The Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs Present Suffolk's 2023 First Citizen.
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The award, given each year since 1956, except for a hiatus from 1999-2002, goes to an outstanding individual who best exemplifies the spirit of citizenship and who has shown significant leadership through his or her time, talents, and efforts in order to make Suffolk a better place to live.
The award was started by the Cosmopolitan Club but ended in 1999 when the club disbanded. The Suffolk Rotary Club took up the mantle in 2003, and the North Suffolk Rotary Club joined in the recognition several years ago. Initially, members of the clubs were disqualified from being nominated, but that was changed in recent years.
The 2023 recipients are Mac and Sandra Foster Birdsong. Other prior recipients have included Harry Cross III, Dr. L.D. Britt, author Karla Smith, local businessman John Harrell; car dealership owner Lydia Duke; real estate agent Billy Chorey Sr.; the late Robert W. “Bobby” Harrell Jr.; Dr. R. Leroy Howell; M. Caroline Martin; Sen. Fred Quayle; Dr. Doug Naismith; Delegate Chris Jones; farmer and former City Councilman Joe Barlow; Betsy Brothers, who was active in renovating Suffolk High School to become the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts; community activist W. Ross Boone; attorney Whitney Saunders; longtime City Councilman Curtis Milteer; historian Sue Woodward; former Mayor E. Dana Dickens; businessman George Birdsong, longtime General Assembly member Sam Glasscock; dentist Dr. George Barnett; former Mayor Andy Damiani; and former Gov. Mills E. Godwin Jr.
“I think the ideal First Citizen’s qualities are that they do things in the spirit of community, but they don’t want any recognition,” Blair said. “They do it for the love of community, for the love of the people.”
The reception honoring the recipient will be held on September 21st at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Profits from the First Citizen event will be donated to charitable organizations.
The Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs are proud to announce the 2023 Suffolk's First Citizens are Mac and Sandra Foster Birdsong: A Combined Legacy of Dedication in Suffolk
In the vibrant city of Suffolk, Virginia, two exceptional individuals have left an indelible mark through their unwavering commitment to community service and leadership. Mac, a trailblazer in the peanut business, and Sandra Foster Birdsong, a devoted educator, have dedicated their lives to making a difference in the lives of Suffolk's residents. The city of Suffolk is proud to recognize their remarkable achievements and contributions by naming the couple Suffolk’s First Citizen for 2023.
With nearly 50 years of service in the peanut industry, Mac has been a driving force in shaping the business landscape. His influential role as Chairman of the American Peanut Council and continued board membership at Birdsong Peanuts have contributed to the company's remarkable success. Additionally, his presence on the BB&T Bank board underscores his significant contributions to the business community.
Beyond his business achievements, Mac's most profound impact lies in his unwavering dedication to community service. Together with his wife, Sandra, Mac generously supports numerous charities, making a positive impact on the lives of many in Suffolk and beyond. However, his involvement goes beyond financial contributions, as he actively serves on the boards of various organizations, including Paul D. Camp Community College and the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts.
Mac's leadership was instrumental in the success of the Suffolk Center's capital campaign, raising an impressive $4.5 million for renovations. His tenacity, persuasiveness, and practical approach have earned him widespread respect and admiration, leading to accolades like the J. Paul Council Community Service Award and the Community Champion Award.
Sandra Foster Birdsong's passion for education began early in life. After obtaining her education degrees, she embarked on a teaching career, enriching the lives of students in various schools. In 1981, Sandra joined Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (NSA) as a teacher, later becoming the Director of Instruction. Her dedication and commitment to the school and its students made her an invaluable member of the administrative team. Even after retiring in 1994, Sandra continued to serve NSA and the community, supporting the school's growth and development.
Beyond her work in education, Sandra's impact extended to various community organizations. Her involvement in the NSA Capital Campaign "Our Saints. Our Future." raised an impressive $8.4 million for the school. Additionally, she co-chaired NSA's "Forging the Future" capital campaign, further supporting the institution. Sandra's commitment to community service has made her a role model for all, inspiring others to make a difference in their communities.
The combined legacy of Mac and Sandra Foster Birdsong in Suffolk is a testament to the transformative power of dedication, community service, and leadership. Mac's trailblazing in the peanut business and tireless community involvement, alongside Sandra's unwavering commitment to education and community service, have enriched the lives of Suffolk's residents. Their legacies will continue to serve as a beacon of inspiration, shaping the city's trajectory for generations to come. Through their collective efforts, Mac and Sandra Foster Birdsong have left an enduring mark on Suffolk, making them both deserving candidates for the esteemed Suffolk First Citizen Award.
