Dec 19 – Savannah Area PEOPLE IN THE NEWS

Last Updated on Monday, 19 December 2011 23:17 Written by Lou Phelps Monday, 19 December 2011 01:19

The Savannah office of Claiborne and Surmay has announced the addition of attorney T. Buckley Levins to its team. Levins’ practice areas will include family law, civil litigation, criminal defense, workers’ compensation and social security disability. Prior to joining the firm, Levins served as an assistant district attorney in the Alcovy Judicial Circuit. In this role, Levins prosecuted more than 1,100 cases and was lead counsel in appellate matters filed in the Supreme Court of Georgia and before the Georgia Court of Appeals.

“Buck’s courtroom experience, combined with his exposure to multiple legal disciplines, makes him an ideal fit for our growing firm,” said William R. Claiborne, managing attorney of the Savannah office. “Adding Buck to the team allows us to diversify our practice areas and serve a variety of legal needs in the Savannah area and beyond.”

A two-time graduate of UGA, Levins holds an undergraduate degree in political science and a juris doctorate. He is also a 2011 graduate of the State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Leadership Academy, and currently holds office as a representative for the YLD.

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Chester Dunham, local radio talk show personality, will be the keynote speaker at the Springfield Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Day Association Annual Breakfast Worship Service, to be held at the Effingham County Complex, on Monday, January 19 at 7:30 a.m.

Dunham is currently employed at ILA Local 1414, and is the Safety Director of the International Longshoreman's Association, Local 1414 , Savannah.

Over the years he has fortified his work in the labor movement with his continued involvement in labor law that governs unions and its management. He has served in numerous capacities within the Local 1414, and is also president of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. He was also a founding board member of the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, and the founder and host of The Dunham Report, a weekly radio talk show heard on Savannah's WSOK, 1230 AM, Saturday nights from 7pm-8pm.

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Union Mission, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to reducing homelessness throughout the greater Savannah area, has hired Edwin Jarrow, II, as a resource coordinator. In his new position, Jarrow will provide Union Mission clients with essential information, such as short-term assistance, food vouchers, bus tickets and various daily living resources. “We are excited to welcome Edwin to our team at Union Mission,” said Frances Carter, president and CEO of Union Mission. “He brings a wealth of hands-on experience to our organization and, in a short time, has already proven to be a valuable team member with a generous heart.”

Prior to joining Union Mission, Jarrow worked as a legal courier at Watkins, Ludlam, Winter & Stennis, P.C. and as an intern at G.A. Carmichael Family Health Clinic in Jackson, Miss., where he helped administer health promotion for community programs. He also worked at Savannah’s Eastside Community Center as a recreation leader for high school students with disabilities during his time off from school.

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HunterMaclean, a leading business law firm with offices in Brunswick and Savannah has announced that partner J. Benedict “Ben” Hartman has been named to the board of directors of Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia, Inc. He was nominated to serve by Georgia Attorney General Sam Olens. The Children's Advocacy Centers of Georgia, Inc., an accredited chapter of the National Children's Alliance, has 39 member centers across the state. The organization’s mission is to promote, assist and support the development and growth and continuation of child advocacy centers throughout the Peach State. Hartman, who is based at the firm’s Brunswick office, is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Practice Group and the Corporate/Tax Practice Group at HunterMaclean, and a longtime resident of St. Simons. He is the past president of the Brunswick-Glynn County Bar Association and a fellow with the Lawyers Foundation of Georgia. He has a legacy of extensive community involvement in the Golden Isles. A graduate of Leadership Georgia and Leadership Glynn, he currently serves on the board of the College of Coastal Georgia Foundation and is the chair of the Katz Whittle Foundation.

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The Parker Companies, operator of 25 convenience stores across the region, recently recognized Jyoti Patel as Manager of the Year, and Edie Bailey as Supervisor of the Year at the Parker’s annual holiday party. Patel serves as the manager of the Parker’s convenience store location at 890 King George Boulevard. This marks the second consecutive year she has been honored with the company’s top award.

Patel joined the Parker’s team in 2003 and is known for keeping her store spotless and for being a great team builder. Bailey, who originally joined the company in 1998, supervises eight Parker’s store managers and encourages excellence at every Parker’s location. She serves as an exceptional ambassador for the company and has a great rapport with customers.

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