Every year around this time, Woolwich Historical Society recognizes a person, couple, or family with its Distinguished Service Award for dedicated volunteerism to the community. Debbie Locke of Days Ferry is this year’s recipient.

“I’ve always considered her the face of our Historical Society,” said Selectman Jason Shaw. “Debbie has worked tirelessly over the years, and I honestly can’t think of anyone more deserving.”

“Debbie's been a longtime steady hand for the Historical Society. Always going above and beyond for anyone who comes to the Museum. She also tends to the important behind the scenes tasks that we take for granted,” added Selectman and District 53 Rep. Allison Hepler.

Reached for comment on Friday, Locke said she was truly humbled in receiving the honor. She was picked by her peers on the Historical Society’s governing board, Hepler and Shaw are members as well. WHS is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the town’s 19th century farmhouse museum beside the town office.

At Wiscasset Newspaper’s asking, Locke shared a few things about her life. She moved to Woolwich at a fairly young age. “I arrived here in 1972,  in fact it was 50 years ago this past summer. That’s when I took a job as a camp counselor at Chop Point, which is where I stayed until I bought my first home on the River Road.” Locke now resides in Days Ferry and just down the road from her first home. Days Ferry overlooks the Kennebec River and is where many of Woolwich’s most historic homes are.

Locke said her career included 12 years with Bath Brunswick Mental Health, now  Sweetser. She worked there as a psychiatric occupational therapist. In 1969, she earned a bachelor of science degree in occupational therapy from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. Locke later changed professions. She became a civil servant working 24 years as a postal clerk at the Woolwich Post Office. Her duties included sorting the day’s mail, waiting on customers at the counter and processing the outgoing mail.

“I’m still working now but just a few days a week as a volunteer. I help with the second and third graders at the Chop Point School here in town,” she continued. The private, interdenominational school for kindergarten through grade 12 sits along the shore of Merrymeeting Bay. She also serves as a board member for Chop Point Inc., which operates a summer camp along with the school.

Locke starts and ends every day with a prayer of thanks. She’s a longtime and active member of North Woolwich Methodist Church on River Road. She also holds a master’s of religious education (MRE) from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. She earned her degree in 1973.

“I feel God has blessed me to live among a wonderful community of people. I look forward to continue serving here and helping in any way I can for many years to come,” said Locke.

Locke stays current on community affairs by attending select board meetings. She’s secretary of the planning board and also part of the committee overseeing maintenance and repair of the 1757 Nequasset Meeting House. “It was Don Lipfert, he’s now deceased, who first asked me to become involved in the Woolwich Historical Society,” she said. She always looks forward to the annual WHS dinner.

“Debbie won’t have to serve as master of ceremonies at this year’s event,” added Selectman Shaw. “She’s handed out our Distinguished Service Award every year since we started doing it and now it’s her turn to be on the receiving end.” This will be the 19th recognition dinner and a special evening for everyone, Shaw said. Montsweag Restaurant on Route 1 will host it in the reception room Saturday, Oct. 15, beginning at 5 p.m. with a social hour and silent auction, to be followed by dinner and the award presentation

Besides Shaw and Hepler, other WHS board members are Shelly Goodkowsky, Tammy Given, Carol Grose, Todd McPhee, Ann Pieczek, Jan Stephens, Nancy Wright and Collette Coombs. Locke is board president. Incoming members are Amanda Montgomery-Martin and Steven Gehnrich.