Home>Alabama Living>Honoring Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass
Share

Honoring Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass

Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass Recognizes Those Who Better Their Communities

The 2024 Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass were honored at a recent banquet. Front row, from left: Carolyn Elmore, Sam Baker, Diane Shirah and Rhonda Holley. Back row, from left: James Shiver, Pamela Portman, Renee Purvis, Dr. Bruce Wozow and Van Johnston.

The quiet ones often surprise you the most.

They’re the man who spends 2 days a week bagging up food on the off chance someone in need will stop by his rural church or the woman who started a group to wrap children in love and warmth through handmade blankets.

In November 2016, Wiregrass Electric Cooperative and WTVY partnered to launch the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass, recognizing individuals who reach out to help others, bettering their communities in the process. Each month, a new winner is announced and the individual or group receives $1,000 — an award funded through WEC’s Operation Round Up Foundation. Since its creation, the program has presented 98 awards to these silent heroes.

Stevie Sauls, WEC vice president of member services and communication, says the program is a chance to recognize individuals whose selfless actions have enriched the lives of others. He encourages others to be motivated by their examples.

“It is an opportunity to say thank you to those who often work quietly behind the scenes without seeking recognition or applause,” Sauls says. “Their dedication and perseverance have shaped the Wiregrass, making it a better place for all of us.”

A banquet at WEC’s Hartford headquarters honored the 2024 winners.

WTVY anchor and reporter Beyla Walker told the award recipients that their stories hold a special place in her heart, especially when her days as a journalist get long.

“I can always look back at these videos and all the wisdom and encouragement that you all have shared with me, even off camera, those are the times that I can pick myself back up,” Walker says. “So, thank you for being my silent heroes.”

Silent Heroes

Carolyn Outlaw left, speaks with guests at the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass as Carolyn Elmore listens. Outlaw nominated Elmore for the Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass and was Elmore’s guest at the banquet.

The Silent Heroes of the Wiregrass banquet celebrated the people whose quiet efforts earned recognition in 2024. Here is a summary of each winner’s contributions to their communities:

  • Van Johnston: The Malvern grocer and former volunteer fire chief is a trusted figure in his community with a long record of helping others as both a firefighter and mayor.
  • Doug Faulk: He has spent more than 20 years as a volunteer with Dothan High School sports programs. He is a longtime volunteer with WIRED youth ministries and is active in his church, Ridgecrest Baptist.
  • Dothan Faith Riders: Passionate about riding their motorcycles and sharing their faith, members of this local chapter at Memphis Baptist Church carry messages of hope as they work together to transform lives.
  • Johnnie White: The retired pastor wants to make others feel better. In the Navy, he provided counseling for drug and alcohol abuse. Today, he helps build houses for widows and provides groceries for those in need.
  • Project Linus: The Southeast Alabama chapter, started locally by Pamela Portman, provides homemade blankets to comfort children in need.
  • Diane Shirah: Seeing older adults become isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic led her to launch the Community Seniors Ministry, a monthly luncheon held at Webb Senior Center to provide food, music, and fellowship.
  • The Rev. Tim Bates: Pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Ozark, he leads a communitywide effort to feed families in need as the head of the Dale County Community Church Mobile Food Pantry. The pantry serves about 100 families each month.
  • James Shiver: He manages the Mims Hill Church Food Pantry in Geneva County, where he hands out groceries twice a week, about 100 bags a month. He also volunteers with other efforts to combat hunger in the Wiregrass.
  • Bruce Wozow: A semi-retired veterinarian, caring for animals led to a passion for volunteerism. He has coached youth sports, served on church and civic committees, and spent 20 years as a Cottonwood volunteer firefighter.
  • Threads of Love: Sisters Rhonda Holley and Renee Purvis use their sewing skills to make everything from dresses and shorts for children to walker pockets and tissue covers for residents of the Hartford Retirement Village.
  • Sam Baker: He flew Huey and Chinook helicopters for the U.S. Army and now volunteers with the Friends of Army Aviation, curating aviation artifacts and piloting helicopter rides for families of new Army aviation graduates.
  • Carolyn Elmore: Her work at Southeast Cancer Center puts her on the direct path to helping those struggling with the toll of treatment while on a fixed income or out of work during treatment.