Wilson
Summer 2014
Mel Watkins
of Quince A Southern Bistro shares her delicious recipes for summer cocktails.
Summer Survival Guide
Wilson Woman Icon Gwen Burton
Dr. Re’s Doll Clinic
Personalized Graduation Announcements Spring Wreaths
CRANE & CO. 2839 Daisy Ln. 206-0619 (Located inside Ross McDaniel Salon)
222 Tarboro St. - Historic Downtown Wilson 252-237-8284
MON.-FRI. 10-5:30 SAT. BY APPT.
Richie Ballance
FLOORING & TILE
INC
Let our professional sales staff help you with your kitchen or bathroom remodeling project.
Kitchen Backsplashes Quartz & Granite Countertops Tile & Marble Showers Carpet • Wood Ceramic Tile Laminate Luxury Vinyl Tile Marble Vanity Tops
3042-F Forest Hills Road, Wilson • 252-291-0122 www.richieballanceflooring.com
2001 Downing Street Wilson, NC 27893 www.wilsontimes.com www.wilsonwoman.com
Morgan Paul Dickerman, III
The newest vital sign of our healthy community.
Publisher
____________________ Shana Hoover
Director of Sales and Marketing (252) 265-7858 shana@wilsontimes.com
Account Executives: Cynthia Collins
(252) 265-7826 ccollins@wilsontimes.com
Lisa Pearson
(252) 265-7827 lpearson@wilsontimes.com
Beth Robbins
(252) 265-7849 brobbins@wilsontimes.com
____________________ Contributors Writers: Janelle Clevinger, Amanda Jenkins
Our community has its own heartbeat. You can feel it in the businesses, neighborhoods, schools, and most of all in the people. And behind it all, Nash Health Care has always been there, growing and evolving to meet our community’s increasingly complex healthcare needs. Now, that heartbeat is even stronger. Nash Health Care has partnered with UNC Health Care – an affiliation that will greatly benefit the residents of Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson, Halifax and surrounding counties. Nash Health Care and UNC Health Care. Working together for an even healthier community.
Art: Gérard Lange | Graphic Design & Photography Gray Whitley | Photography
____________________
Visit NHCS.ORG to learn more about what this partnership means to you.
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
NHCS 17911 (3.67x10) Wilson Wellness Magazine.indd 1
4/2/14 2:41 PM
Local women donned their most stylish hats for the Wilson Chamber Young Leaders’ Derby Party. Photograph by Gray Whitley
On the cover
Mel Watkins of Quince A Southern Bistro shares some of her favorite summer cocktail recipes in this issue. Photograph by Gérard Lange.
Table of Contents 6
Mix Master
8
‘About Town’
Mel Watkins shares delicious cocktail recipes 17 using fresh fruits. Wilson Education Partnership’s 25th Anniversary and the Chamber Young Leaders’ Derby Party.
12 Summer Survival Guide 4
Everything you need for a great summer can be found in this handy guide complete with local store information.
SUMMER 2014
Dr. Re’s Doll Clinic
Local woman gives new life to treasured heirlooms.
20 Wilson Woman Icon
Gwen Burton was the first African-American woman elected to the Wilson City Council in 1983.
Local gardener demonstrates her love of flowers.
24 Bell’s Blossoms
WILSON WOMAN
Dee Darden Warrick, LUTCF
Principal Agent Dee Darden Warrick Agency Nationwide Insurance
3453-A Airport Blvd. Wilson, NC
252-243-4197
Safe • Convenient • Affordable
Shoppes at Brentwood
Drop your child off and enjoy shopping & dining!
BIRTHDAY PARTIES Also Available
Mon.-Wed. 9am-6pm • Thurs.-Sat. 9am-10pm Sunday - Private Parties
2801 Ward Blvd., Suite 3T Wilson, NC • 252-399-7559 www.goplaydate.com playdate2801@gmail.com
Mix Master
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While the Wilson nightlife scene has certainly changed in the past few years, we were still searching local bars and restaurants for a great cocktail. A basic screwdriver or margarita made with sour mix was easy to find, while a more sophisticated handcrafted cocktail was a rare treat.
