How Two Community Pillars Carry Kindness

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Doug and Nancy Payne. Read their story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

Doug and Nancy Payne, 84 and 83 respectively, have been volunteering together at The Carter Center for more than 20 years, but they have spent their lives helping others. They met as students at Florida State and married right after graduation, Nancy in nursing and Doug in accounting. Doug served in the Air Force before venturing into software and, ultimately, banking. Nancy stayed home with their two daughters before spending her career in public health.

Both are lifelong learners and have spent decades volunteering with multiple educational initiatives for young children. But their service doesn’t end there. After observing a friend’s experience, the couple decided to host a Haitian teenager for 10 months through Childspring (recently merged with World Pediatric Project) while she sought medical treatment in the U.S. And they make a dish each month for a dinner with residents in a women’s in-house addiction recovery program at The Extension.

With their hands in so many initiatives over so much time, Doug and Nancy have become central figures in their community, lending their support to those working towards their potential and to an organization known for its dedication to making the world a safer, healthier place. They are undoubtedly points of light.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

Nancy: We were impressed with what the Carters had done after the presidency and in creating the Carter Center, which helps people around the world, and addresses voting and neglected diseases. So, we called. When we started volunteering, I had just retired and Doug did soon after.

Tell us about your volunteer role with The Carter Center and beyond.

Nancy: There was a wait list, but you could start gardening right away. So, we did. I still garden once a month. Sometimes it’s planting tulips. Sometimes it’s pulling up annuals or picking up sticks. We’re in charge of weeding the Pollinator Garden and working in the Rose Garden. There’s also a Japanese garden with a couple of small lakes and ponds.

We started doing events soon after. They send out a list every month of what’s going on, and we sign up for what we’re able to do. We welcome people, sign them in, answer questions, direct them from one area to another, etc. Just before the pandemic, Doug stopped gardening due to a medical issue, but he’s recovered fully and continues to help with events.

We helped with the funeral proceedings of both the First Lady and, later, the President. We were there getting it set up, during the ceremonies and throughout the whole process. It wasn’t as elaborate for Mrs. Carter, but her remains were there for a period of time. When President Carter passed away, volunteers stayed there all night, because many people came through to pay their respects. Two of our grandchildren helped as well.

Outside of our work at the Carter Center, we hosted a 17-year-old girl with an open cleft lip palette through Childspring. It’s a local organization that brings children over from developing countries who need medical care and finds a volunteer hospital and doctor who will help. They told us she would be with us four to six weeks for the surgery, but when she got here, they found an orthodontist who would put braces on her. So, she was with us for almost a year, and even gardened at the Center.

Doug: We taught her as much English as we could. And we’ve since visited her and stay in touch.
Nancy: She’s in her late 30s now and getting married. We’re just delighted for her.
Doug: We’ve also been volunteering at an afterschool program for kids K through 3 at First Presbyterian Church in Marietta for around eight years.
Nancy: We help the younger kids with their homework once a week for an hour and a half during the school year.
Doug: Everyone is also assigned a child for whom you might buy a birthday gift or give a Valentine’s Day card. Stuff like that. We were with one little girl for six years who is now a junior in high school, doing really well. We’re very proud of her.

Nancy: Now, we have a fourth grader who I babysat as an infant back when her mother was taking English classes.
Doug: I’ve also been volunteering with Wonderful Days Preschool since 2004 as treasurer, secretary and chairman of the board. Raising money is the biggest function along with ensuring we abide by the rules for a 501(c)3. And I read to classes several times a month.

The school was originally one day a week but eventually expanded to five with bilingual teachers when the demographics shifted to children from Spanish-speaking families. We help them learn English and prepare for kindergarten.
Nancy: At one time, Doug and some other instructors were teaching the mothers while the kids were in class. And there were three babysitters, including myself, for the toddlers and babies who weren’t old enough yet.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

Nancy: The Carter Center is so nice to the volunteers, and they have a yearly volunteer lunch and teas. We had a trip down to Plains to visit the Carter farm. The volunteers are also really nice. That’s been a pleasure for us. It’s been helpful to stay active.
Doug: It’s also rewarding to see the kids we work with do well as they progress through their education.

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about?

Doug: I feel good about what I’ve done at The Carter Center, the preschool and the afterschool program. We can see results, and that makes me feel good.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Nancy: Go for it!

What do you want people to learn from your story?

Doug: Just jump in. Start volunteering. I hope they can see that we’ve made a difference.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Doug and Nancy? Find local volunteer opportunities.