From Staff Reports
AMERICUS — A.B. Jackson-Merritt recently received the 2009 membership award from the Americus Concerned Citizens Organization for the Magnolia Manor Nursing Center’s disadvantaged residents. The organization was initially formed in 2002 by Jackson-Merritt to assist the disadvantaged patients living at Magnolia Manor who does not have family members. This very special mission was created by Jackson-Merritt during the time her mother, Ida Bell High, was a resident of Magnolia Manor for seven years.
Jackson-Merritt stated that she is honored and thankful to be chosen by the committee to receive this valuable award and appreciates the hard working committee members for their years of service to continue making the difference for the disadvantaged residents at Magnolia Manor. She indicated that there is a growing number of residents who live at Magnolia Manor for longer and longer periods of time and gifts presented to them on special holidays by the committee always lift their spirits. She feels very confident that the organization will continue to grow and develop into providing additional services to the residents in the near future.
Jackson-Merritt and the Americus Concerned Citizens members provides 40 or more gifts every year to residents at Magnolia Manor during Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and especially on Christmas which is a very special time of the year for residents.
The Americus Concerned Citizens officers and members areJackson-Merritt, chair; Tammy Hamilton, co-chair; Norma Wilson, secretary; Katie Jackson, treasurer; Lillie P. Height, chaplin; Clifford Merritt, fundraising chair; Kenneth Hamilton, Gwendolyn Walton, Barbara Pinkard, Connie Coley, Lena Wilson, Carolyn Wilson, Leslie Harper and Dorothy Ware.
Jackson-Merritt has been significantly involved in many community, civic and social organizations including Lebanon Baptist Church, Plains City Council for 18 years, chair of Plains’ Industry & Trade, chair of Plains’ Finance Committee, liaison for Plains City Council & Better Hometown Board, Habakkuk Chapter No. 70 Order of Eastern Star, Associate Matron for Americus District No. 14, and Past Matron for Habakkuk Chapter No. 70 Order of Eastern Star. She has also served as the Most Ancient Matron for the Heriones of Jericho, Grand Martha for the State of Georgia Order of Eastern Star, and serves on the Plains Better Hometown Board. Jackson-Merritt has been providing scholarships to many local students for over eight years through the Habakkuk Chapter No. 70 Order of Eastern Star.
Jackson-Merritt is a former employee of Atlanta Life Insurance in Atlanta for 26 years. Presently, she is self-employed as a General Insurance agent in Plain. She is the wife of Clifford Merritt and the daughter of the late Ida Bell High of Plains.
If anyone is interested in becoming a member of the Americus Concern Citizens Organization, please contact Jackson-Merritt at 229.824.3166.
