Profile 2021 by Washington Daily News

PROFILE

FRONTLINE HEROES

The people powering our community through unusual times

LOCAL KIDS THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD

SMILING FACES that work to brighten your day

2021

It’s been another long shift. My heart breaks over another loss from COVID.

Wear a mask We need your help so we can continue to care for you and your loved ones. COVID-19 cases continue to climb and we need to work together to help stop the spread. We see the painful reality of this pandemic in the faces of Vidant team members on the front lines, every day. We see it in their dedication to one another, the patients and families they serve, and a region that depends on them for care. Please do your part to protect yourself and others— including those who provide care in eastern North Carolina. Remember to wash your hands, maintain a social distance from others of at least 6 feet, and wear a mask in public to help keep yourself, your family, and your community safe.

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Publisher Ashley Vansant Editorial Steve Barnes Chelsea Hofmann Brandon Tester

Contributors Anthony Comella Advertising Director David Singleton Marketing & Sales Kristen Smith Scott Williamson Distribution Kim Riggs Art Direction Elizabeth Reed Contact information Washington Daily News P.O. Box 1788 Washington, NC 27889 Advertising inquiries 252-946-2144 Ext. 221 Subscriptions & change of address 252-946-2144 Profile is published once a year by Washington Newsmedia, LLC. Copyright 2021, Washington Newsmedia, LLC.

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FRONTLINE WORKERS BRANDON HOUSE ALEXIS CORDON JANELL OCTIGAN JAMES MATTHEWS DR. COLLINS MBARIA

UNSUNG HEROES PAUL HARDING ASHELY PADGETT DOTTIE WALKER BETTY WOOLARD LEESA JONES

SMILING FACES SHARON NEWSOME WILKIN RACHEL JORDAN JOANNE KIRVEN RASHAAD MOORE MILTON RUFFIN

FUTURE WORLD CHANGERS JOHN HINCHEY SARAH PETTY KATIE GODLEY GREY LLEWELLYN KAYLA TRAN

ON THE COVER James Matthews, ICU nurse from Vidant Beaufort Hospital. See Matthews full profile on page 10 under Front Line Responders. PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

FRONT LINE RESPONDERS Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, medical professionalshave stepped up to ensure the safety and health of Beaufort County residents. These are some of our local front line responders.

A commitment to public safety WRITTEN BY BRANDON TESTER PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

iding to the hospital in the back of an ambulance is one of the last things anyone wants to do. Beaufort County paramedic Brandon House knows that, and that’s why he’s passionate about making patients’ experiences as smooth and safe as possible. “When they call us, they’re having the worst day of their life, obviously,” House said. “Nobody calls 911 for the fun of it. So when you pick up these people that are really sick and you know you did something to make them feel better by the time you get them to

the hospital — and, hopefully, you are the reason that they live to see another day — that’s the most rewarding part of it.” House, 25, has been working with Beaufort County Emergency Medical Services since 2016. House followed his father’s footsteps into a career in public safety, becoming a paramedic after originally setting out to be a fireman. When he isn’t responding to calls. House’s workdays consist of training, medical education and equipment maintenance — which includes plenty of sanitation, an important part of preventing the spread of COVID-19. “We’re more cautious, wearing more

PPE more frequently,” House said. “Up until March of last year I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worn a mask on a call — maybe two in my entire career. And now it’s every single one, all day, every day. We’re more thorough with cleaning our equipment and our truck, and we have more special ways of doing it.” “… It’s been a little bit of a challenge, but I think we dealt with it really well,” he added. “It was a learning curve at first, but everybody’s got it now. It’s second nature now.” Through it all, House’s commitment to continuing his career in public safety hasn’t withered. He says he wants to stay in that field until retirement.

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Riding to the hospital in the back of an ambulance is one of the last things anyone wants to do.

FRONT LINE RESPONDERS | 9

Changing lives for the better WRITTEN BY BRANDON TESTER PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

very week, Beaufort County Health Department nurse and immunization coordinator Alexis Cordon helps hundreds of people receive their COVID-19 vaccine. It’s not an easy job. Workdays are long, the quantity of vaccine doses is limited, and patience sometimes runs thin among thousands of Beaufort County residents waiting for their chance to be vaccinated. Every so often, Cordon is reminded why those long days are worth it. “There was one guy who I called one day and told him we had a vaccine for him, and he cried,” Cordon said. “There was another guy who lost his wife to COVID, and when I went to give him the vaccine, we just sat there and we both cried because he was so thankful for it. “It’s just the thanks you receive and the ability you have to change someone’s life for the better.”

