THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 19, 1996 TAG: 9608190033
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY MASON PETERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 134 lines
They are rarely noticed, less often honored, but the civilian volunteers who quietly make life better for their neighbors in North Carolina will have their day in the sun this month.
Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. and his wife will present the 1996 Governor's Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service to 210 individuals and 54 groups from 39 eastern counties.
The awards will go to self-effacing citizens who have in some way volunteered to make a better world.
The governor will present the awards at J.H. Rose High School in Greenville at 6 p.m. Aug. 28.
Western North Carolina volunteers will be similarly honored in Asheville on Sept. 16. And volunteers from the central part of the state will be recognized in Greensboro later. The events will mark the 18th consecutive year that selected citizens have received recognition from the Governor's Office of Citizens Affairs.
Northeastern counties and their volunteer award winners include:
BERTIE COUNTY - Mildred B. Harmon of Windsor, who has volunteered to prepare and deliver food to senior citizens at the Windsor Nutrition Site; Thomas Jefferson Jernigan Sr., an ``irreplaceable'' member of the Bertie County Volunteer Rescue Squad; Theresa Lewis, a Bertie Memorial Hospital volunteer who has worked to obtain hospital equipment; Lucile Nichols, who provided meals and help for seniors at the Aulander Nutrition Site in Ahoskie; Bobbie Parker, ``a vital'' member of the American Cancer Society efforts in Bertie County; James Pugh, a ``tireless'' worker for the SHARE Mid-Atlantic food program; Lester Terry, who assisted seniors in the Aulander area; St. Luke Ladies, a group of six volunteers who help at the Brian Center in Windsor.
CAMDEN COUNTY - Judy Cooper, who volunteered 275 hours as a teacher's assistant at Grandy Primary School in 1995-1996; Susie Gamet, a Camden Elementary School fourth-grade volunteer; Daryl Melpolder, who volunteered to edit the Grandy Primary School student publication ``Bear Tracks''; Freddie O'Neal, who volunteered to help create the county's new community park; Pam Richardson, who also helped in the preparation of ``Bear Tracks''; Linda Rull, a volunteer test supervisor at Camden Middle School; Coast Guard volunteers in the aviation technical training center at the Elizabeth City Air Station who volunteered ``countless hours'' helping at Camden High School.
CHOWAN COUNTY - Barbara Conger, for devoting ``countless hours'' for the betterment of the Chowan Arts Council; Jesse Harrell, a 79-year-old ``local boy'' and community volunteer. ``Few residents of the county have given more time and energy than Jesse,'' state officials said. Also, Thelma Smith, a tireless Chowan Hospital advocate; W. Sidney Stickles, for his extensive help to city and county organizations; Carol Watson, church and nursing home volunteer aide; ``Friends of Chowan Hospital'' and Cupola House ``Weeders'' - all volunteers who provide immeasurable good will; Edenton Chowan Kiwanis Club and James Iredell Historical Association.
CURRITUCK - Fielding Cage, a student volunteer in the computer lab at Central Elementary School, who ``gives up his free time to help in the lab,'' state officials said; George and Janet Hoffman, a husband-wife team who work in the media center at Dr. W.T. Griggs Elementary School; sponsors of the Student of the Month program in Currituck Schools; Currituck Ministerial Association, ``sponsors of the high school baccalaureate service that brings the entire community together''; Moyock Women's Club, which has as its special emphasis ``to nurture the potential of our children.''
DARE COUNTY - Edith Deltgen, a Guardian Ad Litem program volunteer; Laura Dunn and Sara Jones, Manteo High School students who raised more than $2,300 for the Caring For Youth Program; Glenn Eure, a Dare County artist who donates original art to nonprofit groups for fund raising and provides the use of his gallery for local events; Gretchen Fischer for her work with the Friends of Youth program; Clair Sutton of the American Cancer Society and Dare Hospice; Raymond and Beverly Mann, coordinators for the Outer Banks Cancer Support Group; Peggy McCauley, fund-raiser and supporter of the American Lung Association; Lori York, a Manteo High School volunteer who started the Spirit Club for younger students.
