By JOYANNA LOVE/ Senior Staff Writer

The Clanton Evening Lions Club has chosen to honor Bobby Martin and Lindsey Wood with its annual awards this year.

Evening Lions Club President Frank Daniel said the recipient of the Pillar of the Community Award is “someone that we feel like has been a big asset to Chilton County who has done a lot to assist people.”

“It’s pretty humbling to see your peers in the community or the members of the community choose you and recognize that you have done something,” Martin said. “It is a great honor to me.”

Martin has been a Clanton Lions Club (day time club) member for several years and has served people in the community through Martin Funeral Home and serving as Probate Judge.

“He has been somewhat Mr. Chilton County for a number of years,” Frank Daniel said.

Martin is also active with United Way, various local and governmental committees and community activities.

Martin will retire as Probate Judge after six terms on June 16, 2019.

Prior to that, he served four terms on the Clanton City Council.

The Clanton native said he initially served on the council after being asked by members of the community to consider running in the election.

He said similar circumstances prompted him to run for the position of Probate Judge.

Martin said he enjoyed the position because it gave him the opportunity to work with several members of the community.

This was the first year for the Youth Community Service Award.

“I think it is important that we honor young people,” Daniel said. “We hear too much in the negative and not enough in the positive.”

Wood was chosen as the recipient for the inaugural Youth Community Service Award because of her volunteer work in the community and helping foster care families. From the age of 11, she has raised $4,000 to purchase diaper bags, backpacks full of needed items and car seats for foster care families.

Wood is a freshman at Thorsby High School. According to the Evening Lions Club bio for Wood, “She hopes to expand her ministry to other parts of Alabama and to encourage other youth to find ways to help the less fortunate.”

The awards were presented prior to the Miss Chilton County Pageant in early March.