2011 PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS
John Ruskey of Clarksdale is a volunteer for youth at-risk.
He owns and operates a business, Quapaw Canoe Company, with a passion
for the Sunflower and Mississippi Rivers.
John formed The Mighty Quapaws, an after-school apprenticeship program
for Clarksdale at-risk youth, teaching skills which include swimming, canoe
making, paddle construction, and river guiding. But the underlying lessons
taught are team building, problem solving and communication. In February 2004 the Mighty Quapaws completed
Dorothy the Double Eagle Dugout which now sits in the children’s room of the
Carnegie Public Library. "You can’t get in the canoe unless you have a
book with you!", stated Ruskey.
The Mighty Quapaws took second place at the Mississippi River Memphis
Canoe Race in May, 2004. The Mighty Quapaws program is made possible through a
grant from the Dreyfus Health Foundation.
Mighty Quapaws become skilled River guides as tourist experience life on
the River (from a canoe).
John is also establishing the Lower Mississippi River Foundation, Inc. a
non-profit for the betterment of public outdoor recreation on the Lower MS
River. Programs under this new nonprofit
will include:
The Lower MS River Water Trail, Friends of the Sunflower River, Might
Quapaw Apprenticeship, Save Buck Island Campaign, Buck Island
Stewardship/Friends of Buck Island, and Muddy Waters Wilderness.
Charleen Shields of Horn
Lake commits much of her spare time to services
for the betterment of the community, serving especially, non-profit
organizations. She directs a group in
Creative Arts for adults of all ages at the Garden of Grace Church, providing
many of the supplies. As a founding
member of the Mid-South Machine Knitters Guild, you will find Charleen knitting
hats (approx. 100) each year for MIFA and baby blankets for St. Jude and The
Med. She has a special place in her heart for Relay for Life, as she is a
cancer survivor. Charleen also assist
with fundraisers for Heart’s Desire Therapeutic Riding Center in
Senatobia. She works with different
local RV Clubs called “The Second Chance Sams”, a place for people who have
received a second chance for their lives.
As an avid camper, Charleen participates
in the ‘Clean-Up America’ team, cleaning local state parks and
campgrounds. She also delivers Angel
Food to seniors and shut-ins at her church.
Did I mention that Charleen is retired?
And still working just as hard!
Evette Porter of
Southaven is an advocate for domestic violence
prevention. Due to death of her closest
friend, Taffi Crawford, to domestic violence; .
Taffi was a nurse in the Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto ER. Through this test and trial, Evette revealed
a new layer of her character, integrity and commitment. She organized a memorial to Taffi during
National Domestic Violence Month in October and formed the Taffi T. Crawford
Domestic Violence Memorial Fund This
fund will allow her to reach other women and children in the Mid-South area
with domestic violence prevention information.
Events to support the Fund, which she has coordinates, include the Taffi T. Crawford Domestic Violence Memorial
Luncheon held at Brown Missionary Baptist Church, a prayer vigil and the Taffi
2K Health Walk.
As a former college basketball player, she
volunteers her time in the athletic department of her church working with youth.
Her love for her friend and dedication to
serving others has earned Evette Poter a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service
Award.
Hernando may be growing in population but it is still a small community
at heart, and communities need that certain person who is always ready and
willing to help. Mary Dee Swatzyna of Hernando is a community volunteer and gives
selflessly of her time. She is one of
the planners and executors of the Water Tower Festival 5K and the 10K, a
volunteer for the Sunset on the Square, a worker with DeSoto County Habitat for
Humanity, an example to the young people of Palmer Home for Children and a
strong volunteer for the Hernando Optimist events.
It has been said by one of her fellow neighbors in Hernando, “No matter
what take places….Mary Dee is there to assist”.
Hernando is fortunate to have Mary Dee Swatzyna.
Finding a cottontail bunny hit by a car led Petra May of Eudora to
her introduction to the Mississippi Wildlife Rehabilitation. A native of South Africa, she spent time on a
rhino preserve for almost 2 years taking school children on safaris and living
in the bush. So volunteering for the MWR
came naturally. She now serves as the
Volunteer Coordinator as well as the Mammal Coordinator. She took the time to study and learn all she
could about helping MS wildlife in need and to educating the general
public. Petra has gone far beyond
volunteerism. She has put in long hours
with the animals in her care and uses her personal funds to build cages and buy
special food for her charges. She also
has assisted with fundraisers for this non-profit. Just recently she and her husband released
four young river otters (affectionately referred to as the boys) back into the
wild. As Walt Whitman said “This is what
we should do; love the Earth and sun and the animals”……we are glad Petra May
loves our wildlife and we honor her with a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service
Award.
