In one of his final acts as mayor, Mayor Hardie Davis presented keys to the city to six individuals, including three pastors and a longtime city judge.
“One of the great challenges of society is in moving to the next stage. We never celebrate the people who brought us here,” said Davis, whose second term ends Friday, Dec. 30.
Davis, pastor of Abundant Life Ministries, honored the Rev. Sandra Kennedy, founder of Whole Life Ministries. Whole Life sits in the Master’s Plaza across Washington Road from Augusta National Golf Club. Davis said Kennedy “has been a trailblazer” in the faith community and Whole Life a part of his life for “a long time.”
“It is more than across the street from the Masters. It is a place where lives have been changed. It is a place where people have been healed in their physical lives and the word of God has been taught for decades,” he said.
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Davis also presented keys to the city to:
Chief State Court Judge David Watkins who retires after 25 years on the bench Jan. 1. Watkins is known for his work establishing accountability courts, which help offenders address addiction and alcoholism.
Lewis Bohler Jr., the retired Augusta-born Episcopalian minister who dedicated much of his life to education, civil rights and mental health before returning to Augusta in 1996 as pastor of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Bohler, 95, joked with Davis about their both being ministers.
Brenda Durant, executive director of the Greater Augusta Arts Council for 25 years. Davis said Durant’s work developing the arts in Augusta has “made a community whole and complete” growing the arts in Augusta. Durant said working with Davis had been a pleasure.
Roger Gardner, founder and CEO of The Bridge Ministry of the CSRA. The ministry provides outreach and church services for Augusta’s homeless population under the Calhoun Expressway bridge into downtown Augusta.
The family of Walter S. Hornsby, the first Black deputy administrator of Richmond County. Hornsby, who died Dec. 12, was the son of a Pilgrim Health and Life Insurance Co. founder and “part of the successful transition to Augusta’s consolidated government” in 1996, Davis said.
Susan McCord is a staff writer with The Augusta Press. Reach her at susan@theaugustapress.com
