Weyman Jenkins 'loves Coweta': Authority recognizes longtime member
By ALEX MCRAE
alex@newnan.com
Longtime local civic worker Weyman Jenkins was honored for his service as a member of the Coweta County Development Authority Thursday as he was recognized at a reception at Newnan Country Club.
Coweta County Development Authority Chairman David Brown presented Jenkins with a plaque and his board of directors picture. Coweta County Commissioner Tim Lassetter also presented Jenkins with a copy of a resolution the Coweta County Board of Commissioners adopted recognizing Jenkins for his long service to the development authority. Barbara Osborne-Harris, director of the Coweta Public Library System, also spoke of his long service as a member of the county library board.
Mike Barber joined the development authority board with Jenkins in 1991 and then went on to serve as board chairman from 1992-2009. Barber gave remarks at Thursday’s reception praising Jenkins for his service on the development authority and as a citizen of the county he loves.
“Weyman was always knowledgeable about whatever came up,” Barber said. “He always did his homework and knew the issues. He wanted to make sure he always made the decision that was right for Coweta County.
“He was always thinking of the betterment of the county and every decision he made kept that a top priority. But everybody who knows him knew he was a real character, too. When people say ‘they don’t make ‘em like that anymore’ they could be talking about Weyman. He’s one of those guys,” said Barber.
“Folks around here have always called on Weyman to get things done and they still do. I don’t think that will ever change,” he said.
Jenkins served 13 years at Newnan Utilities as commission secretary. He served 10 years as city manager in Grantville and served 12 years on the Board of Directors of the City County Employee Credit Union.
Jenkins was also made famous — albeit anonymously — by Coweta author and humorist Lewis Grizzard, who passed away in 1994. In many of his columns Grizzard referred to “Weyman C. Wannamaker - a Great American.” The reference was to Jenkins, who was a lifelong friend of Grizzard.
The resolution passed by the Coweta County Commission honoring Jenkins said:
“Whereas, Weyman Jenkins has faithfully served Coweta County in countless ways over the years; and
“Whereas, Weyman Jenkins served the county longest as a board member of the Coweta County Development Authority and the Development Authority of Coweta County, being appointed in 1991 and serving as Vice Chairman in 2009;
“Whereas, Weyman and his fellow economic development board members have devoted time, energy and knowledge to building a better environment for economic development in the County; and
“Whereas, Not only did Weyman serve on the Development Authorities, but he also served, since 2008, on the Library System Board of Trustees, during a time of great growth and change in the county’s library system; and
“Whereas, Weyman’s dedication and impact go far beyond official county appointments, as noted by his decade as City Manager of Grantville, his 12 years on the Board of Directors of the Coweta County Cities & County Employee Credit Union, his 13 years with Newnan Utilities, his thousands of volunteer hours given to youth baseball and, certainly not least, his exploits that inspired Lewis Grizzard as a regular character in Lewis’s newspaper columns and books;
“Now, Therefore, Be It Proclaimed that the Coweta County Commission does hereby recognize and sincerely thank Weyman Jenkins for more than 21 years of service to Coweta County, through the Development Authorities, the Library Board and countless other pursuits. His investment of time and dedication has helped make Coweta County a better place for us all.”
Jenkins and his wife Carolyn reside in Grantville.
