The passing of County Commissioner Nancy Hyder and Board of Education member Anita Hale has left those governing bodies with more than empty chairs.
Both retired educators, Hyder and Hale passed away within weeks of one another. The compassion each brought to her office was obvious from the start.
Because they opened their hearts to public service, they unselfishly gave the rest of us the opportunity to see why their students cherished them.
Hyder took over the County Commission seat from her father almost 40 years ago. As she sat on various committees and joined her fellow commissioners in legislating, she was a fount of knowledge and wisdom who wasn’t afraid to make things happen.
One of the more recent causes she championed was Cumberland County High School’s Jets Auditorium that opened last year. She reminded her fellow commissioners and the public that the school had been promised the addition since 1962, and she let everyone know that she intended to see to it that the can would not be kicked down the road again. Because of this, we believe it would be appropriate to name it the CCHS Nancy Hyder Jets Auditorium.
Hale never lost sight of those she served. Her background gave her keen perspective into the educators and students, and she loved them mightily. Teachers and administrators alike knew they had a friend who tirelessly advocated for them.
Both were devoted to making Cumberland County better, even as they battled their personal health issues. Hyder had qualified to run for re-election as an independent candidate in August. Hale had two more years on her term when she made the difficult decision to step down. Her resignation was to take effect May 1.
We convey our deepest condolences to the Hyder and Hale families.
To paraphrase Matthew 25:21: “Well done, good and faithful servants.”
— Crossville Chronicle