Village Realty celebrates “Hometown Hero Award” winner, Shirley Brooks-Jones (Dublin, OH)

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Friday, December 2, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Outer Banks, NC – Shirley Brooks-Jones of Dublin, Ohio is the recipient of the 2009 Hometown Hero Award based on a winning essay submitted by her nephew, Tim Byrd.  
The family was gathered for the holidays and once again, the dinner table conversation was centered around the “Lewisporte Area 15 Scholarship Fund” (formerly ‘Flight 15 Scholarship Fund’) which was spearheaded by his Aunt Shirley in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11^th, 2001.  Tim was inspired listening to his Aunt recount her personal story about that most scary of times.  When he saw the request for “Hometown Heroes” on the Village Realty website (www.villagerealtyobx.com) Tim submitted his marvelous story for consideration.  The entire family just spent a week at the Croatan Surf Club in Kill Devil Hills, in two beautiful oceanfront condominiums, honoring Shirley for her generous spirit.

Hometown Hero:  Shirley Brooks-Jones, wearing Medal of Honor of the Order of Newfoundland.

Ten years ago on 9/11, Shirley was on Delta Flight 15 returning from Denmark when the captain announced the plane was having ‘technical difficulty’ and needed to land at the nearest airport, which happened to be a very small terminal in Gander, Newfoundland.  The passengers were unsettled but understanding and relieved when they landed safely.  It was perplexing to see so many other jet airliners grounded and more flying into such a small village airport.  Finally, the pilot conceded with solemn sincerity to his passengers that there really was no technical malfunction, but a national emergency in the United States:  Passenger jet planes had demolished the twin towers in New York, the pentagon in Washington, D.C., and a passenger plane flying over Pennsylvania had reportedly gone down.  Shirley and her 218 fellow passengers on Flight 15 were awestruck.  For 28 ½ hours, afterwards all of the passengers remained on their grounded planes as luggage was checked by security.  The passengers expressed fear and an understandable sense of concern for family and friends in their homeland of America.  The pilot kept them updated as he found out more information but there was no way to determine how long they would have to remain in this little place called Gander, Newfoundland, or even on that plane waiting for word.  Eventually, the passengers were disembarked and shuttled by bus to various inns and bed & breakfasts, and homes of the people of nearby Lewisporte.  There they were met with open arms and generous hospitality of the most friendly and sympathetic village.  Cell phones were shared amongst the people, computers were offered and most of all warmth and welcoming for these people of America, who wanted so desperately to just go home.  
After only spending a few days with the kind people of Lewisporte, Shirley and her fellow passengers eventually bid farewell and boarded their Delta Flight 15 for Atlanta.  Shirley had an epiphany.  How to thank these people for their hospitality?  She would start a scholarship fund for their children!  She quickly raised $15,000 in pledges on the plane for the “Lewisporte Area Flight 15 Scholarship Fund” and after they landed and everyone went their separate ways…Shirley spent the next ten years traveling back and forth to Gander, presenting scholarships each year to the children.  To date, the fund has raised over $1.5 million.

(Left to Right) Hometown Hero Family:  Jamie Byrd, Kendra Zarbaugh, Shirley Brooks-Jones, Sydney Byrd, Tim Byrd, Ben Wyatt, Sharon Arata and Cathy Rinehart

Shirley’s nephew Tim and his wife Jamie have been coming to the Outer Banks for family vacations with their children for four years, usually staying in a home on the soundside of the Currituck Club in Corolla through Village Realty.  They were delighted come to Kill Devil Hills this past week after Thanksgiving to enjoy the oceanfront views from the Croatan Surf Club.  The beautiful heated indoor pool was a treasure for all and they said they enjoyed the luxurious kitchen amenities in the condo so much, they didn’t venture out to dinner, except to pick up some delicious peel & eat shrimp to go from “Awful Arthur’s”  twice, to bring home.  They did do some Christmas shopping at the local shoppes and had lunch in Manteo at “Darrell’s Seafood”.  They loved walking on the beach, collecting shells and enjoyed the sunshine and balmy breeze with their balcony doors open to the ocean air.  All in all, it was a magnificent vacation and they will ALL be back again, and again!
For more information on the “Lewisporte Area 15 Scholarship Fund” please visit www.columbusfoundation.org .
Village Realty has been in business for over twenty years and has offices in Corolla, Nags Head and Columbia, North Carolina managing over 600 homes...from luxury condos to golf villas, oceanfront, ocean and soundside cottages.   Ocracoke Island Realty, a sister company, provides professional vacation rental management and sales on neighboring Ocracoke Island.  Village Realty’s growth is due to a business culture focused on exceptional customer service.###