Some in

Fayette County know Andy Carden as the executive director

of Fayette Senior Services. Some know him through his

long involvement with Fayetteville's First Baptist

Church. Many others

know him as an active member in the Fayette County

Chamber of Commerce or have crossed paths with him

through the Metro Fayette Kiwanis Club.

However, as Carden is not

one to talk about himself or seek credit, most are

probably unaware of just how much he actually does in and

for Fayette County.

Carden has a strong

commitment to community service. He has been active in

the Fayette County Democratic Party, served as director

and secretary for the Mental Health Association of

Fayette County, is involved with the Fayette and Coweta

County Horse and Pony Club and the Fayette County 4H

(Shooting Sports).

His professional

involvements include the Atlanta Regional Commission and

the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. He is an advisory

board member and chairman for the Wachovia Bank of

Georgia, Fayette County. He is on the Fayette County

Board of Education's Community School Advisory Committee.

He is on the YMCA of

Metropolitan Atlanta, Fayette Family Branch fund raising

committee and served as director of the Fundraising and

Building and Grounds Committee for the Fayette Community

Hospital Auxiliary.

His list of credits doesn't

stop there. He is a member of the Fayette County FEMA

board, a committee member of the Tri-County Advisory

Council of the Workfare Program and is past president and

member of the Human Services Coordination Council.

True to his character, his

resume lists "serving others" first under the

category of "Personal Interests." Second is

volunteering.

When Carden signs up as

part of an organization, it is not something he does to

lengthen his resume. He gets involved. He goes to work.

As an example, as a member

of the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce through Fayette

Senior Services, he is the cochair of the Chamber of

Commerce's Ambassadors. He assisted with the Chamber's

annual Business Expo and is a member of the Governmental

Affairs Committee as well as the Membership Committee.

His face is a familiar one

to those who attend the Chamber's many networking events.

As a member of the Metro

Fayette Kiwanis Club, he assists with a majority of their

fundraising and community service projects. Additionally,

he maintains the membership roster and is a regular

attendee at the weekly meetings.

The Carden family history

in Georgia goes back many generations. In the 1800s

Carden's ancestors moved to Putnam County. In 1840 they

moved to Meriwether County, where Carden was born and

raised.

He graduated from

Greenville High School in 1962 and attended Norman Junior

College in Moultrie where he met his future wife, Vivian

Thames. From Norman he transferred to Georgia Tech and

then to Georgia State University.

His college was interrupted

in 1966, serving in the Army's Security Agency.

Vivian Thames' family also

consists of lifelong Georgia residents with local roots.

The family's "home place" was once located

where the State Farmers Market now sits.

She is a graduate of Tift

College with a degree in elementary education. She taught

school until 1973 when the Cardens' first child, Ben, was

imminent.

Later the Cardens added two

more to the family with the births of sons Josh and

Nicholas. All of the children grew up in Fayette County

and attended Fayetteville schools.

In 1973 the family moved

into the their current home located about four miles from

the Fayetteville courthouse.

After his military stint,

Carden went back to work with the state of Georgia, where

he had been working prior to taking military leave. He

worked in the Highway Department, Office of the

Comptroller General, Office of Planning and Budget and

Department of Human Resources prior to retiring in 1991.

He then served on the board

for Fayette Senior Services and increased his

volunteerism activities. He got involved in the Fayette

County Democratic Party and served on the then Board of

the Fayette Mental Health Association.

In 1995 he was hired as the

executive director for Fayette Senior Services after

first serving as the interim director for a short period.

He also served as the interim senior minister for

Fayetteville First Baptist Church in 1995.

Although they may be

centered in Fayette County, the couple isn't adverse to

traveling. When the boys were younger, the family spent

time traveling and camping.

Vivian and son Nicholas are

both avid horse lovers. They go to horse shows and have

own three horses, one which is "show grade."

According to Andy, "Zip [the show horse] does quite

well."

When asked if he liked

horses Carden said, "My like is not as deep as

Vivian's and Nick's. Vivian can look at a horse and tell

you if it's not feeling good. Her dad was the same

way."

The Cardens are part owners

of Flintwood Farms, a roughly 300-acre farm in Fayette

County. The farm produces hay and beef cows. They also

host tours for schools and other groups of children.

Carden's hobbies and

relaxation time might sound like work to some. He likes

to join in on church projects, "building or

repairing something."

Carpentry and gardening are

a couple of areas that occupy his "spare time."

True to his practical nature he says of gardening,

"If I can't eat it, I don't want to grow it."

He and a group of 7 or 8

others assembled the Rolling Hills Baptist Church

"from the ground up." He notes, "I enjoy

working and being involved."

Asked about his guiding

philosophy, he immediately quoted Proverbs, Chapter 22,

Verse 1: "A good name is rather to be chosen than

great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and

gold."

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