Cornelius Lloyd Native Savannahian Cornelius JerMar Ephraim Lloyd has been selected by Outstanding Atlanta to join the 41st class of honorees for 2009-2010.

Since 1968, this organization has recognized young Atlantans for contributions to the betterment of the city. According to Sandra Barnhill, National President of Foreverfamily, Inc. (formerly AIM - Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers) and member of Outstanding Atlanta Class of 1993, Cornelius is the perfect choice.

“Cornelius has the ability to combine compassion and sensitivity for the plight of young people with incarcerated parents, with the clarity of purpose in preparing them [young people] for the future. He has directly mentored 10 young people who have clearly beaten the odds which say that children with an incarcerated parent are more likely themselves to go to prison.”

Lloyd has worked with Foreverfamily for the past five years. This 22 year-old organization provides programs and services to families dealing with parental incarceration. Cornelius began as a volunteer while attending Georgia State University and worked through a variety of positions, including program assistant and program coordinator, becoming full-time upon graduation from Georgia State in 2005.

"When I accepted the call to ministry and started seminary in 2007, my role transitioned to that of youth advocate and mentor. I am proud to mentor some of the most resilient young people in the country, Lloyd said. I am also really excited to be chosen by Outstanding Atlanta and hope that during the one year commitment, I will be able to combine my experiences with youth development and my desire for community service to make a difference in our community.”

Lloyd is currently a senior Master of Divinity student at Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, Georgia.

He resides in Austell, Georgia with his wife, the former Miss Ashley V. Dixon. He is the son of Pastor and Mrs. Marvin L. and Jerry Artest Lloyd, the grandson of Mrs. Susie M. Shannonhouse, Stone Mountain, Georgia, the late Mr. and Mrs. Willie E. and Willie Mae Lloyd, Mr. and Mrs. Henry L. and Cornelia V. Artest, and Mr. William Franklin Smith. The awards ceremony was held on Friday, November 6, 2009 at the Georgia Pacific Auditorium.

Foreverfamily is a nonprofit community based organization that assists inmates, their children and other family members in maintaining those critically important family ties that can become strained during a parent's incarceration.

Foreverfamily's efforts focus on children with an incarcerated parent or parents, caregivers and relatives as they strive to remain a family.