The Hispanic community in DeSoto County is blessed…..blessed to have
such a dedicated volunteer. Patsy Vick of Walls spends countless
hours in volunteer work for the Hispanic community. Working alongside the pastor of the new
Hispanic United Methodist Church, she formed a committee for volunteer support
to this cause. Cristiana Iglesia is located in Horn Lake. She organized and participated in the
International Cultures Festivals held the past two years. Patsy collects children and adult used costs
for Cristiana Iglesia members or anyone in need, and she teaches English as a
Second Language classes at First Baptist Church in Horn Lake. Patsy tries to go
the second mile with her students, helping them with problems they may
encounter in our English society.
When she is not working with the Hispanic residents, you
will find Patsy volunteering in various roles at her church in Walls, Minor
Memorial United Methodist Church.
Or you may want to take the time to talk with Patsy about
her dedication to Mia’s Children, a non-profit organization founded
on the dream of seeing young people in Bucharest, Romania, who have limited
resources grow up in a loving, encouraging environment and become happy and
healthy members of Romanian society – physically, emotionally, spiritually.
Patsy
has a giving spirit asking for nothing in return. On behalf of the lives you have touched, we
honor you as a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.
You might think when one retires they would want to spend their
time reading, relaxing and maybe even a little shopping. Our next recipient may have a little time to
squeeze in these activities when she is not participating in senior programs in
DeSoto County. Bettye Taylor of Hernando ended her teaching career, but has become
a star student in the subject of volunteering. When there was talk of starting a community
garden in Hernando, Bettye volunteered to serve on the Advisory Council (and to
pull weeds). She volunteers for the
Shepherd Center in Hernando, an outreach program for seniors, where you will
find her providing rides to a doctor’s appointment or to pick up a few
groceries. She is an active member for
Seniors In Action in Horn Lake. This
organization seeks and finds various volunteer opportunities and way to serve
the community. She completed the
certification course through Volunteer Northwest MS for Safe Spaces, a program
designed to entertain children in shelters during times of disaster. Bettye does not stop there….she also has a
soft spot for children volunteering at Palmer Home for Children and serving as
a reading mentor for Porter-Leath Children’s Center. Bettye states, “Wherever the need is, I try
to be available”. Her values and
dedication to serving others comes from her parents and their love of serving.
Pam Selby of Horn Lake is a retired educator
from the DeSoto County School District and has a love and passion for the
environment and its protection. As a
Master Gardener she volunteers on numerous gardening projects while teaching
young people the benefits of growing their own vegetables. She is currently working on a puppet
character, Cassie Catalpa, for use in presentations to children about gardening
and being green. It is a personal
campaign entitled ‘It’s Easy Being Green in Mississippi’. She demonstrates how to make cleaning
products that are environmentally friendly reducing the amount of containers
put in landfills. She is an avid user of shopping totes which she has
used for 15 years and composting of household waste. She shares her secrets
for being green every opportunity she gets.
Currently, she is coordinating a school garden project in DeSoto County,
Sowing Seeds of Success – at 16 elementary schools. If you see someone in overalls, a straw hat
covered with seeds and a determined look on her face…..you can bet its Pam
Selby a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Mississippi is experiencing the worst hunger
and food insecurity of any state. This
statement is nothing new to our next recipient.
She sees the needs of those experiencing food emergencies each
week. Linda Smith of Olive Branch is a charter member of the Olive Branch
Emergency Food Ministry Board which began 20 years ago. In fact, she is the only remaining Charter
member still volunteering for the cause.
The organization operates with volunteers from local churches many of
whom she personally trains to sort, prepare, interview and distribute food to
those who are in need. Their stated
mission is to provide emergency food for up to seven days to Olive Branch-area
residents who are having a difficult time providing food for their family. This takes organization and dedication….and
Linda Smith has provided this for the past 20 years. Tonight we salute Linda and her work by awarding
her a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Daphine Craig of Olive
Branch has been a volunteer with Unity Hospice Care
since 2009 and has logged over 520 contact hours visiting patients to provide
companionship and support for terminally ill patients and their families. She is active in grief support sessions,
provides clerical support, assists in planning annual remembrances, and
educates and promotes the benefits of hospice.
In addition to her hospice volunteer work, she collected more than 900
books, loaded them into a vehicle and personally delivered them to the library
in Bay St. Louis after Hurricane Katrina.