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By Shana Hoover Photographs by Gérard Lange
Espresso Martini Like chocolate milk for adults this delectable drink features vanilla vodka, chocolate schnapps, Bailey’s and cream, served in martini glass drizzled with chocolate syrup.
Luckily for us, there’s a sweet little spot in Shoppes at Brentwood with a menu full of tasty nibbles, a relaxing patio and friendly bartenders using this season’s freshest fruits to craft some delicious, refreshing drinks. Melissa Watkins, known to her loyal customers as “Mel”, tends the bar at Quince A Southern Bistro. Mel recently shared some of her recipes featured on the Quince “Southern Sippers” cocktail menu. Follow these instructions to mix up your own refreshing libation, or stop by Quince and leave the muddling to Mel while you enjoy the summer sunshine on the Quince patio!
WILSON WOMAN
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Brian’s Strawberry Cucumber Cooler Ingredients
Directions
3 or 4 strawberries 5 or 6 slices of seedless cucumber 1 ½ oz vodka of choice 1 oz Simple syrup (sugar water) 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice ½ cup soda water
Muddle strawberries and cucumber slices in a shaker. Add vodka, simple syrup (more or less depending on how sweet you would like your drink), lemon juice and ice. Shake hard and strain into a glass with ice. Add soda water and stir so that all flavors are even. Garnish with leftover strawberry and cucumber muddle. Also delicious with blueberries instead of strawberries, or both!
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Cantaloupe Mint Splash Ingredients
Directions
1 cup of diced cantaloupe A hand full of fresh mint leaves 2 oz. Vodka of choice 1 oz simple syrup (sugar water) ½ oz fresh lime juice ½ cup soda water or sprite
Muddle cantaloupe and mint in a shaker. Add vodka, simple syrup, lime juice and ice into the shaker. Shake hard and strain into a glass with ice. Add the soda water and sprite on top. Stir and garnish with a mint leave. Enjoy!
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Brian’s Strawberry Cucumber Cooler A refreshing drink for summer that blends vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup and club soda, shaken over ice and garnished with a strawberry and seedless cucumber slice.
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White Peach Sangria Ingredients (1 pitcher)
Directions
1 bottle of a sweet white wine (try Moscato or Riesling) ¾ cup of vodka ½ cup of Peach schnapps or peach flavored syrup 6 tbsp lemonade concentrate (or try with freshly squeezed lemon juice) ¼ cup simple syrup 1 lb of frozen peaches and grapes
In a large container, mix the wine, vodka, lemonade and simple syrup. Stir all the ingredients together and add in the peaches and the grapes. Chill well for the best flavors. Serve over ice and enjoy!
Spiked Orangeade Ingredients
Directions
Juice from 2 freshly squeezed oranges 2 oz. Citrus vodka ½ oz triple sec 1 oz. simple syrup (or use 1 or 2 Splenda packets for low calorie option) Club soda or sprite
Add orange juice, vodka, triple sec and simple syrup into a shaker with ice. Shake well. Pour all ingredients into a glass and add a splash of club soda or sprite. Stir and sip away!
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
Spiked Orangeaid Deliciously sweet this beverage combines freshly squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, Citrön vodka, simple syrup and a splash of sprite, shaken over crushed ice, garnished with a slice of orange.
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About Town
Kentucky Derby Party hosted by Wilson Chamber Young Leaders Saturday, May 3, 2014 Quince A Southern Bistro Photographs by Gray Whitley
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SUMMER 2014
WILSON WOMAN
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
SUMMER 2014
9
About Town
Wilson Education Partnership 25th Anniversary honoring Jim and Carolyn Hunt Thursday, February 20, 2014 Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theater Photographs by Gerard Lange
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SUMMER 2014
WILSON WOMAN
Orange Ginger Chicken Wings
2301-C Stantonsburg Rd., Greenville (next to JA’s Uniform)
252-364-8729
M-F 10-5:30, Sat. 9-3 www.HappyGirlsBandB.com
Ingredients: 1 bottle Pj Asian Sauce Orange Ginger 10 Chicken Wings Oil
Stock up on Summer Essentials at Medicap Pharmacy! See us for all of your summer OTC needs! • Sunscreen and lotions
Directions: Preheat oil at about 350 degrees. Oil should be about 1-1/2 deep in pan. Fry chicken wings until golden brown. Remove wings and let drain on paper towels. Place wings in large bowl and coat with Pj Asian Sauce Orange Ginger. Serve hot with extra Pj Asian Sauce Orange Ginger. *Optional step - after coating with Pj Asian Sauce Orange Ginger place under the broiler for about 1 minute until sauce has caramelized slightly.
