Sharon Robertson named 2006 Christmas Mother

Sharon Robertson will serve as this year's Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother

As a music teacher, Sharon Robertson was accustomed to the pre-holiday flurry of activity preparing for school concerts and special events. This experience has prepared her well for her new role as the 2006 Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother.

After retiring from her career in music education with Chesterfield County Public Schools, Robertson joined the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother Committee and became co-chair of volunteers. As co-chair, she is instrumental in seeking and organizing volunteers to work at the Christmas Mother Center during the holiday season.

In addition to her work with the Christmas Mother program, Robertson is an active member of Beulah United Methodist Church where she is a choir member, concert pianist, youth mentor and officer of the Wesleyan Stratton Fellowship. She is also a weekly volunteer at St. Francis Hospital. Robertson is a member of the National and Virginia Education Associations, the Chesterfield Retired Teachers Association and the Crenshaw Retired Teachers Club.

She has a bachelor's degree in music education from Greensboro College, and a Master of Guidance and Counseling degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Robertson and her husband, Richard, are 30-year residents of Chesterfield County. They have two married children: son, Rob, and daughter, Kristen.

The Christmas Mother program began in 1972 when Lucy Corr, then director of social services, found she could no longer handle the special needs of those in Chesterfield and Colonial Heights who would not have a Christmas without the help of others. Corr organized a group of volunteers who worked to "ensure that no child in our community be without food, new toys and clothing on Christmas morning."

Over the years, the mission of the Christmas Mother program has expanded to include the elderly and those in nursing homes.

In Robertson's holiday letter to potential supporters, she asks the community to "make the music of giving and sharing" a part of the holidays as they "open" their "hearts to others."

Over the coming months, she will talk with community organizations, businesses and others to enlist support for the Christmas Mother program, which provides new toys, clothing and food to local families in need.

If you wish to invite Robertson to speak to your organization or business, are interested in volunteering or would like further information about the Christmas Mother program, call 748-1183 or 751-4657.

Contributions may be sent payable to the Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother, P.O. Box 2500, Chesterfield, VA 23832.

The Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Christmas Mother program is a 501(c)3 non-profit, charitable organization.