The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • Sheila Anderson (left), primary agent for Allstate Insurance in Tarboro, presents a $1,000 grant to Myra McCall, volunteer coordinator for Volunteers Offering Independent Care for the Elderly (VOICE) Tuesday afternoon.

    VOICE volunteer celebration1.jpg
December 7, 2012

Gathering celebrates VOICE

Staff Writer MIRANDA BAINES

TARBORO — “You’ve got to have God in your life, and secondly, you need to have care for other people,”

Shirley Jones told the crowd at a celebration for Volunteers Offering Independent Care for the Elderly (VOICE) at the Main Street Inn Tuesday afternoon.

At the age of 72, Jones, of Rocky Mount, has been helping people “practically all my adult life.”

“It just gives me joy,” she said. “Just the joy of knowing you can help somebody who really needs it.”

Jones has been volunteering for VOICE for 20 years. She received a plaque and a gift from the organization at the celebration.

“She is a jewel,” said Myra McCall, volunteer coordinator for VOICE, which has 21 volunteers in Edgecombe County. When McCall calls Jones to pick up a client, Jones said she’s there “nine times out of 10.”

VOICE volunteers transport seniors over 60 years of age to doctors’ appointments and errands such as the grocery store and the pharmacy.

“We try to keep these people healthy by keeping them up on medical appointments and give them the ability to remain independent,” McCall said.

“I do believe a lot of them wouldn’t be able to go to the doctor if it wasn’t for VOICE,” said Jones. “It’s just a unique program.” She said some of the clients’ situations, such as the ones on oxygen machines, bring “tears to your eyes,” but she is glad to help.

“It lights up their face when you go to take them somewhere,” Jones said. She provides transportation to four or five clients per month.

Jones worked in human services for 29 years before retiring from her job as a nutrition site manager.

“I found out transportation means a lot to the elderly, especially low income,” she said. “I saw the reason people didn’t go to the doctor was because they didn’t have transportation.”

McCall said the number of clients and volunteers for the organization is on the rise.

“They [the volunteers] are just wonderful people and they do a great service,” she said. Another long-term volunteer at Tuesday’s celebration was Ruth Cherry. She called VOICE a “three-phase program – visiting, telephoning and calling.”

“I have enjoyed every minute of it,” Cherry said.

“It makes me proud to be a resident of Edgecombe County to have such a wonderful organization here,” said Loretta Braswell, one-year volunteer with VOICE. Pinetops Mayor Vines Cobb also applauded VOICE’s efforts.

“I think it has truly served our population well. We are in good hands,” he said.

Sheila Anderson, Allstate Insurance primary agent, gave a $1,000 grant to VOICE at the celebration. VOICE is part of the Community Medicine Foundation.

 

Text Only
Local News
  • AIB judging under way

    The America in Bloom (AIB) judges are in town, and Tarboro’s AIB committee rolled out the red carpet for them, beginning with Sunday supper at the home of AIB committee member Candis Owens.
    “I am really excited about these judges,” Owens said “It looks like they have been selected specifically for Tarboro, because they’re both historic preservationists.”
    James R. “Jim” Abraham is a professor of historic preservation at the Savannah College of Art and Design, while Ed Hooker, III is the historic architect and cultural resource manager for Fort Riley, Kan., according to the judges’ biography.

    June 17, 2013

  • lemonade.jpg Brother, sister offer relief from the heat

    Madelyn Gay, 9 left, pours lemonade in a cup that her brother Peyton Gay, 10, is holding in front of their St. Andrews Street home last Thursday. With the temperature reaching 96 degrees, the sister and brother tandem sold the refreshing liquid.

    June 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Summer Food Service Program for children kicks off

    Edgecombe County Public Schools is working to make sure that no children in Edgecombe County go hungry while school is closed this summer by sponsoring the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for children. Summer meals will be offered at Carver Elementary, Pattillo, Phillips Middle, Princeville Elementary and West Edgecombe Middle schools starting today. The meals will be offered from Monday through Thursday until Aug 8. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

    June 17, 2013

  • Gun permits on the rise

    The Edgecombe County Sheriff's Department reported a spike in the number of citizens applying for gun permits and carrying concealed weapons. From Dec. 1, 2011 to June 13, 2012, the sheriff's department issued 88 gun permits as well as 213 concealed weapon permits. From Dec. 1, 2012 to June 6, 2013 the sheriff's department issued 492 gun permits and 364 concealed weapon permits.

    June 14, 2013

  • Heat.jpg Warmest day this year reaches mid 90's

    Beating the heat was the name of the game Thursday in Edgecombe County, as temperatures soared into the mid 90’s.
    “Right now the temperature is 95 degrees. This is the warmest day so far across central North Carolina,” said Shawna Cokley, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, at 2 p.m. Thursday. She said the average June temperature for the Raleigh area is 86, 87 degrees.

    June 14, 2013 1 Photo

  • Art Council offers summer camps

    Art camps this summer will get children’s creativity flowing.
    Edgecombe County Cultural Arts Council is offering several camps for children ages 3 to 12. Art teachers for the camps include Ashley Myers, Genevieve Govoni and Taylor Owens, as well as guest artists.
    “It will be a chance for them to create and explore different mediums that they might not be exposed to in school,” said Joyce Turner, executive director of Edgecombe Arts. “Each camp will more or less be themed.”

    June 13, 2013

  • Vines Cobb.jpg Pinetops mayor satisfied with 2013-2014 $4.6 million budget

    PINETOPS — The board of commissioners stayed in line with surrounding towns by adopting its budget without implementing a property tax increase, although water and sewer rates increased by an average of 6.5 percent.
    "It's a good budget, said Pinetops Mayor J. Vines Cobb. "There was no tax increase, so we are holding the line,"

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • Drugs found on THS student at school

    A Tarboro High School senior was hit with drug charges on campus three days before graduation.
    According to Tarboro Police Sgt. Al Braxton, a teacher spotted Rasheen Travon Council, 18, 404 Lincoln Road,. Tarboro, engaged in suspicious activities. The teacher notified a police officer.
    Upon the officer's investigation, he found Council was in possession of 29.4 grams of marijuana in small bags. Braxton said he doesn't know whether or not Council made a transaction at the school.

    June 13, 2013

  • RIVER.jpg Rising Waters on the Tar

    The Tar River has risen to 16 feet-four inches over the past four days. On Saturday, the water levels were very low, but since the rains have come, the water levels have risen. The gates at the Tar River on River Road are shut with padlocks on them, because the water has gone over the path that runs adjacent to the river.

    June 13, 2013 1 Photo

  • Flag.jpg WWII veteran Cobb honored at 118th flag raising

    The American Flag flying at the home of World War II veteran Walfield Cobb was only one of signs he was proud of his country.
    Cobb was honored Tuesday during the 118th Memorial Flag-Raising Service sponsored by Tarboro Golden K Kiwanis. His five children, Teresa Cobb, Tim Cobb, Polley Briley, Trudy Gallinotto and Karen Mobley attended the event.
    Cobb served in World War II from Sept. 1, 1944 to June 2, 1945. He returned to his Edgecombe County home and began a family, retiring from Glenoit after 32 years. Cobb died Sept. 30, 2011 at the age of 86.

    June 12, 2013 1 Photo