Macon Magazine

80 maconmagazine.com | February/March 2026 A L I F E O F L I S T E N I N G Inside Macon-Bibb's Department of Community Affairs and how it's connector-in-chief, Henry Ficklin, takes an unusually intimate role in bridging the gap between citizens and their government STORY BY MM STAFF | PHOTOS BY DSTO MOORE H O W S T U F F W O R K S O n paper, the Macon-Bibb Department of Community Affairs looks like a small operation. Dr. Henry Ficklin is an army of one, working from his office in City Hall. In practice, it functions as one of the county's most important connective tissues, pumping life into the organs of various government functions with an unusual superpower – the art of listening, to anyone and everyone. Ficklin's office is designed to absorb the daily friction between residents and local government and translate it into action, or even just food for thought. At the center of Ficklin's process is a calm demeanor and thorough knowledge of how government works, as a man whose personal history mirrors many of the struggles, aspirations, and evolutions of Macon itself. One thing that's certain is that Ficklin has put in the time to have "community" in his title. With a history that stretches back to Macon's Civil Rights movement, he's a former Macon City Council member of 30 years, a preacher of 45 years, an educator of 39 years, and a current member of the Bibb County School Board. For those who encounter him through City Hall, he is often something more immediate. He's the one who picks up the phone or takes a meeting without reservation, and knows exactly where to send a problem so it can be addressed. COMMUNITY AT WORK The Department of Community Affairs doesn't oversee a single service like trash pickup, parks, permits, or public safety. Instead, it exists to navigate across all of them. Citizens frequently call or visit the county Government Center with concerns. These can be as trivial as missed garbage collection or as large as severe mental health concerns, and those calls often end up with Ficklin. In Ficklin's words, the department handles "all community affairs," which in practice means acting as a living directory of Macon-Bibb County government. A resident may believe they need to talk to Mayor Lester Miller, but what they really need is just a supervisor at the tax assessor's office. Ficklin listens, identifies the appropriate department, and — if he determines the inquiry is legitimate — initiates contact, typically by sending a detailed email that includes the resident's information and a clear description of the concern. That behind-the-scenes coordination is constant. RIGHT: Henry Ficklin pictured in City Hall. BELOW: Speaking with high school students in the GCAPS program

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