ABOUT STACEY

Stacey Godfrey Evans was born and raised in Ringgold, Georgia, a small town in the northwest corner of the state just this side of the Tennessee state line. Stacey is proud to have called Georgia home her entire life. The child of carpet mill workers who struggled to make ends meet, she learned the value of hard work and gained the determination to make education her top priority.

Although her parents encouraged her ambition to attend college, they could not afford to support her once she graduated from high school. Stacey’s dedication to her school work qualified her for the HOPE scholarship and she worked as a waitress to supplement her student loans to put herself through college. Stacey went on to be the first person in her family to graduate from college when she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Political Science from the University of Georgia.

Stacey decided that she wanted to be an attorney after participating in the Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition back in Ringgold. Stacey graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law with honors and she served as a member of the Georgia Law Review. Stacey continued to work and use student loan money to pay for law school.

Always remembering where she came from and wanting to help others, Stacey participated in community service projects throughout her collegiate career. In addition to serving in Student Government and as an officer in the Young Democrats, Stacey was extremely active with the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity. She served as the volunteer coordinator for the campus chapter of Habitat and later was the volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build in Athens – the first project of its kind in Clarke County. Stacey also spearheaded Habitat’s efforts while in law school – raising over $16,000 toward a house in the summer of 2003. Working alongside future Habitat homeowners to build their homes together was particularly rewarding for Stacey and demonstrated the power of a hand up, not a hand out.

Giving back to the program that she credits for leading her to a career as an attorney is very important to Stacey. She currently serves as the Chair for the statewide Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition. Previously she served as a competition judge and a regional competition coordinator for several years. Her goal is to encourage other young people to expand their horizons.

Her strong interest in the political process started in college where she was active with the UGA chapter of the Young Democrats. Stacey went on to serve as the statewide president of the Young Democrats of Georgia for two years. Her successes with the Young Democrats paved the way for her leadership in other organizations.

Stacey is the immediate past Chair for Georgia’s WIN List. WIN stands for “Women In Numbers,” and this trailblazing organization provides financial and strategic support for women running for statewide and legislative offices in Georgia. She is also a past member of the Board of Directors of the Red Clay Democrats.

Stacey continues to be active in the community and in politics. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Communities in Schools of Marietta/Cobb County and the Cobb Library Foundation. She serves on the events committee for the Triple Pink Foundation, which works to raise awareness regarding triple negative breast cancer. She is also a state committee member of the Democratic Party of Georgia and is a member of the Cobb County Democratic Party, the Cobb County Democratic Women, and the Young Democrats of Cobb County.

Stacey has participated in several leadership development programs, including LEAD Atlanta, the Georgia State Bar Young Lawyer Division Leadership Academy, and the Atlanta Women’s Foundation Destiny Fund. In 2004 Stacey was recognized by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in its article, “Up and Comers/Under 40 and Rising: 50 of Atlanta’s Most Promising Young Stars.” She was the youngest person in this group of distinguished Georgians. Last year Stacey was named to the Class of 2008 of Outstanding Atlanta.

Just as when she was younger, Stacey’s family continues to remind her that there is no substitute for hard work. Stacey’s brother, Spencer, an electrical lineman, lives in Ringgold with his wife and two young children. Her dad Keith, now a truck driver, lives in northwest Georgia. Stacey’s mom Kim lives in Chattanooga and has taken the bold step to return to school to finish her high school education.

Stacey met her husband Andrew in law school, and they were married in December of 2004. Andrew is a real estate attorney. They reside in Smyrna.

Inspired by a host of strong women in her life, Stacey filed the paperwork on May 20, 2009 to begin her campaign for district 40 in the Georgia House of Representatives. This seat is being vacated by Rep. Rob Teilhet who is seeking another office. The district includes parts of Smyrna, Marietta, and Vinings.