GATES COUNTY - Lois Riley Brown, an active church worker for 40 years and a Roanoke-Chowan Hospital volunteer; Valerie Chenay Costen, who has spent her active life helping poor children get an education; Sara Montague, PTA leader and school volunteer; Donna Parker, a school volunteer who has organized many special programs; Sandra H. Smith, Roanoke-Chowan Hospice volunteer; Jean Spivey, volunteer first-grade worker at Sunbury School; Meals On Wheels volunteers who supply meals to those who would otherwise be hungry.
HERTFORD COUNTY - Geri Ashe, who ``has provided outstanding youth leadership in Hertford County''; Danny Blowe, who ``has dedicated his life to helping others, especially blind and visually impaired''; Ed Courtright, church worker, Little League coach and Cub Scout leader; Mervin and Angela Earley, ``seniors helping seniors'' lending a hand wherever one is needed in Ahoskie; Linda Edwards, a dedicated Hospice volunteer; Alan Timothy Felton, active volunteer and 4-H worker in Murfreesboro; Paul Parker, who ``seems to have retired in order to work for others in the Hertford County Office of Aging''; the Murfreesboro Lioness Club, a community organization that helps the Rotary Club, the Red Cross, and the Como Rescue Squad and Volunteer Fire Department.
HYDE COUNTY - Kenneth C. Ballance, ``who is always helping a neighbors get groceries on Ocracoke''; Archie Green, ``best known as an outstanding volunteer with Hyde County youth''; Mitchell Newman, a friend of boaters who volunteers many hours during hurricanes helping to ensure the safety of Hyde County citizens; Carlos O'Neal, ``a very active student at Mattamuskeet School,'' whose leadership qualities earned him an N.C. Teaching Scholarship; Faye Sadler, president of The Greater Hyde County Chamber of Commerce; Brianna S. Williams, a 16-year-old student at Mattamuskeet School who organized the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the school.
PASQUOTANK COUNTY - Leonard R. Ballou, an Elizabeth City State University administrator who works with the Boys and Girls Club, the Historic Preservation Commission, the United Way and tbe Albemarle Commission; Fred L. Fearing, ``The Rose Buddy'' who greets arriving boaters and who helped organize the Museum of the Albemarle; Ann Parke Godwin Hughes, a leader in the restoration of historic sites; Elizabeth Linney, who spent countless hours organizing Keep Pasquotank Beautiful; Maurice C. Powers, who has aided coastal plain environments, particularly wetlands, for 30 years; W.C. Witherspoon, a community leader and county official who heads ``Hope Group'' in the interest of improving race relations; Roosevelt Wright Sr., a volunteer fireman, civic leader, historian and church worker; Mr. and Mrs. Clean Club, an environmental service program of the Elizabeth City Boys and Girls Club.
PERQUIMANS COUNTY - Matthew Leicester, who at 16 joined the Perquimans County Rescue Squad in 1995 and since then has ``pulled regular duty'' riding the ambulance as part of his goal of becoming a doctor; Jo Sawyer, a volunteer with the Snug Harbor Community Youth Program and member of the Snug Harbor Property Owners board of governors; Ann Schallock, who has been secretary of the Perquimans Rescue Squad for six years and also instructs the Junior Rescue Squad; William T. Winslow, veteran member and instructor on the rescue squad who has volunteered a minimum of 48 hours a month to the squad.
TYRRELL COUNTY - Lavern Jeske, who for 10 years has been the principal fund raiser for the Columbia High School Band Boosters and has chaperoned the band's trips; Billy Oakes, coordinator and fund raiser for Tyrrell Elementary Field Day; Christine Reynolds, who put in 800 hours as a volunteer tutor for Tyrrell Elementary School students; Betty Anne Shearin, a high school math teacher who ``devotes countless hours to the youth of Tyrrell County'' as a tutor and counselor; Julie Smith, a Tyrrell Elementary School volunteer who rides buses to pick up Head Start students, tutors and chaperones; Gail Weatherly, who takes time off to accompany seniors to medical appointments and also is active in leading the youth choir and teaching Sunday School; Bridging Generations Book Committee, whose volunteers are creating a history of Tyrrell County for the annual Scuppernong River Festival in Columbia; Young Extension Homemakers Club, whose volunteers strengthen families through education, community service and leadership. by CNB