WILLIAMSBURG — Williamsburg City Council announced that Jim Joseph had been selected as the inaugural honoree of the Williamsburg Mace Bearer’s Award prior to the premiere of the State of the City video at the Stryker Center Thursday evening.
Named for the Mace of the City, a Colonial-era artifact now part of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s museum collections, the city said the Williamsburg Mace Bearer’s Award honors individuals or groups who have made a lasting, positive impact on the City of Williamsburg community — beyond the expectations of their employment or professional roles.
Joseph was recognized for his role with the Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg (NCW), founded in 2001 by Mayor Jeanne Zeidler and Council Member George Genakos to improve communication between the city council, government and neighborhoods. The city cited his enlistment of neighborhoods, recruitment of speakers and structuring of monthly meetings as helping to quickly establish the organization as a vital resource for residents.
“For the past 21 years, Jim Joseph has dedicated his time, energy, and expertise to the Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg to the greater benefit of the Williamsburg community,” Mayor Douglas Pons said. “His leadership from the very beginning shaped this group into an invaluable resource for city residents and city government. Because of his efforts, our residents are better informed and engaged, and our elected officials and city staff are more responsive to residents’ needs.”
The 86-year-old moved to the City of Williamsburg in 1996 with his wife, Marjorie. From 2007-12, he served on the City of Williamsburg Planning Commission. Joseph was also a member of a committee tasked to find a use for the former site of the Williamsburg Community Hospital and served on a committee to solve problems and enhance communications with William & Mary.
He is also a member of the Cedar Grove Historical Society and volunteers for Cedar Grove Cemetery to repair the American flags used at Memorial and Veterans Day flag-setting ceremonies, and established the Marjorie C. Joseph Scholarship Fund through the Williamsburg Community Foundation following his wife’s death in 2016.
“With Jim as the inaugural member, we are building a society of mace bearers who embody the values of One Williamsburg and carry this honor with them wherever they go,” Pons said.
