Cherokee County is home to some of the best schools in Georgia, along with some incredible alumni that continue to give back to their community year after year. Each year, CCEF recognizes two alumni that have exhibited exemplary service, dedication, and civic contributions to the Cherokee County School District. This year, CCEF has chosen to recognize Judge Jennifer Davis and Randy Gravley as the 2023 Alumni of the year! 

Judge Jennifer Davis

An Etowah High School graduate, Judge Davis has worked in Cherokee County throughout her entire career. She has devoted her career to helping children in need as an attorney, and as a Cherokee County juvenile court judge.

In 2019, Jennifer Davis was named to the bench of the Cherokee County Juvenile Court by the Cherokee County Superior Court Judges after an intense selection process. She now presides over cases involving Dependency, Delinquency, and Children in Need of Services filings and hearings in Juvenile Court. 

As the chief Juvenile Court judge, Judge Davis works tirelessly to bring stability for children who are in dangerous or unhealthy situations. She presides over and created the first Juvenile Drug Treatment Court to intervene with children who abuse drugs and alcohol and is creating a Family Treatment Court which will work toward substance abuse treatment for families.

Pictured Left to Right: Dr. Brian Hightower, Rebecca Johnston, Judge Jennifer Davis, Randy Gravley,, Kyla Cromer, and Billy Hayes.
Pictured Left to Right: Dr. Brian Hightower, Rebecca Johnston, Judge Jennifer Davis, Randy Gravley,, Kyla Cromer, and Billy Hayes.

Outside of the courtroom, Judge Davis has made it a priority to remove obstacles for families in order for countless children to live happier lives. She is known as a "problem solver" for children as she works with others in the community to find resources when a child's need arises, and she gets to work on behalf of the child. Davis serves on the boards of several organizations serving children, including the Cherokee County Educational Foundation. 

Randy Gravley

A Cherokee High School graduate, Randy Gravley got his start in radio as a part-time board operator at the local radio station while attending college and went on to purchase his first radio station at the age of 25. He began his broadcast career in 1992, the year he graduated high school, at Cherokee Broadcasting and WCHK, owned by the McClure family. From his start as a board operator, he quickly began working on-air, in sales, and as assistant manager.

In 1998, he, along with business partner, the late and great Byron Dobbs, started their own business, Tri-State Communications, where our alumnus of the year now serves as president/CEO. Tri-State owns WLJA(FM) and WPGY(AM), and a subsidiary owns WXJO(AM) and its FM translator in Douglasville. The company also owns Enjoy Magazine Inc. the parent company, of Enjoy Cherokee, Enjoy Gilmer, Enjoy Pickens, Historic Canton Magazine, Enjoy Cherokee Voices, and Enjoy Digital Media.

Randy also quickly became involved in his community. He was the youngest person to become chairman of the board of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce in 2004, and the youngest to chair the board of the Georgia Association of Broadcasters the following year in 2005. He has been a board member of Chattahoochee Technical College Foundation, the United Way of Cherokee County, and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Foundation.

His community and board work includes involvement with his alma mater, Reinhardt College, where he has served as president of the Alumni Association and as chairman of A Day for Reinhardt. In 2017, Randy was inducted into the Georgia Association of Broadcaster's Hall of Fame, and was chosen chair of the Radio Board of the National Association of Broadcasters where he served two terms as Chairman of the NAB Radio Board and as a NABPAC Trustee member.