The Wayne County Bank sponsored the Wayne County Welcome Center’s Annual Volunteers’ Christmas Dinner again this year. The event took place on Tuesday night, December 7, 2021, at the Collinwood Crossroads Restaurant. The bank was represented by Randy Butler from the main office in Waynesboro. A delicious meal was prepared and served by the restaurant staff and enjoyed by everyone.
The Welcome Center Director, John Allen Berry, welcomed everyone and updated those in attendance on the statistics for the past year. The Welcome Center had over 8,000 visitors through November of this year. Since the Welcome Center opened in 2006 there have been over 130,000 visitors at the center. There have been visitors from every state in the U.S., all provinces in Canada, and from 56 countries of the world.
Steve and Sharon Wright were recognized as “Volunteers of the Year” and were presented with a certificate and a gift card. Steve and Sharon logged over 400 volunteer hours this year.
Those in attendance besides Director Berry, Randy Butler, and Steve and Sharon Wright were Shirley and Billy Bailey, Suzie Roberts, Elsie Hobbs, Aaron Holt, Carolyn Adams, Sandra Mayes, Anthral Copeland, Bobby and Cheryl Gobbell, Charles and Angie Martin, Pete and Linda Keeton, Jasper Brewer, and Lillie Ruth Brewer. Volunteers who were not able to attend the dinner were Paul and Margaret Hammack and Randy and Peggy Chambers.
The Wayne County Welcome Center is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is staffed by volunteers. Most of the visitors are travelers from the Natchez Trace Parkway which is the seventh most visited National Park in America. The Center is beautifully decorated for the Christmas holidays and everyone is invited to come by and see the “Wonderland of Trees.” The Welcome Center is always looking for volunteers. If you would like to spend a half day each week welcoming visitors from around the world, please contact the Welcome Center Director, John Allen Berry, at 931-242-9780.
