Sheriff Mike Taylor Recognized at Lee-Yardley Day

10/6/2017

Chatham Hall

On October 3, 2017, Chatham Hall recognized its 31st annual Lee-Yardley Day by presenting the Alice Overbey Award to Sheriff Mike Taylor of Chatham, VA.

This award is presented each year to a member of the Chatham community who has “done the most for Chatham Hall,” contributing in such a way to promote and help Chatham Hall’s mission.

Lee-Yardley Day is so named to recognize two former Rectors of the School, Dr. Edmund J. Lee and Dr. William Yardley; whose combined years of leadership lasted 43 years and transformed Chatham Hall. The back-to-back tenures of these two distinguished Rectors built the school to a position of national prominence in independent education that continues today under the leadership of Rector Suzanne Walker Buck. Dr. Edmund J. Lee served as chaplain and headmaster from 1928 to 1949. The Lee Library at Chatham Hall is named for Dr. Lee and his wife Lucy. Dr. William Yardley, for whom the school building containing the dining hall and dormitory is named, was chaplain and headmaster from 1949 to 1971.

Lee-Yardley Day is an enduring opportunity to recognize stewardship and celebrate those who have contributed to the continued success of Chatham Hall. The Alice Overbey Award is named in honor of former Chatham resident Mrs. Alice Overbey, who served Chatham Hall as the Assistant Bursar, Business Manager, and Assistant to the Director of Development. For twenty-six years, Alice Overbey was a good steward of the school’s finances and a steadfast champion of its employees. Overbey, who passed away last year, loved the sanctity of St. Mary’s Chapel, and a new chapel sign has been given by her daughter, Terry Stafford '68, in her memory. Terry was in attendance at the service and accepted a design of the sign on behalf of her mother.

The annual award recognizes those whose contributions to the Chatham Hall community echo her legacy, and this year’s award was presented to Sheriff Mike Taylor. Taylor has been sheriff of Pittsylvania County since 2008 and has supported many school endeavors over that time. He has been a friend of Chatham Hall, always understanding the needs of the school, and demonstrating exceptional professionalism and care.

Taylor is a member of the Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Danville, the Boys & Girls Club, The Kentuck Volunteer Fire Department, The Danville Community College Criminal Justice Board, The Piedmont Regional Academy Justice Training Board, and serves on the Board of Deacons of Saint Mark Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was also elected to serve as the Region 2 representative for the Virginia Sheriff’s Association Region 2 on the legislative committee for the Sheriff’s Association.

During a dedicated service in St. Mary’s Chapel Tuesday, Suzanne Walker Buck, Chatham Hall’s Rector, praised Taylor’s work and remarked “Sheriff Mike Taylor is a leader. He is a law enforcement officer who has dedicated his professional life to protecting the community in which he serves. A selfless man, he cares first and foremost about the well-being of others.”

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