Three Chesterfield County seniors, Louise Coleman, Brucie East and Mary Jones, have been inducted into the Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame, a program established in 1983 to recognize seniors who make a difference in their communities. Coleman, East and Jones were recognized last week during a ceremony at the Chesterfield County Government Complex.
Eleven Chesterfield County seniors were nominated this year for the Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame for their valuable contributions to the community, collectively totaling 52,513 hours. All of the nominees were at least 60 years old, reside in Chesterfield County and began their volunteer work after turning 60. Other nominees included Barbara Bukauskas, Ellis Cunningham, Lynne Foote, Sandra Gentry, Thomas Hoof, Nadine Kadlubowski, Wanda Stamey and Lois Tunstall.
Chesterfield County Administrator Jay Stegmaier, Chesterfield County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marcus Newsome and Board of Supervisors members Steve Elswick and Jim Holland, as well as friends, families and supporters of the 2015 nominees and inductees, attended the ceremony.
The inductees will be recognized at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 16.
Louise Coleman has volunteered for the past 29 years in the Chippenham Hospital gift shop. Coleman is the second highest active volunteer at the hospital and has been the recipient of the Presidential Call to Service Award. Those who work with her note that she always wears a smile and makes sweet and caring suggestions when helping customers. She has been a resident of Chesterfield County for 85 years.
Brucie East’s most outstanding achievement has been the “Books for Babies” project. As a volunteer at Chippenham Hospital, she has collected more than 1,400 books to present to parents of newborn babies, along with a brochure encouraging the parents to raise their child to become a reader for life. East also has volunteered with the Virginia Cooperative Extension Fit Extension Program, is a member of the Chesterfield Association for Family and Community Educators and conducted tutoring and literary education workshop. She has been a resident of Chesterfield County for 72 years.
Mary Jones serves as the co-chair of a senior group at Tabernacle Baptist Church, serves dinner at the Liberation Family Service’s Freedom House Community Shelter and works with Caritas for homeless women. She is a Chesterfield County Police Department Senior Citizen Alumni, role plays for the police department academy and also judges pageants. Jones is an active member of Chesterfield Triad, serving as the Triad Senior Day Chair for six years, and is a member of the Chesterfield Council on Aging. She was born and raised in the county, and works tirelessly to help any older adult in need, particularly to inform them about services available in the county.