Mrs. Cheryl Chandler Ellenburg of Gainesville announces the engagement of her daughter Miss Jennifer Suzanne Ellenburg to Mr. Stephen Ford Howard, son of Dr. and Mrs. Tim Lawson of Gainesville and Mr. and Mrs. Steve Howard of Dawsonville. The bride-elect is the daughter of the late Mr. Lee Edward Ellenburg.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Pinckney Chandler and the late Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lee Ellenburg.

She is a 1999 graduate of North Hall High School in Gainesville. She graduated in 2003 from The University of Georgia in Athens with a bachelor's degree in social science education. She is pursuing a specialist degree in education at Piedmont College in Demorest. She is employed as a teacher with East Hall Middle School in Gainesville.

The groom-elect is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. James Saxton, the late Mr. and Mrs. Ford Howard, and the late Mr. G.A. Lawson and Mrs. Mildred Lawson of Gainesville.

He is a 1998 graduate of North Hall High School in Gainesville. He graduated in 2002 from North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega with a bachelor's degree in accounting and finance. He is pursing a master's degree in business administration at The University of Georgia, Terry College of Business in Athens. He is employed as a senior financial analyst with Verizon Wireless in Alpharetta.

The couple plan to wed Dec. 11, 2010, at First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville.