-information courtesy of Lauren Roberson, executive director of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce

A Granville County native who returned home to live was named the 2022 John Penn Citizen of the Year at Monday’s Granville County Chamber of Commerce membership meeting and banquet.

Rosalyn Green was honored as a tireless community volunteer who has invested herself into the community where she grew up. Mark Pace, the 2021 award recipient, presented the award during the event, held at The Barn at Vino in Stem.

This is the 42^nd year of the award, given each year to a county citizen who has given his or her time in a volunteer capacity to enhance the quality of life in Granville County, according to a press release from Lauren Roberson, executive director of the Granville Chamber of Commerce.

It was the 81^st anniversary of the annual meeting and banquet, which featured a meal by Strickland Farms Catering and a program that highlighted the Chamber’s work in 2022 and its vision for the year ahead.

Pace is the North Carolina Room Specialist at the Thornton Library in Oxford, kept the winner’s name under wraps as he began his presentation.

“Synonymous-having the same meaning as another word or phrase in the same language,” he stated. “Here are some words and phrases synonymous with the person we acknowledge this evening: mentoring youth, mental health advocate, church service, child advocacy,  Cooperative Extension Service, Leadership Granville, George C. Shaw Museum, Mary Potter, and one near and dear to many–preserver of history.”

Green’s friends and compatriots in her volunteer endeavors, know that she has a heart for service, Pace continued. She serves on many boards in the county and volunteers at countless non-profits  including ACIM, CCM, the Chamber, DOEDC, and the Mary Potter Club, just to name a few.

“It is an honor to know and work with Rosalyn Green. She is one-of-a-kind and Granville County is blessed to have her.”

2023 Chamber President Reba Bullock had encouraging words in her remarks to the group. “Everyone, this is just the beginning of an exciting, productive and successful year within the Granville County Chamber of Commerce. We as a collective body will continue to collaborate with various organizations in our county to maximize services to Chamber members, to be a resource to those who are considering making our county their home for personal and business reasons, and to make Granville County an even better place to live, work and grow successful businesses!”

The Chamber Board of Directors acknowledges the following businesses for sponsoring the event:

Presenting Sponsor:  Spectrum Medical Solutions

Gold Sponsor: Duke Energy

Silver Sponsors: Carolina Sunrock, CertainTeed  and Granville Health System;

Bronze Sponsors: Lewis Electric of Oxford and Wake Electric Membership Corporation

Green joins Pace and previous recipients, listed here in alphabetical order:

C. Adcock, Gary L. Bowman, Dr. Joseph Colson, Hubert L. Cox, Jim Crawford, Johnsie C.  Cunningham, Hugh Currin, Sr., Nancy W. Darden, Leonard M. Dunn, Carlene Fletcher, Stan Fox, Laura Seifert Gabel, Hubert Gooch, Dr. John B. Hardy, Jr., Boyce Harvey, Rev. G. C. Hawley, Robinette Husketh,  Mildred A. Jenkins, Tom Johnson, Paul Kiesow, Doan and Bette Laursen, James and Mary Ann Lumpkins,  John D. Mackie, J. Medford, Dr. Jimmie V. Morris, Annette Myers, John King Nelms, Dr. Roy Noblin, Dr.  David Noel, Leonard Peace, Sr., Gladys Satterwhite, Harold Sherman, Rev. Harrison Simons, Tom Speed, Marshall Tanner, Dr. and Mrs. Richard Taylor, Steve Timberlake, Virginia Tuck, Xavier L. Wortham, L. Clement Yancey.