|
Melba B. Hastings
1997 Citizen of the Year - Melba B. Hastings
The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor the 1997 Citizen of the Year, Ms. Melba B. Hastings.
The Delmar area is not new to Ms. Hastings. At 73, Ms. Hastings has resided in Delmar her entire life. In fact, she has lived in her present home on East East Street for the past 51 years. Her father, R. Vernon Baker, was from Pocomoke, and her mother, Lillie Mae Shockley, was from Pittsville/Whitesville area.
Ms. Hastings married Carlton J. Hastings in 1944. Mr. Hastings served in the Air Force during World War II. Their son, James Robert Hastings, was born in 1945 and they were blessed with a daughter, Joan Lescallette, in 1963. James lives in New Jersey and is a research director for Exxon, while Joan lives nearby and is a pharmacy supervisor for Super-G in Salisbury. Ms. Hastings is a grandmother of two, Heather Seibar - stationed at Ft. Polk, Louisiana, and Timothy Hastings - a senior at Tecas A&M.
Ms. Hastings has been as active member of the First Baptist Church for 50 years teaching Sunday School. Since her children were in public schools for 35 years, she has served in all capacities from Homeroom Teacher to the PTA.
When Ms. Hastings graduated from Delmar High in 1941, she went to work at Banks & Pusey Pant Factory on Chestnut Street for approximately five years sewing buttons on pants for the Army. She then went to work at Elite Cleaners on First Street for about 15 years where she learned to do alterations.
Carlton Hastings died in 1968, leaving Ms. Hastings to raise five-year-old Joan, and prompting her to start working from home. She "started doing favors for friends, and friends became friends and friends became friends". She did not want to create a large business and has always charged just enough to maintain a modest life. In fact, Ms. Hastings credits Mary Triglia, the mother of last year's recipient of the Citizen of the Year award, with teaching her about sharing. "Mary loved me and taught me kindness and community and thoughtfulness," she stated. Ms. Hastings tries to remember other people by making food for them, and she says she is rewarded many times over because they will prepare items for her.
Ms. Hastings would like children to "love each other regardless of differences, set your goals and do your best." She also feels parents should keep their children in some sort of religious setting and that it is up to the schools to provide a foundation for children that make them proud to be Americans.
Ms. Hasting's life has revolved around church and school, and sewing has been a big part of it. She does the Little League sewing free of charge, and has sewed the High School Band and Cheerleaders uniforms free. She has sewn for the Delaware and Maryland State Police, the Wicomico County Sheriff's Department, and the Police Departments for Delmar, Laurel and Salsibury. Following the funeral for Trooper Eddie Plank, the Salsibury Police Department asked her to sew 150 black bands for the police funerals.
Ms. Hastings is committed to helping others, and intends to help children do their homework when she is no longer able to sew. Ms. Hastings is a perfect example that the people performing community service in the background are just as vital as those who perform it in the foreground. The Greater Delmar Chamber of Commerce is proud to honor Ms. Melba Hastings in 1997!
|