SAVE OUR HERITAGE
PRESIDENT: Mary Anne Wood is a Chase City native. She is a long time board member of MacCallum More Museum & Gardens. She is a Trustee, Prestwould Foundation; Trustee and Deacon, First Baptist Church; Charter Member, AND Save our Heritage, Inc., and Charter Member Up Town at the Lee, Inc, whose mission is to restore property for use as a performing arts venue and multiple uses in the effort to revitalize the Town of Chase City. MaryAnne is working to restore the Mill and the Mecca.
VICE PRESIDENT: Steve Gallion is a Chase City native! He moved away when he was younger and found a career in Barbering. Steve recently returned to Chase City in relooks forward to going to the Mecca one day watching movies.
SECRETARY: Diane McBride, who grew up in Michigan, has been visiting and loving mecklenburg County for over 50 years. She has made it home since 2010. She loves to hear stories about the Mecca Theater from her husband, Bill, who went to the Mecca Theater on Saturdays with his friends to see the latest movies.
TREASURER: F W “Richie” Richards, Jr. is a Chase City native and pharmacist who has run a successful business for 45 years. He attended Virginia Tech and the MCV/VCU School of Pharmacy in Richmond. He was a member of the Chase City Lions Club for over 18 years and held almost every office. He served as treasurer of the Chase City Jaycees for over 15 years; treasurer of the Sons of the American Legion; and is now serving as treasurer for Save Our Heritage and Uptown at the Lee of which he is a founding member. He serves on multiple committees at Concord Baptist Church and is very proud to be a native of Chase City. His ability, community knowledge, and business acumen make him eminently qualified to oversee the operations of the organization.
Bill McBride grew up on a farm outside of Chase City. He went to college at VA Tech and pursued a career outside the area. He returned to his home farm in Mecklenburg County in 2010 to farm and become active in the community. He has been a board member of the Save Our Heritage nonprofit Organization since 2016.
Patricia Burton retired as Controller and Office Manager at a south side Virginia family owned grocery store chain. She is a New York native with family and childhood ties to Chase City. Prior employment was as a middle and high school mathematics teacher in the Village of Peace, Dimona, Israel; Office Manager and Controller, Better World Industries, Yehud, Israel; and Systems Programmer, IBM
Corporation, Gaithersburg, MD. She is a wonderful addition to the board at SOH.
Marshall (Tommy) Whitaker, Retired Regional manager (East Coast) from a National Food Company. Moved to Chase City at very young age and raised by his grandparents. Educated in Mecklenburg County Public Schools. Married with 3 daughters, 5 grandchildren and a Chase City Vol. Fire Dept. member for 42 years. Have been on Chase City Town Council for 10 years. Reason for joining SOH, “While growing up in our unique beautiful little town we had so much going on places to go, places to shop and one special little place The Mecca Theater. Friends would gather to see a good movie. I also remember several concerts held there. I would love to see this come back for families to enjoy good small-town living.”
Greg Pipan. Married, 2 daughters, and 2 dogs. Lived in Greensboro NC 50 years. Worked in manufacturing for 28 years. Retired from teaching metalworking technically after 15 years. Moved to Clarksville in 2017. Became involved with the Ruritans, St. Timothy’s Church. Met Earl West, one of the founders of SOH, and decided saving the Old Mill was important. I love the old equipment and am still wanting to restore the original powerplant. The Mecca Theater is also important to me because of its history. I am now involved in the Clarksville Community Players, the Double Nickel Players, and on the board of directors for the Fine Arts Center.
Beverly Wood was born and raised in Chase City. Returning from a 36 year career in the film business in Hollywood all she wanted to do was restore The Mecca Theatre, and SOH was the way. Beverly spends all her free time writing grants and raising money for this project.