Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The Lois A. Hunter Life Skills Center represents a historic opportunity to build a state-of-the-art life skills center in Public Housing that celebrates the first African American Female Executive Director of the Thomasville Housing Authority
THOMASVILLE, NC -The Thomasville Housing Authority recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, August 27, 2022, at 10 a.m. marking the grand opening, dedication, and naming of its new Life Skills Center, the Lois A. Hunter Life Skills Center, located at 205 James Avenue, Thomasville, NC.
The Lois A. Hunter Life Skills Center is the first building named for an African American and the first Life Skill Center to bear the name of a female Executive Director at Thomasville Housing Authority.
We are pleased to honor Lois A. Hunter - a trailblazer in the African-American community and a towering figure at Thomasville Housing Authority who has inspired a generation of future leaders with a space that will introduce intellectual vibrancy, educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, disability, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), to all Americans of all ages and to help ensure that this population would receive an education that prepares them for college and productive careers to contribute to the well-being of society for the residences of Thomasville Housing Authority.
The name and dedication were approved by the Thomasville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners for the building as a way to honor and recognize the dedication of over 45 years of service and ongoing trailblazing commitment to community efforts of the Thomasville Housing Authority Executive Director Lois A. Hunter.
The Lois A. Hunter Life Skills Center will bring world-class cultural, economic, and educational benefits to the Thomasville Housing Authority and the entire City of Thomasville for generations to come. The 10,200 square foot building contains four classrooms, a facility office, a computer lab, a full basketball court gymnasium, and a commercial kitchen. The Life Skill Center will house numerous programs sponsored by various social agencies but not limited to after-school tutoring, computer, life skills classes, and recreational activities. Recognizing the need to address the significant social challenges of our low to moderate-income families living in public housing. The Life Skill Center will become an anchor in the community.
The grand opening began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. Thomasville Housing Authority and Executive Director Lois A. Hunters began the ceremony by welcoming everyone stating, "On behalf of the Thomasville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, we are grateful to GOD and for the donors and supporters who made this possible, and we are pleased to bring a new and exciting historical venue to the City of Thomasville." Joining Lois A. Hunter to commemorate the ceremonial ribbon cutting was the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) (Ret) Representative Eugene Rahuba, City of Thomasville Honorable Mayor Raleigh York, Jr, and Thomasville Chamber of Commerce President Keith Tobin, who, along with City Councilwoman Wendy Sellars and the former Chairman of the Board Emeritus Colon Starrett, Chairman Ron Richardson, Vice Chairman Alton Jefferies, Commissioners: Ruthenia Marley, Dianne Starrett, and David Yemm.
Keynote Speaker Lisa Williams, author, and philanthropist who founded Lisa Williams, Founder & President of Circle of Friends, Dallas, TX, as well as comments from Ron Richardson, Chairman, Jr., the Honorable Mayor Raleigh York, Jr, President of Thomasville Chamber of Commerce Keith Tobin, Designer and Architect, Wayne Stogner.
Also present for the ribbon cutting were City of Thomasville Officials City Manager Michael Brandt; Thomasville Police Lieutenant Widener and Officer Cheryl Taylor; Thomasville Fire Department; Wayne Stogner AIA, Stogner Architecture, Rockingham, NC; Amie Perkins, Central Builders of Mebane, Inc., along with many others from the community. A special appearance at the Back to School Social was Jane Murphy, Manager of Special Events and Community Events Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center, Charlie Hall, Thomasville Lions Club, Prevention Partners, Davidson Medical Ministries, Payton Williams, Director, Cooperative Community Ministries, and Davidson Davie Community College in the Back-to-School Social experience.
Ms. Hunter thanked the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Representative Eugene Rahuba, HUD (Ret.) and the Thomas A. Finch Foundation, and THA Board of Commissioners: Colon Starrett, (Chairman Emeritus), Ron Richardson, Chairman, Alton Jefferies, Vice Chairman, Ruthena Marley, Dianne Starrett and David Yemm for the generous support that made the virtual reality experience possible.
Special thanks to The Chamber of Commerce President Keith Tobin and his staff for assisting with the coordination of the ceremony.
Following the ceremony, the public was invited to tour the new facility, Reception, and Back to School Social.