Check our website
www.ridethelightningnc.com
• Sunburn relief creams/gels
for a step-by-step video clip on how to prepare more delicious dishes using our relishes.
• Anti-itch treatments • Allergy medications We have been your locally owned pharmacy for over 20 years. Stop in and experience the Medicap Pharmacy difference today! We love helping our friends and neighbors feel their best!
Call 237-2111
1000 Tarboro St., W. • Wilson Wilson Medicap Pharmacy
HOURS: M-F 9-6 • Sat 9-1:30
All natural and nothing artificial, these sweet and hot pepper relishes are made locally. Follow us on Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest. Also, find these fresh relishes at local stores, including Julia Newton Jewelry, Truly Unique, and SoCo Restaurant. Enjoy!
Monogram the perfect gift Is your social calendar full of graduations, weddings, showers and birthdays this summer? We can help you personalize the perfect present. If you can name it, we can monogram it! Many styles and thread colors to choose from – all with friendly, local customer service, a convenient location in Shoppes at Brentwood and a quick turnaround.
BB&P Embroidery (252) 206-1929
The perfect dress for summer fireworks
Scout bags for summer
Are you looking for a new bag for summer? Fine Print Stationery has them! Scout bags, trunks, coolers and accessories make great gifts for graduates, brides or any occasion – and they’re also the perfect treat for yourself! While browsing the huge selection of Scout and other unique gifts, be sure to check out the personalized invitations and announcements for graduations, birthdays, bridal parties and baby showers.
Fine Print Stationery (252) 206-0619
Summer Lilly Pulitzer has arrived at Cotton Tails Children’s Boutique! Georgia and Belle are modeling the Dory dress in Sparks Fly Glow print. Your little one will be lighting up the night in this one – the skirt glows in the dark! Cotton Tails has a large variety of summer apparel and shoes for children of all ages in sizes newborn to size 14. In addition to Lilly, you will find Ella Moss, Gretchen Scott, Johnnie-O, Jarrett Bay, Jack Rogers, Sun San Sandals, Livie & Luca and so much more!
Cotton Tails Children’s Boutique (252) 206-1503 12
SUMMER 2014
WILSON WOMAN
Display your memories Framer’s Alley in Elm City is your one-stop shop for all your professional framing needs. They carry beautiful art from local artists and specialize in everything from custom framing to limited prints, shadow box framing, bridal portraits and more. Stop by and see for yourself how beautifully Framer’s Alley can display your favorite picture, portrait or memory.
Framer’s Alley (252) 236-3231
Cowgirl up at JoLiAn!
Summertime means cute dresses, outdoor concerts and a stylish pair of cowgirl boots! You won’t find a better selection of boots in Wilson than JoLiAn. Ariat Western Boots are made with exquisite leather to give you a comfortable fit, stylish look and durability. Your new boots will be perfect with a Melie Bianco handbag on your arm and a piece of unique jewelry or perhaps a colorful scarf. JoLiAn also carries Ugg, Vaneli, Sacha London, Sam Edelman, OTBT and Nicole.
JoLiAn Shoes and Accessories (252) 291-3899
Sweet and Hot Pepper Relish
Gifts galore
Fitness Video, Tanning & Gifts has long been known as the place to get that perfect summer tan, but did you know the store is also brimming with great gifts for all occasions? Graduates will love a stylish handbag, trendy jewelry or a collegiate item to show off their new school spirit! Fitness just added a new line of men’s gifts – just in time for Father’s Day!
All natural and nothing artificial, these sweet and hot pepper relishes are made locally. Try one of the recipes at www.ridethelightningnc.com and follow Southern Spice on Facebook and Pinterest. Also, find these fresh relishes at local stores, including Julia Newton Jewelry, Truly Unique and SoCo Restaurant.
