The 2016 Heart of the Community winners: Elaina Beaman, Luke Chaffin, Tonya Davis, Christa Jackson, Allison Watters, Vargo Orthodontics, Board of Governors honoree Dr. Sidney A. Bell

Seven local “ unsung heroes” — Elaina Beaman, Luke Chaffin, Tonya Marie Davis, Christa Cline Jackson, Allison Smith Watters, Vargo Orthodontics and Board of Governors honoree, Dr. Sidney A. Bell – have been selected as the recipients of the 2016 Heart of the Community Awards of Honor.

These honorees will be recognized on Feb. 20 at the 30th annual “Affair of the Heart.” These awards are sponsored each year by Redmond Regional Medical Center and produced by the Heart of the Community board of Governors.

Tickets are available www.theheartofthecommunity.com or by calling Wanda Whitten 706 802-3924.

ELAINA BEAMAN:

Married to Rickey Beeman, Elaina and Rickey are the owners of Beeman’s Management Association. She is a loving mother to Malik, Rachael, and Kelsey. All three children are enrolled in Rome City Schools. Elaina is also a native of Rome, a graduate of West Rome High School, Floyd Junior College, and Jacksonville State University.

According to her nominator, Sandra Hudson, “Elaina’s primary interest is in helping individuals and making a difference in their lives.”

Her involvement in the Rome and Floyd County Community has included:

• Volunteering with the Northwest Georgia’s Housing Authority Drug Elimination Program where she implemented Club Hero-an-anti-drug program, a mentoring group, the Gospel Divas and the Rites of Passage Group of Young Ladies
• Chaired the Relay for Life Team for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
• Was chairperson of the Minority Expo Group
• Was chair over the Move 22 Project for local minority businesses.
• Has been a Board Member of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce since 2011 and has served as Vice Chair for the Education Workforce Talent and Recruitment Division, and Vice chair for the Business and Professional Division for the Chamber.
• She serves as a team Mom for RMS 8th grade football cheerleaders and past RMS 6th Grade cheerleading coach.
• She is the Youth Leader at Thankful Baptist Church
• Says Sandra Hudson in her nomination: “Elaina is making a commitment to this community and she has affected thousands of lives in this community.”

DR. SIDNEY BELL:

A native of Athens and graduate of Athens High School, he attended George Washington University, American University and received a B.S. Degree in Medical Sciences from the University of Georgia. Later he obtained his M.D. Degree from the Medical College of Georgia. He served his internship at the University of Texas Southwestern Parkland Hospital, Dallas

• He served in the U.S. Navy as a General Medical Officer during the Vietnam War.
• His residency in Orthopedic Surgery was at the University of Virginia 1970-74.
• He joined the Harbin Clinic in 1974 and practiced Orthopedic Surgery in Rome at Floyd Medical Center and Redmond Regional Hospital for 34 years before retiring in 2008.
• He started first Total Joint replacement and first Total Hip and Total Knee replacements program in Northwest Georgia at Redmond Regional in August 1974.
• In mid 70s, he started Saturday and Monday morning free sports Injury clinic for all area schools and initiated program to provide free annual standardized physical examinations to all area high school athletes.
• Active member, First United Methodist Church since 1974, serving on various committees including past Chairman of Church Council, Staff Parish committee, Lay Leader and Board of Trustees. Chaired Capital Fund Drive for Wilder Family Life Center. Past member and Chairman of Redmond Park Board of Trustees. Past member and Chairman of Rome YMCA Board of Trustees Distinguished service award Rome YMCA 1989. Patron of Youth Award YMCA 1990, 1991. Rome YMCA Life Membership award 1991. Life Trustee Award Rome YMCA 2006. Past member Board of Trustees of United Methodist Wesley Homes 1979-1985. Past Board member Darlington School Board of Trustees and Chair of Trustee Athletic Committee.
• Football Team Physician Darlington School 25 years
• Football Team Physician Pepperell High School 20 years.
• 2002 Trustee Award of appreciation for 25 years of service to Darlington Schools Athletic Department and Football team.
• 2004- Award of Appreciation Pepperell High School Dragon Club for 20 Years of service to its Athletic Programs and Student Athletes.
• Past board member Murphy Harpst Home for Children
• Past and present Board member Davies Men’s Shelter
• Served on Board of Directors for Chieftains Museum
• 2002 Inducted in to the Rome Floyd Sports Hall of Fame for 25-plus years of Meritorious service to area student athletes.
• 2012 Redmond Regional Sidney A. Bell Joint Center Dedicated.
• Following retirement in 2008, served as adjunct professor at Berry College in the Kinesiology Dept teaching Human Anatomy and Physiology for 3 years.

