You and the community are invited to attend a Celebration of Life for Traci Lamar Scates. The event will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Bethel United Methodist Church, 100 Lumpkin Campground Road, South, Dawsonville, GA.  

Traci Lamar Scates was born in Augusta to Tracy Lamar and Christine Berry Lamar on March 15, 1956. She passed away on April 16, 2009. Traci moved to Dawson County in the early 1990’s and quickly became involved in the community.

She was hired by the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce as its first paid executive director in 1992.  A few years later, the title was changed to president and Scates served in that position until 1998.

The chamber search committee that hired Ms. Scates felt her background in finance and a degree in Business Management from Georgia State University, made her a perfect match for the job, and she was.

In the early 1990’s Dawson County had a small, but diversified, industrial mix ranging from cutting and sewing plants to talc mining and refining to machinery manufacture. 

Ms. Scates promoted the benefits of doing business in Dawson County on its proximity to Atlanta and its unique quality of life. 

These strong selling points continue to make Dawson County a desirable place to work, live and play. 

Ms. Scates worked with the Development Authority as they acquired land for an industrial park and spurred economic development by recruiting targeted industries. She and other community and regional leaders joined together to promote growth in Dawson County in a positive and controlled direction.  She was passionate about what she did and it was evident to those who knew her.

Friends, church and chamber members, business associates and all who knew Traci are invited to participate in this celebration of her life. We will gather to share fun stories and fond memories.

Ms. Scates is survived by two sons, Dylan Scates and Lucas Scates. 

Linda Williams

President, Dawson County Chamber of Commerce