Ray and Lyn Fleming North Augusta Citizens of Year

A wonderful surprise: Dr. Billy Thurmond, center, congratulates North Augusta Citizens of the Year Lyn and Ray Fleming. Submitted photo by Mike Adams.

The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce tapped Ray and Lyn Fleming as the 2012 Citizens of the Year during the Chamber's annual banquet, held at the North Augusta Community Center Tuesday night.

In addition to the Citizen of the Year announcement, Steve Beckett of Busbee Heating and Air was named the Chamber's Ambassador of the Year, recognition for the volunteer who has had the greatest dedication and spent the most hours in service of the Chamber.

The new Citizens of the Year are well-known in North Augusta for their participation in programs designed to improve the education and quality of life for children - Lyn as a dedicated volunteer and mentor and Ray as a volunteer and a member of the Aiken County Board of Education.

A letter of nomination submitted in their behalf uses descriptors like "stellar character ... role models ... positive influence ... truly outstanding citizens ..." to describe the 2012 Citizens of the Year.

"Keeping themselves well-rounded physically, mentally and spiritually, (the Flemings) have had a positive influence on many young people in North Augusta. They share their talents untiringly," concludes the nomination.

Lyn Fleming has taken on the task of helping mold young minds through her efforts in forming and sustaining a tutoring and mentoring program for children, particularly through a program she was instrumental in forming for children who live in North Augusta Gardens.

The North Augusta Gardens Learning Center touches the lives of hundreds of children who are in need of help both on the home front and at school. Also at North Augusta Gardens, Lyn co-leads a Brownie and Girl Scout troop to give a positive outlet for the girls in that neighborhood. Always striving for innovative methods to teach the children whose lives she touches, Lyn continues to organize events - providing tennis lessons, summer camp and annual Christmas parties for the children at her center.

In the past, recognizing the importance of physical activity and the arts, she volunteered her time to teach at North Augusta Elementary School when funds were not available.

At the same time, she has taught Sunday school at her church, Fairview Presbyterian, actively served as Guardian ad Litem for Aiken County and as a member of North Augusta Service Network, a group of individuals who collaborate in the assistance of community members in need.

An elected member of the Aiken County Board of Education, Ray Fleming has likewise dedicated himself to his community, becoming a mentor for local youth. Last year he was the "Cookie Grandpa" for his wife's Girl Scout Troop.

After 30 years as a physicist at the Savannah River Site, Ray has found more time to devote to community in his retirement. Sharing his wife's passion for education, Ray also became a volunteer tutor at North Augusta Elementary. He has served as chairman of the Paul Knox School Improvement Council, board member of Fairview Early Childhood Center and serves on the State School Improvement Council.

One of his passions is annual outings with school children at Brick Pond Park. In the past, he coached boys' youth basketball and girls' baseball and organized the first men's basketball league in North Augusta. Furthermore, he currently serves as a board member for the Tri-Development Center of Aiken County and sits as head of its Finance and Budget committee.

The accomplishments of Lyn and Ray Fleming are many and varied, yet they have done so with humility, often doing what they do "quietly and without fanfare," said Chamber President Brian Tucker.

Having raised three daughters, the Flemings have continued their efforts to support and initiate activities that would help others to be well-rounded children, teens and adults.

And both Beckett and the Flemings agreed that their awards are representative of so many others who help them get things accomplished.

"There are so many more behind us, supporting us ..." Ray said.