Sunday, February 14, 2010

Lindsay and Nelda Jones Honored

The Sanford Lions Club held its annual Valentine Ladies’ Night Thursday, Feb. 11, and honored a couple who for many years has led in the planning and making possible memorable nights for others in the service club.

Lindsay and Nelda Jones were crowned the King and Queen of Hearts for the 2010 banquet. Jones, assisted by his wife of 56 years, has long chaired the Lions Special Events Committee planning outstanding themes and decorations for several ladies’ nights each year, including the Valentine event. But this year it was the Joneses’ turn to be escorted to the throne and showered with crowns, roses, and candy in heart-shaped boxes as cameras flashed.

Preston Spence chaired this year’s banquet saying it was an honor for the club to recognize Lindsay and Nelda since their past hard work had brought so much joy to other couples in the club. Bob and Anne Edens escorted the king and queen to their seats of honor as the more than one hundred people present rose to their feet in applause.

A 36-year veteran Lion, Jones also chairs the Christmas Cheer project presenting holiday gift baskets to needy blind and sight impaired citizens in the community. He is a leader in recruiting volunteers from among friends and neighbors for the annual Lee Regional Fair where he works in the Lions Kitchen. As an expert woodcraftsman, Jones has made many unique items such as gavels, tables and other things for the club and to auction for charity.

He owns Benefit Brokers Group which offers many types of insurance. But music was his first love as he earned a degree in music from East Carolina University in the 1950’s and was a public school music teacher for15 years. He also served in the U.S. Army from 1953-56 as a member of the 3rd Army Headquarters Band performing on some of the world’s biggest stages including the Ed Sullivan television show. And as a Lion some years ago, he led The Hungry Five band, a group of Lions whose rusty musical talents weren’t quite up to Jones’ standards, but nonetheless provided some rip-roaring entertainment at club events.

Lindsay and Nelda have two daughters, Lisa Childress of Fuquay-Varina and Lori Saubers of Sunset Beach, and three grandchildren. They are members of First Baptist Church.

The Campbell University Voices, a student choral group under the direction of Dr. Phillip Morrow, presented an outstanding program of appropriate love songs and show tunes. Lion Clyde Rhyne was recognized for recently being honored at Campbell with a Lifetime Trustees Award, thus the Campbell Voices’ appearance had special meaning. President Richard Hendley presided at the banquet while Bob Hughes gave the invocation and Bill Schubert led the Pledge of Allegiance.

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