JerNeka Laird has earned a Girl Scouts Gold Award after spending over two and half years researching 30 cemeteries in District 4 in Jefferson Davis County.

Laird logged and photographed each grave in her district and put it together in a book for use in the county.

There are six copies of the book. One at each high school, one at each library, one for the central school district office, and one copy for the board of supervisors.

Laird presented the board a copy at their last monthly meeting. The board copy will be kept in the chancery clerk’s office for public access.

“Many people come to the chancery clerk’s office to search records. Then they  have to actually go out to the cemetery to gather more information. This would be a great help to them,” said Board President Corky Holliman.

Each grave with a marker is listed in the book, with a special section in the back just for veterans.

“This is a great accomplishment. JerNeka spent over 250 hours on this project, said Pat Ellis, Laird’s Girl Scout Leader.

Laird is an ambassador for the Girl Scouts of Covington County, which is the highest level before becoming an Adult Girl Scout.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA, earned by Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts. Only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts successfully earn the Gold Award.

Laird is the 18 year old daughter of Jerry and Mary Laird of Mt. Olive. She has been an active Girl Scout for 12 years and has completed multiple service projects dealing with veterans.

She is currently a senior at Prentiss High School, where she is a member of the high school marching band, member of Future Business Leaders of America, President of the Future Educators Association and Senior Student Council Representative. She also served as Covington County’s Youth of the Year for Boys and Girls Club in 2014.

You can find more information about this project on line at www.facebook.com/ JerNeka’s Gold Award Project — Remembering the fallen of Jeff Davis County.