2019 Denbigh Day Parade
GRAND MARSHAL
LION JERRY PHELPS
Jerry Phelps was born in Richmond, Virginia but lived most of his young life in Norfolk County on a farm. He graduated from Churchland High School and started working in Colonial Food Stores after graduating. He met his wife, Jeanette, while she was shopping at the store. After serving four years in the Air Force and completing his military service, he went back to Colonial Stores as a Manager. Farm Fresh Supermarkets hired him away to run a chain of Gibson’s Discount Stores. Later, Farm Fresh was expanding their supermarket business and he developed the general merchandise operations in the stores. After 30 years at Farm Fresh, the company split up and went in another direction. He finished his career at Old Dominion Tobacco Company running their distribution center and retired in 1999.
Since retiring, Jerry enjoys working in the yard, playing golf and volunteering. His family also keeps him busy. He and his wife, Jeanette have one son, three grandsons and one great grandson.
Jerry became a Lion over 50 years ago when he joined the Wards Corner Breakfast Club. Presently, he is a member of the Norfolk Little Creek Lions Club and has held every office in the club, now serving as the Treasurer. He is a Past President of the Lions Charity Foundation of Southeastern Virginia and, currently, serves as Treasurer.
In 1981, Jerry got involved with the Lions Charity Foundation of 24D. At that time, the Charity Foundation needed a fundraiser. Anheuser-Busch was bringing a Men’s Professional Golf Tournament to the Kingsmill Resort and needed volunteers. He served as a Coordinator for the tournament and recruited over 300 Lion volunteers who protected the residential areas and parked cars. The Foundation became the largest recipient of donated funds from the tournament. More responsibility was added to the Lions over the years.
With Anheuser-Busch’s financial support, the Lions Charity Foundation has been able to support free children’s eye screenings in the schools, the Diabetes Family Camp Program, Youth Exchange and furnishing exams and eyeglasses for the homeless on the Peninsula. The Foundation has furnished eyeglasses, cataract surgeries and hearing aids for the elderly.
The Foundation’s largest fundraiser today is the Bid N’ Buy Auction being held this year on October 19th at Bethany United Methodist Church on Todd’s Lane in Hampton. The annual budget is over $100,000.00.
For over 25 years, he has driven the Lions Sight and Hearing Van to schools and health fairs for screening eyes and hearing.
Since retiring, Jerry enjoys working in the yard, playing golf and volunteering. His family also keeps him busy. He and his wife, Jeanette have one son, three grandsons and one great grandson.
Jerry became a Lion over 50 years ago when he joined the Wards Corner Breakfast Club. Presently, he is a member of the Norfolk Little Creek Lions Club and has held every office in the club, now serving as the Treasurer. He is a Past President of the Lions Charity Foundation of Southeastern Virginia and, currently, serves as Treasurer.
In 1981, Jerry got involved with the Lions Charity Foundation of 24D. At that time, the Charity Foundation needed a fundraiser. Anheuser-Busch was bringing a Men’s Professional Golf Tournament to the Kingsmill Resort and needed volunteers. He served as a Coordinator for the tournament and recruited over 300 Lion volunteers who protected the residential areas and parked cars. The Foundation became the largest recipient of donated funds from the tournament. More responsibility was added to the Lions over the years.
With Anheuser-Busch’s financial support, the Lions Charity Foundation has been able to support free children’s eye screenings in the schools, the Diabetes Family Camp Program, Youth Exchange and furnishing exams and eyeglasses for the homeless on the Peninsula. The Foundation has furnished eyeglasses, cataract surgeries and hearing aids for the elderly.
The Foundation’s largest fundraiser today is the Bid N’ Buy Auction being held this year on October 19th at Bethany United Methodist Church on Todd’s Lane in Hampton. The annual budget is over $100,000.00.
For over 25 years, he has driven the Lions Sight and Hearing Van to schools and health fairs for screening eyes and hearing.