Our 'Great Day' grew out of her love for people

When Carol Rymer first moved to Athens in 2000, she was praying for a way to help others. Her husband, Charlie, was working at ESPN, and sons Charlie Duke and Hayden were attending Athens Academy. With a master's degree in public health from Emory University, she knew she could find a meaningful way to contribute.

She mentioned the search during a walk with a friend, Dara Buczynsky, who suggested she meet with her husband Paul, an emergency room physician, and a group of doctors who were exploring ways to open a Christian health care center for the uninsured out of Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Calling it an "answer to a prayer," Carol got involved with the fundraising and administration, and on Sept. 10, 2001, Mercy Health Center opened for the first night.

Over the next few years, Carol continued her work for Mercy, but after joining Athens First United Methodist, she began looking for volunteer opportunities there.

She co-chaired the first Great Day of Service in 2003, an event to bring out people from the congregation to do volunteer work in the community.

"Carol has a deep love for people," said Kim Griffith, who co-chaired that first day of service. "Her concern is genuine and she inspires others to help. We were at the church one day working on a project. It was near the end of the day and everyone was tired. Carol got a call, and headed out the door. I asked where she was going. 'I have to pick up a toilet seat at Lowe's.' A member of the congregation needed a seat installed. I asked her if she knew how to do it.

" 'No, but I guess I'll figure it out once I'm there.' If it had been me, I would have put it on the to-do list. But Carol doesn't think that way. She sees a need, and sets out to fill it," Griffith said.

The next year, the Rev. Bill Britt attended the North Georgia United Methodists' annual conference, which brings hundreds of delegates to the community each year.

When Britt and Bishop Lindsey Davis thought of holding a Great Day of Service during the conference, they knew the perfect person to organize an effort of that magnitude.

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