special to The Star



DECATUR — Community and church activist Dianne Smith was recognized as Citizen of the Year for 2007 at the recent Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce Banquet. The event was held in the East Central Community College cafeteria.

Smith is an officer in the Newton County Forestry Association, serves as president of the Busy Hands Quilt Guild, and is dean of chairman and past president for four years of the Decatur Woman’s Progressive Club. She is also state chairman of Women’s Health with the Mississippi Federation of Women.

Smith is a member of Clarke-Venable Baptist Church, where she is active in Sunday School and WMU serving as outreach and sunshine person for both. She works with kindergarten students and in the AWANA Program, and helps with Vacation Bible School. She also is a member of the Steel Magnolia Exercise Group, has worked with Relay for Life for the past several years, and serves as poll manager for elections.

The daughter of the late Margaret and Woodrow Ezell, Smith began her school years at Conehatta School. During her high school years at Decatur High School, she met and later married Milton Smith. The couple lived in several parts of the country and overseas for 26 years before moving back to Decatur in 1995 after Milton’s retirement as a pilot in the US Navy. They have three sons: Greg and his wife, Missy, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, have two daughters, Olivia and Regan; Jeff and his wife, Claudia, of Anderson, Ind., have two sons, Jake and Zach; and Andy,who lives in Daly City, Calif.

Lois Cooper, chamber president, welcomed guests to the banquet, which had a large attendance. Invocation was presented by the Rev. Mark Vincent, pastor of Clarke-Venable Baptist Church. Natalie Emmons, keyboard instructor at East Central Community College, performed the song “Mississippi,” which she wrote.

After the meal, entertainment was provided by the Brickstreet Barbershop Quartet of Clinton. The program featured barbershop music as well as comedy routines.

Among those in attendance were state, district, county and local elected officials, as well as political candidates.

New board officers for 2008 were announced. They are are Jan Addy, president; Brenda Harper, first vice president; Mary Cullum, second vice president; Esther Smith, secretary-treasurer; and Lois Cooper, past president. Board members for 2008 are: Jan Addy, Mark Buntyn, Ann Burkes, Lois Cooper, Mary Cullum, Darrell Dean, Marijo Denson, Brenda Harper, Bess Hollingsworth, Louise Johnson, Randy Rushing, Eddie Smith, Esther Smith, Phil Sutphin and Jeanette Trash.

Thrash announced that Gus Vallas has been selected the 2007 Grand Marshall of the Decatur Christmas Parade scheduled for Dec. 7.

Jan Addy, incoming president for 2008, presented Lois Cooper a plaque of appreciation for serving as president during 2007.