Deal appoints 12 to boards
Mary S. Edenfield Gibbs, Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority (Reappointment)
Gibbs retired as president of Strato Inc., a men’s clothing store and dry cleaners in 1997. She has been involved in civic, community and charitable organizations. In 1993, former Gov. Zell Miller appointed Gibbs to the Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority, where she served until August 2001. Former Gov. Sonny Perdue reappointed her to the authority in March of 2003. She currently serves in this position. Gibbs has served as a director of Robins Federal Credit Union since 1998. She served as a trustee on the Foundation Board for Macon State College for more than 20 years and retired in February 2011. She and her husband, Jim, reside in Bonaire.
Ed Jordan, Rural Development Council
Jordan earned a bachelor’s in geology from the University of Georgia and worked in the clay industry for more than 30 years. This work included research, management and sales. He served as a division manager and received one patent. He also was director of the Georgia Mining Association and US Clay Producers. Presently, Jordan is owner of a plant nursery located on his 100-year-old family farm. He served as chairman for the Hospital Authority while living in McDuffie County, as president of the Wrightsboro Historical Foundation in Thomson and, most recently, as president of the Washington County Historical Society. He and his wife, Dianne, reside in Warthen and have three children and two grandchildren.
Betty J. Carlisle, State Board of Cosmetology (Reappointment)
Carlisle worked in her family business, Holmes Auto Parts, as corporate treasurer. She is active in her local and state Republican Party. She also is a former president of the Macon Exchangette Club, including being named Exchangette of the Year. Carlisle is a member of Ingleside Baptist Church. She and her husband, Harold, reside in Monroe County and have one daughter.
DRee Church-Krohn, State Board of Cosmetology
Church-Krohn is currently the owner and stylist of DRee and Company, a hair studio and wellness spa operating in Athens for the past 12 years. Prior to opening her own business, she gained experience working for Salon Salon in Athens and Van Michael salon in Atlanta. She also participates in yearly education training in the cosmetology industry. Church-Krohn is a member of the Professional Beauty Association and the National Cosmetology Association. She currently serves on the board for Athens Technical College, where she is a 1989 alumna. She and her husband, Todd, have two sons and reside in Athens.
Lillie Elise Crowe, State Board for the Certification of Librarians
Crowe is employed with Bartram Trail Regional Library System headquarters located at the Mary Willis Library in Washington. She serves as the director of the Regional Library System and is a member of the Central Savannah River Area Regional Educational Service Agency. Crowe earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia College and Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. Crowe and her husband, Donald, reside in Greene County.
Albert M. Hodge Jr., State Personnel Board
Hodge is president and CEO of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce in Floyd County. Hodge is the former vice chair of the Georgia Board of Education and has served as president of the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and the Georgia Economic Developers Association. Hodge is a previous board member of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Association and the U.S. Department of Energy Citizen’s Leadership Board. He graduated from the University of Georgia and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management. He and his wife, Cheryl, live in Rome and have one adult daughter, Marie.
Charles Edward “Eddie” Whitted, State Veterans Service Board
Whitted began his career in building construction working for Orr International and Brown & Root construction companies. He then started his own business, B&W Construction and Door Company. He operated the business for 25 years, working there until his retirement. Whitted is currently president of Waycross Chapter 1010 Vietnam Veterans and has been a member of the Masonic Lodge for 40 years. He is a member of First Baptist Church in Blackshear. He and his wife, Brenda, reside in Blackshear.
Fred T. Fincher, State Veterans Service Board (Reappointment)
Fincher served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and the Korean War. He worked in advertising for the Lagrange Daily News upon his discharge from the military, and he was also the owner of Fincher Tire Center until his retirement. Fincher has served on the Georgia Veterans Service Board twice, with appointments from former Govs. Zell Miller and Sonny Perdue. He resides in LaGrange.
Raybon Anderson, Georgia Agricultural Exposition Authority
Anderson is currently the president of Raybon Anderson Farms, Inc. and chairman of the board for Bulloch Fertilizer Co., Inc. He is the chairman of the AgriTrust of Georgia’s board of trustees, director and former chairman of the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the director and former president of the Georgia Plant Food Educational Society. Anderson has received numerous awards, including Bulloch County Citizen of the Year and the Georgia Forestry Stewardship Award in 2011. He and his wife, Janelle, live in Statesboro and have two children and seven grandchildren.
William Henry “Hal” Haddock Jr., State Soil and Water Conservation Commission
Haddock is a businessman specializing in agriculture. He currently owns and operates Haddock Farms in Early County. He is a member of the Southwest Georgia Soil and Water District and is vice chairperson of the Lower Flint-Ochlocknee Regional Water Planning Council. Haddock has been active as a Boy Scout volunteer and has received the Silver Beaver Award, a distinguished award given to adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth through service. Haddock earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia School of Forestry. He is a member of Damascus United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Alyce, reside in Damascus and have three children and three grandchildren.
Barry Maurice Slay, State Housing Trust Fund for the Homeless
Slay is currently the president of Terco, Inc. doing business as Fairytales Learning Center and Academy in Atlanta. He served as president of the Northwest Business Association for six years and is presently serving as vice president of the association. Slay serves as president of the Minority Alliance for Child Care Development Advocacy. He is a past board of directors member for Georgia Child Care Association and a past member of the Atlanta Food Bank Advisory Council. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University in political science. Slay is also an active member of Warren Memorial United Methodist Church. He and his wife, Karen, live in Atlanta and have two children and two grandchildren.
Elaine Wilson, State Commission on Family Violence
Wilson is currently the ombudsman for the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging. She is on the advisory board for the Office of the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman, where she has been awarded Ombudsman of the Year. Wilson is also active on the advisory board for the Albany Symphony Orchestra, where she has helped plan concerts to raise funds for and awareness of elder abuse and prevention. She has worked with local law enforcement officers with elder-abuse-prevention training and has been awarded Citizen of the Month by the Albany Police Department. In 2005, Wilson received the Martin Luther King Dream Award for helping long-term care residents of nursing homes in southwest Georgia get their Miller Trust implemented. She resides in Moultrie.