FIRST CITIZEN OF CHEROKEE COUNTY NAMED
The Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that Kendall Jones has been named the 48th recipient of the First Citizen of Cherokee County Award. He was honored during the Chamber’s 52nd Annual Meeting held Thursday, January 19, 2023.
Kendall Jones moved to Cherokee County 35 years ago, yet he was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida and graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Music Education double majoring in Instrumental & Choral Music Education with a minor in Spanish. He also received his master’s degree in music education.
Dedicating the early years of his career to his love of music through his work as a middle school band director and church choir director, Kendall’s work resulted in receiving multiple awards while also organizing large group performances and serving on the original steering committee that began the University of Georgia Middle School Music Festival.
Formerly a Food Pantry Volunteer for MUST Cherokee before joining the MUST Ministries family as Volunteer Coordinator/Intake Manager in 2010, Kendall was later promoted to Program Director at MUST Cherokee then in 2019 a new role was created specifically for him, Cherokee Community Liaison.
Mr. Jones volunteers in the community with the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce – having been named Volunteer of the Year in 2021, as well as with Cherokee’s Homeless Coalition, Cherokee FOCUS and Canton Housing Authority – serving as their current Board Chair. An active member of Canton First United Methodist Church serving as Missions Chair for three years and a member of the Men’s Prayer Group and the choir, Kendall enjoys the beauty of the earth as he is an avid runner and hiker completing multiple half-marathons and nine full marathons along with portions of the Appalachian Trail.
Mr. Jones has served as a mentor to many people over the years, helping both friends and strangers in need, and is always willing to lend a hand without recognition. He and his wife, Carol, have been married for 41 years and are the proud parents of two sons, and five grandchildren.
“The Cherokee County Chamber was honored to name Kendall Jones as the 48th recipient of the prestigious First Citizen of Cherokee County Award. It is obvious, based upon his accomplishments, why he was selected,” remarked Trey Ragsdale, External Affairs, Kaiser Permanente, and 2023 Chamber Board Chair.
The title of First Citizen of Cherokee County is bestowed upon a resident of Cherokee County who has resided in the county for a minimum of five years and has shown significant meritorious service to his/her community through family, civic and/or religious involvement. A panel of out-of-town judges reviews the accomplishments of each applicant then the winner is chosen based upon merit. The 2023 recipient joins a prestigious list of honorees including former Canton physician Dr. Grady Coker, who was the initial recipient in 1971, along with Robert F. Logan, retired Georgia Power Area Manager, who was selected in 2022.
The mission of the Cherokee County Chamber, a Georgia Certified Chamber, is to promote business to expand the economy and enrich the community. To learn more about the Chamber, visit CherokeeChamber.com.
