A graduate of the former Wakelon High School, Privette returned to Zebulon after college. She taught health and physical education at Zebulon Middle and later at Vaiden Whitley Middle before retiring in the mid-1990s. She’s a Sunday School teacher at Zebulon Baptist Church and former president of the Junior Woman’s Club.

She serves on the Zebulon Beautification Committee, is a former deacon at her church, and is a two-time President of the Zebulon Woman’s club. She also served two terms as president of the Woman’s Club/Rotary Club Foundation, which owns the building on Sycamore Street where the two clubs meet..

But her contributions to the community exceed her duties in clubs or churches. Her thoughtfulness – adorning downtown with Christmas decorations and planting the garden at Guardian Cove nursing home were her ideas – and compassion are traits not bestowed by any title.

They come naturally.

“She spends nearly every waking moment volunteering,” says Jo Ann Horton, of the Zebulon Woman’s Club.

Yet her efforts and character have gone unrecognized to the public.

That is, until last Tuesday night – when Privette, 73, was named Zebulon Citizen of the Year by the local Chamber of Commerce.

Zebulon Mayor Bob Matheny, in presenting the award at East Wake Academy, described Privette as someone with “a huge heart ... who would do anything for you.”

Her friends couldn’t agree more.

“She’s very dedicated to what needs to be done,” Jane Strickland, of the Woman’s Club, said. “She’s such a great asset.”

These days, Privette helps organize a monthly breakfast for the Wakelon High class of 1956. She also volunteers at Wakelon Elementary where she helps in preschool classrooms.

“I think her only indulgence is playing bridge,” Strickland said. “And traveling with her husband.”

Privette and her husband, Terry, have two daughters, Lynn, 40, and Jodi, 38, and three grandchildren.

Privette is known mostly for her work with the Woman’s Club, where she currently serves as the Vice President of Reports.

Added Horton: “She has a genuine concern for the community ... and is the heart of the Woman’s Club.”

Born and raised in Zebulon as a daughter of a prominent businessman, Privette says the town means “so, so much” to her.

“I want to see it grow and progress,” she says. “Starting with improving Zebulon’s downtown.”

But such passionate devotion can be taxing.

Just hours before being surprised with the Citizen of the Year honor, Privette mailed 23 annual reports – more than 230 pages of last year’s meetings, budgets, and minutes – to the National Women’s Club headquarters.

It took two weeks to put them together.

“There were nights I sat up, my fingers ached, and I thought ’What am I doing this for,’“ Privette said.

Now she knows.