Leadership
The Griffin-Spalding Historical Society is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors, whose members are committed to upholding the mission and values of the Society. Board members serve as stewards of the organization, providing strategic guidance, representing GSHS in the community, and ensuring fiscal and ethical responsibility. They actively participate in committees, fundraising, and events, while making informed decisions that help the Society thrive. Each member pledges to act in the best interest of the organization, collaborate with staff and fellow board members, and support the preservation and promotion of our local history.

GSHS Board of Directors
Our leadership team is comprised of a dedicated group of volunteers and a part time Executive Director. We are proud to have each one of these individuals with us.
Officers
770-229-2432 | info@griffinhistory.com
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President
Drew Payne
Drew is a Griffin native with deep family roots in Spalding, Pike, and Henry counties dating back to their founding. A lifelong lover of history and “anything old with a story,” he developed an early passion for historic architecture and Griffin’s rich heritage. After graduating from Griffin High School, Drew attended the University of Georgia and later spent more than 25 years living in Atlanta. In 2012, he purchased a historic home in Griffin to restore, originally as a weekend project. Since the COVID pandemic, he has returned to Griffin full-time and is proud to once again call the city home. Drew has been involved with the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society for many years and is honored to serve as President.

Executive Director
Erin English
Erin is a native of Fairhope who moved to the Griffin area in 1996. A longtime lover of historic buildings and preservation, she currently resides in her circa-1911 home in Williamson with her husband, Cory, and their son, Anson. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business and French from Troy University and has more than 15 years of experience as an IT Business Analyst specializing in warehouse management systems. Erin has also been active in the nonprofit community through organizations such as Griffin Choral Arts. In her free time, Erin enjoys cooking, traveling, and caring for her five rescue cats.

Secretary
Ty Jordan
Ty moved to Griffin in 2023 after frequently visiting and developing an appreciation for the city’s history and architecture. He joined the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society the same year and has been actively involved ever since. A business and tax attorney as well as a Certified Public Accountant, Ty has a longstanding passion for antebellum homes and historic structures. His interest in history is deeply personal, with family ties to north Georgia and Civil War history, including a great-great-grandfather believed to have trained at Camp Stephens. Ty is also a recipient of one of the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society’s preservation awards in recognition of the thoughtful preservation and remodel of his historic Griffin home.

Treasurer
Art Hammond
Art has deep roots in Griffin as part of a four-generation family with ties to both Griffin and Washington, Georgia. Though born in Washington, he grew up in Griffin beginning in 1946 and has maintained a lifelong connection to the community. An honors graduate of the University of Georgia with an MBA from Georgia State University, Art also served in the U.S. Army. His professional career includes work as a Certified Public Accountant, President of three banks, and Accounting Professor at Southern Crescent Technical College. He has also held numerous civic leadership roles through organizations including Rotary, United Way, the Chamber of Commerce, scouting organizations, and church leadership. A lifelong history enthusiast with a special passion for Georgia and military history, Art and his family have been members of the Griffin-Spalding Historical Society since the late 1980s. He became Treasurer at the end of 2024. Art also enjoys collecting vintage firearms dating from the mid-1800s through World War II, and several historic family homes dating back to 1900 remain standing today.
Active Board Members:
Jan Brannon – Board Member; House & Grounds Chair
Art Cain – Board Member; Preservation Committee Member
Carole Carlisle – Board Member
Suzanne Cumming – Board Member; Fundraising Chair
B. Frank Harris – Board Member
Lee Howell – Board Member
Evans Millican – Board Member; Genealogy, Librarian & Archivist
Jenny Parker – Board Member; Junior Guild Liaison
Maggie Saunders – Board Member; Event Rentals & Marketing Chair
Jennifer Tatum – Board Member; Programming & House & Grounds Committee Member
Drew Todd – Board Member; Programming Chair
Mary Liz Vause – Board Member; Programming Committee Member
Allison Wilder – Board Member; Events Chair & House & Grounds Committee Member