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The prestigious Stetson F. Bennett Superior Court Clerk of the Year award was founded by the Bennett family
in 1985. The award is presented to honor and bring recognition to the most dedicated group of public servants
who have gone unrecognized for years, and to encourage excellence in all members of the Clerks’ Association.
The 2010 Stetson F Bennett Superior Court Clerk of the Year is Dena M. Adams of White County. Dena was born and raised in Cleveland and was an honor graduate
from White County High School in 1989. Following graduation, she immediately joined the staff of the Superior Court Clerk’s office and worked in every division of that office
prior to her taking the elected position of Clerk of Superior Court. Dena is married Mark Adams has an 11 year daughter, Gabrielle Adams. During Dena’s personal time, she enjoys
reading and spending time in the outdoors whether it be at hunting & fishing camps, boating on the lake, or site seeing and easy hikes thru the beautiful mountains of north Georgia.
Dena is very active in her community. She is a member of Dukes Creek Baptist Church, has served as a Sunday school teacher, and is one of the pianists. She is a member of the Lions
club, Cleveland – White County Optimist club, Mt. Yonah Chapter 405 Order of the Eastern Star. Outside of her office, the position that Dena is most honored to hold and believes is
most beneficial to her community is serving as a board member of the Circle of Hope, a battered victim shelter that serves White, Habersham and Stephens counties. She has served two
separate two year terms as President of the board.
Dena became Clerk of Superior Court of White County in April 1998 when her predecessor resigned. She has completed the Superior Court Clerk Certificate Program through the Carl Vinson
Institute of Government a division of the University of Georgia. Dena has served as District Representative for the Ninth Judicial Administrative District of Georgia and served as an
executive board member for both the Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia and the Superior Court Clerk’s Association of Georgia. In 2006, Dena received the Ninth District Clerk
of the Year award. She is currently serving a second term as President of the Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia. Dena also is currently serving on several committees
including the following: Superior Court Clerks’ Reference Manual Committee, Judicial Workload Assessment Committee of the Judicial Council of Georgia, and mostly recently appointed
as a lay member to the Next Generation Courts Commission. In addition to being Superior Court Clerk, Dena also serves as Clerk to the Juvenile and Magistrate Courts, serves as Clerk
for a portion of the Probate Court regarding more serious traffic offense, Clerk for the Jury Commissioners, Passport Agent for the US Department of State, and as Assistant to the White
County Board of Equalization.
When asked about serving as clerk, she responded “I believe that we should all strive to help others and to support our country and community. I am honored and feel so lucky that I
have this job that allows me to serve the citizens in my county. I enjoy maintaining the various important records filed with my office and just being there as a friendly face for
the court system for people who may be going through a trying time such as a court action or a joyous time such as an adoption. Also, besides being a member of my biological family
and church family, I’m now part of large clerk family that is always there for support both professionally and personally.”
Past recipients of this award were:
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| 2009 |
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Honorable Chess Fountain |
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Toombs County |
| 2008 |
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Honorable Mildred Peeler |
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Wilkes County |
| 2007 |
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Honorable Beverly Logan |
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Clarke County |
| 2006 |
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Honorable Linda T. Miller |
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Clayton County |
| 2005 |
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Honorable Tom Lawler |
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Gwinnett County |
| 2004 |
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Honorable Frank Abbott |
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Lamar County |
| 2003 |
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Honorable Connie Cheatham |
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McDuffie County |
| 2002 |
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Honorable Edward E. Tucker |
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Lumpkin County |
| 2001 |
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Honorable Sara Crow |
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Lowndes County |
| 2000 |
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Honorable Dwight S. Wood |
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Hall County |
| 1999 |
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Honorable Linda D. Hays |
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Newton County |
| 1998 |
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Honorable Sandra C. Glass |
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Oconee County |
| 1997 |
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Honorable Carol Jackson |
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White County |
| 1996 |
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Honorable Gary Yates |
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Gwinnett County |
| 1995 |
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Honorable Joanne P. Caldwell |
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Rockdale County |
| 1994 |
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Honorable Sara E. Taylor |
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Henry County |
| 1993 |
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Honorable Barry Wilkes |
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Liberty County |
| 1992 |
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Honorable Annette Fleming |
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Cherokee County |
| 1991 |
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Honorable Woodson Daniel |
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Pulaski County |
| 1990 |
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Honorable David Ridgeway |
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Butts County |
| 1989 |
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Honorable Ovis Stephens |
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Crisp County |
| 1988 |
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Honorable Edward Trice |
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Upson County |
| 1987 |
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Honorable Sandra Galloway Willis |
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Polk County |
| 1986 |
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Honorable Joe B. Mundy |
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Clayton County |
| 1985 |
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Honorable Stetson F. Bennett |
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Wayne County |
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