Gwinnett’s oldest locally owned newspaper - established 1988 Covering Duluth, Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Berkeley Lake, and Suwanee
Vol. 30, No. 1
FREE
NOVEMBER 2017
www.gwinnettcitizen.com
Norcross Woman’s Club Receives International Recognition Nash awarded’ page 5
Norcross Woman’s Club honored for Preservation of Women’s History and Gwinnett’s First Library By Anne Webb The Norcross Woman’s Club campaign to restore and preserve its historic Old Library building, the first library in Gwinnett and its Women’s History Collection has received international recognition through the Women’s History and Resource Center of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Georgia Federation North East District President Renette Todd presented the citation at the annual
Heart for nursing page 8
fall district meeting in Toccoa. Founded in 1984, the Women’s History and Resource Center collects, preserves, interprets and promotes the history of the GFWC and women volunteers. The WHRC documents the social and political contributions of GFWC clubwomen from 1890 to the present through the GFWC archives, related special collections, and publications. The Woman’s Club has formed
See NORCROSS on page 18
Greatest Generation Veteran Jesse Paul Gilleland
Special Photo
Historic Preservation Architect Eugene Barrington presents first phase of Conditions Assessment Report to Norcross Woman’s Club Restoration Steering Committee Members. Shown with Barrington (L-R) Carol Hitchcock, Anne Webb, Rebecca Norcross, and Carol Bryant.
A Bigger Vision
By Larry Gilleland Citizen Correspondent
GGC unveils wall page 19
INSIDE Gwinnett Pulse 2 Health & Wellness 12 Weddings 17
PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LILBURN,GA PERMIT NO. 99 ECR-WSS POSTAL CUSTOMER
Special Photo
Jesse Paul Gilleland, WWII POW Survivor. In 2001, the Gwinnett section of Hwy 78 was dedicated Paul Gilleland Hwy. The signs are posted on the rightof-way along Hwy 78.
Jesse Paul was born on June 19, 1916, in Grayson, Georgia, into the modest farm family of Elmer Gilleland and Chloe Viola Turner, both originally from Dawson County. Siblings included John Boyd, Vera Belle (Nash), Eva Estelle (Hewatt), Loyce Lucille (Rawlins) and Jewell Ophelia (Cannon) and James Elmer. All remained in the Snellville area, except Boyd who would eventually relocate to Virginia. The family had been living in the Grayson area for several years and, in September 1935, Elmer paid Otis L. Gunter $370 for 37 acres of land in Snellville bordered by Springdale and Greenvalley Roads. Timber was cut from the property and taken to a sawmill for constructing of the house. Subsistence farming was quite common in this area, and all family members were needed for cultivation and harvests. Like many young men of that era, and rural location, Paul lived with his parents and worked on the family farm. However, life wasn’t
See VETERANS on page 16
Special Photo
Top row from (L-R) - Patricia Peters, Ashley Priester, Epiphany Updegrove, Sandra and Clyde Strickland. Bottom row from (L-R) - Edrick Buthelezi, K’Quane Henry, Octavia Holmes, Natachia Manning, Sandra O’Gilvie
By Tiffany Brix Citizen Correspondent You’ve heard the statistics—on average high school graduates can make about $300,000 more over their career than those without a diploma. That’s the difference between sending kids to college, owning a home, paying off a car, retiring and not having to work, or countless other life-changing possibilities. By taking the step and getting a high school diploma, one person can change their trajectory and affect dozens of people within their circle of influence.
Just here in Gwinnett, there are about 70,000 adults who have not graduated high school. The reason for their disrupted course is inconsequential—it is best to remove as many obstacles as possible for every person who wants to complete their GED. One of the most significant hurdles is not aptitude but schedule flexibility. Many adults who have the desire to get their GED just cannot consistently conform to the schedule needed for completion. Now, there is an option for ev-
See VISION on page10