She donated $500 to the library to replace a computer and printer
destroyed. Because of her love of books,
Daphine is an active member of the Friends of the Olive Branch Library and a
member of the Olive Branch Library Board.
A favorite quote of Daphine’s “Do what you can, with what you have,
where you are”. She has been faithful to
her patients, Unity Hospice Care and the community. We honor Daphine Craig as a 2011 President’s
Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Ray Emmons does not actually live in Marshall County, but he spends quality time
volunteering for Strawberry Plains Audubon Center. Ray first became acquainted with Strawberry
Plains when he participated in the first Audubon Naturalist Class in 2006 to
create a more wildlife friendly environment on his own property. Since that time, he has voluntarily
constructed five Chimney Swifts towers at Strawberry Plains logging over 500
hours in construction time. He
implemented design ideas into these towers that serve as great examples in
Strawberry Plains’ environmental education programs and help conserve this bird
species in decline. Ray volunteers
annually at the Hummingbird Migration Celebration and Nature Festival, usually
working the parking lot, the toughest job at the festival, according to the
Center’s Director. To show appreciation
for his concern for the natural world as shown by work on his property,
Strawberry Plains and at Hunter Douglas (his wife’s employer), we proudly
recognize Ray Emmons as a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Awards recipient.
Tracy Reynolds of Holly
Springs is a community volunteer and organizer,
lover of music and just having a really good time! He
was recently honored as Holly Springs Main Street’s Volunteer of the Year for
his dedication and total hours he worked for Main Street in 2010. Tracy served as an organizer of Bikers’ Night
in Blues Alley – to revitalize Blues Alley, increase tourism and provide a
street festival for the community. The
event was so successful that it will be held again in 2011. It is because of this work that Holly Springs
is being revitalized as a destination for the ‘blues’. Thank you, Tracy Reynolds, for seeing a need,
answering a call, and getting it done!
Help me congratulate Tracy as a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award
recipient.
Another Marshall County
resident does not just sit by and wait for things to happen. Chelius
Carter is a volunteer and organizer for preservation through Preserve
Marshall County & Holly Springs, Inc. He led the effort in clearing the
property around historic Chalmers Institute, the first university to be charted
by MS state legislators in 1837. “We figured 183 years was long enough and
the proud old structure needed our help”, he said. Labor force was provided pro-bono by Chelius
and others as the daunting task of preserving this treasure began. It is still a work in progress. In gratitude for the foresight and skills
needed to preserve the history of Marshall County, we honor Chelius Carter as a
2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Terry Rodgers is a life-long resident of Byhalia
and Marshall County and is a community volunteer for charity. He has a 40 year career with Northcentral Eclectic
Power Association, where he is still employed.
He has dedicated his life to service of his church and community. He has been president of the Byhalia Lions
Club and the Byhalia High School Booster Club.
As a long time member of the Byhalia Chamber of Commerce, Terry has
served as president and for many years as the Chamber Horse Show Manager. His volunteer service as fireman has assisted
the Byhalia and the Barton communities.
He has spent endless hours organizing and heading up events such as
cooking bar-b-que, golf tournaments and festivals to raise money for needy or
ill children and families. Terry has
worked tirelessly as a volunteer for the Clydesdale Christmas Store, a charity
for needy children. In June he starts
growing his beard and hair and by December Terry is transformed into a very
authentic Santa Claus. He sits for hours
with adoring children on his knee, telling “Santa” their Christmas wishes. He is in numerous Christmas parades and tree
lightings throughout Marshall and DeSoto County. Not only does Terry have that Christmas
spirit…..he has a ‘giving spirit’ and for that we congratulate him as a 2011
recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Panola County Lt. Deputy
Earl Burdette is a volunteer for seniors and youth. In extreme weather he helps locate and
distribute fuel and fans to seniors. In
winter he finds local landowners who donate trees and he supervises a group of
Panola County inmates in cutting the firewood for seniors to use in their
homes. He has sought donations to
purchase gas and assist with electric bills of seniors. His work is not confined to the senior
population; Burdette serves as a mentor for the local championship football
team donating his time each Friday night for security and to help keep the
young men from making bad decisions. He
also serves in the 114th Military Police Unit of the MS Nat. Guard. Lt. Deputy Earl Burdette is not only an
example to others; he is a shining example to his son who is here with him
tonight. Help me welcome Earl Burdette
and his son as he receives a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Rose Atkins lives in
Batesville, but is a doer of good deeds in Quitman County and the Town of
Marks. She does not see herself as
others see her. To Rose, the way she lives
her life is just normal. She started
Project Hope Outreach in which she
collects needed items (usually overstocked items in an 18-wheeler----which she
drives) for various projects. Her
‘gave-away days’ in Roadside Park in Marks allows people to come and take items
they need (tissue, paper towels, cleaning supplies). At Christmas she collected toothpaste and
food items for each of 110 inmates at the Lambert, Ms Prison and for the 14 men
at the Marks jail. She collects items
and takes to the local nursing home as well as volunteers to do ladies’
hair. “You never know when it’s going to
be your time (of need)….You’ve always got to be ready to do a good deed, “says Rose. We honor Rose Atkins for her good deeds
tonight as a 2011 recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Joan Richardson of
Darling (Quitman County) is the publisher for By
U Magazine – a GOOD DEED publication which highlights and honors volunteers
assisting non-profits. The magazine
promotes and highlights “Do Gooders” as they reach out into their
communities. By U readers pooled their
resources together making miracles happen.
