2008 Martha Eaves Advocating for Positive
Change Honorees
Richard Andersen, Northeast Georgia
Richard Andersen has been a dedicated advocate for the needs of older adults
since he first became involved with the AARP and Medicare legal services in
1990. He has served as the local
president of AARP, sat on the board of the Athens Community Council on Aging,
and was involved with HiCare/Georgia Cares and the Elder Rights Team.
With his wife, Mr. Andersen oversees a non-profit agency “The Bigger
Vision of Athens” that provides a winter community shelter for the homeless.
In addition, he is involved at the St. James UMC with the Jolly Good
Timers and Older Adult Ministry providing outreach to Lanier Gardens Retirement
Home.
Webster Chandler, Southern Crescent
A
retired faculty member of the University
of Georgia, Mr. Chandler has lived in Griffin Georgia
since 1955. He is devoted to serving
his community through involvement with the First Presbyterian Church, the Gold
K’s, the Kiwanis Club of Griffin and Spalding County Hospital.
In addition, Mr. Chandler has spent over twenty years volunteering on a
weekly basis for the Meals on Wheels program offering support and encouragement
to the home bound and shut in elderly.
Robin Eschman, Atlanta Regional
As an active member of the
Clayton
County
Kinship
Care Resource
Center since 2005, Ms.
Eschman currently serves as President of the Kinship Council and spends many
hours a week volunteering in a variety of programs at the Center.
Through her role as Advocacy Coordinator for the Center, she has
dedicated much of her time and effort advocating on behalf of Senate Bill 88,
the Grandparent’s Raising Grandchildren bill in the General Assembly.
In addition, this busy mother of six finds time each week to mentor young
children in reading and sits on the citizen review board for CAPTA to help
prevent child abuse in Georgia.
Betty Frank, Central
Savannah River
For over 20 years, Betty Frank has worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
advocating on behalf of individuals without a voice.
She served as President of the Augusta Chapter of the National League of
Women Voters and spent thirteen years working for the Veterans Administration.
Betty currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Voter Registration for
the Richmond County Democratic Party.
She also chairs the Central Savannah River AAA Advisory Council Advocacy
Committee and serves on the Legislative Committee for the Mental Health
Coalition.
Frank Murtha, Lower
Chattahoochee
As a devoted member of the
Columbus
community, Mr. Murtha faithfully attends the Kinship Support groups and acts as
a “navigator” to assist newer relative caregivers in the group understand how
the system works. Mr. Murtha is an
educator for AARP’s Senior Driving program where he shares his talents and
experiences with joy and enthusiasm.
In addition, Mr. Murtha is active with the Lower Chattahoochee AAA and his
church’s senior group
Sadie Ryals, Coastal Georgia
Mrs. Ryals is an outspoken activist with a long history of community service in Georgia.
She is a Deaconess at the Prospect Baptist
Church in Crescent, GA,
and serves as President of the Deaconess Auxiliary for the Zion Missionary
Baptist Church Association and Vice President of the McIntosh Choir Union.
Mrs. Ryals volunteers for GeorgiaCares and the Elder Abuse Prevention
programs at the Coastal Georgia AAA, and serves as a member of the Aging
Advisory Council. She was also the
former Vice President of her local NAACP chapter and in 2007 won the Unsung Hero
award at the Georgia State Capitol.
Jualice Simmons, Heart of Georgia
Dedicating many years to the
Jeff Davis County
Senior
Citizens
Center, Ms. Jualice
Simmons began volunteering in 1980, later becoming the site manager.
At the age of 91, she exudes strength, devotion and dedication to
improving the lives of area seniors.
Having advocated on the local, state and federal level, Ms. Simmons has always
served others in need.
Sue Tibbets, Georgia Mountains
Sue Tibbets has volunteered on behalf of
Georgia’s aging population for many years.
Through her involvement with the Older Adults Group at Gainesville First
UMC and with The Legacy Link Inc., AAA for Georgia Mountains Region, Sue has
worked with social workers, churches, ladies’ and men’s groups to improve and
expand the CCSP and SOURCE programs.
Jo Veal, Middle Georgia
As
the Advisory Council representative for
Baldwin
County, Jo Veal regularly
attends CO-AGE meetings and AAA public hearings to advocate for seniors at every
opportunity. She has been
instrumental in attracting more seniors to the Baldwin
County Senior
Center through her efforts to procure
surplus computers from Baldwin
County and establish a new
computer center where seniors can take classes to use the technology.
Jay Williams, Southeast Georgia
Jay Williams’ numerous philanthropic acts have touched the lives of many elderly
residents of Southeast Georgia.
He has supported many community programs including 4-H, FFA, and FHA, as
well as the senior center, area nursing homes, churches, and the Bacon County
School System. For several years he
has graciously provided food for the Southeast Georgia Senior Olympics and other
special events.
Elaine Wilson, Southwest Georgia
As
the Lead Ombudsman for the Southwest Georgia Council on Aging from 1997 to 2007,
Elaine Wilson committed herself to seeing that people in nursing homes and
personal care homes received the best possible care.
She has organized many events and advocated at all levels of government
to educate people about the problem of Elder Abuse.
And when the Georgia General Assembly eliminated funds for the medically
needy, she worked with each affected person to assure continued support.
