When Francene Gilmer moved back to her hometown, she wasn’t necessarily looking to dive into a new job and community service. She had returned to Hopkinsville because she wanted to care for her aging mother.
But soon enough Gilmer had a job as executive director of the Christian County Literacy Council and a growing list of volunteer roles. She got reacquainted with old friends and made new ones.
Now, five years later, the local Human Rights Commission has recognized Gilmer for making a difference in Hopkinsville through a dedication to improving human relations. The commission’s signature honor, the Hal and Bettye Thurmond Award, was presented Thursday during the 50th Unity Breakfast at the James E. Bruce Convention Center.
“Sometimes you don’t know where you need to be, and sometimes if you just follow your heart you will be where you should be,” Gilmer said of her decision to come home after 30 years in higher education, including leadership roles at Vanderbilt, Kentucky State and the University of Kentucky.