For example they paid utility bills for families who would otherwise
have had their utilities disconnected; raised funds saving seven homes from foreclosure
which kept these families from becoming homeless; pulled together resources to
build a free home for a Vietnam Vet who lost his home to fire and had no
insurance to rebuild; and sought assistance for the family of a 5th
grade student in Quitman County who was diagnosed with lupus and cancer in
2007….to assist with paying the families utilities, house rent, donations to a
trust fund for medical expenses, sending the student a care box, calling the
family to offer help, and praying for the young student. By U also highlights special months such as
Breast Cancer Awareness Month and features stories of survivors. Richardson spends countless hours gathering
information and stories as well as promoting good causes, therefore, she is
being honored along with the hundreds (and thousands) of volunteers she comes
in contact with each day. Joan
Richardson is a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Robert Grayson is a
former Mayor of Tutwiler and a volunteer for
historical preservation. He is a member
of the Emmett Till Memorial Commission, established by the Tallahatchie County
Board of Supervisors for the purpose of fostering racial harmony and
reconciliation; seeking federal, state, and private funds and grants to
initially restore the Tallahatchie County Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi;
exploring the restoration of other buildings and sites of historical value; and
promoting educational tours of the courthouse and other sites in Tallahatchie
County, Mississippi. This Commission to
date has placed a series of historical markers to tell the Emmett Till story,
developed a brochure and Driving Tour,
and is working to restore the Tallahatchie County courthouse, the site
of the trial and acquittal of Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam for the murder of
Emmett Till. History is everything in
Mississippi and without dedicated people like Robert Grayson, much of our
history would not be preserved. Thank
you for your perseverance……Help me welcome Robert Grayson as a 2011 President’s
Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Lekeathia Johnson of
Sumner (Tallahatchie County) is a volunteer for youth
and seniors. She has been active in the
communities of Webb, Sumner and Tutwiler since a teenager. She is an Alumnus of the AmeriCorps program,
and in three years, logged more than 3,000 hours of community service. She received the AmeriCorps*VISTA Outstanding
Class Member Award. Lekeathia has
spearheaded a beautification project at RH Bearden Elem. School; several health
and wellness projects including an exercise program and two health fairs; and the
implementation of a community garden in western Tallahatchie County. She has returned to Bearden Elementary
School as a reading tutor. When she is
not working at the school she is the co-coordinator of the youth department at
Frierson Chapel MB Church in Brazil, MS.
The senior population is also close to her heart as she works with
senior citizen activities throughout Tallahatchie County. Thank you for your dedication and volunteer
spirit and please come forward as we present to you a 2011 President’s
Volunteer Service Award.
Louanne Pepper Cossar of
Charleston is a community and preservation
volunteer. She volunteers as the Music
Director for the 1st United Methodist Church of Charleston,
conducting children’s choirs, hand bell choirs and adult choirs. She is a member of the church’s Food
Distribution Team for the MS Food Network.
Her volunteer work has a personal touch as she sends birthday cards to
all church members and emails keeping them informed of prayer needs and church
programs. Her outreach includes sending
newsletters to prison inmates in the area.
