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Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed speaks to the crowd after being awarded the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Residents, business people and local dignitaries filled 6th Street Warehouse on Feb. 29 for the Annual Banquet & Awards Dinner hosted by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Christine Epperson, left, was named the Community Spirit Award winner for Maplesville. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Kristin Martin Mims, center, was awarded the Chamber Champion Award at the banquet. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Laura Liveoak, left, won the Community Spirit Award for Thorsby. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Tammie McGriff, left, was the winner of the Community Spirit Award for Jemison. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Jimmy Plier, left, of Carpet Country in Clanton was the winner of the second annual Lifetime Achievement Award. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Gaisha’s Place Soulfood Restaurant won the New Business of the Year Award at the banquet. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Deidra Gadberry, left, was one of the winners of the Community Spirit Award for Chilton County. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Becky Tucker, left, was one of the winners of the Community Spirit Award for Chilton County. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

The Distinguished Business of the Year Award was presented to First Bank of Alabama at the banquet. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Stanley Tip Varner, left, was the recipient of the Community Spirit Award for Clanton. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Chilton County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rachel Martin, left, presents Tommie Agee with the Distinguished Citizen of the Year, Hometown Hero Award. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The Chilton County Chamber of Commerce held their Annual Banquet & Awards Dinner on Feb. 29 that recognized some of the county’s most spirited residents and best businesses. Sponsored by First Bank of Alabama and State Farm Agent Deidra Gadberry, the banquet handed out awards for community spirit, businesses and citizens of the year.

“I think it was a huge success and everybody had a great time,” Rachel Martin, Executive Director of the Chilton Chamber of Commerce, said. “I think it was one of our most attended and one of our greatest banquets that we have had so far, and we hope to build off of that and keep making it better each year.”

Residents and delegates packed the ballroom at 6th Street Warehouse and were treated to a catered meal from Valle Grande Mexican Grill prior to the awards portion of the evening.

Community spirit awards were handed out to residents from Clanton, Jemison, Maplesville, Thorsby and Chilton County as a whole. Stanley Tip Varner was presented the community spirit award for Clanton, followed by Tammie McGriff for Jemison, Christine Epperson for Maplesville, Laura Liveoak for Thorsby and Becky Tucker and Deidra Gadberry for Chilton County.

“We know there are people that are getting out and getting involved in their community, and they are not doing it for praise, recognition or anything like that,” Martin said. “We feel like it is important to let them know that we do see what they are doing and we see they are making their community a better place.”

The chamber handed out its Chamber Champion Award, an individual who goes out of their way to help the chamber with things throughout the year, to Kristin Martin Mims.

Businesses in Chilton County were recognized as well, starting with the chamber’s New Business of the Year Award going to Gaisha’s Place Soulfood Restaurant, an award that goes to a business who has established itself well within its first three years open. The Distinguished Business of the Year Award was presented to First Bank of Alabama, an award that goes to one of the Chamber Business of the Month winners throughout the previous year.

Carpet County in Clanton was given the second annual Lifetime Achievement Award by the Chamber, an award that recognizes a business or individual that has shown decades of sustained success.

Lastly, two Distinguished Citizen of the Year Awards were given out by the Chamber. First, the Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award which was presented to Jemison Mayor Eddie Reed for his countless years of service to the Jemison community. The Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award, Hometown Hero was presented to Maplesville High School football standout and former NFL running back Tommie Agee.

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