A Washington native, Cordon has been passionate about nursing for as long as she can remember. She started her career in 2011 as a nurse aide at Washington Pediatrics. She worked there for six years, earning a nursing degree in that time. Cordon became a hospital nurse in 2015. She eventually transitioned over to the health department, where she became a full-time employee in 2020. Being on the frontline of COVID-19 treatments has challenged Cordon’s skills in a number of ways. “It’s definitely tested my organization skills and my time management,” Cordon said. “I feel like I’m back working in the emergency room, as far as time management goes, and how quickly we can get someone in and stable — or here (at the health department), how quickly we can get somebody a vaccine. “And the longer hours. I took an office job because of family, and now the hours are a little bit longer than they were. But it’s just really the time management and organization to be able to make sure that everything is done properly.”

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It’s just the thanks you receive and the ability you have to change someone’s life for the better.

FRONT LINE RESPONDERS 10 |

FRONT LINE RESPONDERS | 11

Planning Beaufort County’s response to COVID-19 I did not expect to be where I am today, but I am thankful for where I am today.

WRITTEN BY BRANDON TESTER PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

he Beaufort County Health Department typically launches many initiatives and programs each year, touching on subjects like diabetes prevention, tobacco cessation and sexual health, to name a few. Those plans changed in early 2020, as the health department shifted its resources to focus on stopping the spread of COVID-19. JaNell Octigan, preparedness coordinator and human services planner, had a major role in that change. “It shifted to testing and finding out the logistics of the supplies needed, and the staffing, the contracts, contact tracing, things like that,” said Octigan, a Greenville native.

“There was also a lot of education,” she added. “One of our root focuses once the pandemic came was creating messages that were well-received in the public in various outlets, so that we were informing people in a way that they could relate to and understand, so they could do what is best for their family.” Amid evolving guidelines and new vaccine developments, every day presents new challenges for Octigan and the health department staff. She says adaptability has been more important than ever. “It’s the flexibility to roll with the punches,” Octigan said. “Whatever the guidelines are, whatever we do or do not have vaccine-wise and testing supply-wise, or the changes with when the vaccine is arriving—where and how and when. “

Being flexible also means taking in and applying new information as it comes in on a daily basis. “COVID is something so new that there are new things that come out every day that we have to reeducate ourselves on, or stay up to date with, so that we can answer everyone’s questions correctly,” Octigan said. Octigan has been in her current role with the health department for about seven years. An East Carolina University graduate, Octigan joined the health department as in intern in 2012 and became an employee of the department in 2013, starting as a health educator. Octigan was a premed student before switching her field of study to public health. “I did not expect to be where I am today, but I am thankful for where I am today,” Octigan said.

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Fighting COVID-19 inside the ICU WRITTEN BY BRANDON TESTER PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

ow does a college graduate with a degree in biblical studies become an intensive care unit nurse? For James Matthews, it started with a suggestion from an advisor. “An advisor at the college was a nurse for almost 40 years,” Matthews said. “She was looking at my transcript, and she said I had all the prerequisites for nursing — why don’t you try it as a job? “She eventually convinced me to try it,” Matthews said, sitting in the lobby of Vidant Beaufort Hospital. “And here I am now. I fell in love with it.” Matthews started nursing school around 2016. He’s been a nurse for almost three years.

“I actually went to school right here in Beaufort County,” Matthews said. “When I got my associate degree, I went to Greenville and worked in the surgical trauma ICU.” Matthews came to Vidant Beaufort in February 2020, which was when the COVID-19 pandemic was in its earliest stages. “I was here for about a month, getting my feet wet, getting used to everything, and then the pandemic hit,” Matthews said. Since then, Matthews has been on the frontline of the battle against COVID-19, handling some severe cases in the ICU. He said the operations of the intensive care unit during the pandemic don’t always line up with the public’s impressions.

