When conversing with folks around Hartsville about their community and stories, one name continuously pops up. Some call him Mr. Hartsville, but most just call him their friend.
Throughout his life, Mark Presley has known a strong sense of belonging to his community. He has lived, loved, worked and served right in the heart of Hartsville for most of his life. He, in turn, has also been touched by acts of kindness and service that community members have bestowed on him and his family during his recent cancer diagnosis.
Born and raised in Hartsville, Presley was raised by his grandparents and graduated from Trousdale County High School in 1992.
鈥淚 lived away from Hartsville for a short time and spent a lot of that time wanting to get back,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淢y wife took a teaching job with Trousdale County; we moved, and now she loves the community as much as I do. She loves her students, and they love her. Before people knew me as Mark Presley, now they know me as Mrs. Presley鈥檚 husband.
鈥淢y grandparents inspired me to work hard and go after what I wanted in life, but more importantly, they inspired me to love my hometown, my community,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淭hey owned Presley鈥檚 Texaco Station. Folks would come through with a sad story, my grandpa would let them charge their gas. Sometimes though, Grandma would have to go collect the money due, I remember her putting me in the car and off we would go. They were great role models and very generous people.
鈥淚 learned a lot about loving my community from my grandfather, Ervin Presley,鈥 he said. 鈥淗e organized the 4th of July parade in Hartsville for many years. The parade stopped for a while; now I organize the parade. Parades bring the community together, and memories are made.鈥
Presley describes himself as a people person.
鈥淚 have had a career in retail my whole life, I started working at Piggly Wiggly while I was in high school,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淵ou have to love people to stay in this line of business.鈥
Presley was named, 鈥淢ost Courteous鈥 in high school. If you know him, it is a title that still fits today. His career spans opportunities in retail management at Walmart, Publix, Hartsville Foodland and currently Mike鈥檚 Foodland.
His love for people carries beyond his place of employment. In 2020, Presley received the Governor鈥檚 Volunteer Stars Award for his community service to Hartsville and Trousdale County.
The award recognized Presley for his coordination of many fundraising efforts in Trousdale and surrounding counties after the March 2020 tornadoes. His collection efforts resulted in five trailers of supplies that were distributed to those that were in need after the tornadoes devasted parts of Tennessee. He was also recognized for serving neighbors in need, whether they needed running water or a driveway repair. He created a Blessing Box, as a small food pantry in front of his home and worked to form the nonprofit organization, Hartsville Strong.
While the list on the Governor鈥檚 award is impressive, Presley鈥檚 acts of service to his community continued in even more ways. The pandemic of Covid presented challenges for many, especially the elderly, in the community. As manager of the Hartsville Foodland during this time, he provided curbside service, even delivered groceries to some and instituted early shopping hours for the vulnerable population.
In a small town, there are often several ways to serve along like-minded people who love their community. In younger years, Presley volunteered with the county fire department. He has been involved in the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce. He serves as County Commissioner for District 1. He is a committee member on the Parks & Recreation Committee as well as the Public Works Committee. He has also been appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals.
Even Presley鈥檚 hobby of photography (Forever Moments Photography) became a way for him to serve the community.
鈥淢y grandfather always had a camera in his hand,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淚 love to capture photos of events in our community. I have taken pictures at sporting events and parents who couldn鈥檛 make it to the event loved seeing photos of their kids on the field or court. The pictures I take capture history, whether buildings in town, events or just people鈥檚 smiling faces. They record memories. I have shared photos for free more than I have ever charged for them. I can鈥檛 wait to get back to photographing all the events and games in the community.鈥
In August 2024, Presley received a diagnosis that took him and family by surprise 鈥 colon cancer.
Even with this diagnosis, Presley is focused on others while some of his other activities are on hold.
鈥淚 have become more aware of others that are fighting cancer,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淚 hope to inspire others going through cancer treatments. I have a list of folks fighting cancer that I pray for every night. I believe I will see some good come out of this.鈥
鈥淢y wife, Misty, is my backbone,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淪he has always been my biggest supporter. I couldn鈥檛 fight this cancer or any of the things I do with her.鈥
These days, Presley gives everyone this advice: 鈥淚f you are 50-plus years old, get checked out. It is better to be safe than sorry.鈥
A humble man, Presley doesn鈥檛 believe he deserves the recognition that has come his way over the years.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e done anything that special,鈥 he has said. 鈥淚 am just helping people and the community I call home.鈥
The community of Hartsville would beg to differ. Following his diagnosis, they together to help the 鈥榤an who is devoted to his community and never hesitates to help someone else鈥 by organizing fundraising efforts to assist with medical expenses and lost wages from time off work.
The Hartsville-Trousdale Chamber of Commerce and Tourism selected Presley as the Grand Marshal of the 2024 Christmas Parade.
鈥淪erving as Grand Marshal was great and I appreciated it so much,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淏ut honestly, I couldn鈥檛 wait to get to the end of the parade so I could take a few pictures to share with the community.鈥
Presley continues to administer the Positively Hartsville Facebook group page during his illness. The page is for anyone who loves Hartsville and wants to keep up to date with events and happenings in Hartsville. Group members are encouraged to promote upcoming events, prayer requests, announcements, historical pictures or stories or as in the words of Presley, 鈥渁nything of interest to fellow Hartsvillians.鈥
鈥淚 love this small town,鈥 said Presley. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 wait to get back to doing all that I love to do, to volunteering for the community I love. Seeing people in town, knowing their names, seeing the community coming together to support each other, it is most rewarding. I am so proud of the efforts to clean up downtown Hartsville and the preservation of the historical buildings. In all things though, I hope for the future that Hartsville keeps the hometown feeling!鈥
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