In the heart of Sussex County’s Jarratt, Virginia, the inspiration of community legacy has risen from the halls of a forgotten school. The Millard and Florence Stith Community Center, which opened its doors in fall 2022, is a transformative project spearheaded by Southside Virginia leaders and the Community Coalition of Sussex. Making use of the old Jefferson Elementary School at 9436 Mayes Street, the center is a testament to the power of collaboration and the enduring spirit of communal investment.
A volunteer-led organization, the Community Coalition of Sussex is dedicated to improving its community’s well-being and operates with a mission to empower Southside Virginia residents. Originally founded in 2012, the Coalition is led by Robert Hamlin and Pete Stith of Sussex County, along with an immersed board of directors.
While the Coalition has been engaged in various methods of support throughout the last decade, the board of directors has designated a more finite mission in bringing the Millard and Florence Stith Community Center to life over the next several years. Since purchasing the once abandoned school in early 2019, the Coalition has coordinated significant improvements to the property with the assistance of donors, local craftspeople, and community members.
The 7.5-acre property is conveniently located on Route 301, providing ease of access for the community from I-95. Spanning an impressive 25,000 SF and originally constructed in the 1960s, the building’s footprint is comprised of two wings. One wing will be used primarily for childcare services and has already seen extensive remodeling, including a refinished ceiling and new vinyl flooring in several classrooms.
Its counterpart wing, while still in need of remodeling, is already home to the center’s business incubator program. Several of its semi-refinished classrooms have been claimed by local entrepreneurs who host worship sessions, mental enrichment classes, and gun safety training to name a few. The wing will also be home to an indoor exercise space, library and media room, and full-service commercial kitchen upon completion.
The center’s outdoor amenities spaces are also under remodel, and a walking trail, exercise station, community garden, and pavilion have all been constructed to date. Recreation areas will include a newly built tennis court and updates to the existing basketball court. Plans for additional outdoor amenities have yet to be determined, but the Coalition is open to community suggestions.
Robert Hamlin, the center’s executive director, hails from Sussex. After working as a Super Chief for Norfolk Southern Railroad out of Roanoke, Virginia for several decades, Hamlin retreated to his home county in search of a significant way to invest in his local community during retirement.
“I think we have proven that being in rural America doesn’t mean that folks can’t or shouldn’t have access to necessary public engagement,” Hamlin said. “The notion that nothing can be done for rural folk because we don’t have the density of corporations and foundations—we’re showing that to be not true,” Hamlin said.
Hamlin was elected to the Coalition’s board of directors in 2013, where he was first introduced to Stith. Since, the two have been inseparable friends, colleagues, and agents of the organization’s mission. “This really is an extension of our belief in the community and all it has to offer,” Hamlin continued.
Hamlin visits the building nearly every day to oversee its remodel. Currently, restoration efforts are focused on replacing lighting, reconfiguring electrical conduits, and refinishing the corridors and classrooms, most of which Hamlin is contracting with local artisans, an extension of his embracing the robust talent that exists in the surrounding community.
“The center aims to preserve the historic school’s structure while engaging the public,” said Pete Stith, who heads the Coalition’s fundraising efforts. Stith, also originally from Sussex County, served four Virginia Governors in office before serving Chesterfield County in the Parks and Recreation Department and eventually as the Deputy County Administrator for Development. His service to the Sussex community is a testament to his roots in the region, and the center, named for his parents, is a continuation of that legacy.
“We aren’t asking for support from the community without promising anything in return,” Pete continued. “Our goal is to create a hub that serves the needs of our communities, and that comes from reciprocal efforts from the Coalition, community members, and corporate and individual donors.”
Since its inception, the Coalition has given back to the local community through safe trunk or treating during Halloween, a backpack drive for schoolchildren, and food security efforts, including its most recent Thanksgiving event on November 19 this year that delivered 160 prepared dinners to local residents. The completion of the community center will alleviate some of the stresses the Coalition has encountered throughout its lifetime by providing safe, clean spaces for the organization to continue its work.
The center’s renovations are made possible by a variety of local charitable organizations, individuals, state grants, and corporate contributions, including Dominion Energy, PMG Industries, the Millard and Florence Stith Family Fund, Christians United Congregation, the Greensville Memorial Foundation, and Timmons Group, among others.
“When we were approached by our colleagues to help impact the work that the Coalition is doing, we knew our contribution could benefit the community in a thoughtful way,” said. Vince Doherty, chief financial officer at Timmons Group. “Supporting our community through the right hands that will create tangible and long-lasting solutions—that is a meaningful way to engage with our region,” Doherty said.
The Coalition is still seeking funds to bring the center’s vision to fulfillment. Current needs include an HVAC system, renovation of the commercial kitchen and cafeteria, and an upgrade to the electrical system.
As the center maintains its transformational journey, it stands as a beacon of hope, breaking barriers and shaping a legacy that goes beyond the brick and mortar of a once forgotten school. The collaboration between the Community Coalition of Sussex and the broader region showcases that something profound can be achieved when a rural community comes together with a shared vision for lasting impact.
