As Arbor Day approaches, the cities of Clarkesville and Cornelia took time Friday afternoon to plant trees in the memories of community members the cities lost.
At the Cornelia Dog Park, city officials gathered to plant a Dogwood tree in memory of Kenneth David Kerby, a “pillar” of the Cornelia community who passed away last year with COVID-19.
“He [Kerby] helped change Habersham County,” Cornelia Mayor John Boorrow said of Kerby’s career at Georgia Power and his involvement with the Habersham Hospital Authority. “He was a great man, great father, a great grandfather, to his family. He was just a really class act guy and a true pillar of the community.”
Kerby loved his dog, Bob, and the Cornelia Dog Park. He and Bob frequented the park together, and many members of the Cornelia community recognized him for his love of the park. A bench with his name sits in what will be the shade of the Dogwood as it grows.
“I will always remember him,” Kerby’s wife, Barbara Kerby, said. “And maybe this is something that other people that didn’t know him can remember him by, the tree and the bench.”
The City of Clarkesville council planted a Kawanzan cherry tree at the Clarkesville Greenway in memory of city councilman Steven Ward who died suddenly of a heart attack in December.
“We felt out here on the Greenways [was the right place for the tree] because Steven was active in it,” Councilman Franklin Brown said. “But the setting and the surroundings— it’s a great place to remember somebody. Steven was an asset to the city and we miss him every time we have a meeting.”
Brown reflected on Ward’s happy demeanor as they dedicated the tree. City Manager Keith Dickerson hopes the brightly-flowering tree reflects his memory.
“We planted a Kawanzan cherry in memory of Stephen,” Dickerson said. “It just felt like it was a nice flowering tree, and we just felt like it was the right one.”
Dickerson and Brown both said they miss Ward deeply.
“You just miss him,” Dickerson said. “He was a good guy, he was a good council member and he was a good steward of finances of the community. He was an overall good leader . . . and made everything a little bit more fun when he was around.”
