Lillian Aylor: One of Aging Together’s Five Over Fifty
Don’t let Lillian Aylor’s small stature and quiet voice fool you. When she sees a need she starts working on it until something has been accomplished. In 2013 Aylor was recognized as Rappahannock Citizen of the year for the many and varied ways in which she has contributed to the community. The headline in the Rappahannock News announcing her award summed it up: “Lillian Aylor: I’ll do it.”
Now she’s been nominated for Aging Together’s Five Over Fifty Award, which recognizes the work and community impact of five individuals, one from each of the five counties served by Aging Together—Rappahannock, Fauquier, Culpeper, Orange, and Madison. Aylor and the other awardees will be honored on Saturday, April 16 at the State Theatre in Culpeper.
A caretaker to many, even when she was in need herself, a doer, someone concerned about bridging the past and the future are all reasons Lilian Aylor was nominated for the award.
Aylor’s contributions to the community include serving as secretary of the Rappahannock Convalescent Loan Closet, Sperryville-Piedmont electoral official, captain of the “Spiritual Walkers” Relay for Life team, treasurer of the Rappahannock Historical Society and vice president of the Scrabble School Preservation Foundation.
She also has served on fundraising and steering committees and as a mentor for the Headwaters Foundation; raised money door-todoor for the American Red Cross and volunteered with the Rappahannock unit of the American Heart Association, serving as its president and vice president. She also has been a vice chair of the Rappahannock Democratic Committee. If that wasn’t enough she created and continues to support the Boddie scholarship program.
But if you ask Aylor about being a leader in the county, she instantly begins to shake her head no. She sees herself as just one of many who work together to make things happen. When told that she would be given one of Aging Together’s Five Over Fifty awards this year she asked an unsurprising question: “What about the other people who do so much?”
Aylor credits her family’s values, instilled in her while growing up, for what motivates her to do so much. She also loves Rappahannock County. When work has taken her away to places like Washington, D.C., she’s always been happy to return to this area. She would like to see Rappahannock as a place where children can and want to stay as they grow up. And she remembers the time when more people of color lived in the county and owned homes and farms.
No matter what she is talking about, Aylor always finds a way back to her own children and her grandchildren, sharing their successes, their individual interests and gifts. She has been documenting her family’s history with several collaborators and hopes to have it published in the near future. Her story is a picture of a life lived through much change, some loss, and hard work. But she remains optimistic and says she’s slowed down a little, although it’s clear that she’s still giving back a lot.
She doesn’t do all the work she does for recognition. She does it because she loves it here and wants to make this a better place for people now and in the future. And that’s what’s at heart of the Five Over Fifty recognition.
Honorees from the other counties include Joan Proctor from Culpeper, Karen Hughes White from Fauquier, Jack and John Fray from Madison, and Robert Hall from Orange.
The award ceremony is Saturday, April 16 at the State Theatre in Culpeper. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., and awards will be presented at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.agingtogether.org and include a ticket to the State Theatre’s concert which is an evening of music by Johnny and June Carter Cash.
When told that she would be given one of Aging Together’s Five Over Fifty awards this year Aylor asked an unsurprising question: “What about the other people who do so much?”