Neville is named parade marshal

Cora Neville was named as the lone grand marshal for the annual Christmas parade, set to take place in Sparta on Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. Neville was selected because of her long term commitment to the community, said Sparta Revitalization Committee (SRC) President Sandy Rost. "Over the years, she has helped more than 10,000 (people) locally." Rost also noted that Neville, like many other Alleghany citizens, was born here, moved away after marriage for employment, and then returned to stay.

Neville, a Nancy Susan Reynolds Award winner, first started collecting items for the poor while living in Germany, where her husband was stationed in the military. That effort took place 25 years ago, when Neville helped smuggle clothing to needy East Berliners, who were suffering under Communist rule.

She has continued her ministry to the underprivileged here in the county through Cora's Charities (formerly John 3:16), an organization dedicated to accepting donations and then distributing the items collected to those in need free of charge.

Neville also operates the Angel Tree program, an annual event which helps needy families by encouraging local residents to anonymously purchase Christmas presents for children.

Neville's husband, Tom, is pastor at Christian Home Baptist Church.

For more information on Neville and the programs she runs, call her at 372-6543.

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