Jennie Lou Mattox (1935-2015) was a long-time Athens community activist. She was broadly involved in volunteer work in the Athens, Ga. area, and was focused primarily on issues of housing.
Mattox’s volunteer contributions led her to serve on the Inter-Community Council (ICC) as a member from 1999-2015, and as Board President from 2004-2014. She received the ICC Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service from 2009-2015. The community resource center for the ICC was later renamed the Cameron-Mattox Resource Center, after Mattox’s contributions to the organization. She further served on the AHA Board of Commissioners as Resident Representative from 2011 to 2015, and was awarded the Georgia Association of Housing & Redevelopment Authorities Recognition Award for Selfless and Dedicated Service in 2013.
In 1992, former Athens Mayor Gwen O’Looney presented Mattox with a Key to the City for dedicated service to the citizens of Athens-Clarke County, Georgia from 1974-1992. This included Mattox’s work with the Morton Theatre, Parkview Recreation Center, and other community service organizations.
Mattox also avidly volunteered with the St. Paul CME Church which is located in Athens-Clarke County. She received an Outstanding Leadership as Choir President award for her service from 1988-1990. She also worked with St. Paul CME’s Vacation Bible School and received a CME Church 6th Episcopal District Christian Training Award in 2014.
After Mattox’s passing, her family, as well as the Mayor and the Commission, put forth a proposal for the renaming of the 200 block of S. Franklin Street as Jennie L. Mattox Street. This proposal was successful in early 2019 and the street was renamed after a ceremony held at Clarke Central High School in March 2019.
