By Ed Simmons, Jr.
cpreporter@lcs.net
Light-hearted, humorous and a generous contributer of her efficient skills, Sherry Gravatt was honored for her many civic contributions at a Chamber of Commerce dinner Thursday evening when she was honored with the Civic Award. Also receiving nominations were Tana McDonald, Peter Swain, LJ Moyer, Arlene Mills, Terri Harrison, JD Satterwhite, Joanne Blanton and Litt and Tommy Thompson.
The well-attended dinner, held at Cafe´on Main Street in Bowling Green, won raves for the New York strip steak dinner. "They just did a wonderful, wonderful job," said Cindy Matern, Chamber president. Gravatt, a Union First Market Bank vice president and the Commercial Lender for Caroline, credits the bank's encouragement of community service for providing her the flexibility to keep up with her many volunteer projects. "Billy Beale (Union First Market's president) and the upper management want us out supporting the community," she said.
And her contributions are many. Treasurer of Caroline Little League for the past 10 years, she's worked to add a softball field for girls, build bleachers and a scorer's booth, and helped organize two state tournaments and the Annual Caroline Little League Golf Tournament that helps fund the league. Her two sons, Hunter and Kent, now 22 and 19, are both Little League veterans and are now at Virginia Tech.
She's also Caroline's representative on the Germanna Community College board of directors, and as a committee member for the Rappahannock United Way Day of Caring she enlists sponsors and organizes teams that work on community projects and help fix up homes. Many of the Day of Caring volunteers work at the bank. As well, she's been treasurer for Relay for Life, and was the first female president of the Caroline Ruritan Club. All the while, she finds time Tuesday evenings to direct the choir at St. Asaph's Episcopal Church, where she was formerly volunteer organist. Sherry, who lives with her husband Will at "Elam Hill" on Antioch Road, says she greatly enjoys staying busy and contributing. "It does good for my heart and soul," she said.