Buckhead Heritage annually recognizes a Preservationist of the Year and a Volunteer of the Year. These awards are named in honor of two longtime Buckhead Heritage volunteers that helped make a significant impact on the organization. We receive and review nominations and our board votes for the Belle Turner Lynch Preservation Award and the Bob Helget Award for Outstanding Volunteerism each year. These are typically announced at our annual Christmas Gala event.
2023 Award Winners
Winner of the 2023 Belle Turner Lynch Preservation Award: Audrey Collins and Rhonda Jackson
This year’s award winners are Audrey Collins and Rhonda Jackson. Wright Mitchell wrote the nomination and presented the award at the 2023 Buckhead Heritage Holiday Party. He eloquently stated “Piney Grove Cemetery is the last vestige of the Piney Grove community and the Piney Grove Church, which was demolished in 1996. A commercial developer acquired the property with conditions for cemetery access and maintenance. Despite zoning conditions, the condominium association has failed to maintain proper access and upkeep, endangering this vital piece of history. Rhonda and Audrey, who are descendants of individuals buried at the cemetery, established the Friends of Piney Grove Cemetery and have worked tirelessly towards its preservation by organizing clean-up campaigns, establishing a Facebook Group and advocating for public education and awareness. Audrey and Rhonda have been hands-on volunteers working to save this important piece of Buckhead history.”
2023 Bob Helget Award for Outstanding Volunteerism: Eleanor Baughman
This year’s award winner is Eleanor Baughman. Charlotte Margolin wrote the nomination and Richard Waterhouse presented the award at the 2023 Buckhead Heritage Holiday Party. In her nomination, she expressed that “Eleanor can be counted on to show up with a smile at every event, whether it is a monthly program at St. Phillips or the monthly Program and Events Committee Meetings. Eleanor can also be counted on to welcome folks to the annual donor, holiday party, and garden tour events. Seeing Eleanor at every event is a happy experience for all who attend Buckhead Heritage events.”
2022 Award Winners
Winner of the 2022 Belle Turner Lynch Preservation Award: English and Matt Norman
John Beach, Past President, announced the award to English and Matt Norman, our hosts for this year’s Holiday Party. The Normans spent over 6 years restoring The Meredith House at 417 Hillside Drive, created an outstanding website dedicated to their efforts, and successfully listed the house on the National Register. Matt is an evangelist for local preservation, included giving a Buckhead Heritage Speaker Series lecture last year.
Winner of the 2022 Bob Helget Award for Outstanding Volunteerism: Ivan Allen, IV
Tamara Bazzle, Board Member Emeritus, announced the award to Ivan Allen, IV. Over many months, Ivan’s singular focus was working with neighbors of New Hope AME Church, members of Buckhead Heritage, foundations, and the general public to raise tens of thousands of dollars to complete the fencing surrounding the cemetery, restore existing monuments, and mark a large number of unmarked graves. This was an arduous, complicated, and sensitive effort. Ivan eventually worked with DL Henderson, an expert of African American cemeteries to help the congregation decide how they wanted to honor those buried in unmarked graves. This process is ongoing.
Ivan worked to ensure that Pastor David Richards and the members of New Hope AME Church knew that their wishes were paramount.
Ivan also worked closely with Beth Cook and Mike Ivey from PRUMC, which has a long history of volunteering at New Hope AME Church, in planning a major work day in
the spring of 2021. He consulted closely with Ashley Shares of Oakland Cemetery to prioritize the restoration of monuments at New Hope Cemetery, and they had training sessions for volunteers who were interested in learning how to execute some monument restoration themselves.
2021 Award Winners
Winners of the 2021 Belle Turner Lynch Preservation Award: Laura Dobson, Richard Lee and Aaron Taulbee
Laura Dobson spearheaded neighborhood efforts to preserve the facade portion of the 1929 National Library Bindery commercial building on Peachtree at Peachtree Battle. Designed by Ten Eyck Brown and Alfredo Barili, Jr., the front closest portion has been incorporated into the site plans of a new highrise residential building.
Richard Lee, Branch Properties, who worked with his firm, the Georgia Trust and the neighborhood to incorporate and protect the front portion of the bindery building in their development plans. Richard has demonstrated his commitment to Buckhead preservation through his longtime involvement with Buckhead Heritage.
Aaron Taulbee, Kolter Urban, who worked to further protect the front portion of the bindery building with a façade easement after Kolter Urban purchased the property including the Book Bindery from Branch Properties, updated the site plans and began construction in 2022.
Winner of the 2021 Bob Helget Award for Outstanding Volunteerism: Sara Ellen Porter
Sara Ellen Porter, a retired bookkeeper, because she volunteered as the group’s bookkeeper and accounting office specialist for the past 3 years, working in our Buckhead office, and also remotely during Covid.
Award Criteria
The Belle Turner Lynch Preservation Award award is bestowed on distinguished individuals, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and corporations whose skill and determination have given new meaning to their communities through preservation of their architectural and cultural heritage. These efforts include citizen attempts to save and maintain important landmarks; companies and craftsmen whose work restores the richness of the past; the vision of public officials who support preservation projects and legislation in their communities; and educators and journalists who help Americans understand the value of preservation.
The Bob Helget Award for Outstanding Volunteerism is given to eligible candidates who are members and have demonstrated volunteer service and is conspicuously above and beyond the reasonably expected duties and responsibilities of a Buckhead Heritage volunteer. Buckhead Heritage members are eligible for this award.