Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson will present the 35th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Spirit Award on January 21 to Charles and Augusta Garrett of Atlantic City. The award is given in commemoration of Dr. King’s birthday (January 15) to outstanding residents who exemplify his principles through their involvement in the community and their efforts to improve the lives of their fellow citizens.
“Charlie and Augusta Garrett have each contributed to our community in their own right, and as a couple are well-recognized and respected,” stated Levinson. “It would be a disservice to honor one without the other.”
Charles Garrett is a lifelong resident of Atlantic City and U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam war. He was an entrepreneur and former business owner. He served as Assistant Facilities Manager for the Atlantic City Rail Terminal and as the Deputy Public Safety Director for the Atlantic City Convention and Visitors Authority. In 2007 he began his first of two terms as an Atlantic County freeholder representing District 1. He also ran for the office of Atlantic City mayor. He is currently the Community Relations Manager for the South Jersey Transportation Authority and volunteers as a board member and secretary for the Atlantic County Veterans Museum Foundation. He is also a founding member of the African American Heritage Museum of Southern New Jersey, a board member of the American Conference on Diversity and the Jersey Shore Boy Scouts. He also serves as a member of the Venice Park Civic Association and the Mainland Chapter of the NAACP.
Augusta Garrett, his wife of 23 years, has held positions with Stockton University as the Manager of Information Systems for the Development Office and the Director of Advancement Services. She is the secretary and treasurer for the Atlantic City Public Library and the past treasurer and current president of the Venice Park Civic Association, in addition to having been a founder of the Civics Association United of Atlantic City. She has also contributed to numerous community service activities as a member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. In 2024 she was honored with the Fannie Lou Hamer Award as an inspirational figure for civil rights.
Levinson will present the Community Spirit Award to the Garretts during the January 21 Board of County Commissioners meeting to be held at 4 pm at 201 S. Shore Road, Northfield.
Photo credit: Atlantic County
