Moultrie-Colquitt County Chamber Man of the Year

Editor’s note: This article has been changed to correctly reflect the nature of Life Under the Son prison ministry.

MOULTRIE — A night of honor was held in Moultrie Tuesday as the Moultrie Chamber of Commerce hosted its 110th meeting and annual banquet, honoring four community members.

As always, the banquet awards and names the man, woman and agribusiness person of the year. And there’s no shortage of recommendations for either of them, especially Man of the Year Durwood Dominy.

Man of the Year

Those who nominated Dominy regard him as a household name and one who’s held multiple positions throughout the community.

Jim Lowry met Dominy around 40 years ago. And while he doesn’t remember the exact situation, he remarked this old saying: “It’s not the words you remember but how the person made you feel.”

“I remember Durwood made me feel comfortable and he was very approachable,” Lowry said. “In the world of customer relations you have 30 seconds to make the first impression. Well in my first 30 seconds, I could tell Durwood was kind, religious, friendly, knowledgeable, welcoming.”

He remarked Dominy as a “southern gentleman” who, like many of Colquitt County citizens, made Lowry and his family feel at home when they moved to Moultrie. Perhaps Dominy felt a kindred spirit.

Dominy grew up in Twiggs County, graduating from Twiggs County High School in 1962. He’d go on to Georgia State University, graduating from there and the UGA Banking School.

He moved to Moultrie in 1971 as a bank officer at C & S Bank.

“I begged them not to send me here,” he said in his 2018 Hall of Fame interview. “I told them ‘You’re sending me to the end of the world.’”

But as sports editor Wayne Grandy wrote it “after six months, ‘I (Dominy) fell in love with it.” Dominy’s been in Moultrie ever since where he became a father and grandfather amongst his many titles.

Statewide, he’s known as the “Voice of the Packers,” but he’s also been the president of the Chamber of Commerce and United Way; chairman of the Hospital Authority of Colquitt County and Relay for Life; and served on state and national level boards.

Most would simply say he’s an inspiration though. Take Hugh Ward for instance. He said Dominy’s effect on the people around him and the hospital were felt in every interaction.

“He inspired the Administration while Jim Lowry was CEO and he continued his devotion to improving our community’s access to excellent health care while working with our present CEO, Jim Matney,” Ward said.

Dominy will be sharing the spotlight of Man of the Year as Dr. Randall (Randy) Benner shares his poise. Much like Dorminy, Benner is a man of his adopted community.

Benner, originally an Evansville, Ind., resident, came to Moultrie in 1986 along with his wife Peggy. He’d had ran his own general dentistry in Camilla —which he came to in 1974 — and served on the city’s Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as its president.

Once in Moultrie, he started and ran a private practice from 1986 to 2013. But it was his time and membership at First United Methodist Church that started his path to community service.

“During this time, God gave Dr. Randy Benner, Dr. Patty June and Lee Clifton the vision to open a local pregnancy center to encourage and educate women going through a pregnancy,” Benner’s Chamber bio read.

That was the birth of Hope House in 1989. He’d go on to establish Heritage Church, Life Under the Son — a non-profit prison ministry — and became acting director and president of Crossroad Gospel Rescue Mission, his current occupation.

Former First Baptist Church Pastor Wayne Woods would say he’s not as close as others are to Benner, but he’s blessed to have an association with him. He reminisced about Benner asking him onto the Crossroads Mission Board.

“The short meeting we had in my office that day convinced me that this was a man who fully embodied the biblical principle of servanthood and who cared deeply for the needs of those in our community much less fortunate than us,” Woods said.

What Benner has been commended on his revamp of Crossroads. However, if you commended him on it he’d tell you it wasn’t about that. It’s about a love for God and helping others establish relationships with him.

“We want people here who in their heart want to change, and we want to help them change,” Benner said in a 2018 interview. “They are at a crossroad in their life: They can either go back down the road they were on, or they can say they want a new road and that’s what we want to do.”

This is the first time in 48 years that two men won Man of the Year. Though both aren’t natives of Colquitt County, they chose to be here and are thankful to be here.

Woman of the year

Woman of the Year and Cox Elementary School teacher Heather Grantham is definitely not the person who desires recognition for her work. Her colleagues and family, however, would say it’s much deserved and needs to be given.

Cox Elementary School assistant principal Meg Bishop called Grantham fiercely competitive and dedicated.

“From collecting clothing from community members to heading up massive fundraisers, Mrs. Grantham is in relentless pursuit of necessities, as well as opportunities for Cox students,” Bishop said.

There’s been many a time where Grantham would post the need on social media, Bishop wrote, and the school would receive more clothing and donations than the school’s closet could hold. And without being asked, Grantham would have everything folded neatly before the next day.

It was a constant feat of sacrifice on her part but one she’ll readily give if it helps others. Judy Burnham knows this firsthand.

“If a child of anyone in that Heather knows is in need, she will do everything in her power to make sure that it gets taken care of,” Burnham said. “If a child is cold, she makes sure they are warm; if they are hungry, she makes sure they have food; if they need shoes, she makes sure they get them. No child is left behind!”

Grantham, a Moultrie Native, grew up active in her church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, singing in the youth choir and attending its children and youth activities.

She’d go on to graduate from Colquitt County High School and attended Brewton-Parker College where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

She’s a wife and a mother of three sons and has been an member of the Moultrie Junior Woman’s Club and served on the Public Issues Committee, Annual Luncheon Committee, and Relay for Life committee.

She currently works as an English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher at Cox Elementary, which she’s worked for nine years. Grantham was instrumental in bringing snow days to Cox, as well.

Agribusiness Person of the Year

Frank Cox is a dedicated deacon to First Baptist Church of Moultrie. He may have retired as an agriculture lender at Ameris Bank, but his peers know that he’ll never stop trying to grow Agribusiness throughout Colquitt County.

Tim DeMott knows this especially. He notes that Cox’s focus is never just on the present of agriculture but its future. That’s why he aims to mentor the youth through his support of FFA and the Young Farmers program.

“He recognizes the need to mentor our youth so that our community continues to lead Georgia and the south in the agricultural arena,” DeMott said.

But aside from his advocation of education, agriculture and athletics, Cox is a devoted family man who makes himself an example through his faith and love of the Lord.

Timothy Powers, Ameris Bank Market President, stood front and center of the banquet as he told his own experience with Cox.

“My relationship with Frank spans four decades, going back to his serving as my Eigth Grade Sunday School teacher while we were both living in Perry, Georgia,” he said. “This first memory of Frank is representative of his long commitment of service reflecting his faith, love of his community and devotion to the Agricultural industry.”

Powers said even to this day, he could show the exact page and scripture Cox taught him all those years ago.

Cox was raised on a farm near Quincy, Florida and grew up working to support the family through farm work. After high school, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, then transferred to UGA where he completed a degree in agriculture.

He’d go on to become an Agriculture teacher in Quitman and later, a lender with Farm Credit. He’s also been the president of Kiwanis, a member of the Colquitt County Quality Livestock Committee, a SCORE mentor and an Ag committee chairman to name a few.

“Frank has always given his professional and personal best to Colquitt County,” DeMott said. “I can think of no other that is more deserving of this award.”