Local News

Travelers Rest business owner among those to receive Masterpiece Living Award

GREENVILLE, S.C. –The Woodlands at Furman recently named the recipients of its inaugural Masterpiece Living Awards.

The first of their kind in the Upstate, the awards aim to recognize the four pillars of successful aging – physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual. Five awards were given, one honoring each of the four pillars and one award to a nominee who embodies the overall spirit of Masterpiece Living.

Award recipients were:

Physical: Bob Sparks. Sparks is the owner of Creative Displays on Main Street in Travelers Rest, but he is also becoming well-known in the community as a fitness inspiration. This fall, he began a fitness program through HUB Fitness and has lost 50 pounds since the beginning of the program. As a result of his influence in the community, HUB Fitness has seen a significant increase in the demand for their program.

Intellectual: Don Cockrill. Cockrill is a member of Furman University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), and became an instructor with the program in 2013. He teaches a variety of history courses, and their popularity often requires the OLLI program to find larger classrooms or schedule more class times. Cockrill is known for bringing humor and enthusiasm to his teaching, and inspiring the intellectual curiosity
of others.

Social: Alan Shaw. Since his retirement from a financial career in 2014, Shaw has given his time to a variety of Upstate organizations, including Meals on Wheels of Greenville, the National MS Society, Pendleton Place, the Red Cross, the Guardian ad Litem program, and the Palmetto Curling Club. Shaw has a specific passion for serving the elderly, opening his own Homewatch CareGivers franchise in 2006 and consistently
picking up additional Meals on Wheels routes.

Spiritual: Robyn Zimmerman. Zimmerman is known as a television personality and the retired Director of Public Relations at Greenville Health System, but she is also the founder of the St. Peter’s Players ministry at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. This ministry brings performers of all denominations together to create theater productions that serve as an expression of praise. The ministry has performed nine different plays,
musicals, and original works in its 15 year history, and her work is widely respected within the community.

Overall: George Fletcher. Fletcher is a professional engineer and a longtime public servant to many of Greenville County’s organizations. His past chairmanships and board appointments include the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Greenville County, and Renewable Water Resources. In August 2015, he capped off this career in public service by winning an at-large seat on Greenville City Council, the first challenger to unseat an incumbent in over 20 years. As a City Councilman, Fletcher aims to increase access to green space throughout downtown, inspiring all residents to remain active and engaged citizens.

On the Web: www.thewoodlandsatfurman.org

__________

Stay connected with the Travelers Rest Tribune: Facebook — Twitter — Instagram