportation to Atlanta Hospital

 

Jay Shell, 2018 HOC Young Heart Award Recipient

Jay Shell is not a lifetime Roman but you’d think he was by seeing the compassion he has for this community.

Moving to Rome 19 years ago, he has been involved in the following:

  • Downtown Development Authority as Promotion Chairman and Business Improvement Board
  • Floyd County Board of Education
  • Community Coach for Rome Floyd Parks and Rec
  • Leadership Rome
  • Owning a business on Broad Street (originally 333 on Broad, then Brewhouse and now Rome City Brewing Co.), Jay has often helped people on the street with food warm clothing or job opportunities.
  • Has hired bands to assist fund raisers such as: Exchange Club Family Resource Center, Cancer Navigators and The Heart of the Community.
  • Rome River Jam Concerts

Jay has been married to Melissa for 19 years. They have two children, Madalyn and Jaxson.

Nominators for Jay share: “Jay is the kind of person who not only makes you proud of how far Rome has come, but proud to be a Roman.”

Scott Smith, 2018 HOC Award Recipient

Scott Smith is a native of Bremen, Ga.  He received his B.S. Degree in Business from the University of Georgia and his JD Degree at Mercer Law School.  He is with McRae, Smith and Peek Attorneys in Rome. His involvement in the community began 25 years ago when he moved to Rome to begin his law practice.

His community activities has included:

  • Boys and Girls Club
  • Mercy Senior Care
  • Tri for Kids Fundraiser
  • First Baptist Church
  • Development Authority Rome Chamber of Commerce
  • Rome-Floyd Chamber of Commerce Board
  • Charter member of Seven Hills Rotary Club
  • Floyd Healthcare Foundation
  • United Way of Rome Executive Committee
  • Board of Coosa Country Club
  • Board member of the Community Foundation

Scott is married to Beth and they have three daughters, Bailey, Avery and Anne Scott.

Bob and Susan Hortman said of Scott: “Scott’s unwavering dedication has given fundamental guidance to members as well as steady leadership to the organizations that he serves.”

J.R. Davis of the Boys and Girl’s Club said: “We are so appreciative to have a board member like Scott Smith.  He is a true example of a board member giving his time, talent, and treasure to support our organization.”

Charles Smith, 2018 HOC Award Recipient

A 1980 graduate of East Rome  where he played on back-to-back championship teams in 1977-1978, Charles received a BS Degree in Social Service from the University of Georgia and a Master’s Degree in Early/Childhood Education from Ashford University. Charles has been involved with the following community activities:

  • Head Football Coach – Rome Middle School
  • Distinguished Gentlemen Group at  Anna K. Davie Elementary School
  • Positive Parenting Program
  • Founded Building Positive Families  Program
  • Booster Club President and PTO  President  –Rome High School
  • Volunteer with Juvenile Court  System
  • Past Vice Chair, Rome Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority
  • Meld for Dads Fatherhood program

He and his wife, Regina, have six children: Kiara, Toryan, Hameed, Jamahal, Armir and OJ.

Nominated by Elaina Beaman, who says: “Charles Smith continues to give back to this community by giving his heart, devoted time and loyal support to programs that inspire and motivate youth.”