Submitted by: Carolyn Downer Wooten, Media Coordinator DeKalb HCL

GERALDINE, Ala.--The Dekalb County Homemakers and Community Leaders met on February 15, 2023, for Awards Day. Our meeting was held at Rock Church in Geraldine, Alabama.

Our clubs from across Dekalb County include Crossville, Geraldine, Ider, Lookout Mountain, Portersville, and Tenbroeck. Nominees from each of these clubs were presented. The Nominees were: Crossville: Loretta Rodgers, Geraldine: Frances Patterson, Ider: Judith Leslie, Lookout Mountain: Phyllis Reagan, Portersville: Jo Ann Stricklin, and Tenbroeck: Sue Abernathy.

After the judging concluded Jo Ann Stricklin of Portersville was announced as DeKalb County Woman of the Year.

Jo Ann has been married for 56 years. She has one son and one granddaughter. She grew up in Georgia where she was manager of a Deli-Bakery for eight years. Later she obtained a minor college degree in insurance having a Fellowship degree with Life Underwriters Training Council. She worked as an agent with Liberty National Life Insurance Company for 12 years.

Jo Ann has been a member of Portersville, Al HCL for 22 years. She has served as Alabama HCL District One Coordinator for a total of three years and AHCL State Vice-President for four years. She served as ACL President Elect for one year and AHCL President for 2017-2018, and AHCL Parliamentarian for two years.

She has also served as DeKalb County President for a total of eight years, County Vice-President for six years, Club Parliamentarian, and currently serves as county treasurer for the past two years.

Jo Ann also served in her own local club, Portersville, as club President for a total of thirteen years and Vice President for four years. She also served the Joyful Hearts Club as President for one year.

For the past 22 years Jo Ann has attended most of the state conferences, the District meetings,(meetings are held yearly) she has chaired the Yearbook Committee for 12 years, has served on and helped to create two county cookbooks, has attended and participated in most of the Cultural Arts day celebrations, serves on the Woman of the Year Committee, attends the annual county picnic and attends all the Awards Day ceremonies.

In her local club she has helped organize and is on the committee for the Quilt Walk Day Bake Sale, Scrap Book Committee, and the Turkey Trot Bake Sale Committee.

In addition to these activities Jo Ann is actively involved in her church and community. She attends Big Valley Church of God, where she serves as clerk/treasurer and also teaches the adult Sunday School class and a Bible study group each week.

She also volunteers in such activities as the 4-H roundup, the hospital auxiliary, Red Cross, various charity drives, retired senior volunteer program, toys for tots and helps transport neighbors and friends for doctor appointments as needed.

Jo Ann, since moving to DeKalb County has been a vital part of the DeKalb County HCL. She works tirelessly to promote and improve our club. We consider ourselves very blessed to have such a member.

Congratulations, Jo Ann Stricklin on being named DeKalb County Woman of the Year.