Carol Hansley, August Sweet Onion Citizen, and Vidalia Mayor Doug P. Roper, III

Retired Vidalia City Schools educator Carol Hansley has a lengthy resume of serving the community, and now she can add another award to her credit after Vidalia Mayor Doug Roper named her the latest Sweet Onion Citizen of Month Monday night at the August City Council meeting.

Hansley has served on numerous committees and boards throughout the area, including being an active member of the Concerned Citizens Coalition. Her civic dedication to the city and the people of Vidalia earned her the honor of being named the 2017 Vidalia Lady of the Year.

Hansley was taught at age to serve others, and she’s never neglected what her parents taught her. In accepting the award, she quoted a principle she has employed throughout her youth AND adulthood.

“I love all the citizens of Vidalia and I do want to make a positive difference in our community,” she said. “When I think about service, I’d like to say it comes from the heart and a heart of love is a gift from God. I have to lift up the name of my dear mother, Mrs. Pearlie Mae Hansley, who is still with us at 99 years of age. She taught us years ago to do service. I can still hear her voice from years ago telling us, ‘Mrs. Missouri or someone needs you to come help them do something or they need to run an errand,’ and she’d always follow that up with, ‘And you’d better not take anything if they offer it to you!’ and so we knew early on that serving was just like charity: it began at home and it was something you did because you loved and respected everyone.

“And so, I leave you with these words from a missionary: ‘I expect to pass through this world but once. Therefore, any good I can do, or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.’”