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ALBANY, GA -- The Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia held their Woman of Distinction dinner, and keynote speaker Mavis Moore – also known as “The Bucket Lady” – called the 2011 Women of Distinction recipients “ladies of style, class and compassion.”

“Both of these women have made phenomenal contributions to the community,” says Kathleen Moylan, Member of the Women of Distinction Legacy Council.

Reba Stewart, Vice President of SunTrust Bank, and Caitlyn Cooper, Chief Development Officer at Lily Pad, were honored as this year’s Women of Distinction.

“I was shocked. I had no idea because there are so many people who do more things that I ever dreamed of doing,” says Stewart.

Stewart wasn’t always the Vice President of a bank.

“With ten children we just had no money. We just had all of the things that were important: Honesty, character, integrity,” she says. With those traits in stow, she went on to serve on the boards of organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club, the Darton College Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital Chapel Fund Raising Committee.

Women with Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia say this night is not only to present awards but to present role models for the next generation.

“I think it’s important that young women know they have role models: Women that have accomplished things above and beyond what their expectations may be,” says Moylan.

A former Girl Scout Brownie, Cooper says being a role model for a group of girls whose promise is “To serve God and my county, to help people at all times,” is important.

“I have a 9 year old sister and I see that her brain is just a sponge when it come to people my age and older so hopefully I’ll be able to be a mentor for some people in Albany and make a change,” she says.

Cooper, a forensic interviewer for children who are victims of child molestation and abuse, even looks up to her fellow Woman of Distinction.

“To stand on stage with Stewart who has done so much for this community that I sure hope one day, years from now I'll be able to complete as much as she has for worthy causes in South Georgia,” she says.

Both recipients say they hope to continue to help their community.

“There's a saying in my family that my mom has always taught me to say that "joy is found through living a life of purpose, and being a community activist and getting involved in things I’m passionate about is really what makes me go every morning,” Cooper says.

“I do care very much about this community,” says Stewart.