BY MILES LAYTON

Folks gave a grand sendoff to Jared Jacavone and his wife Alexis Tobias-Jacavone for their service to the community on Tuesday at the Penelope Barker House.  

“So many of the non-profits in town are coming together to really pay tribute and honor a young couple that have been a very important part of life in Edenton for the last several years,” said Robert Leath, Executive Director of the Edenton Historical Commission. “They’re now embarking on a whole new adventure.”

As everyone who reads the Albemarle Observer knows, Jared got a job above the Mason Dixon Line as director of the Thompson Public Library in North Grosvenor Dale, Connecticut.  That’s not too far from his kin and where he grew up in Rhode Island in a town called Coventry, which has a different pronunciation than the word at first glance suggests, much like Greenvul, ChowAn and EEdenton, not eDenton. After Leath and Jared guided the large crowd of wellwishers to say “cOventry” Leath offered this tribute.     

“I know the library is going to have to figure out what they’re gonna do after you’ve really brought them a lot of dynamic leadership. And the Edenton Historical Commission is going to have to figure out what to do without Lexi’s because we’re losing our historian and really our keeper of records, someone who’s been dynamic with the trolley and someone for whom the Edenton Tea Party 250th anniversary celebration never would’ve happened in the way that it did through what everything she was able to do with the state grant funding for all of that.” 

Lexi recounted the couple’s time in Chowan County and offered thanks to the community on behalf of the couple.  

“We both would like to thank you all and this whole entire community for welcoming us with such warmth and with open arms as we have,” she said. “I think it’s safe to say we are both very proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we are very grateful for all of the opportunities y’all have given to us. All of the warmth that you’ve extended to us in friendship. And it’s a bittersweet time. But we are excited for this new opportunity for Jared to step into a major leadership role and, and to see where to stick, where the skies take us next. So thank you all.” 

Edenton Historical Commission’s Trolley and Volunteer Coordinator Bonnie Pierce offered these kind words. 

“One thing I can say about the library is there was never a thing that I could ask Jared that he did not know or tell me where to go. I mean I don’t know what I’m gonna do when I go to the library now,” she said.  

As to Lexi, Pierce said, “Some of you might have gotten an email from me where I was trying to invite you to this party and I was trying to describe what Lexi does, and I just ran outta words. I mean, she does this and this and this and this. She does it all. She does everything. She’s a miracle to me. And I just want to have everybody raise a glass and let me see if I can recite this Irish saying, ‘May the road rise to meet you and the wind be at your back.’”  

A member of the Edenton Historical Commission, Sally Francis Kehayes, said every time she has a cup of tea, she will think about Lexi’s legacy, so she raised a glass to toast Lexi.

“Every time I have a cup of tea, Lexi, I will think about you, through the last year of the 250th anniversary celebration,” she said. “Every month we had a tea party. Every month Lexi was responsible and carried out beautifully, these wonderful tea looking invitations and menus. It was just glorious. She was always right on top of it and so helpful and thank you. Thank you. So a cup of tea to Lexi.”   

Thousands of people attended the annual Christmas Candlelight Christmas tour, which was in no doubt successful because of Lexi’s efforts.  

“The Christmas tour will be like not having a Christmas tour,” said Clara Stage, a key organizer of the tour. “You’ve been wonderful just on top of things, made things happen, and probably the one reason that we sold out of tickets in October – so many things.”

Edenton Historical Commission member Earl Ijames added, “Lexi, I really thank you for everything. You’ve been tremendous in everything that we’ve asked. I’ve asked Keep up the good work. Their game is our loss, so thank you again.”

Lexi’s mother, Marsha Tobias, gets the last word.  

“I just want to thank all of you, all these partners and all the different organizations for giving these two a chance. People ask me what it’s like to work with my daughter. And I will say that we try very hard at work to be just colleagues. She calls me Marsha at work,” the crowd laughs; Marsha is holding back a tear, her voice beginning to strain with emotion.   

“But as a mom, I’d like to say that to watch your daughter grow and learn and make a contribution to this wonderful community has been probably one of the greatest privileges of my life. And I thank all of you for giving these two a chance to contribute to this precious community.”