Would that everyone had the ambition, drive and ideas of Maxine Darden Nowlin of Courtland. Perhaps then more things that need doing would get done.

Her leadership past and present in taking action for her town includes adult education classes and a support group for women at the Courtland Community Center.

For this, and so much more, she was recently honored by the Lambda Nu Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. as its “Citizen of the Year.”

Darden herself said recently that she comes from a civic-minded family, and that such activity comes naturally — practically in her DNA.

Wisely, Darden acknowledges she’s really not a superwoman who can do it all. Her fellow board members — Horace Darden, James Whitfield, Larry Jones, Catherine Britt, Tenecia Shearin, husband Clarence Nowlin, Sandy Faltz and Rosilyn Bryant — are very supportive in the endeavors.

She and the board are role models for other individuals and organizations that also continually strive to make their respective communities worthy places in which to to live and work.