LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Laura Lynne Hicks, a 25-year veteran of the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, passed away Tuesday.

Hicks had been battling cancer, the sheriff's office said. She was 48.

"Captain Laura Hicks was a true professional law enforcement officer who made a difference to her department, community and friends. If nothing else, the overwhelming number of people who volunteered to help Laura or called to express their concerns during her illness says volumes about the positive influence Laura had on people," Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Walker said in a statement.

Hicks was hired as a deputy sheriff in May 1987 and served in virtually every division of the department as she climbed the ranks. She also graduated first in her class from the Northeast Georgia Regional Police Academy. Sheriff Conway made Hicks a captain in 2005.

NORCROSS, Ga. -- The city of Norcross will host a fundraiser to help Gwinnett County resident Aimee Copeland with her medical expenses.

Art for Aimee will begin at 6 p.m on Saturday, Sept. 29.

The event will play upon Aimee's love for the arts and will showcase the work of Gwinnett artist Vicki A. Johnson. A portion of sales of Johnson's work will go directly toward Aimee's medical bills.

Other activities include live music and a chance for attendees to meet Aimee.

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Art for Aimee will be held at the Norcross Welcome Center & Museum, which is located at the corner of Mitchell Road and Lawrenceville Street.

PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. -- Julian L. Jackson has been named the first-ever city manager of the new city of Peachtree Corners.

Jackson's new position will take effect on Oct. 1. He joins Peachtree Corners from Monroe, Ga., where he has served as city administrator since 2000.

"It is truly an honor to be selected as the first city manager of Peachtree Corners," Jackson said in a statement. "I am very excited about this unique opportunity."

In addition to his experience with the city of Monroe, Jackson has worked for Roswell and in several small communities in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. He is president of the Georgia City/County Management Association and serves on the board of directors of the Municipal Gas Authority of Georgia.

Jackson has a doctorate and master's in public administration from Valdosta State University, and a bachelor's in accounting from the University of West Florida. He and wife Stacey have two sons.