CedarStone’s Vice President, John Bryan pictured above with (L-R) Cedarcroft Homes COO, Peggy Zide; Cedarcroft Homes Founder and Chairman, Thomas A. Bryan; CedarStone’s President and CEO Bob McDonald

CedarStone Bank is proud to salute T. A. Bryan, Peggy Zide and Cedarcroft Home, Inc., a state licensed facility dedicated to the care and welfare of the mentally handicapped, disadvantaged and homeless men. 

Mr.  Bryan is no stranger to the Lebanon community. A long-time insurance agent for Transamerica Life and Ohio National, Mr. Bryan has been involved in many different charitable causes and civic events over the years.

I met Mr. Bryan over 20 years ago and he has always been a gentlemen to me and my family. That gentle kindness spills over into the mission of Cedarcroft. We see it most everyday with the operation of that facility and the outreach of support it gains from the community it serves.

Mr. Bryan, the founder & Chairman of the Board of Cedarcroft Home, Inc., describes the home as “a supportive living facility for men who otherwise might not have a place to stay”.

Established in 1974 and licensed in 1996 with the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Retardation, Cedarcroft strives to meet all state and local regulations to provide the safest environment for its residents.

The local non-profit facility offers room and board with three nutritious meals a day plus evening snacks. Residents receive indirect supervision of medication, medical service referrals and transportation, laundry services, activity opportunities and much more!

The facility is housed mainly in a 119-year-old building, the former Martha Gaston Hospital, as well as an adjacent building that formerly served Lebanon as a nursing home.

Peggy Zide serves as Chief Operating Officer for the company and has been employed by Cedarcroft for over 11 years.  The company is set up as a non-profit 501(c) 3 corporation and is governed by a volunteer board of directors consisting of Bryan, sons Tommy and John, Dr. Larry Locke, James L.  White and Troy Putman.  The company currently employees 35 employees.

Hats off to T. A. Bryan and the staff at Cedarcroft Home. Their contribution to our community cannot be measured and I dearly appreciate their effort to meet the needs of these men in Lebanon.

Wilson County Community Help Center Executive Director Ben Spicer pictured with CedarStone Bank’s Jennifer Perry (former WCCHC board member, Tina Winfree (current WCCHC board member) and Bob McDonald (former WCCHC board member). 

Each month CedarStone Bank “simply salutes” an influential leader in Wilson County. This month the bank is proud to recognize the Wilson County Community Help Center.

The Wilson County Community Help Center was formed in 1988 when three local charities came together and united as one. Project Help, Golden Harvest Food Bank and the Faith Rescue Mission had helped those in need in Lebanon and Wilson County since the mid-1960s. The Wilson County Community Help Center was a product of that merger and was first under the direction of Executive Director Dot Maxey. The objective of the Help Center is to provide food, clothing, household necessities and financial assistance for utilities; fuel to out of county doctor medical appointments; and prescription drugs for individuals, elderly and cancer patients in need in our community. 

Mrs. Maxey’s original board consisted of several notable “givers” in the Lebanon community including Houston Turner, Will Allen Carpenter, Joanne Smith, Cassie Hallum, Pete Williams, Ronnie Kelly, Bob Werckle, Larry Tomlinson, Ed Blackburn, Mary Jo Cote, Sydney Berry, Wiley T. Bernard, Bobby Johnson, Fred Singleton, Marty Young, Andy Brummitt, Mike Jennings, Claudine Bissinger, Jean Reasonover and Lynn Nokes. Ronnie Doak and Gail Proctor operated the program after her retirement and now Ben Spicer is currently serving his third year as Executive Director. In 2015, the Help Center distributed more than 65,000 pounds of food to feed the hungry in Wilson County and provided more than 40,000 articles of free clothing to those in need.

CedarStone Bank salutes the Wilson County Community Help Center and its staff of workers, volunteers and current board members in their effort to make Wilson County an even better place to live and work! 

CedarStone Bank President, CEO & Chairman of the Cumberland Board of Trust, Bob McDonald with Dr. Paul Stumb.

Each month CedarStone Bank “simply salutes” an influential leader in Wilson County. This month the bank is proud to recognize Dr. Paul Stumb, President of Cumberland University.

Dr. Stumb is no stranger to Middle Tennessee and Lebanon in particular. He began his tenure at the University in 2003 as an Adjunct Professor and then later served as Dean of the Labry School, a position he has held continuously until being named President of the University in August of 2015.

Dr. Stumb has hit the ground running as President, relying on his past business experience and people skills in making a smooth and seamless transition into his new role.

A Nashville native, Dr. Stumb is a graduate of the Navy War College Strategy and Policy Course, and holds a BS from Auburn University, an MS from the University of Tennessee, a Master’s in Education from Cumberland and a PhD from the University of Tennessee.  Prior to joining Cumberland, Dr. Stumb enjoyed a successful career in the business sector, serving as Director of Marketing and Business Development and later as General Manager of American Corrugated, in the Containerboard & Packaging Division of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation, and Vice President for Operations/Executive Committee Member and Owner of One Coast Network, Inc., a gift and home decor marketing firm in Atlanta.

He and his wife, Christy, reside in Lebanon, just a block from the campus. They have four children and two grandchildren.

Cumberland University is a civic jewel for Lebanon and Wilson County. Founded in 1842, Cumberland offers a variety of educational, athletic and social experiences to enhance the learning opportunities of the current student body. The University serves nearly 1,500 students. Its exceptional academic program is steeped in the liberal arts and its athletic teams regularly compete for conference and national championships.

Cumberland’s alumni includes former U.S. Secretary of State, Cordell Hull, who also was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1945; James Lafayette Bomar, president of Rotary International; Thomas P. Gore, United States senator; more than 80 congressmen, including Albert Gore, Sr.; two justices of the U.S. Supreme Court, Howell Edmunds Jackson and Horace Harmon Lurton; 13 governors, including Frank G. Clement; three ambassadors, including Edward Albright, U.S. Ambassador to Finland; scores of local, state and federal judges, including Charles Dickson Clark; and 50 college/university professors, including the “Father of Political Science,” John Burgess.

While Cumberland has a distinguished past, the University is focused on the future, and on educating our next generation of leaders.

CedarStone Bank is proud of Cumberland University and the school’s leadership. We salute Dr. Paul Stumb and his efforts to lead Cumberland for years to come!