W. Todd Groce, PhD, presents Christine Davis Lambert with the 2026 John Macpherson Berrien Award on July 20, 2026, in Madison, Georgia.
Savannah, GA, July 20, 2026 – Christine Davis Lambert of Madison, Georgia, is the recipient of the 2026 John Macpherson Berrien Award, presented by the Georgia Historical Society (GHS) in recognition of her lifetime achievement in and service to Georgia history.
Lambert received the award on Monday, July 20, 2026, during the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center’s annual meeting in Madison. The presentation coincided with the Cultural Center’s 50th anniversary and recognized Lambert’s role as a co-founder and longtime trustee. GHS President and CEO Dr. W. Todd Groce, presented the award on behalf of GHS.
“Chris Lambert has spent a lifetime strengthening the institutions that help Georgians understand, appreciate, and learn from their history,” said Groce. “Through her leadership in Madison and her service to organizations across the state, she has made a lasting contribution to Georgia history and to the communities shaped by it. It is a pleasure for GHS to honor her remarkable lifetime of achievement with the John Macpherson Berrien Award.”
A graduate of Georgia State University, Lambert has devoted decades to historic preservation, civic leadership, and public service in Madison and across the state. She played an important role in the founding of the Madison-Morgan Cultural Center, helping lead efforts to preserve and restore the historic former school building and establish it as a regional center for history, arts, and community programming.
Lambert has served as a board member and chair of numerous organizations, including the Georgia Historical Society, the Madison-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the Morgan County Historical Society, the Magnolia Garden Club, and the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia.
Her long record of service reflects the spirit of the Berrien Award and the Georgia Historical Society’s mission to collect, examine, and teach Georgia and American history. Through her leadership in preservation and civic life, Lambert has helped strengthen the institutions that protect Georgia’s history and make it accessible to future generations.
Named in honor of John Macpherson Berrien, one of the founders of the Georgia Historical Society and its first president, the Berrien Award was established in 2000 and recognizes a lifetime of achievement in and service to Georgia history. Recent recipients include Paul Pressly, Savannah; Kay Hightower, Thomaston; Dale Critz, Sr., Savannah; John McMullan, Atlanta; Charles Crawford, Atlanta; and Ross Rossin; Atlanta.
For additional details about the John Macpherson Berrien Award, please contact Keith Strigaro, Director of Public Relations and Communications, at 912.651.2125, ext. 153, or by email at kstrigaro@georgiahistory.com.
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ABOUT THE GEORGIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining, and teaching Georgia and American history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.
To learn more visit georgiahistory.com.
As part of Georgia’s commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, GHS offers additional programs, resources, and publications exploring Georgia’s role in the founding of the nation. Start exploring at georgiahistory.com/america250.