Jessie Summers is First Volunteer of the Year at Pioneer Park | News

Jessie Summers, 87, long-time Curator of the Trade Center Museum at Pioneer Park has not only been recognized as the recipient of its first-ever Volunteer of the Year Award, the award has been named in her honor—the Jessie Summers Volunteer of the Year Award.

Summers began volunteering at the Museum after she and husband Carl moved to Auburn, following her long record of volunteer activities in LaGrange and West Point, Georgia and Valley, Alabama.  She was appointed Museum Curator in 2002 and held that post until 2011.  During that time, she logged many hours serving as hostess to visitors and working tirelessly on Second Saturday activities and the annual fall Historical Fair. 

Summers’ most important contribution--which is recognized by naming the volunteer award in her honor—is her redesign of all the Museum’s exhibits.  “I could not have done it without the help of my artist friend, Chris Danner,” says Summers.  “I am most grateful for her time and talent.”  Every exhibit was refurbished and redesigned under Summers’ leadership.  The project took several years to complete, ending last year with a Campfire Girls exhibit on the second floor.

“Jessie has served through several different changes in leadership, says President Jeannette Frandsen, “she is the ‘face’ of the Museum for so many of our visitors.  For the rest of us, she has served as the constant, the person with the institutional knowledge, so we are sorry to see her step down, and we deeply appreciate her many contributions.”

Though still a member of the Lee County Historical Society, Summers now elects to enjoy the Museum and Pioneer Park as one of its visitors.   Her dedication serves as a benchmark for those who follow, and the Board was unanimous in its decision to name the award in her honor.

The Lee County Historical Society is a non-profit organization established in 1968. Membership is open to all interested parties. For more information, see www.leecountyhistoricalsociety.org or call Sheila Eckman at 334-750-9666.

Information Source: Lee County Historical Society