Bank teller a star in the community

KateLynn Slaamot
NLJ Reporter
 
Debra “Deb” Sewell has lived in Newcastle her whole life — from the time she was born at Weston County Memorial Hospital in 1957 to now, and she’s well known as a long-time First State Bank teller. There’s nothing that instills a community-minded attitude more than spending many years in the same tight-knit community. And Sewell says she can’t help but give back to the community that has helped shape her for all these years. 
There are many ways Sewell accomplishes just that, and that is why she was nominated for the News Letter Journal’s Person of the Year, by Della Fordyce. 
“She’s always there to help. She’s just an all-over good person,” Fordyce said. 
Sewell is involved in a number of organizations and undertakes a lot of volunteer work — including volunteering at the Weston County Humane Society, baking and helping with the United Fund and United Fund Pie Auction and participating in various ways in Weston County Friends of Fair and the annual county fair. 
“I’m a hometown girl. Don’t know any place else I’d rather live,” Sewell said. 
The humane society is one of Sewell’s longest involvements, and she just loves animals, she said. Sewell is also quite sociable and loves visiting and spending time with people. Even if it’s just shooting the breeze with someone at the grocery store, one can often find Sewell chatting with others. 
“I love the senior citizen dances on Fridays,” Sewell said. “I love those people. They’re my people.” Sewell often goes to the Friday night dances and makes her rounds to mingle with those present. 
Sewell often takes pictures at the dances and purchases them off of Snapfish to give to the subjects. She will even find pictures of people she knows off of Facebook and order them for them because she knows they would appreciate having a print of the image. 
“It’s super fun, and they’re always surprised,” Sewell said. 
The all-school reunion has also been a passion for Sewell, and she has been involved in it for over 30 years. She always makes sure to get her class of 1975 together for its class reunion too. 
Sewell has made lots of friends over the years — whether that’s coworkers at the bank, customers she enjoys getting to know or people she comes into contact with through her volunteering. And a number of people have good things to say about Sewell and how she interacts with others. 
“She’d give you her shirt off her back. She does anything and everything to help the customer out … she’s a great person,” said Dana Bangma, assistant head teller at the bank. Bangma has worked with Sewell for 13 years. 
Louise Stith, vice president at the bank, has worked with Sewell for the entire four decades that both have been there. Stith also attended school with Sewell, both graduating in 1975. 
Sewell is always kind, caring and generous, Stith said, and is constantly involved and doing a lot in the community. Sewell also has considerable knowledge when it comes to her job at the bank, which is very helpful and makes her a valuable member of the team, Stith said. 
For Sewell, while she’s honored to be nominated for Person of the Year, she said she doesn’t feel like she’s done anything special — she just does what comes naturally and gives back to the community that has given so much to her. 
“She truly cares about people and tries to go the extra mile as much as she can,” Bangma said. “She does go the extra mile  …” 
And beyond her volunteer work, Sewell enjoys supporting the community by attending different events, fund-raisers, the fair and visiting at the Weston County Manor when she can. 
“If nobody did anything for their community, their community wouldn’t be what it is.  … I just love the community and being around people. It’s just a phenomenal place to be,” Sewell said. 
Taking part in community is what makes community thrive, Sewell said, and she loves being even just a small part of making that happen.