Winners of the 2008 HTC Hometown Heroes Awards
HTC is very pleased with the overwhelming response received from citizens throughout our service area who nominated outstanding volunteers in the community. Although every nominee deserves recognition for their efforts, the winners selected have gone above and beyond the call of duty in serving their communities. Through their devotion of tireless hours of service, the Hometown Heroes Award winners have genuinely made a difference in the lives of others in need of assistance. HTC applauds these heroes who have touched so many lives and left a wonderful impression for so many in our community.
Jeff Davis - Conway District 1
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This generous man has dedicated over 30 years of service to his local community without any reward except the gratitude of those he has helped. He doesn't seek the spotlight, but feels it is his calling to help others in need. Mr. Davis developed the Rivertown Service Work Camp, a camp to remodel homes for the less fortunate. Under his guidance, the week long camps have brought in people from around the state and have remodeled over 40 homes. He has motivated and encouraged people to travel to Conway to help put people's lives back together.
Mr. Davis works tirelessly for others and renews our hearts with all the good that he does for the community. He has always been a positive force in anything he undertakes and truly lives out his faith in word and deed by restoring hope to others.
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Cecil Gerald - Loris District 2 |
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This upstanding resident of Loris is caring, compassionate, and dedicated to promoting family values. He believes no matter how one may have started out in life, there is always hope for a greater tomorrow. His personal philosophy is that "service to God first and then mankind is what makes your future more important than your past."
He lives his life to serve others. As a member of the United States Army, he served his community and his country with courage and dignity. Mr. Gerald also launched Trust God Ministries and is a full time pastor. He has spearheaded many activities such as back-to-school community cookouts where children receive free school supplies; a "free" yard sale where individuals bring items and they are given away to families that stop by; and a pounding where each year a needy family is selected to receive free food and supplies. Mr. Gerald, a humble man with a huge heart, has truly helped his community spread its wings and soar. |
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Minette Lovett - Green Sea District 3 |
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This special woman has given back to her community unconditionally all of her life. Because of this special lady, the history of the former Green Sea High School will live forever. As a local historian, she has preserved the history of the Green Sea community and the High School through a booklet she compiled. Mrs. Lovett along with other Green Sea citizens also worked to preserve the old Green Sea High School which was destroyed in a fire in 1998.
The school is dear to her because she served as the guidance counselor for 27 years where she assisted students with career choices and mentored and guided them in their everyday lives. She is also very active in her church often working behind the scenes without every receiving recognition. Her church and community can always depend on her when a need arises. |
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Lewis Edwards - Aynor District 4 |
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This generous man has a lifelong dedication to helping others no matter the personal sacrifices he had to make. His generosity and compassion for his fellow man is endless. Throughout his life, he has helped needy families, elderly, and single mothers with household repairs and yard work without asking for anything in return.
He delivered truck loads of firewood to an elderly lady and her invalid husband who otherwise would not have been able to afford the wood. He also repaired the air conditioning for a single mother often working week nights and weekends so this family didn't have to suffer through the heat of the summer. He is even willing to help a stranger in need. He recently assisted a broken down biker on the side of road as well as helping a boy round up his ponies that had gone into the highway. He is a humble man and a hero to his family and everyone who knows him. |
David Stout - Little River District 5 |
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This kindhearted man is a volunteer at North Myrtle Beach Elementary School where he is an asset and blessing to both the children and staff. He is the true meaning of the word "volunteer."
He began tutoring students twice a week but enjoyed it so much that he began going every day. He works with individuals and small groups of students who need extra assistance. He also assists teachers with getting their classroom cleaned and ready for class as well as helping the Librarian during the annual book fair. He assisted with Grandparent's Day by setting up the cafeteria and even played Grandfather to two students whose grandparents were unable to attend. Mr. Stout cares deeply about the students he works with and encourages them to work hard and persevere. |
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Abe Safa - Socastee District 6 |
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This extraordinary man began the Feed a Family program, an organization that prepares and delivers fully cooked Christmas dinners to needy families in the Grand Strand area. In 2007, 500 meals were prepared and delivered by over 100 volunteers working around the clock. He, along with a core group of volunteers, works to raise money, recruit volunteers and organize the man power, schedule, and facilities required for obtaining, preparing, and delivering all the meals.
The true spirit of Christmas is alive and shared through his organization each year bringing so much joy to those families in need. In addition to the Feed a Family program, he manages to find time to volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club as well as coaching for the YMCA basketball team. |
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Miriam Rowell - Floyds District 7 |
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This dear lady has spent many hours taking the sick and elderly to the doctor, sitting by hospital beds, as well as cooking and serving food. She not only helps seniors and disabled individuals in any way she can, but she also encourages others to get involved by being a role model. As a retired school teacher, she touched the lives of so many youth. Her passion for youth lead her to start new youth groups and revise old ones. This provided an outlet for children after school and an opportunity to share her faith with the children and ultimately throughout their home and community.
It is her Christian faith that has been the drawing force behind all that she does. Her greatest joys come from the work she does for her church including teaching Sunday School for 40 years and being a member of WMU for 53 years. She goes out of her way to meet any existing need and truly has the heart of a servant.
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Lee Dougherty - Murrells Inlet District 8 |
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This extraordinary lady is the co-founder of Help 4 Kids, an organization that helps needy children in Horry County to obtain food, clothing, school supplies, and presents for honor rolls and birthdays. It is an all volunteer organization. She spends countless hours each week for the past 18 years taking in donations and making up food bags.
She has also assisted elderly who are in need. She motivates others to assist with the food packages so children do not go hungry when school is not in session and there is no way for them to obtain food.
She is a hero to these needy children and a wonderful example from which others can model their lives. |
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Leola Bellamy - HTC Communications |
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This compassionate lady continuously strives to be a role model and servant to her community through her extensive involvement with the youth and seniors of the community, all while suffering from chronic health issues. She volunteers at the Lois Eargle Home where she reads, talks to, and drives seniors to church. She has also developed several church-based youth services including holiday food baskets for needy families.
She takes pride in her personal values and tries to instill them in every person she meets. She believes that giving of yourself is far more rewarding than receiving. She continuously is willing to give of herself in spite of personal tragedies. She is a pillar of strength and goes the extra mile to help anyone in need. |
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This wonderful teacher is an inspiration and role model to his students. He is the sponsor of the Interact Club at North Myrtle Beach High School where he recently got his group involved with helping Street Reach. With his guidance, he has encouraged students to serve food at Street Reach for the homeless. This project started out small, but has grown and really raised awareness within the school. He is teaching these students a valuable lesson that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
In addition, he is the Relay for Life chairperson at North Myrtle Beach High School and the Salvation Army canned food drive coordinator. Mr. Horton is an excellent role model for his students and teaches the values of giving back to the community. |
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This incredible young lady headed a fundraising effort for school teachers in Haiti. Because of her fundraising efforts, salaries for two Haitian teachers were provided. She also volunteers at the Myrtle Beach Community Kitchen where she selflessly spends her time serving the more unfortunate members of our community. She encourages her classmates to volunteer their time and encourages and motivates community members as well.
Aside from her community involvement, Cassi also takes care of her two younger siblings. Because both parents work long shifts, often through the night, Cassi tends to her brother's and sister's needs. She ensures they are well-taken care of and drives them to school each day. Cassi is a true role model to her peers and exemplifies giving of ones self to help another in need. |
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