Staff report



THOMASVILLE — Pat Pankey of Thomasville was recently honored as one of 2005’s “Gracious Ladies of Georgia” at the association’s 29th anniversary meeting held at the Green Island Country Club in Columbus.

Pankey, the wife of Dr. Homer Pankey, is only the second Thomasville resident to receive this honor. Winnie Allen, wife of Fred Allen, was selected as a Gracious Lady of Georgia in 1978, the second year of the organization’s existence.

Pankey was recognized for contributions to her social and professional organizations, achievements in education at all levels, betterment of international understanding through her work with other countries and foreign students, and her strong family and Christian values.

“When I was informed of my selection as a Gracious Lady of Georgia, I was totally overwhelmed,” Pankey said. “It is the greatest honor ever bestowed upon me. This designation carries a huge responsibility. I will have to spend the rest of my life trying to live up to it.”

This year’s class of Gracious Ladies of Georgia was made up of 20 ladies of Georgia and one honorary lady from Northern Ireland.

The Gracious Ladies of Georgia organization was founded by Rozell Fair Fabiani, a well-known television and news personality from Columbus who died earlier this year. Fabiani took as her inspiration for the founding of the association the gracious and beloved Ethel Illges Woodruff.

The purpose of the Gracious Ladies of Georgia association is to recognize those ladies who have contributed, and continue to contribute, to making the world a better place in which to live, and who live their lives with concern for people around them.

Some who are chosen work quietly behind the scenes, while others work on the business front, with civic affairs and in many other areas.

The ladies selected for the honor each year are chosen by an unpublished committee of five after carefully reviewing each nominee’s letters of support. Only a former Gracious Lady of Georgia can submit a nominee’s name to the committee.

Letters in support of the nominee must contain in-depth descriptions of those activities they consider worthy of the standards set by the Gracious Ladies of Georgia association. Recognition is based upon these standards without regard to creed, race or social level.