Alvin Phillips, center, talks with residents as they wish him good luck on his retirement and move Sunday afternoon at the Parkersburg Art Center, where a retirement party was held. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)

PARKERSBURG — A retirement celebration was held Sunday afternoon for longtime Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley Executive Director Alvin Phillips at the Parkersburg Art Center.

Residents, volunteers and staff of Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley enjoyed refreshments and lined up to wish Phillips luck on his retirement.

“It won’t be the same without him,” said Susan Lam.

Phillips has worked with Habitat for Humanity for 29 years. He started with the nonprofit as a volunteer in the mid-90s and became executive director with a five-year leave in between to work in the regional office.

He and his wife Jeanie will be moving to Charlotte, N.C., to be closer to their youngest son and their 3-year-old grandson Ezra.

Alvin Phillips, right, and his wife Jeanie, left, talk with friends about his retirement and move Sunday afternoon at the Parkersburg Art Center. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)

“It’s been overwhelming but I’m excited about it. I would use the word bittersweet to describe how I’m feeling,” Alvin Phillips said. “I’ve loved working with Habitat; it’s been a real blessing. People may think that it’s life-changing for the families that get homes, but it’s also been life-changing for me. It’s been great.”

Lisa Starcher Collins, the nonprofit’s communications director, has worked with Phillips for almost as long as he’s been with Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley.

“I’ve worked with Alvin for about 25 years, and I also started out as a volunteer and then helped with fundraising,” Collins said. “He’s been an amazing mentor and a great person to look up to. I can’t imagine our lives here without him.”

With Phillips’ retirement this year, new Executive Director Robin Stewart was named in June and took over in July. Phillips made a lasting impact on the community for the last two decades of his service, she said.

“Our community has been blessed for decades with his services, and there are families that get to wake up in their homes because of him,” Stewart said. “Affordable housing was made (to) happen in this area because of him, and he’s created a wonderful legacy. He’s a really great member of our community. I encourage those who want to acknowledge his legacy by making a donation to the Habitat for Humanity of the Mid-Ohio Valley Legacy Fund.”

Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com.