The Plant City native has over 35 years of service in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World.
For the last 35 years, Sharon Moody has been running from one volunteer gig to another. A Plant City native, Moody attributes her many involvements to giving back to the community where she grew up — and other community leaders have definitely noticed.
To acknowledge her years of hard work and endless dedication to Plant City, Moody was named the 2016 Citizen of the Year at the award luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The award is given out annually to a Plant City resident who goes above and beyond for the community. Last year’s recipient, W.D. “Dub” McGinnis, presented Moody with her award.
“She creates opportunities for children to succeed,” McGinnis said.
Despite her countless volunteer hours that add up to much more than a full-time job, Moody was stunned when she was named this year’s recipient.
“I’m just so speechless,” Moody said. As a Kiwanis Club member, Moody frequently helps with the Citizen of the Year event. This year she even worked the registration table. She noticed that over the past month many members took over some of her normal jobs, like counting votes.
“They kept it a good secret from me,” Moody said.”
For anyone who so much as glances at the long list of Moody’s service projects and organizations, it comes as no surprise that she was an obvious choice for Citizen of the Year. Currently, Moody is the leadership chair for the Kiwanis Club, where she has an eight-year perfect attendance record. She’s also president and founder of Plant City’s Black Heritage Celebration and a founder and former president of the Plant City Junior League’s Woman Club. Her dedicated efforts to the Plant City community were in full swing last weekend, when she organized a three-day celebration marking Black History Month. The event was complete with a gospel choir, jazz festival and parade.
Her extensive leadership roles don’t end there. She serves on the boards for Code Enforcement, the Christmas Parade and Unity in the Community. She attends almost every local event she can, from Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce breakfasts to dinners supporting the Boy Scouts.
She has a passion for helping others, especially children. From 2004 to 2009, Moody served as the director for the Plant City Boys & Girls Club. She also worked as a teacher’s aide from 1979 to 1981, and was a cheerleading coordinator for the Plant City Colts youth football and cheer teams. Her work with the Plant City Black Heritage Celebration has helped her start a summer reading program for at-risk youth in the community.
Her family, too, is impressed with her volunteer efforts and her desire to give back. Moody raised her children in Plant City, and they were part of the Plant City Colts youth football and cheer teams when Moody was the cheer coordinator.
“I was shocked and excited for her,” Latesa Cohen, Moody’s daughter, said. “I felt she deserved it because she does so much in the community.”
Cohen, along with her husband Renford Cohen and son, Denzel Singelton, were present when Moody was presented with her award.
This isn’t Moody’s first time in the spotlight. Most recently, she was the November 2015 recipient for the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce’s Good Egg award, given out monthly. Through her work in the Kiwanis Club, Moody has received the Kiwanis International President Challenge Award, the Distinguished Lt. Governor Award and the Distinguished President’s Award.
“I always put myself last,” Moody said. “I’m just overjoyed.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.
