Rockdale County resident Charlene Ellis was the recipient of the 2015 Charles P. Cole Community Citizen of the Year Award during the State of County Address Thursday night. 

Ellis volunteers in several different arenas throughout the county, including various SPLOST subcommittees, Meals on Wheels for senior citizens, Coalition against Family Violence, Rockdale County Democratic Party and other organizations. 

Rockdale County Chairman and CEO Richard Oden handpicked her to receive the award because of her “unwavering volunteerism to the community.”

“(She volunteers) not for recognition, (but) because this person believes in the community,” said Oden. 

Ellis attended the event, held at the J.P. Carr Community Center, 1080 Hardin Street, Conyers, with her son, Charles Hawkins, and future daughter-in-law, Lorraine Boyd. During her acceptance speech, she took the time to acknowledge all people who give their time for the benefit of others.

“Thank you so much. I accept this on behalf of all of the volunteers that give their time,” she said. “It’s not a sacrifice. It’s a mission of love, and every time I go out to do something to help someone, I just get such a joy when I finish because I know I’ve done something for someone that they couldn’t do themselves.”