Anderson County Council recently approved a resolution honoring Dianne Chastain Lollis for her work in the community and her involvement in activities and events in Williamston and Pelzer.
Anderson County Council District 7 representative Cindy Wilson presented the resolution to Lollis at a special surprise birthday party held Saturday at the Williamston Municipal Center.
Approximately 20 friends and family attended the event.
Among those attending were Councilwoman Wilson, Williamston Mayor Rockey Burgess and Envision Williamston Executive Director Roberta Hamby.
The resolution states: “Mrs. Sarah Dianne Chastain Lollis, has become an Anderson County institution, known throughout the community for her civic-minded spirit and dedication to others, and
WHEREAS, Dianne was born and raised in the Pelzer mill village, where she learned the value of hard work and the importance of neighbors working as one towards a common goal, and
WHEREAS, Dianne’s home-town values and vivacious Southern charm remained with her as her life’s journey took her all the way to the Greater Chicago area, where she and her husband Willie raised their family, and
WHEREAS, upon her return to Anderson County, community service became an outlet for her boundless energy and dedication to others, contributing her time and talents towards all manner of activities and events in and around the Williamston and Pelzer area, when asked why saying only “I do it all for the kids”, and
WHEREAS, a very important aspect of Dianne’s legacy in Anderson County will be her contributions in her role as President of the Pelzer Heritage Commission, with the mission of restoring the dignity and sense of community that held sway during the town’s heyday, and
WHEREAS, under Dianne’s leadership, the PHC spearheaded efforts to restore and preserve the Historic Wilson Family Cemetery in Monkey Park, while also assuming responsibility for Pine Lawn Cemetery, ensuring that the community’s dead will rest in dignity, and
WHEREAS, the PHC also assumed a great responsibility with its acquisition in 2013 of the Upper and Lower Mills in Pelzer. Thanks to the efforts of Dianne and her colleagues, these two sites have undergone substantial environmental remediation, and pending redevelopment projects promise to infuse new life into the town so near and dear to Dianne’s heart, and
WHEREAS, mere words can’t begin to describe Dianne Lollis—she is a force of nature, one that must be experienced in order to truly appreciate. She is a woman of great faith, and that faith which has carried her through unspeakable tragedy continues to sustain her in the many things she does to make a better community for us all.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Anderson County Council hereby recognizes Dianne Chastain Lollis for all she has done, and continues to do, for the betterment of us all. Your contributions to our community will carry forward for generations to come, and we are truly grateful that the Lord has allowed you to be among us here in Anderson County.
