The work Kristin Hall is doing in Emanuel County as Clerk of Superior Court is setting the standard across Georgia for her profession. What started as a district recognition last year has evolved into a statewide award.
Hall is the latest recipient of the Stetson F. Bennett Jr. Superior Court Clerk of the Year Award, the highest honor presented by the Georgia Superior Court Clerks Association (GSCCA).
The award, established in 1985 by the Bennett family, is one of the most respected traditions among Georgia’s clerks. It can only be received once in a clerk’s career and is awarded based on peer nomination and selection, making it a distinction reserved for those whose work is recognized by others in the profession. Since its inception, only 40 clerks have received it.
Hall is the first from Emanuel County to do so.
For football fans, the name may sound familiar. Its namesake is, in fact, the great-grandfather of former University of Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett IV, who led the Red and Black to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, an added point of pride for Hall, a Georgia alumna and diehard Bulldog fan.
“To be nominated is an honor, but to be the recipient of an award given by your peers and those who know your work best is truly humbling,” Hall said. “It’s a privilege that I do not take lightly.”
She was a finalist for the same award just one year ago and the outright winner of the 2024 District 8 Clerk of the Year Award. District 8 is the largest legal district in Georgia, spanning 27 counties across the Oconee, Ocmulgee, Dublin, Cordele, and Middle juridical circuits.
“Being named District 8 Clerk of the Year was special last year,” Hall said. “There are so many clerks in our District who could and should receive District Clerk of the Year, so that alone was a significant honor. To go from the district award of 26 clerks to receiv[ing] the award out of 159 clerks, it’s difficult to put into words how much it means.”
The award was presented Wednesday, April 29, during the organization’s annual spring conference in Savannah.
Frances Yeargan, Clerk of Superior Court in Wayne County, and her sister, the Honorable Judge Vi Bennett, daughters of Bennett Jr., made the presentation to Hall in tandem, underscoring the legacy behind the honor.
Three clerks are named as finalists ahead of time, but the winner is kept confidential for a climactic reveal at the conference.
Looking back on the big moment, Hall says the announcement caught her completely off guard.
“The entire clerk body knows the three finalists, but the winner is kept secret, so yes, I was surprised to hear my name called,” Hall said. “The conference committee works hard to secretly contact family members and staff of the winner to collect letters and have them attend, but they, too, are sworn to secrecy, and my family and staff did a great job with their parts.”
GSCCA leadership says Hall’s influence extends well beyond her home district.
Barry Wilkes, former longtime clerk of superior court in Liberty County and a past president of the Council of Superior Court Clerks of Georgia, helped train Hall early in her career and was in the ballroom when the award was presented.
“Kristin is one of the smartest and hardest-working clerks of superior court in Georgia,” Wilkes said. “I had the opportunity to help train her early on, and even then, it was clear she was exceptional. She has built and leads one of the most efficient clerk’s offices in the state, and she works tirelessly to ensure the records entrusted to her office are protected and preserved with the highest level of care.”
Over time, he said, her impact has extended well beyond her own jurisdiction.
“She has become one of the state’s leading voices in court technology and records management,” Wilkes said. “Clerks across Georgia rely on her knowledge and regularly seek her guidance. She is an asset to this profession and more than deserving of this recognition.”
That leadership is built on a foundation of both structure and support inside the Emanuel County Clerk of Court’s Office.
Hall leads a team of five deputy clerks, each responsible for critical components of the court system’s daily function, including jury management and real estate records to liens, plats, UCC filings, notaries, traffic citations, and more.
Carla Daughtry, a deputy clerk who oversees felony criminal matters, has worked in the office for more than two decades and has seen its evolution firsthand.
“Since the day Kristin stepped into office, I’ve always felt like I’m working beside her, not just for her,” Daughtry said. “She values our opinions, listens, and makes sure we’re always in the loop.
“There’s a lot that comes through this office every day between real estate and civil filings, citations, warrants, notary commissions, even multiple passport applications. Kristin trusts us to handle it and treat the public the same way she would,” she continued. “She has set the standard, and we follow it. Because of that, she doesn’t have to worry about how the office runs.
“At the same time, she’s the one we turn to for the hard things,” Daughtry added. “But she’s also just a good person to have in your corner. She’s understanding, she leads by example, and she truly cares about her staff. She’s just the absolute best to work for.”
Fannin County Clerk of Court and conference chair Dana Chastain was present as the announcement was made.
She said about this year’s recipient, “Kristin is so deserving of this prestigious honor. She is highly respected among her peers, committed and competent, dedicated, and dependable. She follows through with any task she is faced with and is a team player, and she has the best interest of all clerks at heart. On behalf of the GSCCA, we are so proud.”
Locally, leaders say the recognition comes as no surprise.
Emanuel County Commission Chairman Jim Sherrod points to Hall’s long track record of leadership, including her selection as part of The Forest-Blade’s inaugural 20 Under 40 class in 2016.
“That was before my time as commissioner, but her track record speaks for itself,” Sherrod said. “Kristin has been a leader in this county for a long time. Over the years, she’s only grown more confident and more effective in that role, so to see her recognized at the state level like this, I’m not surprised a bit. I’d say it’s been a long time coming.”
A daughter of Emanuel County, she graduated from Swainsboro High School in 2004 and spent four years in Athens. She and her husband Mitch, lived in Clarke County until 2009, at which point they moved home, bought The Kwik Shop, and, three years later, she ran for office and won.
Now in her fourth term, Hall has spent more than a decade in public service.
Mitch was given the difficult task of capturing his wife’s impact in one of the letters referenced during the award ceremony, an effort that ultimately spanned more than 300 words. When asked to distill that same sentiment into just a few sentences, he admitted it was no easy feat. Still, he offered this:
“When she started this journey years ago statewide recognition was hardly a consideration or even a goal,” Mitch said. “Now, four terms in, the recognition was inevitable. She achieved it not by expecting it but by earning it. Nobody can really put into words all she does, but we’re blessed to have her at home and at the courthouse.”
For the clerk herself, she says the award will be a source of continuous motivation.
“While the award can only be received once, the work doesn’t end with the award,” Hall said. “Whether it is the work I do in Emanuel County with my amazing staff and fellow county public servants or the work I do for clerks on the statewide level, my commitment to service and dedication for our citizens will not change. My desire every day is that Emanuel County has a clerk’s office they are proud of.”
She is the proud mother of 15-year-old Camden, soon-to-be 12-year-old Brooks, and 9-year-old Ivy. She is also an alumna of Georgia State College & University, having obtained her master’s in public administration in 2023, active in numerous community organizations, and a member of Swainsboro First Baptist.
[Editor’s note: The award years listed in this story may seem incorrect due to the timing of when they were announced and presented. However, the designations reflect the body of work, service, or impact from the previous year, thus the difference.]
The Emanuel County Board of Commissioners governs Emanuel County, focusing on legislative and administrative responsibilities. Comprised of representatives from five districts, the board oversees policies and programs that impact local development, budgeting, and public services. Commissioners work collectively to ensure fiscal responsibility and address community needs, collaborating with other county departments and agencies. They are committed to supporting economic growth, public safety, and community well-being across Emanuel County.
For more information about the commissioners and for the latest from the county government, visit 124 North Main Street in Swainsboro; call 478-237-3881; follow us on Facebook; or visit www.emanuelco-ga.gov.
