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PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE IVES & SHOT BY SOMI

The Honorable Tammy Stokes, Chief Judge,

Recorder’s Court Judiciary ......................................144

McNamara Adams Attorneys and Counselors at Law ............................. 145

The Burgess Law Group, LLC ................................... 146

TAMMY STOKES

CHIEF JUDGE, CHATHAM COUNTY RECORDER’S COURT

133 Montgomery St. 912.652.7523

MY ROLE MODEL IS … poet and author Maya Angelou. As a person, Ms. Angelou embodied strength of character, authenticity, wisdom, a deep love of humanity and a hearty laugh.

I’M SO PROUD OF MY COURT

BECAUSE ... it is the face of the court system of Chatham County, and we do a good job of serving the public. Recorder’s Court is the foundation of our criminal justice system, and nearly every criminal case, traffic citation and city code violation come here first.

I WISH MORE SAVANNAHIANS KNEW …

that the Recorder’s Court has a truly dedicated, hardworking staff. Three judges, two part-time judges and a Clerk’s Office staffed with fewer than 30 people handle upwards of 50,000 cases, process thousands of warrants each year and work holidays and weekends in order to comply with the U.S. and Georgia constitutions.

MOST PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED WHEN

THEY LEARN … I am in the A. E. Beach High School Athletic Hall of Fame for track. I was a sprinter running the anchor for the 440 relay, 440, 220 and mile relay.

MY CHARITIES OF CHOICE ARE … Park Place Outreach and Hospice Savannah. I admire the tenacity and the hope of our youth at PPO, and I am forever grateful for the care and dignity the staff of Hospice Savannah showed my mom and dad in their final days in 2020.

MCNAMARA ADAMS, PC REAL ESTATE

SAVANNAH: 912.355.1109 7370 Hodgson Memorial Drive POOLER: 912.748.1204 130 Canal St., Ste. 303 mcnamaraadamsatlaw.com

From left: J. Craig Adams, Mary “Molly” McNamara Adams, Thomas J. McNamara WE FOCUS ON ... real estate closings and probate.

WE LOVE PRACTICING IN

SAVANNAH BECAUSE ... Savannah is the greatest city in America. It’s a great place to raise a family and make true, loyal friends.

OUR CLIENTS ... are regular folks who are seeking someone who cares and someone whom they can trust with their real estate closing or probate matter.

OUR PHILOSOPHY IS … to treat every client and every case with the same effort, concern and professionalism as if it were the most important matter we would ever handle. WE ARE MOST PROUD OF … the fact that people have placed their trust in us for an important event in their lives. So many clients have remained loyal friends through the years, and we are always happy to assist them again. We are thrilled to have families trust us the way they do.

WE MAINTAIN BALANCE BY ...

being involved in many different family events. We follow our children and even our grandchildren to church, school and community activities. You meet great people who care about God, children and community at these events.

STEPHANIE O. BURGESS, ESQ.

THE BURGESS LAW GROUP LLC

142 Jefferson St. 912.233.6112 sburgess@burgesslawgroup.com burgesslawgroup.com

I LOVE PRACTICING IN SAVANNAH!

I have lived in Atlanta and Houston, though Savannah is where I choose to hang out my shingle. I love practicing in Savannah because I have an aff ection and a connection for the people for whom I am fi ghting. As the owner and managing attorney for the Burgess Law Group, I am able to give back to the community that gave so much to me. I own where I was homegrown!

ON A TYPICAL DAY … I am either appearing in court, meeting a client at the jail or in my offi ce, attending a community event or on a Zoom call. Because I practice family and criminal law, I appear in court a lot. I also stay involved in the community by providing free workshops on common legal issues such as child support, custody and visitation.

MY GREATEST ROLE MODEL IS …

my 86-year-old mother, who has provided a blueprint for almost every aspect of my life. She taught me how to listen to my heart and my gut. She taught me to take chances and to always be the “head, neck or shoulders” of whatever I do. My mother is Southern Baptist Christian. To this day, whenever I need counsel, she tells me, “Baby, God may let you tumble, but he won’t let you fall,” and, “What God has for you is for you!” She taught me to run my own race. She is a powerful but graceful beacon of knowledge whom I am blessed to call my greatest asset.