(This is one of our profiles on this year’s recipients selected by an anonymous committee out of an extensive list of nominees for the 2024 Lincoln Leader Award. The Lincoln Parish Journal thanks Mayor Ronny Walker and the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce for their support of this award. We would like to thank Kevin Hawkins at HawkinsPhoto.com for the headshots).
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Name: Ciria Lee
Age: 35
Employer: Homemaker/Assistant at the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Grambling State University
Hometown: LeCompte
Years Living in Ruston: 18 years
Civic Volunteer Organizations: Member, Grambling Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.; Board Member, Life Choices of North Central Louisiana
Professional Highlights: Featured on the cover of Ruston Living Magazine, May 2021; two-time graduate of Grambling State University
Ivory Bass, facilitator for 6-8th grade in Lincoln Parish Schools, on Cici Lee: I am elephant elated and hippopotamus happy that Ciara Lee was chosen as one of LPJ Rising Lincoln Leaders. I don’t know anyone more deserving. She is passionate about making a difference in the community in which she lives. She truly believes that volunteering and giving back is a great way to make a positive impact on those around her. She is committed, compassionate, and a communicator. She is a woman who first seeks to understand then to be understood. She is always giving of her time and talents; not just to her community but to her family, friends, and various organizations she is a part She seeks to change the world, and I am forever grateful to have her in my life. She cares so deeply and steps up to support the things she believes in regardless of the personal cost. As a community leader she truly lives Proverbs 27:17; As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. When I think of Cici I think of the quote by Mother Teresa: ”She alone cannot change the world, but she can cast a stone across the waters to create a ripple.” Congratulations, CiCi. I love you.
Q&A with Cici Lee:
What makes Lincoln Parish special?
Lincoln Parish is special because of the relationships. I’ve been blessed with since starting school at Grambling in 2007. I never imagined that 18 years later, I would still be here, raising my family. I’m so grateful that God had different plans than my own. Being that I’m not originally from the area, it has been amazing to see how God has brought us “family” and helped us grow within this community. The warmth and support we’ve experienced have truly made Lincoln Parish feel like home.
How do you see your role/place in making our parish such a wonderful place to call home?
I believe that fostering unity is essential to making Lincoln Parish a better place for everyone. By continuing to serve in ways that bring people together, I hope to play a small part in creating a more connected and supportive community. My aim is to help build and bridge relationships in our community by showing and sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
Who has played a role in your professional development and why?
There are three individuals who have been instrumental in my professional development: my mother, my grandmother, and my mentor, Latoya Tolbert. My mom has shown incredible resilience, overcoming many challenges in life and sharing her testimony, which inspires me to persevere. My grandmother stepped in during key moments, helping to shape me into the person I am today. Finally, Latoya Tolbert has guided me in learning how to lead well and love deeply in ministry. I am truly grateful for their influence and support.
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