Pilot Club Women of the Year nominees are left, Marjorie Mayfield, and right, Sally Miller

Two local women have been nominated for the Pilot Club’s Woman of the Year award, which will be given out at the Chamber of Commerce banquet Jan. 26 at the Kirbo Regional Center at Bainbridge College.

The Pilot Club is the sponsor of the award, and its members vote on those who have been nominated. This year, the nominees are Marjorie Mayfield and Sally Miller.

Marjorie Mayfield

Mayfield was nominated by Keri Reynolds, who said in her nomination letter, “She devotes an enormous amount of time to many non-profit organizations in our community. She does so with a great deal of enthusiasm and is always willing to lend a helping hand.”

Mayfield serves as the Human Resources director for Decatur County, and is also a board member for the Bainbridge-Decatur County Chamber of Commerce, and a board member and secretary for Bainbridge Little Theatre.

In 2011, she served as the chairperson for the board of directors of the United Way of Bainbridge-Decatur County.

“While serving in this role, she helped the United Way meet 100 percent of their fundraising goal for the year,” Reynolds wrote. “This, in turn, helped 13 other non-profit agencies in Decatur County.”

Reynolds also wrote that Mayfield is an active member of the Rotary Club, and is especially involved in the Casino Night fundraiser and as chairman of the Literacy Committee. As chairman of that committee, she helped coordinate a grant that allowed the club to purchase books for local schools.

Mayfield is an active member of First United Methodist Church of Bainbridge, where she participates in the chancel choir and the handbell choir.

“Marjorie is a very deserving candidate for this award and I hope you will choose her for Decatur County’s Woman of the Year,” Reynolds wrote.

Sally Miller

Clayton Penhallegon nominated Miller, describing her as someone with a “life-long love of animals.”

Miller is a certified veterinary technician, and has been highly involved with the Humane Society’s fundraising efforts. Penhallegon wrote that every February, Miller gathers books from donations and single-handedly has a book fair, with the proceeds going to the Humane Society. Any leftover books are donated to other needy services in the community, including the prison, low-income housing and Memorial Manor.

Penhallegon also praised Miller’s efforts in trying to fight the local animal over-population problem.

“She established the Marley Memorial Free Spay-Neuter Services for cats to try to help relieve the massive overpopulation of cats in Decatur County,” he said. “Using advice from the Shelter, she knows there are many cat owners who would spay/neuter if they could afford to. This program is making significant progress with the problem.”

Miller has also spearheaded a “collection can” project to raise funds for the Humane Society, by placing those cans at local businesses and inviting customers to donate. She is a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, where she is on the Altar Guild, co-treasurer, sings in the choir and is a lay reader.

“None of these activities receive monetary pay, but for Sally the psychological rewards are tremendous,” Penhallegon wrote. “It is my pleasure to nominate this quiet worker who has made Bainbridge-Decatur County a better place to live in 2011.”