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Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame
Celebrating Seniors' Outstanding Service
The Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame recognizes and celebrates Chesterfield seniors who have rendered unusual or outstanding services to their community. Founded by Dorothy Charles in 1982 through her work with the Senior Council and the Board of Supervisors., those recognized by the Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame have ranged in age from 60 to 98 years.
Eligibility
Chesterfield County residents age 60 or older who support our community through their volunteerism, are eligible for the Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame. Please note that this recognition is for individuals only - couples and groups will not be considered. If a potential nominee has been excused from any previous volunteer position, they are not eligible to be nominated. A nominee may be nominated more than once but they will be inducted into the Hall of Fame only once. Nominees' volunteer work outside the county is eligible for consideration.
Nominators can be neighbors, friends, churches, senior groups, non-profit service agencies, organizations and businesses. Anyone who can verify the nominee’s qualifications for recognition may nominate. The nominator is responsible for providing complete and accurate information regarding the individual’s service.
2023 Inductees
Three Chesterfield residents, Linda Hudgens, Alice Mitchell and Audrey Ross, were inducted into the Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame during the 2023 ceremony. The inductees were selected from a group of 20 nominees for the 2023 Senior Hall of Fame class and join the 89 previous inductees. Since turning 60, this year’s Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame nominees cumulatively have donated more than 180,000 hours of service to the community.
Linda Hudgens
In 2012, Linda started the St. Matthias Episcopal Church food pantry and serves as its coordinator. Prior to that she was worked with Micah at Clark Spring Elementary to provide food for children and their families. She’s responsible for a pantry that currently serves 6000 meals a month with referrals from FeedMore. She coordinates the pantry operations and food donation pickups from several churches and businesses. She oversees 25 volunteers weekly in the food pantry. Linda served as President of the board of The Point at Belgrade and Chairman of Central Virginia Asthma Coalition. She is the driving force of the pantry, which consistently provides meals to families in need, not capping it or turning away those who need food.
Alice Mitchell
Alice Mitchell is a pillar of the Aging and Disability Resources (formerly Aging and Disability Services) Telephone Reassurance Program, which supports connectivity for older adults in Chesterfield. During the pandemic, Alice called participants seven days a week due to the increased stress, fear and extreme isolation they were experiencing. In addition to her efforts with Telephone Reassurance, Alice serves as an appointed jury commissioner, where she reviews and screens jury eligibility questionnaires to determine whether residents are eligible to serve on juries for the judicial calendar. Alice also served as a volunteer with Senior Connections’ intergenerational “Catch Healthy Habits” program, demonstrating healthy eating options and promoting physical activity to children in summer school. She was even a volunteer caregiver for her best friend, helping prepare meals, transport and keeping her company on her bad days. Alice is always willing to lend a helping hand to friends and neighbors and serves her community in many ways.
Audrey Ross
Audrey conducts research on the history of African Americans in Midlothian and provides presentations to the residents of Chesterfield County and vicinity. She also serves in a variety of volunteer roles, including historian of First Baptist Church of Midlothian and member of the Chesterfield Historical Society's African American History Committee, while actively participating in several projects which involve presentations to county residents. She volunteers as an instructor with the Lifelong Learning Institute and is a member of the Midlothian Special Area Plan implementation team focusing on ways to preserve the Village of Midlothian's history. Audrey assisted 4-H with its annual holiday outreach program for seniors. As a board member for Mid-Lothian Mines and Railroad Foundation, she works to provide a more detailed history of the contributions of the enslaved and freedmen who worked in the coal pits of Midlothian. Audrey was featured in a front-page article of The New York Times: "Reckoning with a Legacy of Insuring Slaves' Lives" about an enslaved ancestor who was a coalminer in Midlothian.
2022 Inductees
Three Chesterfield residents, Sarah Gregory, Mary Katterfield and David Peat, were inducted into the Senior Volunteer Hall of Fame during the 2022 ceremony. The inductees were selected from a group of 17 nominees for the 2022 Senior Hall of Fame class and join the 86 previous inductees.
Sarah Gregory
Sarah Gregory, a lifelong Chesterfield resident, is a longtime local volunteer. As a leader of 4-H groups, she teaches kids development skills, leadership, family life skills, crafts, sewing and public speaking. She uses her experience in textiles to lead an annual holiday multi-generational outreach program; the 4-H youth craft handmade stockings that are filled and given to semi-homebound seniors. At the Chesterfield County Fair, Gregory has served as superintendent of 4-H programs for more than 30 years, checking in items for exhibits and judging and supervising 4-H youth keeping the grounds clean. She also is a Commonwealth Girl Scout leader and teaches girls parliamentary procedure, leadership, how to conduct a flag ceremony, sewing, camping and business skills in their annual cookie sales. Gregory served the Blackwell Elementary PTA in the classroom, helped students plant and maintain a school garden and chaperoned field trips. She currently serves as a member of the Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia’s Black History Committee.
Mary Katterfield
Following a career that spanned more than 40 years, Mary Katterfield relocated to Chesterfield for retirement. On her first day in the county, she visited the Aging and Disability Resources (formerly Aging and Disability Services) office to introduce herself and explore volunteer opportunities. Katterfield enrolled in citizen academies for Chesterfield Police, Fire and EMS, government and schools. She became a board member for Chesterfield Triad and joined the Council on Aging, volunteering for programs and events hosted by all of these organizations. She has also served the county as an election officer and a jury commissioner. Katterfield became a certified Master Gardener and provides outreach program service for Chesterfield’s Cooperative Extension Office. She has organized library fundraisers and tutored second and third grade students. Four years ago, she started the Solo Traveler program at Stonebridge Recreation Center, which provides education on relevant and current topics for those who would like to travel solo—and feel comfortable with doing so.
David Peat
David Peat, a U.S. Air Force veteran, and his wife have lived in Chester since 1978. Through the Senior Connections’ Volunteer Money Management Program (VMMP), he helps clients pay their bills and manage their finances, enabling them to make educated financial choices and help reduce predatory practices aimed at vulnerable clients. Peat hosts a weekly Bible study at Lucy Corr Assisted Living; he sets up the room and leads the group in prayer, song, and the spoken Word. He is also director of the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at his church. He ensures they have instructors to lead classes, supplies and materials, and serves as a substitute when needed. For 10 years, Peat served as president of his community’s homeowners association, presiding over the architectural review board and monitoring the HOA’s budget and expenditures. When asked what he does with his time now that he's retired, Peat replied, “Find a way to volunteer - I have a fully loaded life and I love it!”