On October 20, 2025, the Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council (DMYC) conducted its monthly meeting with Jr. Mayor Zipporiah Wilcox presiding over the meeting that focused on Bullying Prevention. Mayor Tony Paulk was recognized as the Outstanding Community Spotlight for October, and the special guest speaker was Jill Pruitt, 8th-grade counselor at Coffee Middle School. Motivational words were spoken to the Youth Council by Tommy Watkins, the Big Country Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes Area Director, prior to his opening prayer for the meeting.
The Youth Council recognized Mayor Tony Paulk as the Community Spotlight for October. Born on June 22, 1963, Mayor Paulk is the son of the late County Commissioner Oscar Paulk and Mrs. Louise Baker. He grew up in Douglas, Georgia, alongside his brother, Diskin, and sisters, Felicia, Chiquita, and Kayla. A lifelong member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, Mayor Paulk graduated from Coffee High School in 1981, where he was active in track and cross-country. That same year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in Field Artillery as a Fire Direction Center Chief. He was medically retired with the rank of Sergeant First Class (SFC/E-7). In 1997, Mayor Paulk earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Business Management from Brenau University. He later retired from the Social Security Administration in Waycross, Georgia, where he served as Assistant District Manager.
In addition to his public service, Mayor Paulk is a licensed residential contractor and co-owner of Paulk and Paulk Properties I, LLC (commercial) and Paulk and Paulk Properties II, LLC (residential), alongside his wife, Chevelle. The couple has been married for over 37 years. Chevelle is a registered nurse and together they have two daughters, Kyara and Destiny. Mayor Paulk made history in 2004 when he was elected as the first African-American mayor of Douglas. He was re-elected in 2015 and has since served multiple terms, continuing to lead with dedication and vision.
Mrs. Jill Pruitt, 8th-grade counselor with the Coffee County School System, delivered an impactful presentation on bullying prevention and student support within Coffee County Schools. Following her presentation, Junior Clerk Jada Marshall called on the Mayor’s Youth Council to help raise awareness about the effects of bullying on students. In response, the Youth Council unanimously approved a proclamation in support of bullying prevention and encouraged the community to wear orange on Unity Day, observed in Coffee County on October 22, 2025.
During the meeting, updates were provided on the various mentoring programs and community events. Dinitra Williams, DMYC and Teen Court Coordinator, shared insights on upcoming initiatives, including information from Keep Douglas Beautiful. KDB will be hosting American Recycle Day on November 15, 2025.
The public is invited to attend the next Youth Council meeting on Monday, November 17, 2025, at 5 PM at City Hall in the Commission Chambers. For more details on the Youth Council or Teen Court program, please contact Dinitra Williams, Douglas Mayor’s Youth Council & Teen Court Coordinator, at (912) 331-9398 or call the City Clerk’s office at (912) 389-3405.