Patton Funeral Home Named 2019 Chamber Business of the Year

Four Locals Honored With Citizenship Awards For School Backpack Program Efforts

L-R: Robbie Brantley, Marilyn Patton, Shaska Hines (presenter) Jerry Patton, Brentley Esters receive 2019 Edmonson Chamber Business of the Year.

Darren Doyle, story and photos:
The 2019 Edmonson County Chamber of Commerce banquet was held Thursday, December 12th at the Heritage Centre in Brownsville where Patton Funeral Home was named Chamber Business of the Year.

Bro. Jerry Patton, owner, addressed the crowd as he thanked the Chamber.

"I've been blessed to live in a county that I love and was born in," said Patton, who celebrated 50 years in business this year. "I'd like to thank my family and my staff. This couldn't have been done without them because there have been a lot of nights I haven't been home and a lot of nights where my staff hasn't been home."

Bro. Jerry thanked those in attendance for the privilege of serving his hometown for all these years.

"I just want to say it's been an honor for me to serve the county that I love with all my heart," he said as the crowd gave a standing ovation.

L-R: Michelle McCoy, Paul Blanton, Barbara Fitzhugh, and John Chidester receive 2019 Edmonson Chamber Citizenship Awards.

Four residents were honored for their individual efforts they made to serve Edmonson County Schools Backpack Program, which provides food items for students in need each weekend, to ensure enough food is available to them until they get back to school.

All recipients are volunteers, which included Michelle McCoy, local coordinator, who was honored for her year-round work with the program, her brother, Paul Blanton, who's benefit county photograph calendar project raised an additional $7K for the program, and Barbara Fitzhugh and John Chidester, who's churches teamed up (St. John's and Brownsville Missionary Baptist, respectively), to expand the program to continue over the summer months when school is out of session, in addition to other local efforts they made for benefit needs throughout the year. 

Edmonson Co. native Johnny Webb speaks at the 2019 Edmonson Chamber Banquet.

Guest speakers were Edmonson County native Johnny Webb, businessman and former Mayor of Bowling Green, and Judge J.B. Hines, who discussed plans of Preserving Edmonson County Pride (PEP) to beautify Edmonson County and Brownsville to give more appeal to potential visitors.

Webb discussed his beginnings in Edmonson County, where he said when people asked him if he was from Brownsville, he answered them by saying, "No, I didn't grow up in the big city...I'm from Lindseyville."

Webb, who created the "Operation Pride" initiative in the 90s, which helped beautify Bowling Green and it still going strong today, discussed how that kind of effort can and will work in Edmonson County for those willing to help with the effort.

Also recognized were Janet Webb for her volunteer efforts in multiple county causes. She regularly donates baked goods for benefit auctions and events. Also recognized was Scott Lindsey of Rafferty's/Double Dogs, who contributed to several Chamber and county events throughout the year.