PARTING SHOTS T

Doctors take the Hippocratic oath, while commissioners and other office holders swear allegiance to the U.S. Constitution and the state constitution.

I think, at times, people don’t think those who take oaths pay much attention to them. They believe words are just said because they are required.

As you read through pages of this Eastern North Carolina Living, I think you will find that is not true for the people we talked to. Our subjects were clear in their message – taking an oath matters and the words mean something.

Dr. Charles Sawyer spent more than six decades dedicating his life to treating the sick and wounded of the Roanoke-

Chowan region. He gave of himself, not just during office hours, but during every day of his life. As he retires, his dedication to his oath is praised by friends and colleagues.

Joe Ayers spent nearly three decades serving the people of Oak City, following in his father’s footsteps. He then moved to serve all the people of Martin County as a commissioner, where he still believes in the power of his oath.

Judge Wendy Hazelton followed what she feels is her calling and tries to help the people of her district every day. She followed her desire to help people from law school to the district attorney’s office to the bench.

Commissioner Travian Taylor learned politics the hard way, but works hard every day to serve his community and grow into his job. Chief Justin Jackson has given his life to protecting the people of

Bertie County, and specifically the citizens of Windsor.

They are just some of the people you’ll meet in the pages of this magazine, and they are just a portion of those who give their all every day to serve.

We hope that not only will you enjoy the stories of the people in this magazine and that they will inspire you to take time to meet your own leaders and doctors and those who take oaths. We think you’ll be glad you did.

We’ll be back in July when we do something we’ve never done before. We’ll share with you stories of mysteries that have gone unsolved in our region. They will be all kinds of mysteries and we look forward to sharing them with you.

Until next time, remember… all who wander are not lost. Continue joining us as we wander through Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington and Wilson counties.

Thadd White is an avid fan of Chelsea Football Club, a collector of memories, a believer in downtown and serves as Group Editor of four Adams Publishing Group publications, including the N.C. Press Awardwinning Eastern North Carolina Living.