Volunteer's memory honored with plaque at Nurture Home transitional shelter in Aiken

Mar. 17—Friday was the 28th annual Day of Caring for local service organization United Way of Aiken County and its in-house program, Project VISION (Volunteers In Service In Our Neighborhoods).

The highlight of this year's event was a dedication ceremony in memory of a deceased Project VISION volunteer, Charles Neill, who was especially active with Mental Health America's Nurture Home in Aiken — a transitional shelter for homeless women with mental illness.

A plaque with Neill's name was placed next to the entrance of what is now being called the Charles Neill Family Suite: a downstairs bedroom plus bathroom in the Nurture Home that can accommodate a mother and her children.

"He was so big on the moms and children, and he really saw our mission, and so I wanted to make sure that his name was stamped on the room," said BonnieAnne Fulghum, executive director of Mental Health America in Aiken.

A small ribbon cutting was held for the Charles Neill Family Suite.

Neill, who received the Project VISION Volunteer of the Year award last year for his work in 2022, lost his battle with cancer last March. At Day of Caring, people who knew him took the chance to talk about his impact.

"When you think about a volunteer, you automatically think about him and how he had a heart of gold," said Director of Project VISION Lizzie Abshire.

Ellen Luton, president of United Way of Aiken County, recounted that Neill was "famous for his photo album that he would bring on location every year," to share old memories with new volunteers and to add in new photos.

Neill's wife, Peggy, said that he was always helping out "behind the scenes," rarely at the forefront of attention.

"So, to see him recognized, you know, for his 20 plus years of doing this ... it's just wonderful," she said.

"Sometimes you take for granted what people are doing," she added. "And when they're gone, you really understand the hugeness of everything [they did]."