Three Columbus County residents were recognized Tuesday for their good deeds in service of others. Pictured L-R: W.H. Morris, Betsy McKee and Wallyce Todd
BY GRANT MERRITT grantmerritt1589@gmail.com
Article originally published in The News Reporter
www.nrcolumbus.com
Revised on: 04.12.2019 at 11:06 a.m.
Posted on: 04.12.2019 at 11:00 a.m.
In celebration of National Volunteer Week, three Columbus County residents were recognized Tuesday at the N.C. Cooperative Extension office for their good deeds in service of others.
The 2019 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service was presented to W.H. Morris and Betsy McKee. The Columbus County Volunteer Award for Outstanding Service was given to Wallyce Todd.
Columbus County Clerk of Court Jess Hill quoted C.S. Lewis before presenting the volunteer awards.
“Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is watching,” Hill quoted. “And that’s what really resonates with me today as we recognize the recipients here today.”
Hill presented Todd with the Columbus County Volunteer Award for Outstanding Service after citing her volunteer work spearheading Community CPR (Connecting People and Resources) in 2017 after the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. The nonprofit has also played a role in Hurricane Florence recovery. Hill said that her work has been instrumental in helping families still displaced from flooding.
“A hashtag that we frequently use at Community CPR is #strongertogether, and the reality is that we are stronger together when we work together,” Todd said. “Another one we use is #neighborshelpingneighbors.”
Hill presented the next award from Gov. Roy Cooper’s office for outstanding volunteer service to McKee after summarizing the work she has done at Columbus Regional Healthcare System at the information desk and Sunshine Shop. Hill said McKee’s work has helped make so many people’s lives less stressful when they walk through those front hospital doors.
“I’ve been helping out there since 1996,” McKee said. “I worked for 39 and a half years before volunteering, so it’s been a pleasure being able to work without the pressures of a regular job.”
McKee said that a typical work day for her at the hospital is four and a half hours long, and she mainly works the information desk, showing people where to go when they first enter the hospital.
Hill presented the next award to Morris after reviewing his background and volunteer service. Hill explained that Morris served four years in the U.S. Navy, worked at International Paper for 42 years and often visits widowed senior citizens to check on them. He drives the van for the Joy Messenger Singers, who sing at area nursing homes. He previously served as a tutor at Williams Township School, and he puts out flags around Tabor City every holiday.
“I’m a commander at the VFW, and I’m the vice president of Veterans Memorial Park of America,” Morris said. “Most of what I do is for other people. I don’t hardly do anything for myself. That’s just me.”Morris said he was shocked about winning the award, and he doesn’t feel deserving.
Shauna Treadaway, volunteer coordinator and education associate, for Columbus Regional Healthcare System said they could not provide the service, smiles and friendly faces without the 28 volunteers that work at CRHS. She said she was honored to have Megan McCleod from the N.C. Governor’s Office Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service to make remarks on Morris and McKee winning the awards.
“If you took out all the volunteers from the Extension and other organizations, this county would lose millions of dollars in time and funds,” N.C. Cooperative Extension Director Dalton Dockery said. “So volunteers are very important, and we’re glad we can recognize them here today.”
The sponsors for the awards are the Columbus County Department of Aging, Columbus Regional Healthcare System, Cooperative Extension Service and RSVP at Southeastern Community College.