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On Thursday morning, Troup County hosted a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Wayne Bartley Community Center at Gray Hill.

Formerly known as the Gray Hill Community Center, the property was originally donated by the Bartley family to build the former Grey Hill School.  When the school was closed, the property reverted to the Bartley family, specifically to Wayne, who was the closest living descendent to the original owner.

Wayne later donated the property to the county to build the community center. 

The county voted to rename the center in his honor late last year and has been renovating the well-loved community space.

“It’s been a great asset to not only the Gray Hill community but all of Troup County,” Commissioner Lewis Davis said.

Wayne’s wife of 60 years, Beverly Bartley, was on hand for the ribbon cutting. She said he would have loved the newly renovated community center.

“He loved this community. He was born and raised here. He went school first through sixth grade here and his mom taught school here,” Beverly said.

“Words can’t describe what this celebration of this beautiful facility means to me and my family. The whole Gray Hill community has embraced Wayne and loved him and he loved this community,” Beverly said. “This is a great tribute for him and for our family.”

Not only was Wayne honored by naming the facility after him, in a surprise reveal on Thursday, the playground behind the community center was also renamed the “Beverly Bartley Playground.”

Both names were fitting, Davis said.

“If not for Wayne Bartley and his family, Troup County would not have the Gray Hill Community Center,” said the county commissioner.

County Manager Eric Mosley said renovations to the facility include updated landscaping, exterior and interior paint, new flooring, granite countertops, appliances, lighting, bathroom facilities and more.

Mosley said the facility is available for reservation for family reunions, birthday parties, and other community events through Troup County Parks and Recreation.

The Wayne Bartley Community Center at Gray Hill is located at 3600 Bartley Road in West Point.

For more information about the community center visit http://www.trouprec.org/Rentals/Gray_Hill or call Troup County Parks and Recreation at (706) 883-1670.