Suffolk’s 2023 First Citizen award presentation will be held September 21, 2023, at Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts (110 Finney Ave, Suffolk, VA 23434) beginning at 6 pm. Tickets for the event are $50, $35 for Early Bird tickets (available until August 31). Tickets are available online.
The Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs are proud to announce the 2022 Suffolk's First Citizen is Harry Cross III
Harry Lee Cross III is the 2022 Suffolk First Citizen Award recipient, honoring his years of service to the community, its youth, his church, and local business.
Cross joins an esteemed group of honorees selected by the Downtown and North Suffolk Rotary clubs, including former governors, state senators and delegates, mayors and council members, pastors, doctors, businessmen and women, lawyers, and community servants of all stripes.
A native of Suffolk born here in 1949, Cross is owner/broker of Cross Realty with his son Lee, carrying on a family tradition of real estate and appraisal expertise that began when his father, Harry Lee Cross Jr., who started Cross Realty in 1953. Cross is a graduate of Suffolk High School and the College of William & Mary, and a former Navy Flight Officer. He began his successful career in 1973, when he joined Cross Realty. For 49 years, Cross has helped buyers and sellers accomplish their real estate goals. He has received numerous gold and platinum sales awards. He also holds a certified general real estate appraiser license.
Following his parents’ examples, Cross is also a well-known community leader. Throughout his career, he has served as president of the Downtown Suffolk Rotary Club, including as chairman of the Rotary Peanut Fest Parade for five years, chairman of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Suffolk Retail Merchants Association, chairman of the local YMCA three times and member of the YMCA regional board of directors, and served on the committee that helped the YMCA find property for Camp Silver Beach. He has been the chairman of the United Way, a volunteer with the Suffolk Literacy Council, assisted the local Legal Aid Society in fundraising and office location, served on the board of Cedar Point Country Club, and as chairman of the Community Action Coalition of Virginia.
He was president of the Suffolk Tennis Association, and in 2003, played on the tennis team that won the U.S. Tennis Association over 50 league national championship. As a board member and past president of the Suffolk Foundation, in recent years he helped establish the Women’s Impact Fund along with women leaders to address the needs of women and families in the community. He was president of the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association (SYAA) for 10 years. As one of the founders of SYAA, Cross oversaw its growth from 50 boys playing soccer to 500 boys and girls playing softball, baseball, basketball and soccer. He was a familiar face on the SYAA fields, where he coached soccer, baseball and basketball for many years. He also coached girls and boys tennis and basketball at Nansemond Suffolk Academy.
In recognition of his community involvement, Cross received the Jaycees Outstanding Young Man award. He has served as a deacon and elder of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church and has taught Sunday school for 40 years He has been a mentor and consultant to Lorna Slaughter, founder of the Suffolk Christian Fellowship Center, a food distribution service for local citizens who are food-deprived. Cross volunteered his time helping with grant funding, staff recruitment, arranging transportation and food storage locations, using his influence to acquire free food to support this initiative.
“I have had the pleasure of knowing Harry for more than 10 years through Nansemond-Suffolk Academy,” said Debbie Russell, head of school at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and fellow Rotarian. “When I first met Harry, he was serving on the Board of Trustees at NSA, and I was an employee of the school. Since meeting Harry, I have always been impressed with his level of commitment, engagement and enthusiasm not only for NSA but also for other causes he is passionate about, such as the YMCA, Suffolk Foundation, Suffolk Rotary, his church, and the Suffolk tennis courts to name a few.”
Previously, Mr. Cross has held positions in the following organizations:
- Chairman of the Board, Suffolk United Way
- Chairman of the Board, Suffolk YMCA
- Member of the YMCA committee that established Camp Silver Beach
- President of the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
- President and Co-Founder of the Suffolk Youth Athletic Association -1O years President of the Suffolk Tennis Association
- Head of the Suffolk Peanut Fest Parade -5 years
- Board Member of Cedar Point Country Club
- Board Member of Nansemond Suffolk Academy (NSA)
- Volunteer Coach for NSA Boys and Girls Tennis and Basketball -10 years
- Volunteer for the Suffolk Literacy Council
- Volunteer for the Virginia Legal Aid Society
- Elder and Deacon, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church
A reception honoring Cross is Aug. 25 at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts, 110 Finney Avenue in Suffolk. All proceeds for the event will go to the Rotary Clubs’ charity funds, where they will be distributed to local and national charities that the clubs support — among them are the Genieve Shelter, the Western Tidewater Free Clinic, the Salvation Army, and many others, as well as funding scholarships for seniors at each of the local high schools.
