The City Council of Americus, Georgia, has announced that Raphel D. Maddox has been identified as the sole qualified candidate for the position of City Manager. The official selection will take place at a meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on March 20, 2026, at the Public Safety Building located at 119 S. Lee Street, Americus.
Raphel Maddox, originally from Waycross, Georgia, has an extensive background in public administration and executive management. He is married to Yolanda Pender Maddox and has two children, Ravhen, aged 32, and Raphel II, aged 28. Maddox brings over two decades of experience from his service in the United States Army, where he achieved the rank of First Sergeant and was selected to attend the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.
Extensive Experience and Accomplishments
Maddox holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resource Management from Columbia Southern University. After retiring from military service, he dedicated ten years to public service in Waycross, where he served as City Manager from March 2014 to August 2018.
During his tenure in Waycross, Maddox spearheaded several initiatives, including the successful passage of the Single County T-SPLOST, the construction of a new fire station, and the implementation of body cameras for the police department. Under his leadership, the city achieved significant improvements, including a reduction in ISO ratings to two and acquiring national and state accreditation.
Prior to his role as City Manager, Maddox was the Community Improvement and Human Resources Director from 2008 to 2014. He revitalized the city’s website, developed branding and marketing materials, and updated municipal codes, policies, and procedures. His efforts led to over $2 million in funding from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for housing and infrastructure projects in Waycross.
Maddox has also held positions as City Administrator for Fort Valley, Georgia, City Manager for Quitman, Georgia, and County Manager in Pierce County, Georgia. He is an active member of the International City/County Managers’ Association (ICMA) and the Georgia’s City-County Management Association (GCCMA).
Vision for Americus
Expressing his enthusiasm for the opportunity, Maddox stated, “I am very thankful for this opportunity to work with the Mayor and City Council to build upon the foundation already established in the amazing city of Americus, GA. I will work diligently and professionally with elected officials, staff, and citizens to ensure Americus’ success. Making sure that the Americus vision becomes reality is our priority. I am grateful for the opportunity to humbly serve in the leadership role of City Manager.”
With his robust background and commitment to public service, Raphel D. Maddox aims to bring his leadership skills and vision to the City of Americus, potentially shaping the city’s future in significant ways.
