Chamber of commerce congratulates efforts of members at annual banquet

Published 10:50 am Saturday, February 8, 2025

TIFTON — The annual banquet from the Tifton-Tift County Chamber of Commerce once again brought together its members for a celebration of their past successes and hopeful futures.

Members and partners of the chamber gathered at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Thursday, Feb. 6, to recognize their collective efforts to bring progress and prosperity to the community across the past year.

As with previous years, the heads of the organization were proud to recognize a few particular members for going above and beyond in getting involved with the chamber, serving the community, and supporting the area’s economic and social development.

Debbie Edenfield, regional administrator of home health care service Abide Home Care, was presented with the Prince Businesswoman of the Year Award, recognizing her skill in her profession and her dedication to the community.

Kayla Gaskins of Haley Robins State Farm received the Chamber Ambassador of the Year Award in honor of her efforts to support the local chamber and her extensive involvement in the organization’s events.

Chamber leaders were proud to place Larry Mims, along with his late wife Joyce, who passed away earlier this year, among the Wall of Fame, honoring their work in enriching the youths of the community and serving the Tiftarea.

In addition to founding the nonprofit Mims Kids in 1994 with the intent of exposing local children to the arts, travel, and diversity throughout the world, the couple remained tirelessly involved in the community through service on several local government boards and participation in various local programs.

Frankie Mathis, a former Tift County commissioner, chair of the Tifton-Tift County Public Library foundation, and current board member of the Tift County Tax Assessors, received the Stafford Award for his work in spurring economic development within the area.

The John Hunt Entrepreneur Award was handed out to two recipients this year, going to both Tom and Tyler Riddle of medical supply store M.R.S. Homecare. The two men were recognized for efforts to grow the Tifton business community.

Evangela Hampton of Abide Home Care received the J. Lamar Branch Award, a prestige reserved for a fledgling chamber ambassador who best exhibited the same qualities of leadership as its namesake. Hampton was praised upon receiving it for her enthusiastic participation in chamber events, even showing an interest within her first week in town.

Lastly, the Bowen Donaldson Home for Funerals was awarded the Rotary Club’s Ethics in Business Award to congratulate them on exceptional ethical behavior, a dedication to preserving the well-being of the area, and a determination to work to make Tifton what it is known for.

At the conclusion of the evening’s events, outgoing chamber board chair Charlie Yawn welcomed his successor Becky Smith, who was last year’s Prince Businesswoman of the Year, to the position, handing her the gavel symbolic of the role.

Yawn thanked the board, chamber staff, and chamber members for their support across the past year, and both he and Smith, now taking the position of chamber board chair, expressed their optimism for the year to come.