Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Wilson named top EHC volunteer

When Elizabeth Wilson began looking for a great place to volunteer, the Extension Homemaker's Council came to her attention.

Nearly a decade later, Wilson is president of the Red Springs EHC, reporter for the Clark County EHC Board, active in the Clark County Fair and a strong proponent of the EHC's many projects.

And for all this hard work and dedication, Wilson has been named the EHC's Homemaker of the Year for 2004.

"EHC clubs are active in your own community," Wilson said. "They teach a lot of different topics  health care, projects for the home. I thought, 'That's pretty neat.' And I've been involved ever since."

And she has been very involved. Wilson said her favorite parts of EHC are the Clark County Fair, the activities at the local meetings and the community service projects  making blankets for babies in hospitals including Children's Hospital in Little Rock.

The EHC compiled a booklet filled with information about Wilson and her work in EHC projects.

Past president of the Red Springs EHC Lorece Freeman wrote, "Elizabeth is very active in craft classes and willing to work on any job you ask her to do."

And then from the county office, "After spending a little time with Elizabeth, you will catch her enthusiasm for helping others. She likes to get involved and to get others involved with helping others, whether you know them or may never meet them.

"Not only is she willing to work in groups, she is willing to meet with you alone and share the burden, thus dividing the load. You do not have to worry about her telling any of your burdens. She explains she believes those are your stories to tell whenever and to whomever you choose, not hers.

"Openly discouraging negative talk, being quick to acknowledge each person's positive side, never asking you to do something she wouldn't do herself, letting go of grudges, looking for ways to make her fellow man feel better about themselves and accepting what God has given her as the ultimate responsibility make up the core of Elizabeth's being. These things are part of what helped us choose Elizabeth Wilson as our Red Springs Extension Homemaker of the Year."

Some of Wilson's activities include two years as the County Home and Community Chairman, current county reporter and Red Springs president. She has taught leader training and answers phones for the EHC office.

Wilson has helped club members locate pharmacy companies who offer discounts for senior citizens. She has helped raise money for the DeGray Campus of the Arkansas Sheriff's Youth Ranch, including work on the Gurdon Tour of Homes.

She has routinely volunteered for open houses, auctions and events, often loading up her van to provide transportation for others.

Wilson said the EHC clubs all over the county are great organizations, but had some special praise for her home club, the Red Springs EHC.

"We just get along so well," she said of the members who range in age from 24 to 88. "These ladies are helping each other do their best."

Wilson said the County Fair is her favorite part of EHC, mainly because the county fairs are such an important part of our rural history. She said she wasn't aware of the way the fair works until her own participation.

Anyone in the county can enter crafts, food and produce in the fair. Judges award ribbons and the items are displayed for everyone to see. Then the owner returns to pick up the items and a prize check.

"And how much better can this get?" Wilson asked.

Wilson said she even enjoys the Red Springs Club's turn at cooking during the fair.

Wilson is also a trained judge and has judged at other county and district fairs.

Wilson was also instrumental in establishing the Red Springs EHC Brighter America Scholarship for a Gurdon High School senior.

Wilson also works part-time at Billy's Main Street Florist in Gurdon and the Arkansas Real Estate Appraisal at the Clark County Courthouse. She is married to Roy Wilson who works Saturdays at Kuhn's Sentry Hardware and teaches seventh grade history at Camden Public Schools. They have two children, Andrew who is in college at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, and Melanie who teaches school at Prescott.

The Red Springs EHC meets the second Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. For the month of June, the meeting has been changed to June 17.

For more information, contact the county EHC office at Arkadelphia at 230-1109.