Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan of Atlanta and Bishop Raymond W. Lessard of Savannah have announced the appointment of Cheatham E. Hodges, Jr. of Augusta, GA, to be the executive secretary of the Georgia Catholic Conference, succeeding Father Michael A. Morris of Atlanta.

The purpose of the Georgia Catholic Conference is to give witness to spiritual values in public affairs, and to provide an agency for corporate Catholic service to the statewide community. The Conference formulates policy positions on Georgia governmental programs, legislation and policies which affect the common good and interest of the Church.

In his position as executive secretary of the Georgia Catholic Conference, Mr. Hodges will represent the Church in communicating with all branches of state government, as well as statewide voluntary groups and organizations. An important goal of the Conference will be to assist in identifying the needs of all Georgia citizens in areas of morality, health, welfare, education, human rights and civil rights. The Conference works alone and in cooperation with others to meet these needs and to strive to eliminate the causes of moral and social problems. Another objective is to foster public understanding of the Church's social teaching and concern about the human condition of all citizens.

Mr. Hodges was born in Savannah and now lives in Augusta, GA. He is a member of St. Teresa of Avila Parish. He is married to the former Joan Marie Weller of West Palm Beach, Florida, and is the father of 8 children. He is currently serving as chairman of the St. Teresa Parish Council and president of St. Mary's-on-the-Hill Parochial School Board.

After many years as an educator, he moved to Augusta in 1968 and presently serves as a business manager and consultant as vice president of Inter-company Service Corporation, vice president of Cherokee Land Company, Inc., corporate secretary and director of First Augusta Mortgage Company and executive liaison for Forward Augusta, Inc. Mr. Hodges is also chairman and president of Caritas Corporation, a low-income family housing project for the Augusta area, which is sponsored by the Diocese of Savannah.