front&center Annabelle Davis

Longtime civil servant leaves community-building legacy

By Amy Widner

LITTLE ROCK — When the Jacksonville Community Center opened in 1995, it gave the Parks and Recreation Department new life and Annabelle M. Davis a new job. Thirteen years later, it’s a job she’s reluctant to leave.

Davis is retiring. She signed up several years ago for a retirement plan with a time limit, but the reality of having to leave her post behind has taken her by surprise. Tuesday, Sept. 30, will be her official last day after almost 36 years with Parks and Recreation, where she started with a part-time summer job in 1973.

For 20 of those years she was department director. With the opening of the community center, the department’s scope grew tenfold, and Davis moved into one of the positions created to lead the department in its new direction - marketing and public relations manager.

“Being involved in the construction of this building was one of the biggest singular endeavors I have ever been involved in,” Davis said. “It was a five-year process from the day they decided to do it to the day they opened the doors. And while the perfect building hasn’t been built yet, this one sure has stood as a model both in this state and outside of it. It’s been really nice that it’s helped bring this community together. It’s really been phenomenal, and the people here are genuinely proud of it.”

Her public relations job has included writing grants, organizing public meetings and activities, working with the media, being the mayor’s liaison to Little Rock Air Force Base and promoting Jacksonville tourism. Many of these duties had been part of her director job, butthe public relations position freed her from things like handling budgets, personnel and construction and allowed her to focus on her real passion: people.

In 2007 alone the center was host to 321 events, all of which Davis had some hand in. Over the years she’s worked with 32 groups that book the same events every year and gotten to know many of them. More than just a job - it’s been fun, she said.

“They say all of our talents come from God,” Davis said. “One of mine is I that basically get along with people; so did my parents. So part of it I guess is inherited and part of it is God-given.”

It would be easier for Davis to retire if it were just a matter of looking back with a little well-earned pride on projects and events, but Davis has made her job - getting to know her community and promoting it to others - a part of her life. If there’s been a community project or event over the years, chances are she’s been a part of it. And she’s been heavily involved in the professional organizations associated with her job.

She joined the National Recreation and Park Association in 1975. She has served on the American Park and Recreation Society Board (a branch of the NRPA) for the southwest region three times. She has held all offices for the Arkansas organization and has been chairwoman for the Southwest Regional Council.

While it may take some time for Davis to adjust to not being so heavily involved, she downplays how difficult it was to step into those roles in the first place.

“My parents were very civic minded,” said Davis, whogrew up in Harrison. “As I grew up they were always involved in things but were really quiet about it.”

Taking cues from Mom and Dad, Davis is reluctant to talk about her achievements in and out of the office. She said they were exceptional opportunities that she feels fortunate to have had. They were all part of the job, anyway, she said. She felt it was important for Jacksonville to have a presence on a state and national level and personally took on that role, as a human link and representative.

“I was fortunate to have lots of fingers in different pies,” Davis said. “But they really all had the common thread of impacting the community. I have never gone at this as an 8-to-5 thing. It’s all been encouraging, and I’ve just really enjoyed helping the city in a lot of different venues.”

Davis said she was the one who benefited the most from her professional relationships. When she first became director in 1975, she was the only female parks and recreation director in Arkansas’ five-state region. The networking she had done through her professional organizations gave her support and people to call in times of need.

“I’ve been helped by lots and lots of people along the way,” Davis said.

Now that Davis is again striking off into the unknown - retirement - she can rely on all the relationship-building with Jacksonville residents she’s doneover the years for this new phase of her life. Jacksonville has been home since she graduated with her master’s from the University of Central Arkansas (then State College of Arkansas).

She said it’s a town that feels like home, where it’s easy to be part of the community and meet different kinds of people from different walks of life, developing the different circles of friends she’s met through church, work, civic organizations, etc. Davis said she often describes Jacksonville as a small town with a lot of people.

Those same people are invited to celebrate Davis and her career at a retirement reception Thursday at the communitycenter. Visitors can drop in at any time from 5-7:30 p.m. with warm wishes - and maybe some advice. Right now Davis thinks she’ll try not to work for awhile, maybe travel a little, spend time with her husband, John, and hone her golf game.

“I have never, never not worked,” Davis said. “So I think I’ll kick back and relax for a while. But there was only one time in my whole career that I took two weeks off back to back. So one week, I’ll be able to do, and I think two. But there are some people who are telling me I’m going to go stir crazy within the month. We’ll see.” - awidner@ arkansasonline.commatter of fact Birthdate: April 16, 1947, in Harrison Occupation: Marketing and public relations manager for Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department - until Tuesday, Sept. 30 Family includes: Hubby, John, and Charae, our 11-year-old shepherd-and-Shar-Pei-mix dog Hobbies: Impersonating a golfer and being in our choir at First Baptist Church My name comes from: My grandmothers - Lelah Ann and Sarah Belle. I got “Annabelle” instead of “Sarah Lee.” I claim that is why I am not more domestic Most people don’t know: I was a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines a long, long time ago I cannot live without: Family, of course, and the peace of mind and heart I have through Jesus Christ. Both help get me through life’s challenges When I was young I wanted: To be like my “older” sister, Pollyanna What makes me mad: My own impatience with myself, inconsiderate people and cars without turn signals The person I admire most: My parents - I never heard my parents argue or even raise their voices at one another or anyone else. If they did, it was never in our presence. I suppose that is why I have a difficult time dealing with obstinate people and situations My favorite memories are: A wonderful childhood; Jeep rides in the country; and hunting Christmas trees in the snow then coming back to my grandparents’ house for hot chocolate The world would be a better place if: People were more considerate of one another Favorite quote: “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time,” although I am a list maker to be sure I get things done. My other favorite is: “Good Morning, this is God. I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help. So, have a nice day.” I do, however, think I am supposed to do my part.

Three Rivers, Pages 132, 138 on 08/24/2008