COVINGTON, Ga. – The Kiwanis Club of Covington hosted Georgia Bureau of Investigations Forensic Artist Kelly Lawson Thursday afternoon.
Lawson, an Atlanta native, is the daughter of Marla Lawson, the first ever forensic artist for the state of Georgia.
As a child, Kelly would visit with her mother while she performed her duties as a forensic artist at both the Atlanta Police Department and the GBI.
In 2001, Kelly graduated from Northgate High School in Coweta County with a partial scholarship for the study of art at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. At BYU, Kelly pursued a bachelor’s degree in the visual arts with an emphasis on drawing, painting, and printmaking. Kelly also studied sculpture in multiple mediums including, wax, clay, metal and bronze.
From December 2003 until July 2005, Kelly went on the mission field with her church in eastern Ukraine. When she returned, she came home with a renewed desire to find work that allowed her to help people. In 2007, Kelly graduated from BYU, and returned to live in metro Atlanta. Kelly worked briefly in the graphic arts with different companies until beginning her employment at the GBI in May of 2012.
In addition to the Kiwanis Club members, the club hosted members of the Newton County District Attorney’s Office, the Newton County Public Defender’s Office and Eastside Key Club to hear Lawson’s talk on forensic art in the 21st century.
The Kiwanis Club of Covington is part of the international civic, service, and leadership organization focused on serving the children of the world. It meets every Thursday from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at the First United Methodist Church of Covington.