“I think the general public sees the ICU as an area where people come in, they’re super sick, they get intubated, they’re on the ventilator for several days or weeks, however long it may be,” he said. “And then they either make it or they don’t make it. And unfortunately, that’s not the picture of the ICU. “The picture of the ICU is a patient might come to us and stay with us for 30 days. So you get a relationship with this patient. They come in on high oxygen requirements. They’re terrified, and you’re terrified for them. And then you see the progression either in a positive way or a negative way. … It’s really easy for people to forget about those first two weeks, trying to prevent them from having to go on a ventilator.”

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I was here for about a month, getting my feet wet, getting used to everything, and then the pandemic hit.

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FRONT LINE RESPONDERS | 15

Earning patients’ trust WRITTEN BY BRANDON TESTER PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

r. Collins Mbaria is well-travelled, having lived in the U.K., Grenada and New York before moving to Washington two years ago. As an internal medicine physician at Vidant Beaufort Hospital, Mbaria pursues his passion on a daily basis: helping adults understand, prevent and treat a wide range of health issues. “When they come in for whatever problem they want to get treated, and they go home feeling better and ready to go back, that’s the most rewarding thing,” Mbaria said. “When you see every day that they’re getting better,

they’re smiling more, they’re getting their strength back, and now they’re ready to go home and continue living their life.” The list of conditions Mbaria treats stretches well beyond just COVID-19, but, like many physicians, Mbaria has had to keep a close eye on coronavirus developments within the past year. As the pandemic started in early 2020, Mbaria found that the most important thing he could do was offer guidance and support to patients who were worried about COVID-19 or were in danger of catching the virus. “There’s still a lot of fear, especially with the ones who come in and see me and I tell them that they need to be admitted (to the hospital),” Mbaria said.

“And then I try to talk them through what we can do, what’s next. “The main thing is trying to assure them that we are here with them, we’ll try to explain everything as we’re going along, and hopefully they can go home to their family.” Throughout that process, Mbaria looks to earn the trust of his patients and their families. He said trust is especially important with coronavirus-related visitation restrictions in place. “It is sometimes hard for someone to trust a stranger with their family member,” Mbaria said. “We make a lot of phone calls to build relationships, because the main thing is that they can trust that we will do the best for their family member.”

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...Mbaria found that the most important thing he could do was offer guidance and support to patients who were worried about COVID-19 or were in danger of catching the virus.

DID YOU KNOW?

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SMILING FACES

When someone is truly passionate about what they do, their smiles and happiness can be infectious. These individuals brighten their respective environments while making a difference in the community.

Accidental tourist turns dedicated volunteer WRITTEN BY CHELSEA HOFMANN PHOTO BY ANTHONY COMELLA

fter immigrating from the United Kingdom, Paul Harding never expected to end up in Washington but has made the most of his retirement in our waterfront town. His move here was one of spontaneity. He and his wife were driving south with the plan of settling in Florida when they stopped for lunch in Washington. After unsuccessfully looking for a place to settle in the sunshine state, the Hardings decided to stop at the same restaurant in Washington. From there, they drove around town and the rest is history. After their move, Harding was look-

ing forward to involving himself in the community. After working as a heavy equipment operator for most of his life, there was only so much he could do to their home. That’s when he found Arts of the Pamlico. “I found the Turnage by just walking along Main Street,” Harding said. “I walked in and spoke to the director, who is now Debra Torrence and asked her if I could do volunteer work at the Turnage one day a week just to do my wife a favor and get me out of the house. Debra agreed and that was in 2017.” Every Tuesday, Harding visits the Turnage Theatre and helps out with any projects that may need done. Prior to the pandemic, he helped build sets for the productions the Turnage held and

made repairs as necessary to the facility that serves as the headquarters for Arts of the Pamlico. “It was a good way for me to learn about the new place that I’m in, Washington, and meet people as I come and go. After about two years, Debra said to me that it’s time to put me on the payroll,” Harding said. “She offered to pay me for my volunteer hours from that point on. For the last two years, I’ve been an employee for one day a week. It’s good, I enjoy it.” Harding’s dedication to the town is what fuels his commitment to the Arts of the Pamlico. He has grown to love the environment of Washington and he and his wife agree that they plan to stay here until the end of the line.

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Harding’s DEDICATION to the town is what fuels his COMMITMENT to the Arts of the Pamlico.

