Picayune has a lot of warm and generous citizens. Every year the Greater Picayune Area Chamber of Commerce likes to reward those who go above and beyond with the Citizen of the Year award. This year’s recipient is Mrs. Connie Maxine Tapley.

Tapley is a woman of humility, integrity, and is known for her pleasant nature. She has remained a devoted wife and mother — putting family first, and in this way has become an incredible role model to other young women.

Tapley contributes numerous hours to activities as a member of First Baptist Church. Her pastor Keith Warden said, “Connie is a rock solid leader and loving servant here at First Baptist Church.” She has served with the Missions Ministry as Women on Missions Coordinator in charge of eight mission groups. She was Girls in Action leader, and this year will chair the Missions Committee. She sings in the church choir and serves as Music Librarian. In Sunday School she teaches five-year-olds. She is an exemplary Christian who never refuses to help anyone in need.

She is also one of the most active members of the Civic Woman’s Club of Picayune. She just completed an excellent job as Recording Secretary. She is the Mississippi public broadcasting chairman and participates in all projects of the Public Affairs Department. She is on the Nominating Committee and the Christmas Parade Committee. She is a team player who has rendered conscientious, efficient and invaluable service to the organization. In 2005-2006 she received the CWC Service Award, and she received the 2007 CWC Club Woman of the Year.

Tapley has made many contributions to our community. Her selfless acts include donating art supplies to area schools, helping with the Pick up Picayune campaign, collecting and delivering school supplies to needy children, cooking and delivering food to sick and bereaved families, donating money and aluminum cans and food to the local SPCA, collecting aluminum can tabs for cancer treatment, donating to a storm victim, collecting and delivering backpacks for foster children, making and serving ice cream to patients at a convalescent home, and the list goes on and on.

In the words of Dr. Keith Warden, “When she stands before the Lord to give an account for how she has lived this life, I am confident she will hear, ‘Well done thy good and faithful servant'”. Mrs. Connie Maxine Tapley is truly deserving of this distinguished honor.