When you meet Christine you are immediately taken in by her warm, cheerful smile. It seems the spring baby, born March 24th, born into a family of mover's and shakers was destined to do the same! Raised in Dayton, her upbringing, work and family all intertwined into one beautiful life. Her family owned and published the Dayton Herald before it was sold and became the Herald News. She attended Bryan College as a Kindergartener, Dayton City School, and Rhea Central High School. The Class of 74 was the last class to graduate from that school and yes, she was a member of that class. She was a Girl Scout, Brownie thru SR Scout. Like many of the kids in our community, she worked her Junior and Senior year of high-school. After school she worked at The Pope's Family Shoe Store, downtown Dayton. Ready to broaden her horizon, Christine went to Orlando, FL for her Senior Trip, and then headed to Washington DC to spend the summer before entering TTU as a freshman. Christine ended up earning her BS in Political Science from Augusta State.

Over the years, Christine married, lived in several different states and ended up in Augusta, GA where she raised her sons. Being the mother of two awesome sons, Christine has earned her bragging rights. The oldest, Adam Stewart Williams graduated from Augusta State (like his mom) and he now works for Cleveland Accounting Firm in Martinez, GA. Drew Elmore Williams is a senior at Clemson majoring in Agriculture Landscaping design. She loves the perks that come with her sons, such as Drew's wife Shannon and all the grand doggies and kitties! While living in Augusta, she was lucky enough to work, play and attend the Masters Tournament. After checking out the scenery elsewhere, Christine came back home. "There being no place like home, I returned to Dayton after 28 years of absence." It's a good thing she did, after all she met her current husband at the July 4th golf tournament at the Dayton Golf and Country Club. They were married a year later in September 2003.

Don Ralph and Christine are enjoying their life here in Dayton, which is the ideal community for their many hobbies. Obviously they enjoy golfing together, cycling, fishing, hunting, and a house full of pets. A strong woman, who is comfortable in her skin, Christine enjoys quiet time in her garden, golf trips with her girlfriends, or a rip-roaring time with her lady-friends on their annual four-wheeling adventure.

Always an active member of her community, Christine kept her job with Sally Foster Fundraising where she continued to service the Augusta, GA and Aiken, SC area as well as the Knoxville area. This was not enough; she wanted to become more active in the growth of Dayton's community. So she began by joining Dayton's Rotary Club, St Alban's Episcopal Church, the Dayton Golf and Country Club, and then became active with the Downtown Merchants Christmas Parade and the local Historical Committee. She is also serving as the Chair Person for the Rhea County Health Council, Chamber of Commerce Ambassador Program, and serves on RETC.

"Today things are different from when I was growing up here", she says, "There are many more people in our community. We lock all of our doors. Sometimes we don't know our neighbors. And there's no way that we can individually identify all of our community's needs and come up with all the solutions. But we are still a community. That's where United Way comes in."

When Carol Rickets retired from United Way, Christine filled the position. Coming into United Way was both challenging as well as rewarding. "Dayton's own United Way has the ability to provide a central resource service for the residents of Rhea County. Our office works closely with partnering agencies as well as with all the servicing agencies in the county collectively offering to those with needs. United Way brings together the group know as the Interagency Council to meet monthly for the purpose of sharing information and discussing issues that arise within the county. United Way also sponsors the Imagination Library program for our children in Rhea County where those ages birth to 5 years old, can receive a book through the mail once a month. This offers the opportunity for our children to be exposed to words, vocabulary and time with family while being read to. This program is an investment in our children's future enabling them to becoming productive adults. United Way is here to support the growing initiatives for personal well being, financial stability and improving lives along with helping our children and youth achieve their potential. We are here to help fill the gap in trying to financially support the growing needs our neighbors are exposed to. The United Way is shifting their focused from fundraising for agencies to promoting funding support for programs such as the Abstinence Program, YMCA Camp scholarships, assistance in purchasing a van for both the Veterans and Rhea of Sunshine for transporting their clients to doctors and work appointments. Then there is support for the 4H programs and Senior Neighbors, allowing them to send kids to camp who would otherwise not be able to go, provide transportation and cover expenses for the seniors. We assist the food programs, housing for those in transition, support the Kidney Foundation for Rhea Countians, supports the Consumer Credit Service coming to Dayton once a month to help anyone requesting their services. We support the programs providing assistance after a disaster, counseling for domestic violence victims. Then there are funds provided to our Adult Literacy programs for GED assistance, learning the computer or simple work skills to enter the local work force… and then there are the free discount prescription cards we hand out to assist the uninsured." You can feel the energy and urgency that is in Christine's spirit as she shares just a part of what she does.

Being part of the Chamber of Commerce is just one of the ways that Christine has found to feel the pulse of the community and to give back to a community the will always be her home.

By Nadia Hicks