The Suffolk First Citizen Award has been given every year, save for a brief hiatus, since 1956, when it was started by the Cosmopolitan Club. The club disbanded in 1999, but the Suffolk Rotary Club took it up in 2003.
To make a reservation or sponsor the event, contact any Suffolk or North Suffolk Rotarian.
Britt honored as Suffolk First Citizen on Thursday, September 26, 2019.
A man of immeasurable impact.
A man with a legacy of hope and healing.
A man who is selfless and gives without complaint — to his family, to his patients and to his community.
Those are just some of the ways Dr. L.D. Britt was praised Thursday as he received the 2019 Suffolk First Citizen Award in a ceremony before a packed auditorium at the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. “Tonight is Suffolk’s night to honor Dr. Britt as Suffolk’s native son and lifelong resident,” Mayor Linda T. Johnson said. As others say he has done often, Britt, in a short speech, sought to take the attention away from himself. The award is given by the Suffolk and North Suffolk Rotary Clubs to an outstanding individual who best exemplifies the spirit of citizenship and who has demonstrated leadership through time, talents or efforts to make Suffolk a better place to live. “I want to take the honor away from me,” Britt said in brief remarks. “I’m proud of Suffolk. This is a testimony of Suffolk. There are a lot of individuals that have done exceptional work. … And that has defined Suffolk. I’m one, but there are many more that define this city.” Britt, the Henry Ford Professor and Edward J. Brickhouse Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Eastern Virginia Medical School, talked of his mantra — burn the boats — in reference to how he returned to Suffolk and Hampton Roads and doesn’t plan to leave. The legendary saying came from the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, who in 1519 was going up against a strong Aztec army that had not lost a war in 400 years.
“The first thing he did when he landed, is he told his men to go back and burn the boats,” Britt said, “which meant that they needed to win, or they were going to perish. … When I came back to Hampton Roads, I said ‘I’m going to burn the boats.’ And that’s what I did.” Britt has had a storied career in the medical field, Johnson said, but his impact goes well beyond that to his efforts to help Suffolk and Hampton Roads. “Don’t make the mistake of going on the internet and trying to print his biography, or his peer reviewed scientific publications,” Johnson said to laughter. “You will need two reams of paper, and you will realize that you don’t have enough hours in the day to detail or highlight all of his accomplishments and his accolades.” She touched on just a few of those accomplishments and accolades, which included graduating at age 16 as valedictorian from Booker T. Washington High School, becoming the first African American in the country to have an endowed chair in surgery, and every Tuesday seeing patients in Suffolk — none of whom are charged.
“It’s evident that Dr. Britt learned early on in life the lesson that ambition is the path to success, and persistence is the vehicle you arrive in,” Johnson said. “He credits his strong work ethic as traits he inherited from his parents. His extensive achievements are a testament to the fact that no goal is impossible. Some just require a little bit more dedication.” She described his legacy as one of hope and healing. “Dr. Britt, the lives that your skilled surgeon’s hands have saved, the guidance and knowledge you passed on in your teachings and writings in the medical field, and those lives that you will continue to touch in the future are all, in honesty, boundless,” Johnson said. In a video, family, friends and community members were effusive in praising Britt’s impact upon them, Suffolk and the medical community, as Britt weaved his own memories of growing up in the city.
Dr. Rosa Biggs and Gregory Lawrence, who attend East End Baptist Church with Britt, said the honor was long overdue. “We’re so proud of him,” Biggs said. “He’s a wonderful person.” Roland Wilson went to school with Britt at Booker T. Washington High School, and Britt’s mother was one of Wilson’s teachers. He said he was proud of Britt’s accomplishments, and noted Britt has not changed in how he treats all people with respect. “He doesn’t put himself above anybody or anything,” Wilson said. “He just stays on that level. He’s been that way all his life.”
View the Full Article from The Suffolk News Herald
