Allie Gecewicz – Vice Chair

Marvin Lee Howell has served as Treasurer of PZ for three years. He recently retired after 34 years at Pullen Park, where he was Historic Attractions Manager for Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.

Marvin and Dwain Driver own three historic houses on Sycamore Street, purchased between 1992 and 2001.  He also works at Lovallo Florist, owned and operated by Dwain Driver.

Marvin grew up in Lenoir, NC, and he and his siblings have a family farm there, with hogs, cattle and crops of corn, wheat and hay to produce their own feed.  Marvin moved to Raleigh in 1985 and moved to Zebulon in 1986.

Marvin Howell – Treasurer

Marvin Lee Howell has served as Treasurer of PZ for three years. He recently retired after 34 years at Pullen Park, where he was Historic Attractions Manager for Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources.

Marvin and Dwain Driver own three historic houses on Sycamore Street, purchased between 1992 and 2001.  He also works at Lovallo Florist, owned and operated by Dwain Driver.

Marvin grew up in Lenoir, NC, and he and his siblings have a family farm there, with hogs, cattle and crops of corn, wheat and hay to produce their own feed.  Marvin moved to Raleigh in 1985 and moved to Zebulon in 1986.

Tommy Massey – Director

Tommy Massey is retired, formerly owner of Wakefield Landscaping Inc. which has offered services as a lawn & garden center since 1977, in the Research Triangle Park area and Eastern Wake County.

He was named as Zebulon’s Citizen of the Year in 2019. Tommy has been a board member and sponsor of Preservation Zebulon for the past three years. Born and raised in Zebulon, his Massey family was one of the early settlers of the area, and has been in the Little River area for over 260 years since before the Revolutionary War. Tommy and his wife Marsha also operate two farms in the Wakefield area of Zebulon.

Sandra Richardson – Director / Volunteer Coordinator

Sandra Richardson is a life time resident of the Zebulon area and a descendent of the Chamblee family, one of the early families to settle in Zebulon over 250 years ago.  She has retired after serving over 31 years with the N.C. Department of Agriculture in Human Resources.  Sandra is an active member of Wakefield Central Baptist Church and joined PZ’s board in 2023 and serves as our Volunteer Coordinator.

“My husband, Tim, and I are antique “buffs” and have been collecting antiques for a number of years for our home, as well as, for our mock store!” she explains. “The quality and beauty that is found in the restoration of vintage pieces and homes is so exciting and rewarding!  We like to remember from whom we came and what has been and to help keep it alive!”

Taylor Gray – Recording Secretary

Taylor is the newest member of our board, and joined in 2019.  He is executive project manager with a commercial general contractor in Raleigh.  He was born and raised in Raleigh and attended North Carolina State University.

Taylor, his wife Allison and their daughters live on East Sycamore Street in the beautiful Strickland – Temple house, built in 1915.

MaryBeth Carpenter – Executive Director & Chair

A veteran fundraiser, MaryBeth runs Greater Gifts Consulting assisting Triangle based non-profits with strategic planning and fundraising. MaryBeth holds an MBA from Case Western Reserve University and her BA from the Ohio State University.

She has won several awards for her fundraising and writing, and served on several local boards in Raleigh and gives trainings on fundraising across North Carolina. She and her husband Scott are also restoring the historic c 1911 John D Finch house on East Horton Street. MaryBeth is also writing a soon to be released book “Legendary Locals of Little River” detailing local history in the area. She is a co-founder of Preservation Zebulon Inc. She is a board member.

Linda Shrake – Correspondence Secretary

Linda and her husband live in Wake Forest.  She has had a varied career working in nonprofits and international corporations as an administrative assistant as well as a contract administrator. She is also a published writer and is currently retired.

“Learning about the past teaches us about where we’ve come from and helps tie us to family and community.  Reflecting and maintaining history in our communities is so important, especially as the Raleigh area explodes in growth,” she explains. “As we strive to keep original buildings, and family history alive, we get a sense of how far we’ve come while celebrating the past. Even though Zebulon has changed and grown over the years and will most likely continue to expand, it’s valuable to keep its unique stories, structures, and roots alive. For me to be a part of Preservation Zebulon is a step in helping secure the history of those who came before us which has led us into today.”

Brent Burns – Director

Brent Burns was born in Hutchison, Kansas and moved from Phoenix, Arizona in 2009 making his forever home the beautiful state of North Carolina. 

His passion has always been woodworking, construction, and remodeling, especially in the preservation of old homes including his own located in Zebulon, NC where he resides with his wife Diana Burns. They are owners of the Jethro and Addie Stell House on North Arendell Avenue, on last year’s Historic Homes Tour.