Marian Jacobs has been named 2017 Citizen of the Year by Morrison Ruritan.
A banquet in her honor will be held April 1 at the Morrison Ruritan building at 121 W. Maple Street. Guest speakers will be Carla Clay and Amanda Gibbs.
“It was a surprise,” said Jacobs. “I was supposed to cook hushpuppies that night for their fish supper. When I pulled into the driveway, there they stood. I said, ‘Are you here to tell me that I don’t have to cook hushpuppies?’ Nope, they told me I was named Citizen of the Year. It was a shock. I don’t feel like I deserve this. I just do what everyone else does. I help out when and where I can. This is truly an honor.”
Jacobs learned at an early age the importance of community, church and hard work.
Along with visiting shut-ins, baking cookies to give away just for the fun of it and making her famous fried pies for the Bascom Cemetery annual picnic, Jacobs has volunteered with Parent Teacher Organizations at local schools, Band Boosters, Morrison Ball Park, Warren County A&L Fair and although she is not a member, numerous Morrison Ruritan functions. She is treasurer of Hickory Creek FCE Club, which helps with several charitable functions.
Jacobs currently attends Morrison United Methodist Church where she has been a member for approximately 47 years. She is an active member participating in the various church programs and its choir.
Jacobs, along with her husband Douglas, helped start the Fuel Program at the church. She still helps prepare the bags of food each Wednesday night to distribute to local school children.
Jacobs worked at Viola School, Viola Market and at the Viola Branch of First National Bank but said her most important job was staying at home to raise her children – Beth (Wilbur), Carla (Clay) and Amanda (Gibbs). While staying home, she harvested tobacco, pimento peppers, molasses and regularly baked cakes, cookies and fried pies.
Members of Morrison Ruritan are not eligible for the award, but a Ruritan of the Year will be named and will receive the Arry Youngblood Memorial Award on the same night as the Citizens of the Year. The selection will be made by a secret ballot of club members, and the identity of the recipient will not be revealed until the banquet.
Banquet reservations can be made by calling Mike Holland at 939-2540.