Pam Simon, longtime Urbanna Oyster Festival coordinator, has been named grand marshal of the Urbanna Hometown Christmas Parade, set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in downtown Urbanna.
Simon and her husband Walter moved to Norfolk from San Diego, Calif., in 2000. Pam got a job working for a food distributor in the Norfolk area, where she met Randy Coulson, who lived in Urbanna.
Randy encouraged the Simons to move to town and in 2005, Pam applied for a job with the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation. She got the job and has been the only full-time employee working for the foundation ever since.
“I guess I did all right in the interview because I got the job,” she said.
“It’s a good thing the criteria was not to have to like to eat oysters because I can’t eat seafood. I have an allergy to seafood.”
The oyster festival office has been located in the Urbanna town office building for years and Simon has been a cheerleader for the festival and the Town of Urbanna. “Pam is someone we can always count on to help us out here in the office,” said Parade Chairman Michelle Hutton, who is also town treasurer.
“Pam helps the town with the military banner program, decorating the town hall for Christmas, has served as a judge for the Christmas decoration contest for many years and is always there with a helping hand and a smile on her face,” said Hutton.
“She is someone who often goes unnoticed and we wanted to recognize her for all she does behind the scenes to make our town and community a better place,” she said.
“I was stunned when Michelle asked if I would be the grand marshal,” said Simon. “I am extremely honored. Urbanna has been a wonderful home for Walter and me and the festival and town have brought so much joy and purpose to our lives.”
The parade is on Saturday, Dec. 6, and Simon will ride in the grand marshal car in the parade. Festivities will begin around 4:30 p.m. with the annual Festival of Trees lighting at historic Lansdowne at 271 Virginia St. in the center of town. The parade itself will start at 7 p.m. and the parade route will be along Virginia and Cross streets in town.
