In this episode of The Filling Station Podcast, host Mary Ann LeRay sits down with Jeff Mallard, president of the Pollocksville Rotary Club, to talk about community, service, and the magic of small-town Christmas.
Jeff shares his journey from growing up in Pollocksville, to a career that took him across the South and overseas to Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey—before eventually bringing him right back home to Pollocksville. Now retired, he’s investing his time and energy into Rotary and the town that shaped him.
The conversation centers on Christmas on Main, a beloved community event held on December 6, featuring a festive parade, food trucks, a cakewalk, a stocking raffle, and Grand Marshal Sylvia Miller. Along the way, Jeff reflects on Hurricane Florence, the town’s recovery, and the hard work of local leaders and volunteers who are determined to “leave it better than we found it.”
It’s a warm, hopeful conversation about tradition, service, and why small-town life never really leaves your heart.
