Danville woman rocking positive messages in hopes of 'Making Danville Smile'

Rocks painted with positive messages being placed throughout city

DANVILLE, Va. – A Danville woman is trying to make Danville smile, one rock at a time.

Underneath the bell outside Danville Fire Department headquarters sits a small rock with the words "God is Love" painted on it.

It was placed there about two weeks ago by Felice McWilliams, the creator of the "Making Danville Smile" campaign.

She came up with the idea in March after finding a painted rock while at a family wedding in Seattle. 

"I stopped to get something out of my purse and there was the little rock. Every time I touched it, it made me smile," McWilliams said as she held the rock, painted to look like a lady bug, in her hand.

This past weekend, she placed a rock on the bench outside the Danville Life Saving Crew's crew hall.

Written on it was a passage from the Bible, which reads "Cast all your fears on Him, for he cares for you."

Danville Life Saving Crew EMT Charlotte Newnam found the rock.

"(I was) walking out to go to one of the trucks and I just (saw) this thing sitting on the bench, so I went over to see what it was and it was a really pretty, shiny purple rock," Newnam recalled.

Once a rock is found, the finder is supposed to take a photo of the rock, post it to the "Making Danville Smile" Facebook page, and then keep the rock or move it to a new location for someone else to find.

McWilliams' family members and people around the city have now started making rocks as well.

"I cannot tell you how much joy I get from watching them do it," said McWilliams.

Newnam said the rock made her smile.

"I was really excited because I had seen where one of the fire stations had found one," Newnam said.

While the rocks may be making Danville smile, it's stories like that that make McWilliams smile.