Black receives citizen’s award

Voices were hushed as people gathered Friday evening at Salem United Methodist Church.
Everyone was discussing who the East Lincoln Citizen of the Year was going to be.
With the moment soon to arrive, the anticipation was rising.
And then Carolyn Baxley, president of the Denver/Lake Norman Rotary Club, finally announced that the 2004 Citizen of the Year was Patsy Black.
“I don’t know anyone who works as hard as she does,” Baxley said.
Black has been a former chairwoman of the Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, has been on the board of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, is a member of both the Denver/Lake Norman Rotary Club and the East Lincoln Betterment Association.
She has also served on the board of the East Lincoln County Volunteer Fire Department and has been the chairwoman of the East Lincoln County Relay for Life for the past three years.
“I think of myself as a worker,” Black said. “If I believe in something, I give it more than 100 percent.”
Black encouraged those who are not volunteers to get involved in the community.
“I don’t know how to say no,” she said. “If I say I will do something, I will do it.”
The nominations for the East Lincoln Citizen of the Year were open to the public and presented to and voted on by members of the Denver/Lake Norman Rotary Club and ELBA.
Baxley said Black has been on the nomination list each year for the three years they have given the award.
In 2002 Sylvia Homes was named Citizen of the Year, and in 2003, Celia Deese received the honor.by Amy Wadsworth