CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Members of the Norfolk County Historical Society of Chesapeake joined me as I surprised fellow volunteer Kay Ziegler at the Chesapeake Central Library to present her with a News 3 Everyday Hero Award.
Ziegler volunteers at the society, which is located on the second floor of the Chesapeake Central Library, where she helps patrons research local history and genealogy records.
The nomination email read in part:
"She's always willing to go the extra mile to provide the most thorough and comprehensive research on patrons' needs and questions."
Ziegler also serves as the society's treasurer and is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Eastern Star — all volunteer organizations.
When asked what she loves most about her work, Ziegler said:
"Getting helping people get their eureka moment when they find something that they've been looking for and they, they make the connection."
Ziegler pointed to a library patron, Parisiene Tazewell Clark, as an example of someone who had recently experienced that moment.
"This is the lady had her eureka moment yesterday when she was here. This is Mrs. Clark. And uh she's still doing some genealogy," Ziegler said.
Clark, who was at the library researching historical documents for her family, described how Ziegler helped her.
"So I had some things, but she's very familiar with, you know, the technology, the resources," Clark said.
Clark said she was unaware Ziegler had been nominated for the award.
"Oh wow. That's wonderful — that's wonderful," Clark said.
Sharen Peters, who nominated Ziegler for the award, explained why she felt Ziegler deserved the recognition.
"Because she works really hard at helping people, getting answers. She goes, goes, goes, and then she goes even more," Peters said.
As part of the award, community partner Southern Bank presented Ziegler with a $425 gift certificate. That is $125 more than the normal amount of $300 to celebrate Southern Bank's 125th anniversary.
For anyone researching the history of Chesapeake — or the area's history as Norfolk County before it became a city in 1963 — Ziegler and the Norfolk County Historical Society of Chesapeake are available inside the Chesapeake Central Library.
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