Photo History Gallery- Bridging the Gap for a Better Community

Community Service Award
This award presented on behalf of The Village Group, recognizes groups or individuals that had made a significant impact in their community. Plantersville is a neighboring community of Georgetown County, and The Village Group knows no boundaries when it comes to helping its neighbors. This award distinguishes groups or individuals who have designed, organized and implemented community service programs.

The recipient for this year award is an inspiration to many, particularly to the younger generation because of his demonstrated acts of kindness and his willingness to serve his fellow man, without reservation. He received his education at Old Trinity School in Pee Dee and moved up north in the early 1950's where he worked with a construction supply company. He got home sick and moved back to Georgetown around 1968 and retired from Georgetown Steel Corporation after 29 years of diligent service. He is a church going man who believes in God and is a faithful member of Trinity AME Church where he serves dutifully on the usher board. This year's 2008 Community Service Award recipient is Mr. James Clifford Stewart.

Ray Funnye & J.C. Stewart

He served as a volunteer with the Georgetown County Fire and EMS department for over 13 years
He is an active Volunteer with the PEE Dee Community Project where he operates the community bus to transport students to SOS meetings, County Libraries and other locations
He provides services to pick up food from the Low country Food Banks and helps with the distribution.
While he is senior citizen himself he is always willing to reach out to other seniors needing assistance
He has always been a man of his word who can count on it.
He and his beautiful wife Annie have 4 children: Pricilla, Angela, Gaylon, and Jeremy.
He enjoys life to the fullest and takes nothing for granted

VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR
The Village Group volunteer recognition award aim is to acknowledge the less visible unsung hero in our community who has, through their creativity, initiative, personal time or attainments, made a positive contribution to enhancing and uplifting the general lifestyle and quality of life within the Plantersville Community. The recipient readily and eagerly makes investment of time, effort, purpose, and commitment.

Five Recipients of this year's award
Alice Barron She has served on the Board of Directors for the Village Group for three years and is our Chief Financial Officer , she likes to be called "CFO". I am very particular when it comes to our financial records and I am so proud to be associated with Alice for learning a new financial software that has helped us keep track of every penny that is received and spent. Thanks for doing such a great job with our finances.

Evette Small Evette also serves on the board of directors and received the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2006. She is being acknowledged tonight for her continued commitment of service to The Village Group. She has an unbreakable spirit and is a committed worker who is unafraid to accept those tasks that no one else wants to perform. Every team needs an Evette on it because she knows how to make things happen.

James Green Brother Green does not say very much but you can always count on him. Brother Green is very humble and freely gives of his time and talent to serve and do what ever is asked of him to complete the mission of the group. He serves faithfully on the bereavement committee to bring comfort to those in need. As president, whenever I have assignments he always stands willing and ready to provide assistance.

Lucinda Milton Lucinda received the 2006 Leadership Award for stepping forward and doing what is right. She is the chairperson of one of our most popular committees, The Bereavement Committee. This committee is one that we wish we did not need, but time and time again we see the benefits of being able to comfort those who are mourning and bereaved. She takes her job seriously and her lieutenants and soldiers at attention when we have the privilege to serve our fellow man. She is a great leader and I salute you General Milton.

Vernon Wal-wyn We are so terribly blessed to have this fine young gentleman in our mist. Again he is sort of quiet but carries a big stick and knows how to use it. Like Jesus, he is a carpenter by trade and he knows how to use his God given talent to enrich the lives of others in the community. Last year we participated in the Georgetown County Christmas parade and thanks to Mr. Wal-wyn we were able to enter a beautiful Christmas float that won the Honorable Mention Award. Mr. Wal-wyn also designed and built a portable stage for the Plantersville Heritage festival, this stage will serve us for many years to come. Not only is he a carpenter, but he is also a DJ and always makes his sound system available to the organization.