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Volunteering at the Grady County History Museum
CAIRO – Sisters Jessica Allen and Brooklyn Gentry, missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, probably know more about the history of Grady County than the average life-long resident.
The missionaries volunteer at the Grady County History Museum in Cairo several times a week and lend a hand wherever they are needed.
Sisters Gentry and Allen flank Grady County History Museum Director Don Nickerson.
“The young ladies are wonderful,” said Don Nickerson, museum director. “They help us out in any way we need them,” he said.
The volunteer service is part of the 18-month mission the pair are serving in southern Georgia and northwest Florida.
Allen, who hails from Monument, Colorado, said she enjoys meeting people and learning about the history of the area. Allen was originally called to serve in the Zimbabwe Harare mission but was reassigned back to the U.S. due to the pandemic.
Gentry, who is from Castle Rock, Colorado, said she likes giving back to the community.
“One of the best parts of missionary work is getting to serve people in the community. Volunteering at the museum is a good way to do that,” she said.
Sisters Brooklyn Gentry and Jessica Allen
The Grady County History Museum at 101 N. Broad Street is free to the public and open from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10-2 p.m. on Saturdays.
The museum features African American and Native American exhibits, a vintage barbershop, operating model trains that circle a replica of Cairo, and furniture from some of the pioneering businesses in Grady County.
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make volunteer service a regular part of their schedule. The church as a whole is dedicated to providing service in the community and is a sponsor of JustServe.org, a website where community organizations and volunteers can be matched.