Southern Spice (252) 373-4076
Fitness Video, Tanning & Gifts (252) 291-1162 WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
SUMMER 2014
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Spa party
Planning a party? Take the hard work out of party planning and let The Spa at 1010 Nash handle all the details! Spa parties are a unique way to celebrate any occasion, such as a bridal shower, birthday party or even a bachelorette party. The Spa at 1010 Nash offers the serenity and tranquility you’ve been looking for with a variety of services to customize the party you’ve envisioned.
Better living through a better sweat
Did you know a 30-minute infrared sauna session could burn up to 600 calories? The saunas at 1010 Nash use infrared heat to raise core body temperature causing passive cardiovascular conditioning. It uses your body’s natural response to heat to increase circulation and sweat. Check out the results with a heart rate monitor and you will be amazed!
The Spa at 1010 Nash (252) 237-4772
The Spa at 1010 Nash (252) 237-4772
Look younger Rejuvenate your skin
Bella Pella’s medi-spa offers the most advanced spa services in Wilson. Their philosophy is to pamper and rejuvenate clients through unique physician-formulated spa treatments. Bella Pella offers both preventative and restorative therapies. Bella Pella has been providing the highest quality services for years, while ensuring their clients maintain their natural look. The elegant and relaxed atmosphere of The Spa at 1010 Nash is an added bonus.
The Spa at 1010 Nash (252) 237-4772
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SUMMER 2014
Telomere DNA Repair Cream corrects signs of skin aging by promoting the skin’s natural protection and repair factors involved in detoxification, anti-stress, telomere maintenance, and DNA repair. The cream helps prevent the senescence of cells by enhancing cell function, improving the quality of skin tissue, and extending the youthfulness of the skin to reduce visible signs of aging – not just wrinkles. There’s only one place to find this amazing cream in Wilson – The Spa at 1010 Nash.
The Spa at 1010 Nash (252) 237-4772
WILSON WOMAN
A perfect fit for every stage of your life
You deserve a Cadillac For the second time, the Cadillac CTS has won “Motor Trend Car of the Year.” Style, performance, comfort… the 2014 CTS has it all. And you’ll only find it one place: JC Harris Cadillac in Wilson. So stop by to test drive the CTS or any other model of Cadillac and get the Cadillac you so richly deserve.
JC Harris Cadillac (252) 237-1111
Life comes at you fast. Will you be ready each step of the way? Call Dee Darden Warrick for a complimentary On Your Side Review – a free, no obligation review of your insurance policies. As your life changes, so do your insurance needs. It may be as simple as adding a teen driver to your car insurance or as challenging as rebuilding your home after a fire. Dee can help you make sure your insurance keeps up with your life, just as she has for countless other Wilson families over the years.
Dee Darden Warrick Agency, Nationwide Insurance, (252) 243-4197
For your sweet tooth Let Cupcake Dream help make your wedding or party a memorable occasion with a unique cake designed especially for you! Cupcake Dream also offers the trendy cupcake towers as well as shower cakes and groom’s cakes. Send your guests home with a delicious reminder of your special day – decorated cookies, cupcakes or cakepops can be custom designed with your party colors, monogram or theme!
Great gifts for grads!
Graduates will love this gorgeous “Junque Trunk” in coral dilemma by Scout… the perfect solution for storage in their new dorm room! This classic Shoppes at Brentwood store also carries great gifts from Vera Bradley, Lilly Pulitzer and Swiss Army. If you want to give something a little more customized, be sure to browse the huge selection of personalized gifts. Owner Amy Wiggins frequently shares new arrivals on the store’s social media sites, so be sure to like The Nook on Facebook or follow the store on Instagram for first dibs on the latest merchandise!
The Nook, (252) 243-2503
Cupcake Dream (252) 206-1341
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
SUMMER 2014
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The perfect night’s sleep
The perfect night’s sleep is just a quick trip away. With a full line of Tempur-Pedic mattresses and beds, Elm City Furniture can help you give the gift of restful sleep. With the adjustable base, read, watch TV or work on your laptop from the comfort of your bed.
Elm City Furniture (252) 236-4455
A new summer ride
Redesigned inside and out, the new 2014 Altima boasts a driving experience where innovation pays off. Fluid, powerful acceleration, refined handling, and a class leading 38 MPG fuel economy makes the drive to the beach a lot more comfortable – for you and your wallet!
