DAR Awards Tea honors local youths, diabetes coalition president – The Gleaner

John Marshall, Natalie Haley and Maleeyah Grumbs were honored at Saturday's DAR tea.(Photo: Beth Smith)

Henderson County high school student Maleeyah Gumbs had one piece of information -- the topic of the essay.

With that, the 17-year-old senior sat down and composed an award winning essay entitled, "How Do the Combined Actions of Many Good Citizens Keep Our Nation Moving Forward."

Gumbs, the daughter of Angelyn Gumbs, was honored Saturday for her essay by the Daughters of the American Revolution General Samuel Hopkins Chapter. The essay alone wouldn't be enough though to present her with the Good Citizen Award. In fact, Gumbs was also honored forliving as an example of a good citizen through activities such as being part of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, Colonelette Dance Team, Rise and Mentor, and being an active member of her youth group at First United Methodist Church.

"I didn't get the topic until I was in the room and about to write the essay," she said. "I was nervous."

"I was surprised," Gumbs said when she was notified that she'd won the award.

Gumbs was one of three Henderson County residents to be lauded by the DAR at the organization's 121st annual tea and award ceremony.

Natalie Haley, an eighth-grader at Holy Name School and the daughter of Tracy and Jenny Haley, was named the winner of the American History Essay.

The topic of Haley's essay was "Celebrating a Century: America's National Parks" which worked out well since she visited Yellowstone National Park for fall break in October of 2016.

Haley said her favorite part of the trip to Yellowstone was visiting "the hot springs. They smelled like sulphur. I didn't like that part because it didn't smell very good, but they are really pretty, and I got a lot of good pics."

The HNS student said winningthe American History Essay Award was a "surprise, because our whole class had done it and there's a lot of good writers in the class. It's such an honor to win."

Finally on Saturday, the DAR presented John Marshall, a local pharmacist and president of the Henderson County Diabetes Coalition, with the Community Service Award.

In presenting the award, Karen Goldie, the chairman of the community service committee, said that Marshall has volunteered many hours with the diabetes coalition which exists "to advocate, educate and support those with diabetes."

He has also spent numerous hours, she said, volunteering with the Hunting Down Diabetes 10K run and the 5K run/walk.

"John has worked many hours on this run. He's been diligent about signing people up as sponsors, arranging for awards and countless other tasks too numerous to even detail here ... He rolls with the punches. If there are any problems, he works through them and keeps going."

Marshall is also a Lions Club member and serves during the club's auction and the Arts and Crafts Fair.

"I was floored to receive this award," Marshall said. "I never really thought I was ever really considered for it."

Working with the diabetes coalition, he said, "is a passion. I want to help people find ways to pay for their insulin and diabetic supplies and to work with the kids (with diabetes) and make sure they have everything they need."

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DAR Awards Tea honors local youths, diabetes coalition president - The Gleaner