Many friends left us in 2008. Doctors, athletes, builders and shakers, and doers and givers. Before the year ends, let's take a moment to look back at a few of the people whose lives made our community a better place.

Feb. 19

DAVID DAUGHTRY

Mr. Daughtry served 17 consecutive years on the Grovetown City Council. He was involved in many city projects, including rewriting the city charter and combining police and fire coverage into a department of public safety.

"He is going to be a hard man to replace. David had so much knowledge and insight," said Grovetown Mayor George James.

Feb. 29

DONALD NEAL

Before moving to Florida in the mid-1980s, Mr. Neal, an Augusta native, was a banker, civic booster and member of the Richmond County Commission for 12 years. He also served as president of the Augusta Jaycees in 1966. A supporter of and participant in Soap Box Derby Racing, he was the director of such events in the Augusta area and advanced to the National Level in Akron, Ohio, in the 1950s.

March 10

JI CHENG

Dr. Cheng was killed March 10 when she was struck by a city bus while crossing 15th Street to get to Medical College of Georgia. Her death prompted awareness of the dangers of the street and increased enforcement of crosswalk safety.

"Whenever one of us fell down, she was there to pick us up," friend Wararat Kittikulsuth said. "She may be gone from our lives but she will never be gone from our hearts."

March 13

JUDGE ALBERT EUGENE WELLS

Retired McDuffie County Probate Judge Albert Eugene "Gene" Wells was best known for his firm approach to law and justice, and his witty, joking ways outside the courtroom, friends said.

"Judge Wells was a no-nonsense type of person in the courtroom but knew how to be compassionate, too," Commission Chairman Charlie Newton said.

March 16

RORY PARTIN

Mr. Partin's family said he died doing what he loved -- racing motorcycles. Leading the first lap of the 600cc Superstock Novice race in Savannah, Ga., Mr. Partin lost control of his sport bike on the first turn in front of 20 other racers.

"He was a wonderful kid with a passion for racing motorcycles," said Mr. Partin's mother, Debbie Rearden.

March 27

EMMETT T. MARTIN

The Rev. E.T. Martin was one of Augusta's longtime ministers and was pastor for 36 years of what is considered one of the oldest black churches in the nation -- Springfield Baptist on Reynolds Street.

"He really loved his community," said his brother Lat Martin.

April 10

STEPHEN W. BROWN

Dr. Brown was chairman of the Department of Radiology at University Hospital from 1955 to 1986 and of St. Joseph Hospital from 1953 to 1969. He was part of the medical staff of University for 42 years and was a member of the medical staff of St. Joseph, Doctors Hospital, Burke County Hospital and McDuffie County Hospital. He was a tireless physician and respected leader who was sought for his sound judgment.

April 14

LEILA HAVIRD

With a vision for Christian education, Ms. Havird started Augusta Christian School in 1958, with one teacher and eight kindergarten pupils. Today it teaches all grades and has a large Martinez campus and staff of more than 100.

"You could see the love of God with her. It just was effervescent. It just sort of bubbled out, so to speak, from her spirit," said her sister Connie Havird Skalak.

April 15

DAVID FOSTER

Internationally regarded as an expert in fishing and hunting, Mr. Foster was the strategic adviser for national magazines for Morris Communications Co. He served as editor-in-chief of Gray's Sporting Journal for many years and was known for his history columns in Augusta magazine.

"He wrote about it with considerable ability and skill," said William S. Morris III.

April 21

LOUIS BATTEY

He founded Cardiovascular Associates of Augusta and was known for continually impressing colleagues with his ability to stay current with the latest trends and technology throughout his more-than-50-year career.

"I think he was a visionary in high blood pressure and atherosclerosis," said Dr. Albert A. Carr. "He was ahead of his time in thinking about things in a profound way."

April 27

PHIL HARISON

Mr. Harison was elected director of Trust Co. Bank in 1957. He was on the Board of Directors of J. Smith Lanier & Co. An avid golfer, he was the GIAA Golf State Champion in 1942. He was a member of Augusta Country Club and Augusta National Golf Club. He had witnessed every Masters Tournament since its inception in 1934 and served as the Official Starter and Pairings Committee Chairman from 1947 to 2007.

May 13

MELANY M. WIGGINS

Ms. Wiggins was diagnosed with Behcet's disease when she was 10 and began using a wheelchair when she was 12. She graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Southern University in 1994. She received the Georgia Tech Distinguished Science Scholar and the University of Georgia Distinguished Scholar awards. At Georgia Southern, she was awarded the Faculty Excellence award for six years.

May 31

SAMMIE LAMB

Mr. Lamb coached football, baseball and girls basketball for Academy of Richmond County from 1966 until his retirement in 1983. But his love for the school remained constant.

" He ... bleeds purple and gold," booster club President Mike Johnson said at the 2004 unveiling of a new weight room dedicated to Mr. Lamb.

June 12

LEON AUSTIN

Mr. Austin, a childhood friend of James Brown, was a professional hairstylist and musician. He toured with Mr. Brown for several years, playing keyboards. He also maintained Mr. Brown's trademark hairstyle for nearly 20 years.

"There is a Memphis sound, a Motown sound, and there is an Augusta sound, and Leon was a big part of it," the Rev. Jesse Jackson said.

June 13

LT. JEREMY S. WISE

Navy fighter pilot Lt. Jeremy S. Wise, 28, a 1998 graduate of Lakeside High School, was killed in a midair collision during a routine training exercise in northern Nevada.

"He always wanted to fly jets," said Newton Bakley, Lt. Wise's grandfather. "There was never anything else for him."

June 20

SAM CROUCH SR.

