VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Junior Woman’s Club named Leigh Ann Hogan Woman of the Year Saturday during its “Quenching Our Thirst for Volunteerism and Service” Brunch held at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
Hogan takes the 2009 title as the club celebrates 52 years of the annual contest, which honors outstanding women within the community who demonstrate a commitment to service and leadership.
“Sometimes, we get put into situations when we think we will play a small role in an effort,” Hogan said when accepting her award. “However, these small roles and efforts can turn into big, special things.”
Hogan then thanked the club, great friends, family members and her husband.
Hogan was nominated by the Valdosta Junior Service League, in which she served as co-chairperson for the organization’s 2008 annual holiday shopping event, the Merry Marketplace. During the 2008 3-day shopping event, Merry Marketplace saw its largest profit and attendance increase in years.
Hogan and her husband have also hosted a “Toast for Tots” charity to collect toys for needy families for the past 10 years. Last fall, Hogan helped plan a fundraiser for the Valdosta State University tennis teams that brought in more than $12,000 for the Blazers.
Hogan’s most important community service effort is directing the Doug Henderson III Memorial Golf Tournament, which she has done for five years. The Doug Henderson III Memorial Fund has granted over 24 scholarships to local youth and contributed more than $130,000 in charitable donations to support area programs such as Lowndes Associated Ministries to People, Inc. (LAMP) and the Langdale Hospice.
Hogan is married to Dr. Ben Hogan and the couple shares two children.
Hogan was selected from a group that included two other nominees, Rebecca Daniels and Margaret “Maggie” Davis. Daniels was nominated by the March of Dimes and was recognized for volunteering with the United Way and March of Dimes for more than 10 years. Last year, Daniels helped raise more than $22,000 for the United Way, and she has been the top individual local fundraiser for the March of Dimes for five years.
Daniels also volunteers with Girl Scouts, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and local schools.
Davis was nominated by Leadership Lowndes and was recognized for community service with the American Red Cross, United Way of Valdosta, Community Partners in Education and South Georgia Classic. Last year, she served as captain of the Lowndes 4-H Relay for Life team, and currently is a treasurer for Hospice of South Georgia and chairperson for the Lowndes Youth Leadership League. Davis is also on the board of trustees for Leadership Lowndes.
During the brunch, the Valdosta Junior Woman’s Club presented all of the nominees with Pandora bracelets with teacups on them from Steel’s Jewelry. Judges for the Woman of the Year Award were Ragan Fretwell, Rita Hussey, Sue Miller and Terrie Stooksbury.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Leigh Ann Hogan of the Valdosta Junior Service League reacts to being announced the 2009 Valdosta Junior Woman's Club Woman of the Year as Jennifer Stalvey hands her roses during the 52nd Annual Valdosta Junior Woman's Club Woman of the Year Brunch Saturday at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
-
Valdosta Junior Woman’s Club 3rd Vice President Tiffany Lofton introduces the nominees of the 2009 Valdosta Junior Woman’s Club Woman of the Year during the 52nd Annual Valdosta Junior Woman’s Club Woman of the Year Brunch Saturday.
-
Leigh Ann Hogan, left, Margaret Davis and Rebecca Daniels, right, open gifts before the announcement of the Woman of the Year.
Discussion
Woman of the Year
- Local News
-
-
Easter Seals benefit Thursday
Easter Seals Southern Georgia will be hosting “Sweet Charity: Desserts for a Cause” Thursday at Mathis Auditorium. The event will be from 7 to 9 p.m. and will include several local restaurants serving dessert as well as a silent auction.
-
Dollar General robbed at gunpoint
A customer and two employees were unharmed during a Sunday evening robbery as two masked men demanded cash from registers and the business’ safe as the Dollar General on Bemiss Road prepared to close at around 11:30 p.m., according to reports from the Valdosta Police Department.
-
Overpass work causes detours
All vehicles which are not making a delivery in the immediate vicinity of the new overpass will have to find alternate routes immediately.
-
Crossing guard keeping kids safe
Meet Merita Williams, crossing guard.
-
Juneteenth’s coming
Held in just as high a regard as the celebration of our country’s independence to many, the county’s annual Juneteenth dinner returns this Tuesday at 7 p.m. for its 21st year and will offer citizens of all races with a central point to celebrate human rights.
-
A soldier called preacher
In Vietnam, Wesley Harrell spread the Lord’s word among his fellow soldiers. He spoke of God often though few seemed to listen until they encountered war’s sudden death.
-
History on the move
In the right hands, a divided house can again mount a sound foundation and settle into a new era, as proved on Saturday when the 100 Black Men of Valdosta unveiled a transplanted house that’ll likely serve as their headquarters at its Martin Luther King Jr. Drive location.
-
Beach Safety: Keeping safe with fun in the sun
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second story in a weekly series on summer safety.
-
Ribbon cutting held for Joan Bailey Center
The Community Depot has opened the doors of its newest non-profit retail center, which was dedicated Friday to and named in honor of former Valdosta State University First Lady Joan Bailey.
-
Kendrick Johnson’s body exhumed
The family of a deceased Lowndes High School student had his body exhumed Friday morning from Sunset Hills Cemetery as relatives continue the process of acquiring a second autopsy.
- More Local News Headlines
-
