About Sonna Singleton
Clayton County Commissioner Sonna Singleton lives in Ellenwood after living 16 years in Rex. She is the mother of a 21 year old daughter Jordyn, a student at Howard University. They are both proud that Jordyn has attended Clayton County Public Schools beginning in kindergarten to her graduation from Morrow High School in May 2009.
As a parent, Sonna has always understood the challenges working parents face as they try to balance work and family life. She knows how important it is for hard working parents to know that his/her child is in a safe place while they are at work. For this reason, Sonna got involved and worked hard as a citizen member of the "Roads and Recreation 2003 Committee"- (SPLOST) to bring badly needed recreation facilities to all communities in Clayton County.
Today as Commissioner for District 1, she sees the results of her early work on the SPLOST Committee in the East Clayton Community as residents enjoy the various activities at the Rhodenizer Recreation Center in Rex Park.
Sonna Singleton is a caring public servant, citizen and homeowner who has worked hard to improve the East Clayton community for over 17 years. She built a strong record of service in the Rex-Ellenwood-Morrow-Conley Communities long before deciding to seek the office of District 1 Commissioner. Citizens know her today as a very responsive and available commissioner. Citizens enjoy meeting and talking with her especially during her "Second Saturday Meetings."
Sonna Singleton strongly believes in citizens taking ownership of their communities through neighborhood watch groups, homeowner associations and community associations. Sonna began working to revitalize her own neighborhood in 1996 by reactivating her once defunct Homeowners Association. She recognized that her subdivision like many of the other older subdivisions in the community lacked a leadership body to assist the residents in maintaining a good quality of life in the neighborhood. She recognized that Clayton County neighborhoods were also transient and it was important to make sure that neighborhoods stay involved and watchful of their neighborhoods. Sonna knew that many empty nesters began to rent their properties and many of the renters did not maintain the properties up to standard. Sonna then led a core group of her neighbors to organize their own "Community Association." Within the organization, she worked with residents to launch a neighborhood watch program made up of residents who patrol the neighborhood on foot, by car, etc. She is proud that many children still refer to her as the "Neighborhood Association Lady".
Sonna started a community newsletter and developed alliances with community businesses in order to support clean up efforts. Due to the success of this organization, local elected officials started to call on her to assist other communities in starting their own neighborhood associations. Today as county commissioner, she remains a big advocate of Neighborhood Watch groups and Homeowner Associations.
Sonna Singleton was a member of the Community Association Executive Board that worked with a former state legislator and commission chairman to build the walking trail that many residents enjoy in Rex Park. In recognition of her hard work in the community, Sonna was named and served on two citizen advisory boards (Transit Advisory Board, Code Enforcement Board) prior to holding public office. Even now as commissioner, Sonna's work does not stop. On any Saturday morning, you might see Sonna cleaning up the main entrance of her subdivision, organizing community fund raising drives or hosting a neighborhood watch meeting or event for neighbors to get to know each other. She is proud that her hard work has caused her to be affectionately known in her community as the "Neighborhood Association Lady." Sonna believes strongly in Homeowner and Neighborhood Associations.
Sonna Singleton was first elected to serve the citizens of District 1 in August 2006. After being sworn in office in January 2007, Commissioner Singleton immediately went to work to educate herself more on the roles and responsibilities of a commissioner. She completed the necessary classes sponsored by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and within 10 months of taking office, completed the Carl Vinson Institute Training to become a Certified County Commissioner. She is a member of the National Association of Black County Officials, and serves as Vice Chair of the National Association of Counties Arts and Culture Committee.
Sonna Singleton believes in helping people and she works hard to make the East Clayton area a better place for families to live and raise their children. Sonna has been a volunteer at East Clayton Elementary, Smith Elementary, and Adamson Middle School and Morrow High School. Sonna constantly talks to neighborhood children to encourage them to do their part to keep a clean and safe neighborhood.
Sonna Singleton is a member of Travelers Rest Missionary Baptist Church in Morrow where she serves as a church usher. Sonna is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., past PTSA Vice President at Morrow High School, Past Membership Coordinator for Adamson Middle School PTSA. She was also an original member of the Historic Rex Village Preservation Association.
Sonna Singleton is originally from Snow Hill, North Carolina. She is proud of her rural roots of growing up on a farm feeding the pigs and working in the fields. She says that hard work and values instilled in her by her late parents prepared her for the position of commissioner. Sonna is also proud of her 9 sisters and 4 brothers (1 deceased) who she says set examples that she strives to reach daily.
When asked what is the most important quality she feels a person must have in order to serve as commissioner, Sonna says, "You have to love and care for the people. I love the people of Clayton County. I love working hard to make Clayton County and our district a great place to live, work and raise our children."