From Scuppernong River Festival

Steve Bryan has been named the recipient of the 2016 Scuppernong River Festival Distinguished Citizen Award. The award is presented annually to a distinguished Columbia or Tyrrell County citizen.

Bryan was selected for the 2016 honor in recognition of his business, professional and civic involvement and contributions to the Town of Columbia and Tyrrell County.

He opened Bryan Funeral Services in Columbia in 2007, since building a modern funeral home on L.A. Keiser Drive and opening another funeral home in Plymouth. He already operated a funeral home in Swan Quarter.

Even before moving to Tyrrell County he helped organize the Greater Tyrrell County Chamber of Commerce. He serves on the River Town Christmas and Scuppernong River Festival organizing committees. He chairs the Tyrrell County Library Friends of the Library board. He is a fixture in and around Columbia where he serves as Lay Pastor of the Columbia Christian Church and is in active leadership of the Tyrrell County Ministerial Association.

The Distinguished Citizen Award is given for lifetime or special service to the community through civic, cultural, service, church, volunteer, business, professional, elected or other dedicated and committed contributions to the town and county.

The award is normally presented during the Scuppernong River Festival, but this year Hurricane Matthew had a different idea and the festival was cancelled. This delayed the award presentation, which was made by Virginia Voliva, widow of W. Braxton Voliva who was last year’s recipient.

Presented annually since 2004, recipients have included Carlisle Harrell, Barbara Spencer, George G. Owens, Sr., Shelton Ludford, David and Fiono Finch, Frances Voliva, Philip E. House, Sr., Joseph B. Wynns, Dr. Alan Brickhouse, Janie Spencer and

Thomas W. Spruill and W. Braxton Voliva.