Tuesday Commentary with Billy Chism-Sept. 26,2017

Tues. 9/26/2017

 

Agnes Oglesby leads quietly

 

Can one person make a difference in a community?

I believe the answer is yes. You only need to examine the life of Agnes Oglesby of Toccoa to make the case.

Agnes has been a quiet leader in Toccoa and Stephens County for many years. And she’s still going strong.

Agnes Ogelsby just doesn’t talk about getting things done… she does them. She reared six children of her own, but also fostered 24 children along the way.

She retired from Coats & Clark in 2000 after a long career. She began working there in 1963, becoming the first black employed by the company. When she retired, she was a respected supervisor who had helped many others along the way.

“She’s been a blessing to so many people in our community.” That’s how Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley put it.

The Rev. Isaac White, associate pastor at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Toccoa, called Agnes “an inspiration. I’m amazed at how energetic she is. She’s always doing something to help the community.”

Indeed, her involvement in areas that matter to people has been ongoing for years. Today, Agnes serves on the boards of the Toccoa Literacy Council, the Boys & Girls Club, Habitat for Humanity, Neighbors to Neighbors and the Northeast Georgia Housing Authority. She also is a member of the Stephens County Board of Registrars, which oversees the county’s active voters list. For 15 years, she managed the Habitat’s store and remains on that board.

And just last month, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

Her philosophy is simple. I quote her:

“I just wish each one of us would look at everybody as people – not what position we hold… or how much money we’ve got… or whatever. We just need to love each other and support each other.”

Agnes credits the late Imogene Dean of Martin as being a force in her life. She said: “Imogene Dean made me realize that anything I wanted to do in my life I could do.”

Today, Agnes continues to work for her community in her quiet, effective way.

She noted: “I’m proud of what little I’ve had to offer has made an impact on the community I was born and raised in.”

“She’s someone who cares, but there is a fearlessness about her.”

That’s how the Rev. Mary Demmler, former rector of St. Matthias Episcopal Church in Toccoa, described Agnes.

“She’s not afraid to be honest about what needs to be done for others and the community. She’s not afraid to ask: ‘Why can’t we do this? What’s the worse that could happen?’ This fearlessness, partnered with caring, makes Agnes such a valuable resource,” Demmler said.

I think we all need to have a little more Agnes in us. And that’s something to think about.