Bell and his wife, JoAnn, are the parents of two children and eight grandchildren.

Nominated by Kenneth Nance and Betty Silvers: “Dr Bell has worked tirelessly to improve the Rome/Floyd County community through his many years of volunteer service. His contributions as a volunteer were above and beyond the many hours he spent in his primary profession of Orthopedic Surgery.”

CHRISTA CLINE JACKSON

Christa Jackson grew up in Cave Spring and continues to live there. She attended Thornwood and Darlington schools and graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Psychology and later a Master’s Degree in Special Education from West Georgia..

Community Activities:

• Received the People’s Choice Award in Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge and raised the highest amount ever of over $32,000.
• Inspires children at St. Mary’s Catholic School to do good deeds and service projects on a regular basis.
• Started and still coordinates Fourth of July parade in Cave Spring
• A former President of Junior Service League, she became a sustainer after 20 years of service and served on various committees including the Follies.
• Served on as Chairman of Rome Symphony Orchestra Debutante Ball.
• Over the past 38 years, she has participated in many committees and organized church plays for children at First Baptist Church in Cave Spring.
• Has organized crowds to see World War II veterans off on an Honor Flight or welcome troops home from Iraq
• Has actively volunteered at Darlington School and served on the Fine Arts Booster Club and the Darlington Alumni Council.
• Former Board member of Rome Little Theatre
• Worked with Boys Club Choir
• She has been married to Charles Jackson for 38 years and they are the proud parents of four sons and 9 grandchildren.
• Nominated by Stephanie McElhone and Janet Byington:”You just have to be touched by her life even briefly, to truly understand what she has given to Rome, Cave Spring and Floyd County.”

LUKE CHAFFIN
Young Heart

Luke Chaffin is a native of Douglasville and serves as the content manager in the Communication Office at Darlington School. He attended Georgia State University in Atlanta, where he received a degree in broadcast journalism.

Community involvement:

• Rome Area Heritage Foundation Board
• Rome Downtown Development Authority
• Free Clinic of Rome- volunteer
• Rome Historic Preservation Commission
• Leadership Rome XXXI
• Coosa River Basin Initiative- River Revelry, Catfish Kissin’ Contest
• Between the Rivers Association Board of Directors
• Rome First United Methodist Church Board of Trustees, Hospitality Minister, Costa
  Rico Mission Team
• Rome Area Council for the Arts Board
• Junior Service League Follies
• Planning committee for Rome Symphony Orchestra Wine & Jazz Festival
• Planning committee for Rome Beer Festival
• Planning committee for Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
• AIDS Resource Council of Rome Event Host
• Event Host for Rome Shakespeare Festival
• Feature Writer for V3 Magazine

He loves traveling, renovating old houses and spending time with friends and family. Luke and his partner, Jeb, live with Henry Hudson the pug in Downtown Rome’s Between the Rivers Historic District.

According to nominator, Ali Freeman: “The most Impressive characteristic about Luke is he never asks for anything in return for all he gives to the people and organizations around him.”

ALLISON WATTERS

Allison was born in Marietta and grew up in Lynchburg, Tenn. She returned to Marietta to attend and graduate from Kennesaw State University.

