Mothers Against Crime celebrated its 30 years of service to the community with an old-fashioned dinner and gospel singing Saturday night at The Plaza Arts Center.
“We said this year, we’re not going to have a speaker for our annual dinner, we’re going to have an old-fashioned church service,” one of the founders of MAC, Georgia Smith, said with a grin.
The evening included recognition of the members of Mothers Against Crime: Brenda Bonner, Sharon Pennamon, Andrea Perkins, Darryl Smith, Rosalyn Smith, Mozelle McKay, Florrie Williams, Rufus Smith Jr. and “Miss Georgia.”
Describing Mothers Against Crime’s history, Georgia Smith said, “Every small town has a little area that gets raunchy, and in Eatonton it was ‘The Strip’ (along East Marion Street) where there was a lot of bars and night clubs, and young people were getting shot and killed.
“So, in May 1992, 12 angry women and men stripped the strip. We marched the streets and worked until we closed down every building.”
With no more “raunchy” areas to protest, the Mothers Against Crime members remain organized to spread goodwill and offer help in the community. With all of their efforts aimed at improving community values, supporting children’s educational possibilities, and increasing the safety of the area, the nonprofit organization offers quarterly recognition and support to all public safety workers in Eatonton and Putnam County; hosts several cookouts for youth each year that include food, fun activities, motivational speaking, and resources; participates in an annual candlelight vigil for victims of domestic abuse; hosts an annual Christmas party with Santa and gifts for children; sponsors a team for Relay For Life; participates in and supports community events; and provides scholarships for financially-deserving local graduating high school seniors.
“Two families donate $2,500 each year, and we don’t use it on Mothers Against Crime or our programs, we use it to award scholarships to help some of our students as they go off to college,” Smith said.
Each MAC member was presented a certificate, and the group as a whole was surprised with a plaque with each of the members’ names engraved on it. The award, called “The Christian Achievement Award,” was presented by the Reverend Walter Milner, of One Brother Ministry, of Atlanta.
“What they are doing in the city of Eatonton is really Christian service, a way of spreading God’s love and message to others,” Milner noted.
The Sons of Unity gospel group performed several numbers before, during, and after the meal. A trio of women, the Putnam Gospel Ensemble, also ministered in music.
Several dignitaries in attendance also publicly expressed their appreciation to the Mothers Against Crime members. They included Putnam County Board of Commissioners Chairman Billy Webster, Eatonton Police Chief Howell Cardwell, former Eatonton Police Chief Kent Lawrence, and former BOC Chairman Steve Hersey.