The Chambers of Commerce of Whiteville (Columbus County) and Bladen County conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to welcome the George Henry White Memorial Health and Education Center to their ranks on Thursday, May 5, attended by more than 60 supporters and contributors to the project.
Three media organizations covered the event, in which the many businesses and volunteers who helped renovate and equip the 100 year old farmhouse into a modern facility were thanked and recognized.
Since opening its doors in October of 2021, the center has held computer classes, health outreach, community meetings and is now preparing for a wide range of community events and services.
Ms. Terri Dennison of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce (Bladen) and Joan McPherson, Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, were accompanied by other leading members of the local business and civic community. Whiteville Mayor Terry Mann, Cynthia Ellis, and a large contingent of other community leaders were on hand.
The event marked a new chapter in the center's existence. Visitors toured the center, viewing the silver water pitcher donated to the North Carolina Museum of History by the descendants of George Henry White's opponent, Claude Kitchin. Dr. Earl Ijames recounted Kitchin's eventual participation in the House Ways and Means committee who presented him with the silver water pitcher in 1923, which his great-grandson, Robert Egleston and his wife, Amy, donated to the effort to renew awareness of GH White's legacy.
Also on hand were project leader Vincent Spaulding and his wife Paula, who powerfully testified to the many acts of contribution that transformed the dilapidated vacant farmhouse donated by Dr. Milton Spaulding and his sister, Ms. Wanda Campbell-Clay into a modern and functional community center.
On hand were key contributors, including Gregg Cuesta on behalf of Ann Ferrell and Trane Technologies and the Trane affiliate, Pridgen Brothers Contractors: Kevin Graham of Graham Security Services; John Murray representing Bay Leaf Builders, and a long list of other significant supporters.
News stories ran on the nightly news and print stories as well. (https://www.wect.com/2022/05/05/it-takes-village-community-renovates-100-year-old-farmhouse-creates-lasting-legacy-gh-white/) and in the https://foxwilmington.com/local-news/it-takes-a-village-community-renovates-100-year-old-farmhouse-creates-lasting-legacy-to-g-h-white/