Visitors bureau, WIBA honor deceased employee with memorial stone

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Family, friends and colleagues gathered today at the Galesburg Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to honor a longtime employee who passed away in March.

Jeralyn Wood served for years as the assistant tourism director at the GACVB. But Tourism Director Bill Morris tells WGIL that tourism was just one of her skills. 

“She was a friend to so many people in the community and beyond,” Morris says. “Literally, hundreds of people called her friend and she knew everybody by name.” 

Wood’s husband, Sidney, spent 23 years by his wife’s side. Echoing Morris’ sentiments, Wood says “Jerry” couldn’t help but be involved in the community.

“(Scenic) Drive, Railroad days,” Wood says, “she started the Scarecrow Festival. She just kept on. Then she started getting sicker and had to drop some of them off.”

In her memory, the bureau joined with the Western Illinois Builders Association to dedicate a large memorial stone that now sits outside the building. 

Morris says the stone will serve as a symbol of remembrance. 

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