Residents honored at Sportsman’s Association breakfast
Published 12:23 pm Saturday, December 5, 2015
FRANKLIN
The Franklin Sportsman’s Association honored three members who have exemplified the values, principals and characteristics of the organization during its annual Hayden Reunion Breakfast on Nov. 26.
Franklin Sportsman’s Club President Herman Charity gives a welcome speech to those at the annual Hayden Reunion Breakfast while honoree Marie Giles Chestnutt listens.
This year’s recipients were Marie Giles Chestnutt, Greg Scott and Rufus Wilson, each of whom play an active role in assisting young African-American athletes in Western Tidewater.
“We have nominations from within our organization for who should be recognized for their outstanding service to the community,” said James Hobbs, a member of the Sportsman’s Association who presented Chestnutt with her award.
The first female taxi driver in Franklin, Chestnutt began her career as a Franklin City Public School bus driver in 1966. She drove young Broncos to and from school and athletic events for nine years before she moved to Southampton County Public Schools, where she’s worked ever since without a single accident or speeding ticket.
Scott, a retired professional football player, is the CEO of the Cover 3 Foundation — a non-profit community service organization.
A graduate of Southampton, Scott and Cover 3’s “Reach, Teach and Feed program feeds thousands of children each year.
He also runs a youth football and cheerleading league.
A former shipyard machinist and service mechanic, the 91-year-old Wilson was also a bus driver at Hayden High School. It is said that he never missed a day of work, and drove a van to help his coworkers get to the shipyard on time.