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Year-round Santa WRITTEN BY STEVE BARNES PHOTO BY ANTHONY COMELLA

t doesn’t take long for the passion Ashely Padgett has for Bright Futures to bubble to the surface. Padgett, the Student Services Director for Beaufort County Schools leads a team of angels who work miracles almost daily. The Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce partnered with BCS to start Bright Futures in 2014 and Padgett has been the on front lines since. The program takes donations of furniture, bedding, mattresses, food, clothing and cash among many other things to help local families get back on their feet after a crisis. Padgett works with teachers to identify the need and mobilizes her team to help. “It is part of my job, but I’ll be doing this after I retire,” said Padgett, a Washington native whose parents were both educators. “It is extremely rewarding to help families with young children recover from situations that aren’t their fault. Teachers, counselors, volunteers, churches and local businesses play just as big of a role as I do. It takes everybody to make a miracle happen.” Rental housing can be hard to find in Washington and Padgett cites a recent example of how all parties worked hand in hand to help a family. “Their house burned down, and

they lost everything,” Padgett said. “It took a couple of days, but we worked through a Realtor who found one. The school raised money to help with food, somebody donated mattresses, another had furniture they weren’t using, and we had donations of clothes, food, soap, towels and other things to help them recover. It was heart-warming to see it all come together that quickly.”

A different family’s refrigerator died. The mother mentioned something to a teacher while in carpool. Shortly after they got home, a new one arrived full of food. “We got lucky on that one, but it was the highlight of my day,” Padgett laughed. Eagle’s Wings (Food Pantry) came through for us. It’s fun to play Santa Claus every day.”

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It is extremely rewarding to help families with young children recover from situations that aren’t their fault.

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I watched Daisy grow up in a rescue cage and I promised her I’d find her a home.

Animal advocate supports adoption efforts STORY AND PHOTO BY CHELSEA HOFMANN

ince migrating down south over 30 years ago, Dottie Walker has entrenched herself in Washington’s community. Her latest endeavor has her contributing photos and descriptions of homeless cats and dogs to the Washington Daily News’ weekly section, Pets of the Week. “A four-month-old kitten named Daisy was the catalyst I needed to approach the managing editor to ask if the Washington Daily News would reinstate pet photos of good but homeless dogs and cats in need of adoption,” Walker said. “I watched Daisy grow up in a rescue cage and I promised her I’d find her a home. The editor said yes, that was in 2011 and the rest is history.” This section has been a part of the paper for 10 years and has resorted in countless adoptions throughout Beaufort County and saved the lives of thousands of pets. Walker adopted a cat named Lizzie, a calico girl with attitude, from the Beaufort County

Animal Shelter after volunteering there for eight years. “I started at the shelter in January of 2012 when the same editor approached me saying the Washington Daily News wanted to do a Sunday feature of cats and dogs and I had to include the shelter,” Walker said. “Once I went to the shelter, I saw the need was there. Pets of the week became one dog or puppy and once cat or kitten.” With the help of other volunteers throughout the years, namely Linda Roberts, Bob Diefendorf and Sam Taylor, Walker has taken photos of every cat that had come through the shelter before the pandemic. With new safety measures in place, Walker hopes to be able to volunteer at the shelter again once she receives her second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. While she may not be physically helping pets at the shelter right now, Walker’s continued dedication to these animals in making sure that Pets of the Week continues to be published has ensured that cats and dogs throughout Beaufort County can find homes during this difficult time.

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SMILING FACES | 27

I just love everybody and everybody is so nice. Everybody just treats me so wonderfully.

A pillar of kindness in the community WRITTEN BY CHELSEA HOFMANN PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

alk into the lobby of Washington Quick Lube and you’re sure to find Betty Woolard behind the counter with a friendly smile and welcoming greeting. The coronavirus pandemic has changed a lot about Washington Quick Lube’s business. Woolard still greets guests and helps them with whatever they need but wears a face mask and sits behind a plexiglass shield to protect herself and the customers. While her smile might not be the first thing to greet you, she still tries to make

people who walk through the door feel comfortable. Woolard has been a fixture of Washington Quick Lube since it was opened 28 years ago on June 7, 1993 by Bill Litchfield. Before it opened, she worked at Moss Planning Mill under Bill’s father for nearly 40 years. Litchfield sold Washington Quick Lube in July of 2020 to Hank Van Drop and Woolard asked to be kept on. “I do enjoy people. I’m just not a by myself person. I had a friend this morning that called me to ask if he could come in and he brought me two small containers of meatloaf,” Woolard said. “It was somebody that I know that comes in here and he said he just want-