Lee Nissan (252) 237-4400
Brighton accessories
Brighton is known for designing products with a message. Many of the items in this collection have a defining detail that gives them special meaning. Stop by today and see the Brighton collection at Gracie’s... jewelry, handbags, sunglasses and accessories. A Brighton piece makes a wonderful gift, especially when wrapped with Gracie’s trademark flourish.... best of all, wrapping is complimentary!
Gracie’s Village Shops 252-991-2463
Canning supplies ‘Tis the season for canning fresh fruits and vegetables! If you have all the right ingredients, you also need the right tools. Wilson Hardware in Historic Downtown Wilson has all the canning supplies you need. Mason jars, canning lids and all those nifty tools that make the job easier can be found here, as well as an impressive selection of unique and hard-tofind items you never knew existed!
Wilson Hardware 252-242-3174 16
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WILSON WOMAN
Dr. Re’s Doll Clinic Local woman gives new life to treasured heirlooms
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Spending several years in an orphanage in upstate New York, little Irene was only allowed to have one doll. She was limited to play with it for two hours on Sundays. Every Christmas, if she was given a new doll, she could choose to have that one or to keep her old doll. Every Christmas, she kept her old doll.
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
“Dolls are to be loved and played with, not to sit on a shelf,” she says. Today, Irene Sjostrom is 82 years old and has dolls of various sizes, makes, and nationalities. She not only repairs old dolls, but she also makes porcelain dolls and the beautiful clothes they wear. She is known as Dr. Re’ and owns Dr. Re’s Doll Clinic in Elm City where doll owners from as far away as Pennsylvania send their dolls to be repaired back to good condition. She said that most dolls that she repairs now are ones that are being handed down from one generation to the next, and in some cases more than one generation. Some of the dolls she repairs are from the 1920’s. The “skin”
By Amanda Jenkins Photographs by Gérard Lange on the dolls can crack from being too dry, and their stuffing gets old. Sometimes their cloth torsos are yellowed and holey. Some dolls have parts that have come unstrung, and some need new hair. Dr. Re’ peels off the cracked, damaged skin, and replaces it. She takes out the old stuffing and fills the doll with new soft filling. She even washes the old clothing and puts the useable pieces back on the doll with new pieces. The outcome is amazing. With each doll that she repairs, she also creates a card with a before and after picture of the doll before repair and after repair. She said that some people call her the miracle worker of doll repair. Her website says that Dr. Re’ has many facets to her doll skills SUMMER 2014
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from making tiny porcelain babies to large reproduction antiques, to restoring vintage and antique dolls. Her modern creations include fairies, mermaids and different size child and adult dolls. And there are even more. In 1980, Dr. Re’ and her late husband, Sam, also known as Dr. Sam, opened their doll clinic in Elm City at Melvin Cook’s flea market. They had just finished taking a two year course on doll repair and clothing, which they finished in four months. At their shop, Dr. Re’ offered for dolls to be dressed in her clothing creations, but was not highly recognized for her talent. After operating their business there for a time, they moved to Main Street in Elm City. There, they received more attention with big display windows and traffic from the neighboring grocery store. Dr. Sam performed the repairs, and Dr. Re’ worked at her sewing machine, creating the new outfits for the dolls. Former Wilson Mayor, Marvin Davis Jr., told them he couldn’t imagine a need in Wilson for a doll clinic but gave them a chance. That December, the clinic hosted a tea party where mothers could bring their daughters and their dolls. Punch was served with traditional tea cups and saucers. Dr. Re’ said that Santa Claus came and brought gifts. That is when the mayor noticed something about the clinic. He said that he had never seen so many peppermint breathed people, fur coats, and Mercedes Benz coming and going in front of one store in his whole life. Today the doll clinic is located on Redmon Road in Elm City. The shop’s small sign out front confirms that clients are at the right clinic on the country road, and Dr. Re’ only sees clients by appointment or chance. She not only stays busy but also struggles with health issues. Her caregiver, Freida Talton, has been friends with Dr. Re’ since 1973. She helps Dr. Re’ get to her appointments, has been with her
during overnight hospital stays, and has helped her with her medicine and even her hair styles. Dr. Re’ was living in an assisted living facility at one time. Her health was declining, and she longed to be back at her doll clinic. Freida talked with Re’s doctor. She said that she told him that if Dr. Re’ had to stay at the facility, she would die. Freida wanted to bring her back home and help take care of her, so that she could do what she loves and be in her doll clinic. Once home, Freida said that Dr. Re’ has been doing much better than she did being confined at the assisted living facility. Dr. Re’ had told her that even if she had to crawl up the steps to her doll clinic, she wanted to be there. Now Dr. Re’ is off her really strong medicine, doesn’t require extra oxygen, and even drives a car. Before Dr. Sam passed on in 1992, he taught her how to
