Mayor Becker Recognizes One of Jacksonville’s Most Outstanding Citizen-Volunteers

At the March 20, 2018, City Council meeting, Jeanena Whitewilson was awarded the 2018 “Person of the Year” award by Mayor Paul Becker. In his remarks, the mayor noted that Jeanena is currently serving as the Vice-Chair of the Jacksonville Community Center, a group she’s been working with for ten years. The JCC—Cedars on 4th— embraces Jeanena’s strong passion and support for community. A 5th generation Oregonian, she was born in Grants Pass and lived in Kirby, Oregon on the Hogue Family Farm. It was there that she developed a strong sense of community which has guided her spirit and activities for much of her life.

Jeanena moved to Vallejo, California in the early 1960’s and then to Napa, where she married and raised her two children. In 2003, she married Charley Wilson and returned to her Southern Oregon roots in Jacksonville. Shortly thereafter, she immersed herself in many Jacksonville community organizations.

Her incredibly long list of volunteer activities includes:

Coordinator of Jacksonville Celebrates the Arts, Board Member, Jacksonville Community Center (VP for 3 the past years), Jacksonville Garden Club, organizing the Annual Mother’s Day and Christmas Holiday Greens Sales, Youth Garden Club Coordinator. Jeanena also organized the Scheffel-Thurston Park restoration and cleanups, and works with others to maintain it and the Veterans Memorial Park and Post Office/Visitor Center gardens.

She’s been a narrator/MC for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce Victorian Christmas and Chinese New Year Parades, Historic Trolley and Haunted Trolley Tours.

With the Jacksonville Boosters Club, she’s worked on annual Memorial Day Community Clean-up Days, served as a docent and volunteer for the semi-annual Home and Garden Tour, worked on the Booster Garage Sales, Peter Britt Gardens restoration and maintenance projects.

In addition, she’s worked with many other non-profit groups including the Jacksonville Woodlands Association, Historic Jacksonville Cemetery, Boosters/Meet the Pioneers, Southern Oregon Historical Society, Hanley Farm, Jacksonville Children’s Festival, Britt Festivals, City of Jacksonville Vision 2028 Citizen Advisory Committee, Jacksonville Comprehensive Plan/Economic Chapter volunteer, Jacksonville JK10 Urban Growth Boundary CAC Member, Main Street Archeology volunteer with Southern Oregon University Laboratory of Anthropology, Jacksonville Elementary School Art Mom and Junior Garden Club Coordinator.

Image caption: Mayor Becker presents Jeanena Whitewilson with award at March 20, 2018, city council meeting.