Daphne City Hall stood out like a ray of sun against the blue-sky morning of Feb. 14th. Warmth replaced the recent chill, brightness rolled over shades of misty gray and crowds gathered to celebrate a sweetheart of a woman, a year-round Valentine.

Helen Callaway represents Daphne's oldest Italian family, with her father relocating from Illinois in 1889. He married her mother, a Manci, and the couple started Trione Grocery in 1904.

Callaway was born in the building that now houses Guido's, a well-known, local, Italian restaurant on Main Street. She graduated from Fairhope High School and served in the United States Marine Women's Reserve, as Daphne post-mistress and in the Daphne Women's Study Club.

During the appreciation service held that morning, one message was clear-Callaway has spent a lifetime serving others.

Jeanne Yancey, a fellow Daphne Women's Study Club member, recalled, "I served on the bicentennial committee from (19)75-76 with her. We held numerous fish fries to raise money for the historical markers. The city gave us a little money, but we raised most of the money."

But Callaway isn't content to put all her efforts into one basket, according to Yancey.

"The church door doesn't open without her in it," she added.

Daphne Women's Study Club President Jane Bodman agreed.

"She's stood out there and picketed to save parks-she's a very civic-minded person," she explained.

Bodman said that the club revels in gaining knowledge in a variety of topics, and likewise, Callaway enjoys learning new things.

Members learn about art, wine, history and music, to name a few, she explained.

In addition to club members, Callaway was also surrounded by new poker friends from Catherine Place assisted-living home, along with relatives, neighbors and friends; around 100 people attended the ceremony.

Helen Baroco, a fellow volunteer at the Old Methodist Church Museum of Daphne, said that she shares a long time Daphne heritage with Callaway and that they both enjoy working to preserve historical aspects of the community they love.

"We're the original Italians," she said with a smile. "You'd be surprised how all the connections work."

As the gathering drew to a close, nearly every attendee had waited to congratulate Callaway, hug and steal a few moments to reminisce or hear about her latest projects.

Yancey summed up the celebration with a few short words.

"She's been an inspiration to this whole community," she concluded.

■