Community activities:

• Leadership Rome graduate
• Leadership Georgia graduate
• Claws for Paws chairperson
• Champion of animals large and small
• Advocate for new animal shelter
• Rome First United Methodist Church volunteer
• Department of Family and Children’s Service Board
• Floyd County Animal Welfare Board
• Darlington School parent volunteer - directed Service Committee for Pk-8th grade.
• Assisted with Leadership Georgia visit to Rome
• Floyd Faith Coalition for Families Coordinator
• Heart of the Community Board of Governors, past Chair
• Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau Board
• Co-owner of Do Good, a sharing boutique, a shop that supports worthy causes locally and globally.

Nominated by Angie Lewis, Allison lives the motto of her new store ”Do Good.” “She works tirelessly to make life better for both less fortunate people and animals she so dearly loves. She has a very tender heart and takes action when she sees a need. The world would be a much better place with more people like her.”

TONYA MARIE DAVIS

Born and raised in Charlotte, N.C., Tonya received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from Appalachian State University and her Master’s Degree in Community Counseling from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She moved to Rome in January 2004.

In 2011, she formed her own company, BDD Consulting Services.

Community involvement since moving to Rome has included:

• Kiwanis Club member since 2011. She has served as a board member, Secretary, and President, as
  well as advisor to the Key Club at Rome High School
• She has served on the Board of the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce as Vice-Chair of Economic
  Development Division and Vice-Chair of Small Business and Entrepreneurship Division. She also
  served in 2012 as the Membership Campaign Chair. Other Chamber involvement has included
  InterCity Leadership Committee member and Planning Chair for the 2014 Confluence Conference.
• She serves on the boards of the Free Clinic of Rome and Department of Family and Children’s Services
• Volunteered with the Alzheimer’s Association of Rome
• Volunteers with Pepperell High School 101
• For the last 3 years she and her husband, Matt, have emceed the Rome Celebrity Dance Challenge sponsored by the Sexual Assault Center of Rome.

Tonya is married to Matt Davis and enjoys her stepson Brody and her two rescue dogs, Finley and Max.

Nominated by John Pillsbury and Alana Ellenburg. They say “Mrs. Davis loves her community and the people. She serves countless hours volunteering her time to numerous community activities and events.”

VARGO ORTHODONTICS
Business Award

Established in October 1996, Vargo Orthodontics will be celebrating 20 years in Rome

Our Mission:
Our approach to philanthropy is that we have to make a difference in children’s lives. The goal is to make people stronger. The ideas are to treat things that we can prevent. Children and enhancing education go hand in hand. We’re here to complement what’s already working and make it stronger, hence our Partners in Education Program. As our mission grows, the responsibility increases, but so does the positive effect!

Our Motto:
We are small, but we can make a difference in our community and positively impact the lives of those around us. Our work is never done if we are doing great things that have a purpose and matter.

Wanting to make a difference in this community, his team has participated in the following community activities:

• Established Partners in Education Program in 2013
• Rehabilitation of the Double Cola Building, now on the National Registry of Historic Places circa 1930
• Clinical education host site for Georgia Northwestern Dental Assistant students
• Founded the ARC 2000 Dental Study Club, uniting regional dentists, specialists and hygienists to enhance the treatment outcomes of patients in our community.
• Sponsors YMCA Boofest alongside an annual Candy Buy Pack Program established in 1997
• Partner with Floyd foundation to support Breast Cancer Research
• Host site for the Faith Coalition for Families Toy Drive benefiting Floyd County DFACS & foster children.
• Vargo is a board member of the Sexual Assault Center of Northwest Georgia
• Partners with the Exchange Club Family Resource Center
• Sponsor for the Summer Reading Program for the Floyd Polk County Library System
• Partnered with Habitat for Humanity Community Build
• Community Kitchen volunteer work
• Supporter of the Open Door Home, Boys and Girls Club, Murphy-Harpst Children’s Center and the Junior Service League of Rome/Polk County
• Introduced the Vargo Valet to aid working and single parents to minimize missed time from school and work
• It has been said that “Vargo Orthodontics is known well in this community for their support of many worthy organizations.”