This 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient has left a trail of influence in throughout Statesboro and Bulloch County.
      She grew up in Oliver, Ga., and graduated as valedictorian of Central High School in Screven County. In 1966 she enrolled as one of only eight other African American students at Georgia Southern College, now Georgia Southern University.
      As a student, our recipient helped establish the first African American organization on campus- the Humanities Club. She was also the first African American contestant in the Miss GSC Pageant.
      With a bachelor's degree in French, a master's in English and a Specialist degree in English from Georgia Southern, our honoree earned her doctorate of curriculum instruction and supervision from the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1994.
       She has been involved in teaching for over 34 years in Screven, Long and Bulloch counties as well as Ogeechee Technical College and GSU.
      The honoree spent 13 years with First District RESA serving as a School Improvement Specialist. She has also been a trainer, facilitator and coordinator of the English to Speakers of Other Languages Endorsement (ESOL).
      Her lifetime has been spent helping her fellowman in other areas as well. In 1976, she helped a group of other individuals develop the Black Women of Profession (BWOP) civic club, a service organization focusing on youth development, senior citizen concerns, and community health care.
       Our recipient is an active member and deaconess of The Original First African Baptist Church, where she is involved in the Women of Worship Ministry. She is also active with the DOVES program - Daughters of Virtue and Excellence - a group which focuses on guiding young girls in personal and spiritual growth and development.
      The woman we honor tonight also works with Habitat for Humanity and received the Golden Hammer award for outstanding volunteer service. She was the first female to ever receive this honor.
       Carolyn Milton Hobbs is a 2011Deen Day Smith Service to Mankind Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.