WILLIAMSBURG — The Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce announced Jeanne Zeidler and Jim Golden as the Grand Marshals for the 2025 Rockin’ Retro Christmas Parade.
According to the chamber, Zeidler grew up in Milwaukee and earned her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison before moving to Williamsburg in 1971 to pursue an M.A. in history education. Her career includes more than two decades as Director of the Hampton University Museum, followed by leadership roles with Colonial Williamsburg, service as Executive Director of the Jamestown 2007 Commemoration, and tenure as President and CEO of the Williamsburg Health Foundation.
Zeidler also served on the WJCC School Board and on the Williamsburg City Council for sixteen years, including twelve years as mayor. Her nonprofit leadership includes serving as president of the Williamsburg Rotary Club, chair of the Chamber and Tourism Alliance, Williamsburg Landing, and the Peninsula Agency on Aging. She has also served on the boards of the Williamsburg Community Foundation and the Let Freedom Ring Foundation.
The City of Williamsburg announced City Council will honor Zeidler with the 2025 Williamsburg Mace Bearer’s Award in recognition of her service to the community at the One Williamsburg Holiday Reception Dec. 11.
Golden is a retired Army brigadier general and former William & Mary Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, according to the chamber. He earned his B.S. at the U.S. Military Academy and a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University. His 31-year Army career included field artillery service in Oklahoma and Colorado and with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam. He later chaired the Department of Social Sciences at West Point and served intermittently as a senior staff economist on the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. After retiring from the Army, Jim held senior executive roles at Tenneco Corporation in Connecticut before relocating to Williamsburg in 1999.
Like Zeidler, Golden has been an active community leader, serving on several local boards, including as chair of the Williamsburg Health Foundation, the Chamber and Tourism Alliance and Williamsburg Landing.
Both Zeidler and Golden have been recognized for their significant contributions to Williamsburg, the chamber noted. Each has received the William & Mary Prentis Award and the Chamber’s Roll of the Drum Award for exemplary community service. Golden was also named an honorary alumnus of William & Mary in 2024.
After losing spouses of nearly 50 years in 2020 and 2021, Zeidler and Golden married in 2024 and share six children, fourteen grandchildren. They have a deep love for their life in Williamsburg, the chamber said, beginning each day with a morning walk through Colonial Williamsburg.
“We are honored to announce Jeanne and Jim as our Grand Marshals for our parade. They both have been longstanding pillars in our community for a number of years and we are happy to have them be recognized in our parade,” said Terry Banez, CEO of the Greater Williamsburg Chamber of Commerce.