ed to do something nice for me.” Woolard was born and raised in Washington and has lived here her whole life. She married and raised two daughters at her home on Broad Creek Road. She continues to live independently and loves her hometown. “I just love everybody and everybody is so nice,” Woolard said. “Everybody just treats me so wonderfully. Customers bring me gifts, I got two yesterday.” At 84 years old, Woolard is in the high risk community for a severe case of COVID-19 if contracted. Despite this risk, she has continued to work and plans to be behind the reception desk at Washington Quick Lube for as long as they will have her.

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Standing on the shoulders of giants STORY AND PHOTO BY STEVE BARNES

ashington visitors might wonder about an old orange caboose sitting an the corner of Main and Gladden Streets. A closer look opens the door to a fascinating period of American history that some would rather not acknowledge. Leesa Jones and her husband Milton started the Washington Waterfront Underground Railroad Museum in 2016 to shine a light on what slaves endured on their path to freedom and Washington’s role in it. “I feel like it’s my responsibility to convey the history of the underground railroad and how important Washington was along the way,” Jones said. “Enslaved people risked their lives to get here usually by boat then would stow away on a ship that was in port here before it sailed up North. It took an elaborate coding system and cooperation from Abolitionists to make it work and most people don’t know the details.

It’s my job to make sure they do.” Jones grew up in Washington but went to college in New York then settled in the area until her retirement from teaching pre-school. Washington and its history stayed with her and eventually drew her back in 2012. “I think of my distant relative, Sarah Keyes Evans, who refused to move to the back of the bus in Rocky Mount before Rosa Parks became famous for doing it,” Jones said. “I think of my grandmother, who lost two children during the Spanish Flu pandemic and how fierce and how determined Harriet Tubman was in the face of all she had to deal with.” The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the museum to restrict its hours, but Jones has kept the information flowing through Facebook, the Washington Daily News and other channels. “The past holds lessons to help us learn to overcome and endure,” Jones said. “I stand on the shoulders of giants who sacrificed to help us live better, so I’m proud to tell their stories.”

The past holds lessons to help us learn to overcome and endure.

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UNSUNG HEROES Every day, thousands of Beaufort County residents work around the clock to make sure the community's needs are met. A lot of that work goes on behind the scenes.

Friendly face welcomes grocery shoppers WRITTEN BY CHELSEA HOFMANN PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

ffectionately known as Miss Sharon, Sharon Newsome Wilkins greets every customer who enters the Chocowinity Food Lion with a smile. With masks mandates in place, that smile may be harder to see but Wilkins tries to make sure all customers feel welcomed in the store. “A lot of people come in and they say “Oh you can’t see me smile” and I say “But I can tell in your eyes when you’re smiling.” And I like to make people smile,” Wilkins said. “It might be the only smile they see all day or all week

because you never know what someone else is going through. I just try to be pleasant and make it pleasant for them when they come through while shopping.” Wilkins has worked at the Chocowinity Food Lion for two years. She is currently working as a cashier and has taken over sanitization to help keep the store as clean as possible to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “I’m the type of person that will ask what their name is because they know mine. They’ll tell me and I try to remember and when they come in I can say hi to them. I try to speak to everybody that comes in and sometimes you might miss a couple but I try to speak

and see if they need any help.” Wilkins moved from Washington to Chocowinity in 2016. She is currently employed part-time and identifies as a senior citizen and disabled worker, making this job all the more important to her. “The customers are awesome. A lot of them, we know by name and they come in and know our names. It’s like our own family,” said Wilkins. “I work with some awesome people but some of the customers are very nice. One day, my car was broken down and I’m thinking I have to walk home but a customer stops and picks me up! They asked me what I was doing walking and they gave me a ride home.”

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It might be the only smile they see all day or all week because you never know what someone else is going through. I just try to be pleasant and make it pleasant for them when they come through while shopping.