Her other community work includes three term president of the Charleston
Arts & Revitalization Effort, a nonprofit organization with a mission to
foster the economic growth and redevelopment of Charleston through the arts and
community involvements while preserving the historical significance and
heritage of the town. She serves as the
secretary/treasurer of the Tallahatchie County Home Improvements, Inc. – a
nonprofit organization with a mission to work toward improving the quality of
living for senior citizens and other Tall. Co. residents that are in need of
home repairs that would otherwise be impossible due to financial and/or health
issues. Louanne is a member of
Tallahatchie County Fair Association and Chaplain of National Society of
Daughters of the American Revolution.
Charleston is blessed to have Louanne Cossar.
“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay for a while and because of them,
we are never the same”. These words were
said about Mary Slaughter of Tutwiler,
a volunteer for human service. Working
quietly, she volunteers for the Tutwiler Bargain Barn, an outreach project of
the Tutwiler Clinic. She started by just
straightening shelves and racks, folding clothes neatly on the tables and
picking up trash left by customers and then she would slip out and leave. Every day they were open she would
return. Next, she appeared in the
workroom where she was hanging newly arrived items, sorting soiled and ripped
donations, packing up trash and always being a bright light with the
customers. Mary even kept coming right
after her home burned as well as following knee surgery.
Sometimes people’s volunteer work is very visible among others, but
sometimes it is behind the scenes, yet just as vital.
According to Mary, volunteering brings much good into her life
personally.
She is the kind of volunteer every organization needs! Thank you Mary Slaughter and please accept a
2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award for work well done!
Dr. Lenagene Waldrup is considered a true American hero in the arts community in the
Mississippi Delta. She began her work
with the arts by conducting an arts program at the Ruleville Central Elementary
School which was the beginning of the Delta Arts Alliance Artists-in-Residence
Program. Working singlehandedly, she
created an arts education program in the public schools. Over the past seven years, Dr. Waldrup has
provided arts programs in a five-county radius for 25 schools in 11 school
districts. She had the idea, organized
the plan, wrote the grants, procured financial support, coordinated artists,
met with administrators in the school districts, drove thousands of miles in a
car packed with art supplies and lovingly inspired thousands of children.
Of the 25 elementary schools thirteen are in the counties served by
Volunteer Northwest Mississippi.
Over 2,000 children in these schools are provided arts experiences by
ten artists who are employed by the Delta Arts Alliance Artists-in-Residence
program. Dr. Waldrup received the Governor’s
Award for Excellence in the Arts in Community, the 2010 G.I.V.E. Award in the
Arts and Humanities and was one of the ten to receive the 2010 Jefferson
Award. She has been recognized by the
Delta State University Year of the Arts Committee for the Artist-in Residence
Program. Tonight we honor Dr. Waldrup as
a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Glenda Gookin of
Senatobia is a hospice volunteer. She has volunteered at the local AseraCare
Hospice in Senatobia for over 7 years providing much needed caregiver relief
for numerous patients. When she broke
her hip that did not stop her---- she made phone calls to the home patients on
days when they did not have a clinical visit scheduled…this included weekend
calls.
She has easily given over 500 hours of administrative and direct patient
care time to families who are receiving hospice services.
Glenda has also been a faithful volunteer in the community for many
years providing great food to needy families, especially during the holiday
season sharing her cakes, pies and cookies.
For her compassion and giving spirit, we salute Glenda Gookin as a 2011 President’s
Volunteer Service Award recipient.
HOPE Ministries in Senatobia
is a non-profit providing ‘hope’ for those in need. This could be in the form of clothes, food or
money.
Betty Brown is one of this organization’s most faithful volunteers. Working alongside other volunteers, HOPE Ministries
in 2010 helped over 400 Tate County families and 1,300 individuals providing
more than $61,000 in addition to tons of food.
She has served in several capacities at HOPE including President of the
Board. Betty was recognized as Tate
County’s 2011 Citizen of the Year by the Tate County Economic Development
Foundation. Please help me honor Betty
Brown as a 2011 President’s Volunteer Service Award recipient.
Gail Johnson is a community volunteer spending many years maintaining the city’s
landscape in the Town of Tunica and is fondly called ‘the flower lady”.
When she is not working with
flowers, she is a volunteer for domestic animals at risk. As a founding member of the Tunica Humane Society, she works
everyday to save the homeless animals.
Six days a week, regardless of weather conditions, she is on the job
feeding over 100 dogs that are housed in the outdoor shelter; takes home
puppies that are too young to be in the outdoor shelter; makes weekly trips to
purchase food for the animals and drives them to the vet. She also serves this nonprofit by maintaining
the website and petfinders site. One of
her collogues stated, “she amazes me every day by how she is driven by her love
for our neglected and abused animals in Tunica County”.