Wilson Rotary Club Presents M. J. Bird Award

The Wilson Rotary Club honored local business woman Jolly Barnes with M. J. Bird Award for service and dedication the Wilson Rotary Club, the community, and to the ideals of Rotary at the Wilson Rotary Club installation banquet held June 27, 2006 at the Wilson Country Club.

The M. J. Bird Award is Wilson Rotary Club’s equivalent of Rotarian of the Year and is named in memory of Mr. M.J. Bird. M. J. Bird served as club president in 1946 and was very active in the club and the community. The youth of Wilson were his major concern and he provided many opportunities for youth programs in the community.

“Jolly Barnes is very deserving of this honor,” stated Marion Boykin in his introduction of the award winner to the audience. “Jolly has served as our Dictionary Project leader for the club and was responsible for directing the efforts to raise the funds to purchase and distribute more than 1,200 student dictionaries to the students of Wilson County. Everything Jolly does she does with heart and a smile.”

Barnes serves as the Wilson Rotary Club’s newsletter editor, serves as the Vocational Service director for the board of directors, chaired the Service Above Self Essay Contest, and worked tirelessly on numerous committees. In the community Barnes has served as the treasurer for the Women of Wilson - Wesley Shelter Auxiliary, is an active member of the board of directors of Women of Wilson. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilson, Barnes serves as the moderator of Presbyterian Women, is a circle member, and has taught Sunday School.

Jolly Barnes is the owner of Acculist & Accutype a full service mailing and printing business located on Nash Street in Wilson. She is married to Robert and has a son Daniel, a step son Graham and one grandson Logan.

“Jolly Barnes is exemplary of the spirit of service above self in all that she does professionally, for Rotary, and for the community. If I had to define the object of Rotary I would simply use a picture of Jolly and that would be enough,” commented Karl McKinnon, the 2005 M.J. Bird Award recipient.