Amid a resounding wave of applause, Community Bank President Cindy Baird was named the 25th recipient of the Morris Lewis Jr. Citizen of the Year Award at the annual mixer for Indianola Chamber Mainstreet.
“I think I might have a heart attack,” said Baird as she accepted the award presented by former recipient Evelyn Roughton. Baird thanked the group but expressed how she likes to be in the background and not out front. Baird said she had the honor and privilege of knowing Morris Lewis and called him a dear friend whom she loved. “Ya’ll just don’t know what this means to me,” she said.
During her introduction, Roughton expressed that like the 24 community leaders before her, Baird loves the community and is willing to give much more than she receives. She recounted many of the accolades and accomplishments Baird has achieved in her more than six decades in Indianola, among which is inclusion in a small but distinct group of female bank presidents.
She was touted as an advocate of businesses in Indianola as well as many local organizations that promote education, youth activities, economic development and healthcare.
The night’s festivities also included the naming of Kathy Manning as the new president of the Chamber Mainstreet for the upcoming year. Manning said it is a real honor for her considering that she is not a native of Indianola. “But when I came to work here, I realized this was a very warm community, all of you opened your arms and welcomed me and made me feel like a part of the family.”
Her plan is to work very closely with the chamber and let everyone know what a wonderful place Indianola is and how much it has to offer.
State Representative Sara Richardson Thomas delivered the keynote address and commended the members on their hard work and dedication and touted their commitment to diversity and the support of young leaders. “In order to build and sustain the momentum for the transformation of Indianola, it is essential that we engage, galvanize, (and) properly groom the up and coming leaders of our community,” Thomas said.
She challenged them to, “Stand strong, stand proud and above all, stand together and support each other.”
Another highlight of the evening was the presentations to outstanding persons in the community. The educators of the year for SCCSD and Indianola Academy are Brittany Binder-Neal and Devin Hill respectively. This year’s scholarship winner from Indianola Academy is Daniel Sepulvado and from Gentry, Aysia Jones and Kyle Pernell.
The public works employee of the year is Claude Moore. The fireman of the year award went to firefighter Perry Henry and Sgt. Irish Johnson captured the police officer of the year award. Owner Trish Berry accepted the award for business of the year for The Blue Biscuit restaurant. And outgoing president Shannon Brown was also awarded a plaque for his year of service.