Georgia Federation of Republican Women: GFRW Events

Congratulations to GFRW's Republican Woman of the Year: Babe Atkins-Byrne!

Babe Atkins – Byrne of Marietta, Georgia, was elected “ Outstanding Republican Woman of the Year” on October 3, 2009, at the 26^th Biennial Convention of the Georgia Federation of Republican Women .

The daughter of Gladys and Austin Atkins, Babe was born in Atlanta and at age six moved with her parents to the Smyrna area, where her father was postmaster.

Babe Atkins-Byrne She is a 30-year member and past president of the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club. Since 1996 she has served as membership coordinator and has grown the club to 253 members and 93 associates. She has also been membership chairman for the Georgia Federation of Republican Women and has been Campaign Activities Chairman for the past two years. It was her leadership which brought success to the Stomping-for-Republicans Bus Tour preceding the election of 2008, Red Coat Day at the Capitol in March 2008 and 2009, and the Campaign Management School at the GFRW 26^th Biennial Convention. She served many years as volunteer legislative assistant to her brother, pharmacist and long-time State Representative Bill Atkins, and has been a delegate to numerous county, district and state conventions. Babe was honored as Cobb County Republican Women’s Club Woman of the Year in 1990, 2001, and 2005. In 1993 and 2003 she was given the CCRWC Mary Aven Award.

In 2006 Babe was honored when the Cobb County Republican Women’s Club established an annual Babe Atkins-Byrne Scholarship Award. In the same year the Cobb County American Cancer Society established the Babe Atkins-Byrne Ray of Hope Award, to be given annually to the person/company who goes above and beyond in their volunteerism for American Cancer Society.

Since 1979 Babe has been legal secretary for her Campbell High School classmate, Judge George Kreeger of the Cobb Superior Court. Their 50^th class reunion is being celebrated in October.

Active in the community, Babe is Corresponding Secretary and on the Legal Education Committee of the Cobb County Legal Secretaries Association. She is also Chairman of the American Cancer
Society Leadership Council and has actively supported the Cancer Society for 25 years in honor of her late mother. Babe is a member of the Academy of Women Leaders for the YWCA and has been a member of First Methodist Church of Smyrna for 25 years. She was named Mrs. Cobb County c.1993.

Babe Atkins-Byrne has been married for 17 years to landscape architect and former Cobb County Commission Chairman Bill Byrne. Her favorite campaign was her husband’s run for governor in 2002. “We met so many wonderful people,” she said. Babe has three step-daughters and one step- granddaughter. Her “first-ever” pet, a cat, which was found at their farm in Rockmart, completes this outstanding family.

work in progress....

Unfortunately the GFRW nominees for Betty Rendel and the Pathfinders scholarships were not selected this year as scholarship recipients. Oh well there is always next year.

Help support GFRW by joining Reagan Club for $100 or be a Sustaining Member for $25. Send checks to Emma Hinesley - 110 Welden Way, Apt. B, Newnan, 30263

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