Andre’ Hadley Marria graduated from The Fort Valley State University in 1973 with a B. S degree in Music, and in 1975 with a M.S. degree in Mental Health Counseling. Mrs. Marria spent thirty–four years of public service with the Georgia Department of Human Resources, retiring as the Director of the Thomas County Department of Family & Children Services (DFCS) November 2008. Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Marria lent her leadership skills to Southwestern State Hospital as a Unit Director and Licensed Nursing Home Administrator, assisting in the initial licensure of Rose Haven ICF/MR/SNF, a 110-bed facility. Mrs. Marria went on to work as the Assistant Director for Southwest Georgia Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Addictive Diseases Regional board and was instrumental in establishing the first substance abuse prevention programs in fourteen rural counties and revitalized community based mental health services in those same counties. She is a Consultant and serves as Fidelity Manager/Trainer of Trainers for The Morehouse School of Medicine Health Promotion unit, overseeing a research-based Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative Scales Grant in Thomas, Grady, and Dougherty Counties. This is a five-year Scales Grant Initiative being implemented in five other north Georgia counties. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and past president of the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia, Inc. (2004), Mrs. Marria continues to serve as an independent contractor and is listed as an EAP Counselor for the City of Thomasville. She is also a Certified Clinical Supervisor of B. S. and Maters level Child and Adolescent counselors who are seeking state licensure. A dedicated member of the Thomasville Community, Mrs. Marria is a fifteen-year member of the Rotary Club of Thomasville, Georgia. She is a Distinguished Will Watt Fellow, Paul Harris Fellow, Hue Thomas Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, 2018-2019 Sheffield Presidential Leadership Society inductee, and a Major Donor. Mrs. Marria serves as one of Southwest Georgia’s Assistant District Governors for Rotary International, District 6900 and the 2018-2019 Past President of The Rotary Club of Thomasville. Currently, she serves as the Youth Services Director for her home club and is the recent graduate of Rotary Zone 33-34 Emerging Leaders 2020 Summit of Champions. She is a member of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians and is a Rotary Leadership Institute Discussion Leader. Mrs. Marria is a member, in good standing, of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (Thomasville Alumnae Chapter), an international service organization headquartered in Washington D.C. founded on the principles of economic development, educational development, international awareness, physical and mental health, and political awareness involvement. She was appointed by the Thomas County Board of Commissioners to serve as the county representative of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addictive Diseases Region Four Advisory Council 2019-2021 and also serves on the board of The Gathering Place, a faith based non-profit youth service organization. Mrs. Marria is a Trustee of the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation Board of Trustees 2016-2021 and was the 2015-2017 Board Chair of Vashti Mental Health Center, Inc. Thomasville Georgia. Mrs. Marria has received the 2016 John C. Burns III Licensed Professional Counselors Association, Lifetime Achievement Award for her 39 years of service and endorsement of the Profession of Counseling. She is a Trustee of the Thomasville Thomas County Chamber of Commerce. A Two-time Distinguished Toastmaster of Toastmasters International (Toastmasters’ highest educational award) she previously serviced as Division G Director overseeing twenty-one clubs. She is the 2020 Division H Club, and Area Toastmasters Table Topic contest winner and came in 2nd in the division. Her proudest accomplishment was to serve as a 911 Ground Zero Red Cross Disaster Mental Health First Respondent, NYC -2001 Andre has been married to Evangelist Walter Marria, Jr. for forty-seven years and they have two birth children, two given by God and eight grandchildren.