10 • Thursday, July 26, 2012
Life
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
Displaying a rendering of the new track at Vestavia Hills Elementary Central are from left: Ansley Kirkpatrick, Maggie Ball, Hunter Smyth, Mary Katherine Smyth, Coleman Petway and Connor Petway. The new track will be named after the late Shawntel Dixon Jones, right, who was an avid volunteer in Vestavia Hills schools. Photos special to the Journal
Something for Shawntel
F
By Laura McAlister • Journal Editor
Friends Remember Vestavia Hills Volunteer with Fundraiser for New Track
After some praying and research, Ball learned about a group of women at Central riends of Shawntel Dixon Jones describe the mother of three who were trying to raise funds for a track. She knew her friend Shawntel would have as someone who was always ready to lend a helping hand in spite of her busy schedule, which included her boys’ ball and wanted to help in some way, and now she will be. Next month, the community will come together to celebrate the life of Shawntel swim practices and volunteer work with Vestavia Hills city while also raising funds for the new track at Central, which will be named after schools. Shawntel. “She was always the person you called if you wanted To raise the $50,000 it will cost to build the track, the community is hosting the anything,” said friend and Vestavia parent Janet Ball. “If inaugural Shawntel Dixon Jones 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run Aug. 25 at 8 a.m. starting at you needed a sitter, she’d say, ‘Bring the kids over, no probVestavia Hills High School. The fun run will lem.’” be at the high school track. The 5K route is Shawntel The Shawntel Dixon Jones 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run will be still being determined. unexpectedly Aug. 25 at Vestavia Hills High School. For more information Ball and Janet Olsen, another of passed away in or to register visit www.active.com and search Shawntel’s friends and a Vestavia parent, August 2011 at “Shawntel Dixon Jones.” said they felt that even though the Jones age 40. At her children aren’t enrolled in Central this comfuneral service ing year, Shawntel would have wanted to at Covenant help in the efforts to build the track. It’s been needed at the school for years, they said. Presbyterian Church, a lattice board was set up showing the many community and “She was so involved in hands-on community work,” Olsen said. “This is really just a school-related activities with which Shawntel was involved. call to honor that.” She and husband Walter were very active in youth sports through their three Five laps around the track will equal one mile, and there will be three fields in the children, Dixon, Nathan and Mims. Shawntel also served on the Parent Teacher middle of it. The track will be open to the community. Organizations of Pizitz Middle School, Vestavia Hills Elementary Central School and So far, the community has been quick to respond to help build the track and honor Vestavia Hills Elementary East, where she was PTO president. Shawntel. Some $42,000 has been raised through corporate and family race sponsorships. It was in looking back at the lasting impact Shawntel had on her community and For information on sponsorships, email ForShawntel@gmail.com. For information on family that her friends decided they had to do something to memorialize her. registration, visit http://www.active.com/running/vestavia-hills-al/shawntel-dixon-jones“I truly prayed about it,” Ball said. “I felt for a long time I wanted to do something 5k-and-fun-run-2012. ❖ in her memory.”