Ex-Albanian gets honor
Photo by Laura Williams
Staff Reports
LAWRENCEVILLE — Former Albanian Berney Kirkland was recently honored at the 62nd Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce dinner at Gwinnett Center.
Kirkland, chief of staff of Gwinnett County public schools, received the Public Service Award for her work in the county and her commitment to Gwinnett’s public schools.
Kirkland, the former Berney Bacon, is the daughter of Jim and Anita Bacon of Albany. She is a 1970 graduate of Westover High School and 1972 honor graduate at Albany Junior college. She earned a degree in journalism/public relations from the University of Georgia and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
After college, Kirkland was public information officer for Clarke County schools and worked with Fulton County schools and the Georgia School Board Association until joining Gwinnett County schools as public information officer. She became chief of staff three years ago.
Kirkland and her husband, Michael, are the parents of three sons, all of whom have served in the U.S. Marine Corps with duty in Iraq and are now living in Austin, Texas.
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