THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, March 14, 1996 TAG: 9603130159
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JANE HARPER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 155 lines
EVER SINCE Al and Georgia Saunders found out they were Suffolk's First Citizens of 1995, they've been trying to figure out what they did to get the honor.
Sure, they take firewood and food to the poor and elderly. Yes, they take senior citizens to concerts and plays. When a friend or neighbor is sick, sure they always run by with a baked chicken or pot of fresh vegetable soup. And, of course, they do whatever they can to help their church and the many civic groups to which they belong.
Still, they don't undersand why they were chosen.
It's that humble attitude, friends and family say, that makes the Chuckatuck couple so especially deserving of the award.
``They always want to be in the background,'' said longtime friend Elizabeth Underwood. ``I don't know anyone who wants to be out of the spotlight more than they.''
In fact, the couple is a little embarrassed by all the attention they've gotten since the Suffolk Cosmopolitan Club announced its choice, daughter-in-law Pam Saunders said.
``They're very honored, but they're just very humble people,'' she said. ``They really and truly don't know what they did to deserve this.''
Those who know them say the question really is what have they not done. The Saunderses work tirelessly in every effort they take on, friends and family said.
Lifelong residents of the Chuckatuck community, the Saunderses met at Chuckatuck High School. They married in 1946, after Al served in the Merchant Marine during World War II. They raised five children and now have six grandchildren from 6 to 18 years old. They've lived in the same Kings Highway home for 42 years.
Al continues to work part time at Saunders Supply Co., the building supply business he founded 49 years ago, and which now is housed in the old Chuckatuck High building. Georgia, whose father was a longtime sheriff of Nansemond County, always has worked as a homemaker.
``They're top-flight people,'' said former Virginia Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr., a longtime friend. Although the people who submitted nominations are supposed to remain secret, Godwin conceded that he was among several who recommended the Saunderses.
They are the only couple to receive the award since the Suffolk Cosmopolitan Club began handing it out 40 years ago. The award recognizes people who go beyond their professional and personal responsibilities to help others.
The club advertises for nominees in the local papers. The selection committee, composed of three people from the community who are not members of the club, received several nominations for the Saunderses, said Ed Gray, the committee's chairman. Nomination letters cited how the couple always works as a team and should receive the honor as a team, Gray said.
Over the years, the Saunderses have served on countless committees and boards at their church and in civic groups.
At Oakland Christian Church, where Al is a third-generation member, they have taught Sunday school and vacation Bible school and have participated in such outreach programs as helping the Salvation Army and delivering food to the elderly for Meals on Wheels.
There probably isn't a church project they haven't been involved in, said the Rev. Mark Burns, pastor. ``Whatever it is that you need to have done, you always know that you can count on them,'' he said.
The Cosmopolitan club banquet is supposed to be a roast, but Gray said, most of the evening will be spent pointing out nice things the Saunderses have done.
Finding such examples won't be difficult.
Nelle Norfleet, a neighbor for the past 42 years, said Al reguarly pops by with fresh vegetables from his garden and to make sure she's getting along all right. Ann Johnson, a friend from church, said Al brought a baked chicken over last fall when her husband was sick.
When one of their daughters decided to go on a trip to Hawaii, the Saunderses paid for their longtime family housekeeper and friend, Plummie Hicks, to vacation with her. When a church member needed some help at home, Al organized a group of people to take turns stopping by to help. And when a friend's husband was hospitalized with a stroke, they took care of her son one day and fed the boy dinner so the friend could be with her husband at the hospital.
``They're just always thinking of things to do for people. Things most people wouldn't ever think of,'' Pam Saunders said.
And while the Saunderses are quick to come to other people's aid, they often have a hard time accepting help, Pam said. For instance, when Pam tried to plant some flowers for Georgia for Mothers' Day, Georgia and Al wouldn't let her do the work alone.
``It seems like you can't ever repay them,'' Pam said. ``You certainly can't ever get ahead of them.''
Their children and grandchildren tend to benefit most from their acts of kindness. Al built sandboxes, backyard playsets and bookcases for each of his grandchildren. When his grandsons got involved in Cub Scouts, Al cut the wood for tool boxes for each member of their pack.
``There are probably 30 to 40 Cub Scouts out there with those little tool boxes,'' daughter Mary Williams said. If any of their children are especially busy or going through a hard time, they bring food by for them. If a storm tears up the house or yard of one of their children, they're over the next day to help clean up. Georgia prepares lunch each weekday for her two sons, who work with their father at Saunders Supply.
While Georgia described her and her husband as ``homebodies,'' they occasionally go out with friends. They also enjoy traveling with friends and going to their beach cottage in Nags Head with their family. Al likes to spend his spare time gardening, reading, doing woodwork and other handy work. Georgia is a talented flower arranger and she likes to refinish furniture.
The couple will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this year. As expected, they plan to keep it low key.
``The children wanted to have a party for us, but we said no,'' Georgia explained. ``They had one for us for our 40th, and that was enough.''
So what motivates the couple to do so much for others? Is it because they feel it's their Christian duty? Their civic duty?
``I don't think it's a duty to them,'' Pam Saunders said. ``I think duty is the wrong word. They just do it because they have good hearts.''
Al and Georgia say they just try to do what they can to help.
``It's just what any neighbor does,'' Georgia explained. ``I don't know why we've been singled out.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
1st CITIZENS
Al and Georgia Saunders
Staff photos, including cover, by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
In addition to gardening together, Georgia and Al Saunders enjoy
their work with both the Boy and Girl Scouts. They also are active
members of Oakland Christian Church and work to support their local
public library.
AT A GLANCE
What: First Citizen Banquet
Where: Holiday Inn, Pruden Boulevard
When: March 23, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20, at Commerce Bank, Main Street; Bank of Suffolk,
Suffolk Plaza Shopping Center; Sentry Mart No. 1, Pruden Boulevard;
Village Drugs, Kings Highway
Call: Ed Gray: 539-2283.
AL SAUNDERS
Founder, Saunders Supply Co.
First chief, Chuckatuck Volunteer Fire Department
Veteran of numerous offices, Chuckatuck Ruritan Club
Board member, the Bennett Trust, which helps people with
financial needs.
GEORGIA SAUNDERS
Homemaker
Long involved in Junto Women's Club, Junto Book Club and Village
Garden Club
Red Cross volunteer for 25 years and local board member
KEYWORDS: PROFILE by CNB