repair the dolls as he did. Sometimes when she can’t remember how to repair something specifically, she stops for a minute to remember his instructions. Then, it always comes to her, whether later in the day or in her sleep that night. She is doing what she loves. It is her love to create miniature, detailed porcelain dolls, whose faces beam with sweet expressions. There are babies in carriages and little girls in lacy dresses. Some have soft hair, and some have painted on hair. Some of the babies are lying down, and one has its bottom sticking up. But each was delicately put together by hand. Dr. Re’ pours the molds, fires the dolls, paints them, strings them, and dresses them. She also makes custom order dolls, such as bridal dolls with wedding dresses like the actual bride’s. She produces miniature boxes for her miniature dolls with tiny books and desks and rooms. However, she said that the main function of the doll clinic is to bring back the memory of a childhood doll through repair to hand down as a heritage. She said that people come in her shop saying that they really don’t think their doll is repairable, but they know Dr. Re’ is the miracle worker when it comes to dolls. “They came beautifully boxed to them. And that’s how they remember them,” said Dr. Re’ of some of the old dolls that she has repaired. She doesn’t want to give her clients any less in the restoration than that first time they received their doll as a child. She said that dolls are a personal thing. Some are very lovable. She remembers their names and where they came from. She is very partial to her dolls and is proud of her profession. “Dolls are made to be loved,” she reminded. She sands down cracks in dolls, cleans vinyl dolls, repairs hard plastic dolls, and brings them back into the light after being stored away for years. She also collects some dolls that are not for sale in her shop. Some she even tucks away so that no one will offer to buy them because she has become attached to them. Dr. Re’s knowledge of dolls is vast. Despite her health issues, she still speaks at community engagements about dolls, maintains her blog about dolls, and offers information and pictures of some of her beautiful restorations and creations on her website at www.drresdollclinic.com. Visiting the clinic is like stepping into an intimate conglomeration of dolls and memories and creative veins of work and play intertwined. Dr. Re’ sums up her services, saying, “My dolls are a mystery; they’re an adventure; they’re a challenge. It’s my world. It’s 24/7, my world. I don’t know what I’d do without them.” WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
We welcome you to visit our new salon.
JC Harris of Wilson, NC Left to right: Kim Pabingwit, Teresa Corbett, Megan Cambra, David Bray, Sandra Robbins
CUTS • STYLE PERMS • COLOR
Shoppes at Brentwood
252-206-7907
You CAN Afford A Cadillac
252-237-1111 www.jcharris.com
4030 Ward Boulevard, Wilson
Councilwoman Gwen Burton “Each member of the community matters”
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Since winning a seat on the Wilson City Council in 1983, Gwen Burton has been on a mission of inclusion, a mission to make every member of the Wilson community feel needed and important.
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“My primary goal was, and remains, inclusiveness,” Burton said. “The healthiest communities are those that create opportunities for all members to be stakeholders, to feel that each member of the community matters, and has a sense of ‘buy-in’ into the future vitality and quality of life of the community as a whole.” She says that she has seen the amount of inclusion improve over the years, but there is still much work to do. Burton didn’t set out to be a city leader and she certainly didn’t know that she would make Wilson history when she moved here in 1975 to teach school, yet that’s exactly what she has done. With her 1983 electoral win, Burton became the first African-American
By Janelle Clevinger
female to serve on Wilson’s City Council, and only the fourth female to ever sit on the council. “Or maybe I was the fifth woman,” Burton said, smiling. “I was elected in at the same time as Edna Earle Boykin.” Burton was born in Prospect Hill, NC in Caswell County, where her parents were sharecropping at the time. She grew up in Person County and was introduced to Wilson by her sister who worked in Wilson’s newly opened Social Security office. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science at N.C. A&T State University and attended law school at N.C. Central University. While teaching school in Wilson, she began volunteering with OIC. She eventually went WILSON WOMAN
4. Who has been the most inspirational figure to you? Why?
1. What has been your life’s biggest struggle?
Parents who have the strength to prepare their children to stand on their own two feet inspire me and fill me with hope. A country full of people unable to produce anything, unable to look after themselves is a troubling prospect. I am most inspired by the beauty and wonders of nature, all around us everyday, free of charge.
