Augusta, GA
Clayton State's Jones, GCSU's Warren Named PBC Selections for NCAA Woman of the Year
AUGUSTA, GA — Clayton State’s Ariyonna Jones and Georgia College & State University’s Jada Warren have been named the conference-level selections for the NCAA Woman of the Year. The two will be among the 46 Division II student-athletes advancing in the selection process after being chosen from all PBC institution nominees for the award. The selections were made by the Peach Belt Senior Woman Administrator committee.
A member of the Clayton State track & field team, Jones graduated with a degree in psychology & human services, carrying a 3.59 cumulative GPA. Named to the CSC Academic All-District team, she was also named to the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and the PBC Presidential Honor Roll. A member of the Clayton State student-athlete advisory committee (SAAC), she also volunteered with the Community Teen Coalition.
On the track, Jones earned both indoor and outdoor USTFCCCA All-Southeast Region mention. The native of Dublin, Ga. broke eight school records between the indoor & outdoor seasons including shattering the 200m dash and the 400m dash records in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. At the PBC Outdoor Championships, she earned the conference crown in both the 400m dash (55.75) and in the 200m dash (24.26) and in the 4×400 meter relay (3:53.00) and took second in the 4×100 meter relay. Also at the Championships, Jones clocked NCAA DII provisional times in the 200m and the 400m dash. She also was a three-time all-conference finisher in the Indoor PBC Championships earlier in February. She was key as the Laker women’s track & field team placed second, as a team, in the Outdoor Championships, which is the best finish in program history.
Warren graduated from GCSU with a degree in exercise science with a 3.64 cumulative GPA. From Norcross, Ga., she graduated cum laude and received the GCSU Student Leader of the Year Bobcat Award. A member of the PBC Team of Academic Distinction and Presidential Honor Roll, she was a CSC Academic All-District selection, a member of the GCSU honors college, and named to the Gamma Beta Phi Honors Society. She also served in the GCSU student government, the Black Student Alliance and in the LIFE Mentorship Program.
On the court, Warren averaged 8.8 rebounds and 3.7 points this season for the Bobcats. Warren, who pulled down a career-high 17 rebounds against Columbus State University, grabbed 256 rebounds and shot 44.0 percent (40-of-91) from the field. She also collected 22 blocked shots, 21 assists and 13 steals. Warren was 50th in NCAA Division II and led the PBC in rebounds. She was also first in the Peach Belt in rebounds per game (8.8). Warren finished seventh in the league in blocked shots.
The NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee will announce 30 finalists – 10 from each division – later this fall, then narrow that to the top three nominees in each division. The NCAA Woman of the Year award will be presented at the NCAA Convention in Nashville in January.
Two Augusta-area Walmarts are among 13 Georgia locations that the retail giant plans to remodel and modernize in 2026.
In the past five years, the company said it has spent $961.5 million to upgrade its stores statewide.
Now, the company plans to change store layouts and services in its Augusta and Grovetown locations to make shopping faster and more convenient.
The locations are the Augusta Walmart Supercenter at 3338 Wrightsboro Road, near Augusta Mall, and the Grovetown Walmart Neighborhood Market at 5303-A Wrightsboro Road, where Wrightsboro and Harlem-Grovetown roads meet.
The Augusta location has been undergoing renovations since last fall.
The stores, when completely renovated, will include updated pharmacies offering vaccines, free delivery and clinical services such as basic health screenings and same-day testing for strep, the flu and COVID-19. Vision Centers also will be redesigned for improved privacy.
Also, computer apps will help customers better navigate stores, scan products’ prices and find exclusive app-only shopping deals.
Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, April 19, 2026. Mr. James Byron Duncan, 80, was the loving husband of Estelle Mulherin Duncan as well as devoted father, doting grandfather, and lifelong friend to many.
Byron was born and raised in Augusta, GA, the son of W.B. and Kathleen Duncan. After graduating from Butler High School in 1965, Byron’s kind heart called him into Social Work. He earned his Bachelor of Sociology from Augusta College in 1969. After 34 years of dedicated service to the State of Georgia, Byron retired in 2003 as Director of Jefferson County Family and Children Services. He devoted his life wholeheartedly to both service to others and dedication to his family, working in the tough field of social work while remaining a fiercely loving, spirited and unwaveringly passionate man.
His deepest commitments were to his wife, children, granddaughters, siblings, church, the Knights of Columbus and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Byron was deeply rooted in his faith and community. He was an active member of St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and finance committee member. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Walsh Council 677 and Assembly 174, the Irish American Heritage Society and the Rotary Club of Louisville, GA. A true Georgia Bulldog at heart, Byron never missed an opportunity to cheer for his Dawgs, whether they were playing football, basketball, baseball or any other sport. He loved the simple joys of life – days at the beach, Jimmy Buffett, beach music and shagging, and a house full of family and friends. For many years, Byron delighted young and old alike by donning the red suit and playing Santa Claus at various events as well as visiting the classrooms at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School as St. Nicholas.
Byron possessed the gift of gab! He never met a stranger and could often be observed enthusiastically carrying on a deep conversation with old friends or a stranger he just met on the street. No conversation with him was brief!
Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Estelle Mulherin Duncan; his children Sean M. Duncan (Jennifer), Matthew M. Duncan and Megan E. Duncan; his bonus daughter, Allison Crow (Joe), and his treasured grandchildren Riley, Emma and Harper Duncan, who brought him endless joy. He is also survived by his brother Keith Duncan; sisters Sheryl Werrick and Marcia Golden; brothers-in-law Dr. Joe Mulherin, Robert Gibson and Tom King; sister-in-law Janet M. Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Fr. Mark Ross as celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. A Rosary service will be held Thursday evening at 6:00 P.M., followed by visitation from 6:30 until 8:00 P.M. at Thomas Poteet & Son.
Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School, 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 or St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church, 1420 Monte Sano Ave., Augusta, GA 30904 for the Our Faith Our Future Capital Campaign.
Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Road, Augusta, GA 30907, (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at thomaspoteet.com
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Georgia Gubernational candidate Geoff Duncan made another appearance in Augusta on Monday, speaking at the IBEW Local 1579 on Reynolds Street.
Duncan is one of the three candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. Duncan said when he served as lieutenant governor of the state, he fought to expand access to health care in rural communities. He said if he’s elected, he’ll focus on lowering costs in other areas.
Duncan stopped by NewsChannel 6 ahead of the campaign stop to speak about his plans.
“Look, 90% of Georgians know what they’re talking about when they want to pass commonsense gun legislation like universal background checks, red flag laws, and in-home safe storage laws. As governor, I want to lead the charge, and I want to give political cover to those Republicans that want to do the right thing, build those consensus around those bills,” Duncan said. “I hope to get some of them the cosign that legislation. Because it meets people where they’re at. It’s common sense. Look, I don’t want anybody to ever walk by a television screen and make another excuse for a mass shooting when it could have been stopped. With just common sense laws that are on the books.”
Photojournalist credit: Regynal McKie
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