Last week’s Women in Business luncheon celebrated trailblazers, current leaders and introduced a new partner in the effort of promoting and improving the community.
The March 25 luncheon was hosted by the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce with the presenting sponsor, Delong’s Gizzard Equipment. The keynote speaker for the event was Jones County’s first female school superintendent, Dr. Jessica Graves.
In addition to all the roles that come with the job, Graves is the CEO of Jones County’s largest business with the largest number of employees.
Chamber president Chloe Crutchfield welcomed the attendees. The first item on the program was presented by Candy Conn McMahon to honor her mother Joyce Conn, a true trailblazer for businesswomen in Jones County. Conn was a wife and mother of six who was one of the first women to own a business in Central Georgia.
McMahon recalled her childhood and the example her mother set not only for her family but as a community leader.
Downtown Development Authority Chairman Sherri Rollins gave a PowerPoint presentation about the development of downtown Gray, beginning with the first grant received to develop the streetscape.
She said a committee of the grassroots organization PLAN group (People Looking Ahead Now), led by Sandy Goolsby, was instrumental in receiving the grant. Rollins said PLAN also helped with the development of Gray Station Better Hometown, headed by Pat Daniels. The purpose of that organization was to revitalize downtowns.
“It was people who just said, ‘Let’s make a difference,’” she said.
The speaker noted that Daniels was also a girls little league softball coach and pulled in the young women who had been on her teams and got them involved with the projects. Rollins was a member of that softball team and became the design committee chairman for Better Hometown.
Going forward, the DDA was formed and a master plan developed. The problem was they had no money.
The first big project was renovating a city-owned building that was a former police station, fire department and ambulance station, which when completed became the Gray Station building that housed Main Street Gray and now a bakery.
That project was completed with some funding from the city but also donations and the help of volunteers.
Rollins said the project helped build credibility with the city, and the council supported their next projects, the offices on the Ross Street corridor that front on West Clinton that had fallen in disrepair.
With the support of the city council, the DDA made three key property purchases in 2016: Butler’s Garage, the Ross Street offices and the Haskins Furniture building. The purchase was made with an intergovernmental agreement between the entities, which allowed the city to finance the purchase for the purpose of the economic development of the city.
The office buildings were renovated and the furniture building torn down. The DDA then began its biggest project, which is now Butler Hall.
The garage, built in 1927, had its grand opening as Butler Hall in May of 2021. Rollins said that was due to a lot more help of many volunteers and donations in addition to the continued support of Gray City Council members.
She said some of the vendors got so involved in the improvements, they did not charge for their work.
Rollins said while those improvements were happening, other business started improving their store fronts. She said the city came to the DDA after purchasing the building adjacent to City Hall.
The speaker said that building has been renovated and is now the home of the Jones County/Gray Chamber of Commerce, DDA, Jones County Development Authority, Main Street Gray, an attorney’s office and real estate office.
Rollins said the owner of the Crossing building came to the DDA, wanting it to purchase the building at a very reasonable price. The owner wanted it to become something that would fit into the downtown design.
The chairman said Gray is now held up as an example of what small cities can do.
“I would love for the dreamers like Sandy Goolsby and Joyce Conn, who were involved in the beginning, to see it today. Miss Joyce would say, ‘Keep making it look better.’ It’s important to remember where we came from and how we got here,” Rollins said. “This is all creating that sense of community we are all looking for.”
JCSS superintendent
Graves was the final speaker. She started by talking about her journey to becoming JCSS superintendent, beginning with introducing her family: husband Gant, daughter Avera and son Jack.
The speaker talked about her first teaching job as a kindergarten teacher and then third grade.
She said she focused on how to reach students and get them on grade level. Graves recalled she worked with one student who after testing was called a slow learner but found out he had learning disabilities.
“My leadership approach is grounded in servant leadership,” she said. “I’m not teaching children anymore, but I’m leading teachers to do that work.”
Graves said while pursuing her doctorate, she developed the grit she would need as she continued her career. After receiving her degree, she worked in higher education and felt she was doing good work. But just as she thought she was ready to lead, the speaker said she was told she was not ready because she had never been a building-level administrator.
At that point, she moved back to the district level and fought for the chance to lead.
“I knew I was being called to do this work,” she said.
Graves said she realized she had to earn the credibility so she would be chosen. She went back to work at a high school and put learning initiatives in place. That first year, there were increases in reading on grade level and double-digit gains in biology, which was unheard of.
All of those experiences made her ready when the opportunity to become Jones County’s school superintendent became possible.
“I’m honored to do this work I’ve fought for,” she said.
Graves said her first priority would always be a positive work environment. That is the reason for centralized enrollment and a review of nonresident affidavits.
She added it is important to nurture the whole child. That includes sports and other extracurricular activities and pointed out that the culture and climate that is put in place is what makes students want to be there.
“We want to make sure we have a pathway for every student to succeed.”
The superintendent explained the SPARK program at the middle schools.
“We are also increasing the academic rigor for our students. If you can meet, then you can exceed,” she said. “We are losing students because people want to know we are providing the highest level of academic support.”
Graves said she knew a long time ago she was called to do this work.
“I make it my goal every day to do what is best for all children to reach his or her potential,” she said. “The work continues; the fight is not over. I invite you to join with us as we take our next steps.”
