Unsung Hero: Janet Goodman

Unsung Hero:

Janet Goodman

Former Covington councilwoman Janet Goodman was selected as one of three Visions 2022 Unsung Hero Award winners. Phillip B. Hubbard | The News

Former councilwoman has made lasting impact on Covington

By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD

phubbard@covnews.com

Janet Goodman is no stranger to Covington and its residents. Her active role in the local community is largely to thank for that.

Throughout her life, Goodman has taken on various roles to help enrich her hometown. But, her motivation doesn’t come from fond memories growing up in the area. As a matter of fact, it’s the complete opposite.

“I spoke at something they had for the city and people who made an impact,” Goodman said. “And I remember saying, ‘I didn’t want them to think that I ran for city council because Covington had been really good to me as a child, because it had not been.’ And I remember that.”

Goodman recalled multiple occasions where she was discriminated against because of the color of her skin as well as her gender. That didn’t deter her from setting out to help make Covington a better place for future generations.

As a high school student, Goodman worked with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). She even attended a conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a student.

During her days as a R.L. Cousins High School student, Goodman participated in protests and marches, too.

When Goodman was growing up, local restaurants had not yet integrated. She helped lead the charge to get restaurant owners to integrate.

“The joke always was, ‘anybody who doesn’t want to eat, go with Janet.’ Because they knew they weren’t going to feed me,” Goodman recalled.

In the 1970s, Goodman helped organize the Newton County Voters League, the Washington Street Community Center as well as the United Black Front.

Goodman has also broken the status quo along the way, too.

She was the first African American employee for The Covington News, where she served over the graphic arts department for 18 years. In 1978, Goodman was the first African American female to be voted onto the Covington City Council. Goodman also worked for the Newton County Board of Education for 31 years.

In 2015, as her tenure on the city

council was drawing to a close, Goodman was the longest-serving African American female city council member in Georgia.

During her 37 years on the city council, Goodman led the charge for many things. One of the first things she is most proud of leading is Covington’s recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday.

Goodman remembers the exact night and meeting she brought it up during public comments and how the thorough discussion came about.

“Covington was the third city in the state of Georgia to recognize the MLK celebration,” Goodman said. “And Coretta Scott King sent me a ‘thank you’ letter.”

All in all, Goodman’s desire to see her hometown become better than it was when she was a child has driven her to a lifetime of service and dedication to Covington.

But, now in Covington, Goodman feels like her efforts to help develop her hometown have been worth it. And, even though she knows there’s still work to do, Goodman is glad to call Covington her home.

“Seeing the changes, being a part of the changes and realizing that a lot of people that made fun of Covington, now you can’t keep them out of here,” Goodman said. “I like being in a town where you go somewhere and you know somebody.”

In 2016, Georgia Municipal Association Executive Director Lamar Norton presents the Lifetime

Serivce Award to Covington’s Janet Goodman. Archives | The News

Congratulations to all the Visions Winners!