Bobby and Theresa Button of Conyers were honored as Georgia 2009 “Family of the Year” at the Knights of Columbus state convention held in Augusta in May.

The Buttons are active members of St. Pius X Church and Knights Council 10004 based at the Conyers parish. The 102 Knights councils in the state each nominated a family for the honor, which is presented annually to the family that most closely exemplifies the life of service inspired by Knights founder, the Venerable Father Michael J. McGivney.

Married for more than 23 years, Bobby, retired from General Motors after 31 years, and Theresa, a paraprofessional in the Newton County school system, “shy away from the spotlight” and “really enjoy their parish and the opportunities it offers to give back to their community,” the nomination from Council 10004 stated. Bobby and Theresa, along with Bobby’s brother, also a fellow Knight, work as a team in their spiritual and church life.

Members of the parish Knights council since 1997, they can be counted on to work in Knights’ activities like its monthly parish breakfasts, Lenten fish fries and community outreach, the statement said, but beyond that, they are also deeply involved in parish ministries and caring, one-on-one concern for people they meet. Both work to support the Knights’ program to aid persons with intellectual disabilities and both are very involved in the parish ministry to aid and comfort families of deceased parishioners and in the parish family dinner ministry.

Bobby is in charge of ushers at St. Pius X and Theresa runs the parish St. Vincent de Paul “giving tree” program at Christmas. They are also involved in teaching catechism, Life Teen and the parish health ministry.

Within the community they also become deeply connected with older parishioners and like a family to those who are on their own either because of an independent spirit or because family members live in distant parts of the country.

They have observed the needs of those they meet and, as they developed friendships with them, they have made sure seniors had a way to get to church, checked on them regularly, brought them to medical appointments and helped with everyday situations from grocery shopping to repairs to pet sitting and fund raising to help pay for doctors’ bills, the nomination said. The friendships that resulted are most important to them.

Council Grand Knight Patrick Barnes said, “The Council wants to recognize those that regularly ‘practice what they preach.’ The Buttons are a prime example of a family that really makes the concept come true from their all important outreach to the consistent participation in many facets of parish life. We are very proud of them and their actions.”