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Local businesswoman helps those in need STORY AND PHOTO BY CHELSEA HOFMANN

ommunity members in need have relied on Rachel K’s Bakery in Downtown Washington since its opening in

2015. Rachel Jordan, founder and owner of Rachel K’s, grew up in Bath. Her perception of poverty in Beaufort County changed drastically after coming back home from college. People would often stop Jordan in Downtown Washington to ask for money to buy something to eat. An offer of a free sandwich from Rachel K’s was always given but Jordan didn’t see many take her up on it due to insecurities. “We met a woman named Ella Oden that used to live here in Washington and she was someone that we saw often on the street. She was very charismatic and she had a big personality but you could tell that she needed some help,” Jordan said. “One day she asked me to take her home and I realized she didn’t have any food. It was an eye opening moment for me and in my head I’ve always said that if I had the opportunity, I would help people and this was it.” Oden was a pillar in the Washington community and is remembered fondly by those who grew to know her. She was killed in 2017 in a motor vehicle accident but her impact is still felt throughout the community, including at Rachel K’s Bakery. “We instituted this thing called the

‘Rachel Special’ which was just kind of a code for saying they wanted something to eat but didn’t have the money to pay for it,” Jordan said. Jordan and the ‘Rachel Special’ were featured in The News and Observer in Raleigh. After this news coverage, donations started rolling in. Jordan started brainstorming and knew that she wanted to continue helping those in need with the funds she was collecting. A local builder constructed a pan-

try and installed it behind Rachel K’s with the intention of providing a place for the community to donate and take food without judgement. “We used that money to stock the pantry and buy toiletry items for people. People from the community come up and stock the pantry which is really the idea of it,” Jordan said. “If you think you need food, then go get the food. If you have extra food, put food in it.”

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Making a difference every day STORY AND PHOTO BY BRANDON TESTER

eaufort County Schools Child Nutrition Director Joanne Kirven has worked in several different areas of the food service industry throughout her career. In 2007, with extensive experience in business and industry food service under her belt, Kirven made the switch to school nutrition by taking a position with Mecklenburg County Schools. It was a new venture, but Kirven quickly developed a passion for working in child nutrition. “It’s one of the few areas of food service management where we make a difference every single day,” Kirven said. Making a difference doesn’t just mean serving food to the children. “… One of the crucial things is we don’t know what’s happened to the children (outside of school) before we see them,” she added. “So, as they get off the bus in the morning, they might be feeling awful, and a

cafeteria lady can be the first smiley face they see in a day.” Kirven started working with BCS last June. Her move to Beaufort County was preceded by stops in Forsyth, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties. Kirven, who is from England and currently resides in Washington Park with her husband, said she has yet to experience a “typical” day in her position due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She said her department has had to be “very adaptable” over the past year. The Child Nutrition office is involved with tasks such as menu planning, purchasing and other financial duties. Kirven is also typically involved with recruiting, hiring and training new employees. Kirven credits her staff for helping to keep the Child Nutrition department running smoothly. She said they’re all driven by a common factor. “The staff we employ has a big heart,” Kirven said. “If you don’t have a big heart, you’re not able to do it. It’s how much love you put into the job — it’s making a difference through the meals that we serve, and that type of thing.”

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The staff we employ has a big heart. If you don’t have a big heart, you’re not able to do it.

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Helping keep Washington clean WRITTEN BY BRANDON TESTER PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

hey might not know him by name, but many Washington residents are bound to see Rashaad Moore doing his job on a weekly basis. When a City of Washington garbage truck rolls through your neighborhood, Moore might be the one behind the wheel, stopping so his crew can collect garbage, yard waste, recycling and whatever else customers place on the curb. It’s oftentimes a thankless job. Shifts can start early in the morning, and the work is done regardless of the weather. That doesn’t bother Moore. He’s been working with the sanitation department for about 16 years. “I’ve been out here for a minute,” Moore said. “I don’t mind working, getting out and doing whatever needs to be done.” Moore said driving is his main duty, and he gets out of the truck and helps with the waste loading process whenever possible. As an essential worker, Moore has carried on his duties throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic. “Everything is basically the same,” Moore said. “We just take the proper precautions and do what we need to do in order to keep everyone safe and make it back home without getting sick.” Moore has been working with the city for a long time, and he plans on helping keep Washington clean for years to come. “My motivation is I have a family at

home,” Moore said. “I’ve got bills to pay, and I’m not getting any younger,” he added with a laugh.

“I’m just trying to make the most of my time, make the best of it and do what I have to do.”

