Meakin Family

Santa Rosa, California, less than an hour’s drive north of San Francisco, has been described as “a city with a cool vibe and vibrant culture waiting to be explored. It is the happening hub for all there is to see, do, eat, drink, hike, bike and explore in Sonoma County.” Sounds like somewhat of a modern day utopia. So why would anyone leave a place like that? The answer, of course, is to move to Gastonia, North Carolina!

We can thank Julia Shovelin and her husband Wayne for this strange turn of events. It seems that while attending an event to support the Girl Scouts, Julia struck up a conversation with Sylvia Holmes, then Executive Director of Pioneer Girl Scout Council. Mrs. Holmes was telling Mrs. Shovelin about her daughter and son-in-law, Chuck and Lindsay Meakin. At the time they were living in Santa Rosa where Dr. Meakin was practicing medicine but they were hoping to soon relocate and be closer to family on the east coast. “What kind of doctor is he?” asked Julia. Upon learning that Dr. Meakin was a Radiation Oncologist, Julia passed the information along to her husband, Wayne Shovelin, then CEO of Gaston Memorial Hospital and always in search of talent to fill the demands of a growing medical center.

In 1994, the Meakins moved to Gastonia. Becoming ingrained in the community was a priority and natural first step for the Meakins. Growing up in Kings Mountain, Lindsay was already familiar with Gaston County. Dr. Meakin soon became the Director of the Cancer Center of Gaston Memorial Hospital. Since moving from California they have raised two children, Jack and Maisy. The Meakin family enjoys living close to Lindsay’s parents who are now retired in the Lake Norman area. The Meakins attend St. Michaels Catholic Church and both children attended school there.

Lindsay has served with numerous civic organization and is a past Board member of the Schiele Museum and Crisis Assistance Ministries. Dr. Meakin currently serves on the CaroMont Health Board and the City of Gastonia Parks and Recreation Board. He is a past Board member of Gaston Hospice, Cancer Services of Gaston County, US National Whitewater Center, Catawba Lands Conservancy and Belmont Abbey College.

The Meakins have been dedicated supporters of The Community Foundation where Dr. Meakin has served on the Board as a Director. In addition to establishing a fund at the Community Foundation, the Meakin family has financially supported the Community Foundation Run since its inception. “We have chosen to annually support charities and special projects and the Run gives us the opportunity to read about nonprofit organizations and learn about needs and work being done in the community we might not otherwise know about or come in contact with. The Run allows donors to have a variety of charities to select from in terms of support,” commented Lindsay when asked what appealed to them about the Community Foundation Run. For example, the Meakin family chose to support the Belmont Rowing Center as a new non-profit participating in the Run.

We are fortunate that the connections made through Julia Shovelin and Sylvia Holmes brought the Meakin Family to Gastonia 22 years ago. For their continued support of our community and all they have done to make our community a better place, we say thank you. We are grateful to the Meakin Family for their contributions to our community and for their work to make Gaston County a utopia for us all.

Chuck and Lindsay Meakin agreed to be honorary RUN Chairs for the 2017 Community Foundation RUN. For their continued support of our community and all they have done to make our community a better place, we say thank you. We are fortunate to have them here and are very grateful to the hospital and to their family for bringing them to Gastonia 22 years ago and for their work to make Gaston County a utopia for us all.