Hawnethia Williams
City of Covington
Mayor Protem 2008-2009
Education
- Graduated Valedictorian from R.L. Cousins High School
- BA in Psychology and Social Science from Clark Collage, Atlanta with Honors
- MA in Social Science Education from Georgia State University, Atlanta
- Gifted Certification from the University of Georgia, Athens
Work Experience
- Taught for 33 years in various school systems
- Taught Social Studies at the Pike County Consolidated School in Concord, GA.
- Taught Social Studies at Monroe High School in Munroe, GA.
- Served as advisor to the Student Council and was received the award of Teacher of the Month
- Taught at Newton High School until her retirement in 2001
City Initiatives & Taskforces
- Served on the Historical Preservation Commission, Housing Board of Appeals until elected. In 2008 began serving on the Affordable Housing Taskforce
- Successfully advocated with community support for the development of Public Educational Government Channels by the City
- Pedestrian Initiatives – Crosswalks accessing the Square Park
- Advocacy and support for the Metropolitan Design Studio’s Conceptual Planning Studies – 2006 Harristown Conceptual Study, 2008 Downtown Covington Conceptual Study for the Master Plan Update
- Taskforce for the development of the Newton County History Center. A SPLOST project that will be housed in Newton County’s Historic Jail
- For the past three years has served as the judge for the Georgia Municipal Association’s “If I were a Mayor” essay contest for Sixth Graders in the State of Georgia
Training and Awards
- 2006 was awarded the Newton County Ministers Union Government Award
- 2007 was awarded the Martin Luther King Jr. “I Have A Dream Award”
- 2008 received a Certificate of Recognition for 42 hours of Georgia Municipal Association training
- Received certification for 6 hours Leadership of training at the Carl Vinson Institute, University of Georgia
- 2009 will receive a Certificate of Excellence for 72 hours of Georgia Municipal Association
- Unanimously nominated by the 5th District Georgia Municipal officers to the position of third VicePresident of the District
Community Service
- Presently serves on the steering committee and the Program Committee of Newton County’s Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Fund and Celebration Day
- Member of the Martin Luther King Jr. Interdenominational Choir
- Attends Grace United Methodist Church. Sings in the Gospel Choir and with the Voices of Grace, member of Grace United Methodist Women, a Sunday School Teacher and a certified lay speaker
Personal Background
- Being an avid observer of the political process and a retired Social Studies teacher inspired Hawnethia to attend the 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama in Washington D.C.
- Interests; travelling, shopping, reading and researching the Bible and being with friends and family
- Hawnethia was married to the late Charles Lanear Williams