The Exchange Club of Tifton recently presented its 56th annual Book of Golden Deeds award to Amy Henderson, a teacher at Tiftarea Academy. The Book of Golden Deeds Award is presented each year to area residents who have distinguished themselves through a history of service to others.

Henderson teaches computer science to middle school and high school students at Tiftarea Academy and she is also a Senior Class sponsor and sponsors the Key Club. She also stays busy with her church, Mount Zion Baptist Church in Chula. She is the director of the Children’s Church, serves in Vacation Bible School and is the contact person for getting the word to the membership of prayer requests and special needs of families in the church and community.

Henderson is also very active with the Tift County Relay for Life. She has served on committees and has been a leader in planning, promoting and implementation of the event. Last year, Henderson was diagnosed with cancer but even while battling the disease, she continued to work on the development and completion of her church’s Family Life Center while also working at Tiftarea.

“We had some wonderful nominees this year and all of them were deserving,” said Golden Deeds chairperson and Exchange Club president-elect Regenia Wells. “But I don’t think we could’ve made a better choice. Amy has a great story to tell and she’s just a great teacher, church member, mother and wife and a citizen of Tift County. She is what this award is all about.”

Henderson was joined at the banquet by her husband, Jamy, and two kids, Reese and Jake.

Nominations for the award are received from the community and submitted to the Club anonymously. Members vote on a winner based on their qualifications and the selection is kept secret until the night of the banquet. All living past winners are invited to attend the banquet, and many of them attended this year’s event. Photos of all the previous recipients were projected in chronological order and the list of past winners was read by master of ceremonies J. Michael Moore.