Five volunteers have been presented among the highest honors awarded in Cherokee County for community service.

The Rotary Club of Canton on Tuesday conducted its annual Community Service Awards program at the Northside Hospital-Cherokee Conference Center in Canton.

The club presented the Lamar Haley Community Service Award, named for a late Rotarian known for helping others, to Elaine Bell, Peter Gleichman, Candi Hannigan and Cheryl Ruffer.

The Jean Harris Award, named for the wife of the founder of Rotary International to honor outstanding volunteerism, was awarded to Frankie Shepherd.

Mrs. Bell, who lives in Buffington, was honored for her longtime service to a long list of organizations.

They include the Family YMCA of Canton, Sheriff Roger Garrison's Charities, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Reinhardt College, Cherokee FOCUS, Canton-Cherokee Business and Professional Women, Anna Crawford Children's Center, the American Cancer Society Cherokee County chapter, the American Red Cross and Union Baptist Church.

"When this volunteer signs up, whether it's to raise thousands of dollars or keep plates of hors d'oeuvres filled at a charity event, you know she will get the job done and get the job done right," Rotarian Barbara Jacoby said in presenting the award.

Employed as a marketing officer with Southeast Restoration Group, Mrs. Bell and her husband, W.F., have two children and six grandchildren.

"I'm so grateful," Mrs. Bell said upon accepting the award. "Anything I can ever do for all of you, you just let me know. I love you all."

Mrs. Hannigan of Towne Lake and Mrs. Ruffer of Canton were honored together as organizers of the annual Give a Kid a Chance charitable event.

The event, an outgrowth from their church, Liberty Hill United Methodist, provides back-to-school supplies, clothing and services to local children in need. Last summer's event helped more than 2,500 children.

"There are people who make a true mark in our community and leave us in awe," Rotarian Rebecca Johnston said in her presentation. "They have made a mark the size of Cherokee Thanksgiving."

Mrs. Ruffer thanked the club for the honor as well as its past financial support of the event.

"This happens because everyone in the community comes together," she said of Give a Kid a Chance. "It's a miracle."

Mrs. Hannigan, a freelance writer, and her husband, Glenn, have three children. Mrs. Ruffer, a technical writer, and her husband, Bruce, have two children.

Gleichman, the president of the Rotary Club, was honored not only for his service to Rotary, but also his longtime support of Habitat for Humanity.

The attorney with Gleichman & Debranski in Woodstock donates his legal services pro bono for the organization's local closings, has served on its board of directors and gives numerous hours of "sweat equity" on worksites.

Also a former professional musician and radio broadcaster, Gleichman and his wife, Carol, have two children.

"It's not often that I'm speechless," Gleichman said upon receiving the award, which was presented by fellow Rotarian Col. George Bailey. "I'm so humbled by the fellow recipients I'm sharing this award with today."

Rotarian Marguerite Cline, former county superintendent of schools, in presenting the award to Ms. Shepherd said hiring her as an administrator was "absolutely one of the best decisions I ever made."

Ms. Shepherd, a retired teacher and administrator, has given her time to many organizations in the community.

This service has included the boards of directors for Chattahoochee Technical College and G. Cecil Pruett Community Center Family YMCA and the Cherokee County Board of Elections and Registration. A county jury commissioner, Ms. Shepherd also has been active in the Democratic Party at the local, district and state level as well as in her church, Hickory Log Baptist.

She was joined at the awards lunch by her son, Dr. Marshall Shepherd, who has earned national recognition for his work with NASA.

Ms. Shepherd is the second generation of her family to receive a community service honor from the club. Her father, Charlie Ferguson, was one of the first recipients of the Lamar Haley Award.

"I thank all of you here for honoring me this way," she said. "I truly appreciate it."