5. What do you consider To conform and follow the herd. To think what other people t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t vir tues a woman must say I should think. To believe what other people say I possess? should believe. It is difficult for me to do that. 2. What has been your proudest moment?
Acceptance of self – as is, one hundred percent unique, just the way nature planned it..
Many things bring me happiness and joy each day but pride 6 . W h a t d o y o u v a l u e has no space in my life. I have never accomplished anything m o s t i n t h e w o r l d ? by myself alone so pride It is not something I understand The absence of noise. or accept.
7. What is the biggest 3. What advice would problem facing Wilson yo u g i ve a yo u n g wo m a n s t a r t i n g h e r p ro f e s s i o n a l m ov i n g f o r wa rd ? life? Fear of change.
The reason airlines must tell women to put the oxygen masks on themselves first in case of an emergency is because we have been intentionally brain-washed to think of others first. It is a huge mistake to try to be all things to all people. Force yourself to truly know that you are not your profession. The profession is simply a tool, a means to an end, it is not an end of itself. Keep this in perspective at all times.
WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
8. What is your biggest hope for the future of Wilson? That we will come to truly know and care about each other.
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to work fulltime for OIC, serving in various positions before taking on her current role as finance director. Details as to what factors influenced Burton to file for the 1983 office depend on who you talk with, but as she recalls it, OIC founder and chief executive Howard Jones, came into her office one day and told her to accompany him down to the Board of Elections, where she would file to run for City Council. “I have since heard that Mr. Jones grew weary of people saying that it couldn’t be done, electing an African-American woman,” Burton said. Burton says that Jones told her to keep the OIC motto in mind as she ran for office, which was to make sure people saw her confidence, vision and her desire to do the right thing. “I knew it would be very competitive with the way we voted back then (city-wide voting, not the current practice of representing precincts),” Burton said. “But if you do good work in the community and people know about
it, then I think a lot of people will vote for you.” Not only was Burton the first African-American woman elected to the Wilson City Council, but only the third African-American. Only U.S. Representative G.K Butterfield’s father, G.K. Sr., in the 1953, and A.P. Coleman in 1975 had been African-American candidates elected before her. Burton remembers feeling “gratitude, relief and optimism” when votes were counted and she was declared Wilson’s newest City Council member back in 1983. She still retains that optimism and has a vision for Wilson’s future. “I want Wilson to be a destination of choice rather than of circumstance,” Burton said. “I want it to be a self-sufficient community with modern amenities, an environmental consciousness, provincial charm and happy people.” Burton truly believes in the goodness and strength of people, and hopes to spread her optimistic message both through her work at OIC and her service on the Wilson City Council “Wilson’s greatest resource is its people, and each one is special and has so much to contribute,” Burton said. “Let us open our hearts to this recognition and commit to helping each other be the best we can be. A candle is not diminished by lighting other candles... it only results in more light.”
WILSON WOMAN
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Shoppes at Brentwood
291-1162 291-1815
CHILD CARE
one of the BEST Child Care Centers in Wilson 3424 Airport Blvd.
