First Presbyterian Member Sylvia McLaurin Receives Good Neighbor of the Year Award

First Presbyterian Church celebrates Sylvia McLaurin, who was recently honored with the Diana Conn Good Neighbor of the Year Award at the 2026 Neighborhood Awards Dinner on March 5. Hosted by the City of Knoxville’s Office of Neighborhoods at The Brookside in Happy Holler, the event recognized individuals who are making a meaningful difference in their communities.


Mayor Indya Kincannon presented the award and thanked the many nominees for their contributions to Knoxville’s neighborhoods. After accepting the evening’s top honor, Sylvia expressed gratitude for the collective work of neighbors building strong communities. Her remarks were met with a standing ovation.


Sylvia’s nomination highlighted her dedication to improving East Knoxville through projects that require significant time, effort, and coordination. As a member of the Town Hall East board of directors, she organized the Holston Hills Cleanup, where volunteers collected 18 bags of trash with support from Keep Knoxville Beautiful.


Drawing on her 25 years as a master gardener and her doctorate in landscape architecture, Sylvia has also helped revitalize neighborhood pollinator gardens, lead tree plantings, and redesigned teacher breakrooms at nearby schools.


We are grateful for Sylvia’s commitment to serving her community and for the many ways she reflects Christ’s call to love and care for our neighbors.