Gail Lyons has separate binders for all of the organizations she’s involved in throughout the Winter Strawberry Capital of the World — and there’s a lot of them.
“I call them my bibles,” Lyons said. “I like to make my life have meaning and purpose. I like to better the community by participating and staying busy.”
Lyons, a native of Lake City, South Carolina, moved to Plant City in 1993. As the vice president and branch manager of Regions Bank on Thonotosassa Road, Lyons has made both a career and a pastime out of helping everyone she can. The same can be said of her late husband, Gene. A Plant City businessman, he encouraged Lyons to get involved in the community she calls home.
“He gave me Plant City,” she said.
Banking on Service
Lyons majored in criminal justice in college. Her first post-graduate job was working as a bank teller at MacDill Credit Union. She fell in love with the banking industry and continued to climb the ranks before moving into the branch side of the banking operation. As part of her job, she enjoys helping people make smart financial decisions.
“I enjoy helping people,” she said. “I enjoy doing what’s right for people and making their life better by offering financial guidance and education and helping them meet their goals. I love my job. I love the people I work with. I like knowing that I’m going to come to work in a community that’s like a family.”
While she works traditional hours during the day, Lyons dedicates the rest of her time to continued service in the community — something Regions encourages in all of the company’s employees.
“I don’t have anything to do at night,” Lyons said. “I love to give them myself. I knew when I was building my business in this community that I had to get involved to get people to know me. I’m passionate about everything I do, and that’s what drives me. I try to make things better for my staff, for the community and for our customers.”
What's In the Binders
Lyons has become a fixture on committees in Plant City. In March, she can be found with a megaphone in hand as she leads the Florida Strawberry Festival’s Grand Parade. Weeks before that event, she works around the clock to make the Florida Strawberry Festival Queen’s Scholarship Pageant a success. She serves as the co-chair of the pageant with Kerri Gafford.
“I like to motivate others to get involved as well,” Lyons said. “And I can’t say no. (For the queen’s pageant) we are planning the whole production. I like getting to know all the girls that participate. Those are friendships that still go on today, even if they don’t make the court. Fourteen hundred people usually attend.”
Her involvements extend past March and throughout the year. She is a past president of the Plant City Lions Club and was named president of the Friends of the Bruton Memorial Library board in September. Additionally, she serves on the Diamonds and Denim Committee, is a member of the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce and is the secretary of the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum.
She also assists with making the Celebrity Chef Dinner, an annual fundraiser for the United Food Bank of Plant City, a success year after year.
“When I go to bed and I can say, ‘Hey, I made somebody’s life better today,’ I reached my goal,” Lyons said.
Despite her many involvements, Lyons enjoys unwinding on Sunday afternoons, which she considers her relaxation time. When she’s not volunteering, she can be found spending time with her friends and family on the lake, at the beach or at First United Methodist Church of Plant City. Her daughter, Jennifer Chamberlain, and grandson, Tanner, both live in Plant City.
“Plant City wraps their arms around you,” she said. “I’m surrounded by friends that love and support me.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.