Trailblazing Curry set to retire
Tammy Curry has been a fixture at the City of Lexington Parks and Recreation Department for almost 27 years. {Contributed photo}
Over the last 26 years, if you’ve been to an event sponsored by the City of Lexington Parks and Recreation Department, the probability of Tammy Curry having some involvement in it is common. Often a person of high visibility at most events, Curry is preparing to embrace a life away from the constant spotlight. She is retiring on December 30.
“I plan to take off some time and rest my mind and body, first.”
The Lexington native began working for the city on January 30, 1995 as a secretary for the Parks and Recreation Department (its first full-time African American employee). Curry credits skills she learned at Lexington Senior High School (LSHS) with helping her secure the position.
“When I was a senior, they had a work study program. Mrs. Helen Long, my teacher at the time, suggested I work outside of school and earn money since I had all my credits. I excelled at secretarial procedures and typing. She recommended me to type test for [former mayor of Lexington] Mr. V.G. Price [then the social studies teacher]. I worked at the city for a couple of hours every day. I knew if I ever got the opportunity, I wanted to work here. It wasn’t until Andy Hedrick was human resources director that I was given the opportunity to be considered.”
Curry is pictured with former Teens in Action participants. {Contributed photo/Lexington Parks & Recreation Facebook Page}
Since, she’s been promoted to Program Coordinator II, Program Coordinator, Program Director and her current position, Program and Events Coordinator. Leaning into her love for planning and logistics, Curry has launched, spearheaded and been involved in a plethora of events and clubs over the years, including the Fantastic Fourth Celebration, Southside Senior Citizen Club, Tweens/Teens in Action, summer day camps, Females in Fitness, the community garden, Teen Flashlight Egghunt, Mother/Son Superhero Date Night, Father-Daughter Dance and Drive-In Bingo to name a few. Her involvement in various offerings with the department is in the hundreds. However, it’s her diligent work to lead the charge behind Lexington’s most diverse event, the Multicultural Festival, that’s earned Curry recognition throughout the county and beyond.
The 1979 LSHS graduate credits former Parks and Recreation director, the late Bruce Davis, with being the brains behind the idea. Desiring to have a space where people could come together to learn about one another, Davis sought the help of the department’s employees to bring the dream to fruition.
The Parade of Nations kicks off the start of the Multicultural Festival. {Contributed photo/Lexington Parks & Recreation Facebook Page}
“He [Bruce] wanted to make sure that people learned about other cultures. By doing so, they would have some understanding of who we are and how much we are alike. My goal, at the time, was to get families involved because that was key. I formed a Multicultural Planning Committee comprised of community volunteers of all social economics. I asked if I could incorporate amusements and get schools and churches actively participating. Once you have the children participating the families are going to come.”
The festival began in 1996. Initially held at Finch Park, it focuses on five cultural areas: Native American, African American, Latino, Asian and European. Each culture has a separate village within the festival where sights, sounds and interactive demonstrations are plentiful. During the early years of the festival, a smaller version was held at LSHS annually. It has since been discontinued.
Many cultures are represented through dance at the annual Multicultural Festival. {Contributed photo/Lexington Parks & Recreation Facebook Page}
In 2016, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary and the fact the festival had outgrown its original location, it was relocated to Uptown Lexington. Now held at Breeden Amphitheater and the grass lot on E. 3rd Ave. (behind the Edward C. Smith Center), the festival is entering its 24th year. It has been canceled the past two years due to COVID-19.
Curry, a mother of three and grandmother of seven, has been instrumental in the festival’s growth. Often channeling ideas while she travels, the longtime events planner enjoys implementing some of the things she’s seen over the years.
“In the past, I visited all types of cultural events. My husband [Keith] and I would be on vacation and something would catch my eye. The Butterfly Arts Initiative came from a statue I saw in Florida. I researched it and asked permission to use the idea. A local Boy Scout unit made the first butterflies and Davidson County [now Davidson-Davie] Community College made them subsequently. My mind was always coming up with ideas. I hope the festival eventually gets so big that it’s held on Main St. and in the Depot District as a multiple day event where schools are traveling to Lexington from across the state.”
While many give credit to Curry for the festival’s evolution, she’ll quickly react to share the accolades with her team of volunteers and various city departments. Not only as it pertains to the Multicultural Festival but the countless events she’s held for over two decades.
“I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all I have without the support of volunteers, youth or adults. Volunteers don’t have to show up, don’t get paid, but they come back year after year supporting every endeavor. I try to treat them as kind as possible, give them as much control as they need or want and help where needed. The Public Grounds Department as well as other city departments worked very hard making the Multicultural Festival happen. I would feed the Public Grounds Department so they would know just how much I appreciated all the hard work they put in to setting up all the special events and festivals I held. I really enjoyed working with them. My favorite thing was coordinating the Volunteer and Sponsor Appreciation Dinner. I wanted to make sure our volunteers felt special when they entered the doors through aesthetics, professional jazz musicians, food and gifts. I put a lot of heart and soul into that event. It was more than just decorating a facility; I wanted everyone to know we genuinely appreciated them.”
Curry took great pride in creating an atmosphere of appreciation at the yearly Volunteer and Sponsor Appreciation Dinner. {Contributed photo/Lexington Parks & Recreation Facebook Page}
Laura Duran, parks and recreation director, believes Curry’s dedication to the community is evident through her actions.
Curry was recognized at a city council earlier this month for her service to the city and community. Duran holds a plaque which was presented to Curry. {Contributed photo/Tammy Curry}
“She has touched countless lives through her programs and events. Each one has reflected her care for the community - be it the Multicultural Festival to bring together various cultures, a trip to a museum to expose children to new ideas or a walking club to improve the health of seniors. Mrs. Curry has a true gift for event planning that adds class and style to any event or program. She has given so much of herself to this organization and for the betterment of recreational opportunities for the community and for each individual participating.”
Both Scott Patterson and KP Kilpatrick, former parks and recreation employees, credit Curry with being instrumental in their lives. Patterson called her kind, considerate and “everything right about being a great civil servant and person.” Humble, caring and generous are words Kilpatrick used to describe his friend.
Kayla McLean Thompson, a ninth-grade math teacher in Durham and Lexington native, praised Curry for the impact she’s had on her life.
“Ms. Tammy has played a major role in my life. She gave me my first opportunity to show off my leadership skills by hiring me as a summer camp counselor in my young adult life. Her expectations of us were always clear, precise and consistent. As an educator, when dealing with children, I now truly understand the importance of consistency she instilled in us. She led by example with love. Even when she had to give you a hard time, it always came from a genuine and loving place. She only wanted us to be successful in life. And for that, I am forever grateful!”
In her immediate future, Curry plans go to the J. Smith Young YMCA a few times a week, volunteer at Southwest Elementary and eat lunch with her granddaughter at school. She will be working through her company, Elegant Events, with her niece, NeKisha. They will be providing a variety of services for weddings, corporate events, baby reveals, baby showers, engagements, birthdays, retirement events, etc.
As her final day as a city of Lexington employee approaches, Curry reflects on her tenure.
“I spent the first 20 years of my career as the only full-time employee of color. There are challenges to being the only person of color in the workplace. With the hiring of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager for the city of Lexington, I hope that will change and the city workforce will begin to resemble Lexington. I’ve enjoyed making a difference in people’s lives through programming and events. My love for crafts started as a young girl attending a city of Lexington summer program when I lived in Southside Village. There’s so many wonderful people in our community and I’ll miss connecting with them.”
