Judy Shaw Retires after 24 Years of Service at GreyStone Power

After nearly a quarter of a century with GreyStone Power Corporation, Lithia Springs resident Judy Shaw is retiring as the Human Resources (HR) Benefits Administrator. She leaves behind a legacy of caring for both employees and the community.

When Shaw joined GreyStone in 1988, she was an Administrative Clerk. In the beginning, she enrolled new employees into various insurance plans by paper and filled out paper claim forms for all medical and dental claims. Eventually, providers began filing claims directly, but she still had the task of reviewing explanation of benefit (EOB) forms and mailing them to employees. “Thankfully, that changed as well with automation. Now everything is entered online,” says Shaw.

She believes the most important aspect of her job has been “knowing and administering all the various benefits, as well as keeping up to date on legislative changes and legal issues. Also, helping employees resolve issues and working with our broker to get the best plans while considering the costs involved.”

Shaw feels her biggest accomplishment at GreyStone is “having gained the trust of employees, directors and retirees.” She says she truly believes in Dale Carnegie’s quote that says “‘you can never achieve success unless you like what you are doing.’ I have loved my job and consider myself fortunate to have been employed by GreyStone. The pleasure has truly been mine.”

Shaw says she is a people person and will miss GreyStone’s employees and directors, but she looks forward to joining the retiree group. HR Vice President Secret Holland says, “Judy is a tremendous asset to GreyStone. Her genuine care for employees and her helpful spirit are gifts to all of us. She will be greatly missed.” Co-worker Lanette Toler has worked with Shaw for more than 14 years and says it has been a pleasure. “Judy has been there for me as a friend and a co-worker and I will miss her greatly,” she says.

Through her job, Shaw says she has had interaction with virtually every GreyStone employee and developed friendships that will last a lifetime. “I have been lovingly referred to as Mama Judy, Ms. Judy, Jude and Judith, and I cherish them all,” she says.

Shaw has been very involved in community outreach and charity work during her time at GreyStone. In 2009, she won Mentor of the Year in the Douglas County School System for a decade of serving as a mentor and positively impacting the life of high school senior Antavious Grier, who is now a student at Middle Tennessee State University. “You know you remember one person in your life that changed you for the better. Mrs. Shaw was that person,” he says.

Shaw was instrumental in launching the Gabe’s My Heart Chemo Duck program at GreyStone, which provides children with a powerful teaching tool to familiarize them with cancer procedures. Other community and charity programs that Shaw chaired or took an active role in included Relay for Life, American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Good Samaritan Opportunity of a Lifetime, Corporate Challenge Run/Walk and the Peachtree Road Race, which she has participated in for 30 years. Shaw was also recognized in 2011 for being the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church organist for 50 years.

After her retirement, Shaw plans to simply “chill out” for the first couple of weeks, and later she plans to travel. She looks forward to spending more time with her friends and family, which includes her husband, Millard; children Dennis and wife Elaine Shaw, Jennifer and husband C. J. Zachmeyer; and grandchildren Courtney, Zachary, Ashley, Cole and Halle.

In her leisure time, Shaw enjoys walking, traveling, watching early morning sunrises while listening to the birds sing, riding bikes on the Silver Comet Trail, reading and watching movies.       

GreyStone Power serves more than 104,500 members in portions of eight counties, including Paulding, Douglas, Fulton, Cobb, Carroll, Bartow, Fayette and Coweta counties. Learn more at www.greystonepower.com.