291-1990
www.landoflearninginc.com
EASTERN CAROLINA PEDIATRICS, P.A. 1702 Medical Park Dr., Wilson, NC 252-243-7944
little patients
big care Leesa G. Lawrence, MD, Ketarah Robinson, MD, Susan H. Andersen, MD, Julia Watkins, NP, Dr. John Buck, MD, Mark Eldridge, PA, Christina Poythress, PA
Bell’s Blossoms
Local gardener demonstrates her love of flowers
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Bunches of day lilies line the back ditch bank, flanked on the right by flowering azalea bushes. A little bridge leads over to a back section of land that is edged by trees that deer step out from on occasion to see if there’s a vegetable to munch. And two big Bradford pear trees stretch up to the heavens like bookends aligned on each side of the little bridge. Daffodils have already been cut or have shed their yellow blooms to leave their deep green stems standing like groups of straight, thick blades of beauty. To the left of the yard, a giant blueberry bush boasts its new growth of budding berries, and a row of crepe myrtles has been trimmed back to bloom in warmer weather. Twelve rose bushes
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make up a little rose garden of yellow roses and red roses. Some buds are about to open despite the cold weather that lingered late into the spring. Other varieties of plants and flowers adorn the yard on Bel Air Avenue. Impatiens, marigolds, phlox, sweet Williams, and iris are a few of the varieties that are organized in the flower beds. A pinch of Sassafras sends a pleasant scent wafting through the air, and a vine of wisteria twines around the trunk of a large tree.
By Amanda Jenkins Photographs by Gérard Lange
Other trees include a healthy holly tree full of red holly berries, a banana tree, and a pink dogwood tree. Inez Bell of Wilson has planted and watered and pruned her plants through the years to produce a beautiful yard to enjoy. And she does enjoy it. Whether walking in her yard or looking at it through her large sunroom windows, Bell has a pretty view of her back yard. “That’s my love, flowers,” she said. She has more time for gardening at home WILSON WOMAN
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now since her retirement. She likes being outdoors and said she always finds time to get out in her garden. Where her house stands now off Highway US 264 Alternate was a mere patch of woods the first time she ever saw it. She and her husband were some of the first residents in the area and chose their lot to build on. Her husband helped develop the surrounding land, and the street where her house is located is named Bel Air Avenue, after her husband, Mr. Bell. They cleared their lot and began building their house in 1966. Bell and her husband planned their house lay-out together. “That was a joy,” she said, “doing things together.” Her husband has passed on, but Bell still enjoys the
outcome of the work they accomplished together on their home and in their yard. She will be 89 in June and is in great shape. Her sweet disposition and attractive appearance blend with the beauty of her flowers and trees. She has always liked gardening and flowers, and she must have inherited it. Her father was a gardener by trade. She said that the first tip for novice gardeners would be to look at the various flowers that are blooming at different times. “It’s amazing what it will do for you.” Another important deciding factor of gardening is if a person likes to get outside. Next, pruning is a step that a gardener should be aware of as well as having a schedule for watering. “Just like you feed your-
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self, I water everything once a week,” said Bell. It has a lot to do with keeping plants. She enjoys garden shows and fairs, but she said, “It gives me a lift just to get out in the soil.” She’s not able to work outside like she did when she was younger, but she does have someone that helps in her yard. She has studied books on flowers. She finds out what would grow best in shade and what would do best in full sun. She does use her instincts to space and organize her plants, which has turned out well. Before retirement, Bell taught in the public school system for 37 years and then took the role of the administrator for GED testing at Wilson Community College for 11 to 12 years. Following her retirement from there, she tutored individuals and then later worked with the State Employees’ Credit Union. She has volunteered in the community, in churches, and on various local boards. Born in Wilson, she said that she wanted to give back to the community. She has worked with the cancer society and democratic boards, such as her service on the governor’s board when WWW.WILSONTIMES.COM
Governor Hunt and Governor Martin were in office. She and her sister both hosted receptions at the public library for United States’ Presidents Carter and Clinton when they visited Wilson. “I have enjoyed what I’ve done,” said Bell of her work. She has also volunteered at the Wilson Rose Garden where she maintained a bed of roses. To keep the roses beautiful, she weeded the flower bed, dead headed the rose bushes, and pruned them. In the past, she has taken pictures of some of her own flowers, which were very full and healthy. “God in all His plenty!” she said.
Some of her houseplants in her sunroom grow so large that they touch the ceiling. She cuts out the top of the plant and gives it to someone that might want it. She also has a poinsettia that still holds its red leaves, and she has kept a red geranium alive for 3 years. Its leaves are a deep green. She brings the plant in for cold weather and takes it outside for the warmer months. Others enjoy her flowers too as she takes arrangements to sick friends and carries bouquets to church, such as vases of her many daffodils. Bell is much like her flowers in that her scent of kindness lingers even after your visit with her is over.
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