Laurens County Museum Gala Marks 20 Years of Preserving History

Event highlights two decades of growth while emphasizing the vital role of members and supporters.

The Laurens County Museum celebrated a milestone on Saturday evening with its 20th Anniversary Gala, held in the Magnolia Room of the museum. The sold-out event brought together community members, sponsors, and supporters for an evening of music, fine dining, and celebration of the institution’s growth and achievements.

The evening began with beautiful pre-gala piano music by Marion Nee, setting a welcoming tone as guests arrived. Attendees enjoyed dinner, a lively silent auction featuring 48 donated items and services, and a raffle offering the unique opportunity to view the Laurens Christmas Parade from the museum’s new conference room with hot chocolate and cookies.

Representative Mark Willis, who has long supported the museum, served as Master of Ceremonies, while Laurens Mayor Nathan Senn delivered a champagne toast to honor the museum’s 20th year. Founding Board Member and first Board President James Gambrell joined current Board Chair Teresa Noble in ceremonially cutting the anniversary cake with a historic military sword from the museum’s collection.

The evening also included a special moment of recognition for longtime volunteer Debbie Vaughn, who was honored with a resolution of thanks from the board in appreciation of her years of dedicated service.

Guests later filled the dance floor to the sounds of The Sweet Soul Party Band, whose music energized attendees across generations.

Honoring Volunteers and Staff

In her remarks, Board Chair Teresa Noble reflected on the “magic” of how the museum operates—thanks to the dedication of staff, volunteers, board members, and supporters.

“It made me think about how this museum works. It’s magic! Artifacts get catalogued, funds go in the bank, exhibits appear, the building gets repaired, research happens, and on and on.”
— Teresa Noble, Chair of the Laurens County Museum Association Board

Noble gave special recognition to the museum’s small but talented staff—Executive Director Connie Post, Designer and Facilities Manager Chris Pennington, and Administrative Assistant Darleen Timmerman—praising them for making it seem as if the museum had a staff of twenty. She also highlighted the vital contributions of volunteers, who logged over 4,500 hours last year, many working behind the scenes.

“Our volunteers work from home, from their personal businesses, and out in the community. They are the lifeblood of this museum, giving of their time, talents, and resources to make this museum the gem of Laurens County.”
— Teresa Noble

Looking to the Future

The gala also recognized the leadership of past and present board members and celebrated the support of museum members and sponsors. Major sponsors included Laurens County Water and Sewer, TNB Financial, the City of Laurens, Monarch Investments, the Commission of Public Works, and Raymond James.

The event marked not just a celebration of the museum’s history but also a look ahead to its future. Plans are underway to restructure exhibit halls in preparation for a major Revolutionary War Exhibit scheduled to open in 2026.

As Noble emphasized, the continued success of the museum depends on community support: “Your membership is crucial, especially considering recent funding cuts. We really need to grow our membership if we are to continue to thrive and grow.”

A Night to Remember

With a beautifully decorated venue, generous sponsors, and community support, the 20th Anniversary Gala exceeded fundraising expectations. Designs by D’s Diane Smith coordinated the event with the help of museum volunteers and staff. Organizers expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the event and to the ongoing mission of the museum: to preserve and share the rich history of Laurens County for generations to come.

If you missed the gala but would like to support the Laurens County Museum, you can do so by clicking HERE to become a member or make a donation.