Mr. Crouch was the founder of Crouch Hardware Co. and a key player in the effort to move the National Wild Turkey Federation's headquarters from Virginia to Edgefield County.

"I learned the hardware business (from him) when I was too young to realize I was learning it," said his son Sam Crouch Jr.

June 26

ROBERT W. FRIES SR.

Mr. Fries was mayor of Millen, Ga., from 1968 to 1986, and before that he was city councilman for two years. While he was mayor, Millen built a city hall and performed a variety of building, recreational and infrastructure improvements. He was known for never missing a city council meeting. He believed being elected mayor of one's hometown was the greatest honor that could be bestowed on a person.

July 16

CHRISTIAN GILES

A popular young teacher at Augusta's John Milledge Elementary, Mrs. Giles, 24, died after being struck by a vehicle while walking her dog. Her death prompted Columbia County officials to approve more sidewalks around the county. Mrs. Giles, a 2007 cum laude graduate of Augusta State University, had completed her first year of teaching in the spring and had been married less than a year.

July 19

STILES MITCHELL

A native of Waynesboro, Ga., he began his professional golfing career in 1993 and was the winner of numerous long drive competitions, named Most Improved Player on the 1997 Hooter's Tour and the winner of the 1997 Spenser Communications Classic.

John Maginnes of PGATOUR.com called Mr. Mitchell "one of the great characters to ever play professional golf."

Sept. 8

R.C. "CLEVE" EDMUNDS

Mr. Edmunds took over Edmunds' Bar-B-Que in Martinez from his father 40 years ago and enjoyed sitting in the dining room talking with patrons. He was a former Aiken County commissioner and longtime member of the Jaycees and West Lake Country Club. He was a board member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes and gave his time to raise money and coordinate events for the organization, his wife said.

Sept. 24

ROBERT N. WILSON SR.

Mr. Wilson ran a furniture store in Thomson for many years and later a Ford dealership. He and his brother, the late James E. Wilson Jr., created a home building business, Wilson Homes Inc. He was on the McDuffie County school board.

"Thomson-McDuffie has lost a strong citizen who contributed immeasurably to the prosperity of our community," retired Army Gen. Dewayne Patrick said.

Oct. 1

IDA LEE POWELL

Ms. Powell served on the Richmond County Board of Education for 28 years and was its first female president. She was also a charter member of the Human Relations Commission. She dedicated her life to community service.

Oct. 6

JAMES X. CAMAK

Mr. Camak served on the Columbia County school board for 15 years.

" He was a man of integrity," said Tucker Vaughn, who served as school superintendent when Mr. Camak was on the board. "He took his role as a member of the board of education quite seriously."

Oct. 12

CHUCK EVANS JR.

A standout athlete at Glenn Hills High School, Mr. Evans enjoyed a nine-year NFL career, including a role as a running back for the Baltimore Ravens during their 2000 Super Bowl championship.

"He worked hard and was able to take his game to the NFL," former Glenn Hills coach Calvin Holland said.

Oct. 12

ISABELLE N. GOODWIN

A very active member of the Augusta community, Mrs. Goodwin and her husband were founding members of The Augusta Assembly. She served as president of the Board of the Mary Warren Foundation, president of the Augusta Junior League and president of the Hill Top Garden Club, and she was a member of the Garden Clubs of Georgia and Augusta Museum and Richmond County Historical Society.

Nov. 3

FRANK INMAN

He led Richmond Academy to the 1956 state football championship before going on to a career as an assistant at the University of Georgia. While he was athletic director, the Musketeers won titles in football, baseball, golf and track.

"I don't think there's any question that he had the most significant and biggest impact on my life," said Pat Dye, a former ARC player and longtime college football coach.

Nov. 29

LT. MICHAEL FRANK

The spokesman for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office used his experience as a former local TV news anchorman to help reporters get information they needed. He was an active and well-known ice hockey official in the Southeast.

"He was a dedicated employee that technologically enhanced the communication between the media and the sheriff's office," Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt said.

Dec. 9

DALE E. STORY

A Grovetown man who used his past drug addiction and health challenges to become an advocate for sobriety and faith, Mr. Story wanted others to know they could defeat addiction.

"People had respect for him because he was honest about it (a past drug addiction.) He touched a lot of lives. He was very active in the church," said his wife, Josie.

Dec. 10

ANN CHAFEE TURBYFILL

Ms. Turbyfill was a teaching assistant at Lake Forest Hills Elementary School. She was a member of the First Families of Georgia, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, National Society, Colonial Dames of the XVII Century, College Hill Chapter and National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dec. 14

LOUISE MEYER

Known as "Sister Clare," she died at age 101 at the Convent of St. Helena. She was a sister in the Order of St. Helena from 1953 to 2000 and was one of the founding sisters of the convent in Augusta in 1962. On her 100th birthday, a sculpture was unveiled on the grounds of the convent in her honor.

Dec. 17

BOBBY GRIFFIN SR.

Mr. Griffin was owner of Bobby's BBQ, a commissioner on the Midland Valley Public Service Authority and served on the board of directors for the Midland Valley Chamber of Commerce.

"He ... cared deeply not only about the people that were there (Bobby's BBQ), but what was going on in their lives," his daughter Susan Payne said.

Dec. 28

ED DUNBAR

A lifelong resident of Augusta, Mr. Dunbar was the manager/owner of WBBQ Radio Station from 1947 until 1987. He received a number of awards, including the Presidential Achievement Award from Paine College, the DiGamma Kappa "Pioneer Georgia Broadcaster" Award, the Silver Medal Award from the Augusta Advertising Club and the Louis Harris Award.