Community honors first African American mayor of Waynesboro - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

Ever since she was in elementary school, Pauline Jenkins, the mayor of Waynesboro, says she has tried to make a difference.

"I have made history of some sort being the first African American mayor in our city and the first female mayor in our city," Jenkins, said.

She says her conscience and her faith in Jesus Christ have guided her decisions since she took public office in 1993.

"You vote on what's right, not to help this race or that race. You vote for what's right so you can sleep at night."

She's in the second year of her four year term and the next thing on her list is taking down dilapidated houses.

"We'll start talking with someone who can help us with grants so we can get some of those houses either torn down or rehabbed so they will be livable again," she said.  

She's had a role in the city government for 20 years but the road to making decisions as mayor has not been easy.

"I ran for mayor in 2007 and lost that election by 22 votes."

But she didn't give up and ended up winning the 2011 election by six votes, which gave her the opportunity to serve as the highest elected official in the city.

"Not only am I African American but I am a citizen first and I want to do things that are right and in order for my whole community," said Jenkins.

Jenkins says she wants to go to seminary and serve people full time in the ministry when her time serving them as mayor ends in 2015.