NAUW Names 'Woman of the Year'

    Mrs. Ann S. Knighton was named ‘Woman of the Year’ for the Augusta Branch of the National Association of University Women, Inc. (NAUW). Mrs. Knighton, a retired educator with the Augusta-Richmond County public school system, was honored during a recent ceremony at St. Mary Episcopal Church. She was recognized for her tireless community service and dedication to NAUW and other organizations. She has two daughters and two grandsons.

          Ann Knighton Also Awarded
  Augusta NASW Unit
   'Citizen of the Year'
     By
       Ernestine Thompson, LCSW

    It was an honor and a pleasure to recognize Ms. Ann S. Knighton as our Augusta NASW Unit’s Citizen of the Year Award winner. I have known Ms. Knighton for more than ten years and I am still in awe of her energy, her commitment to serving others, her position of respect in the greater Augusta community, and the many contributions she has made to area organizations and individuals. In my opinion, she has been an Augusta citizen of the year for many years.

    Ms. Knighton graduated from Paine College in the 1960s. Her academic specialization was science and mathematics. After graduation she taught in several Georgia public schools and was actively involved in the civil rights movements, working especially for equal rights for minority teachers. In 1995 she retired from Richmond Academy.

    Active all her life in the community, education, church, and special organizations, Ms. Knighton did not let retirement end her years of learning, teaching, and service. Indeed, her life of service since retirement is even more active than it was before 1995. In 1998 Ms. Knighton entered Augusta State University and received her degree in sociology (with a minor in social work) in 2001.

    Ann Knighton is an active member of the National Association of University Women.  She is actively involved in the Belle Terrace Senior Center and its Swim Club. For many years, much of her community service has focused on improving conditions for patients with developmental disabilities who are in institutional care. She has and continues to be an advocate at the local, state, and national levels on behalf of those in institutional care and their families. She has served as President of the Gracewood Family Council and is currently President of the Family Council of the East Central Health Facilities. 

    The mother of a daughter who has severe medical and developmental problems, Ms. Knighton is not only aware of special needs but has turned her anguish and pain into service on behalf of many others.

    She is an advocate, an organizer, a leader, and recognized authority in the field of mental retardation and community/institutional care. Ms. Knighton is currently Superintendent of the Sunday School program at First Day Spring Baptist Church, a Life Member of the National Education Association (NEA) and the Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). She gives unfailingly of her time to further such campus/community projects and activities as the Cedar Grove Cemetery Project, the Lucy Laney Museum, and conducts tours of the historical black Augusta neighborhoods. She is currently taking graduate courses in Public Administration.
Ms. Knigton’s community is wide and deep, her commitment is consistent and sincere, and her contributions are numerous and on-going. She is an outstanding community citizen show represents and embodies so many of the attributes and behaviors valued by social workers and NASW: integrity, giving, acceptance, respect for the worth and dignity of each individual, purposeful caring, and courage.