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UNSUNG HEROES | 41

Setting Students Straight STORY AND PHOTO BY STEVE BARNES

ole model, mentor, sympathetic listener, coach. Milton Ruffin has filled all those roles and more during his 15 years at Southside High

School. The Chocowinity native has counseled students who are struggling with their schoolwork and other problems as the In School Suspension teacher’s assistant since the retired Army Staff Sergeant joined the Seahawks staff. “They usually come to me pretty upset, so I try to get them to calm down and just talk to me,” Ruffin said. “You can’t treat every student the same because they aren’t. You have to figure out where they are coming from and let them know you care. We can usually make some headway once we get to that point.” Ruffin has also coached multiple sports at the middle and high school level. He’s been the Seahawks head var-

sity girls basketball coach for six years and was an assistant before that. He knows players and students are watching and listening even when it doesn’t seem like it. “As a Black male, I try to set an example by the way I carry myself and treat people with respect,” Ruffin said. “I try to let them know that high school sets the foundation for the real world. I want them to go on to college, to be on time for work and be able to hold a job. It’s my job to make sure they do the work here, so they are used to it when they graduate.” Former students return often for a visit and to catch up with their former teacher and coach. That’s the best part, according to Ruffin. “It makes me smile when they come back and thank me for helping them get right,” he explained. “I feel great when they share their success and I’m proud to be a part of it. I appreciate the opportunity to make a difference and hope I have.”

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You can’t treat every student the same because they aren’t. You have to figure out where they are coming from and let them know you care.

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FUTURE WORLD CHANGERS The next generation of leaders and innovators can be found here in Beaufort County. These students represent the future of our state, our country and our world.

The gift that keeps on giving STORY AND PHOTO BY STEVE BARNES

ports equipment, Star Wars collectibles or a cell phone upgrade are potential items on an 8th grade boy’s Christmas list. John Hinchey asked for a 3D printer kit. Now a sophomore at Washington High School, Hinchey made his request with summer in mind, namely as a cheaper way to replace the fins on his surfboard. It took him a week and half to assemble the printer and out came the fins. Fast forward two years to the COVID-19 pandemic and the true use for his printer arose, thanks to his older sister, who came home from the University of Michigan when her classes were interrupted. “She told me about some kids at her school who were trying to make a 3D ventilator for hospitals,” Hinchey said. “I didn’t think it would work, but I joined the group online just to see what it was about. It was mostly people in Ireland and England and two weeks later I was the project manager for making face shields.” Hinchey experimented with different designs before settling on a simple

piece of plastic that hooks over the ears like a pair of glasses, with clips in front to hold the shield. He raised $1,700 through a GoFundMe page to offset costs, cranked out 400 shields, then used the remaining cash to buy lunches for local medical workers. The shields went to the Vidant Urgent Care in Washington and some

nursing homes around the county. “I broke my wrist over the summer, and it was pretty cool to walk into Urgent Care and see them wearing my shield,” Hinchey said. “I mentioned it to one of them and they said, “Oh you’re that kid.” I had the time, since school was out for a while and the tools, so why not put them to use to help somebody?”

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For the Love of Learning Washington Montessori Public Charter School 2330 Old Bath Highway ay Washington, NC 27889 252-946-1977 www.wmpcs.org

Kindergarten through 12th Grade - Public Charter School

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Positive signs lie ahead STORY AND PHOTO BY STEVE BARNES

o say Sarah Petty has made the most of her four years at Southside High School would be selling her short. The 17-year old senior has been president of the Math and Beta Clubs, the Student Government Association and the Southside Student-Athlete Club. She plays volleyball, basketball and soccer, is the Bright Futures Council senior class representative and a student Ambassador. Her various clubs and organizations have helped out at middle school Field Days, with Special Olympics events, visited local nursing homes at Christmas and picked up trash along local roadways. During the summer, she’s volunteered at the Turnage Theater, been part of the Vidant Hospital juniors’ program, where she helped in the outpatient surgery area and assisted at the Blind Center in Washington. She also finds time to sing

in the youth band at Ignite Church in Greenville. The “aha” moment that started her down the path of helping others came at the Blind Center a little over two years ago. “I brought the clients their coffee and helped them with arts and crafts and whatever else was happening all summer,” Petty said. “I got to know them pretty well and vice versa, so I realized how much fun I was having helping other people and how much they relied on my help. It was then that I figured out that I wanted to make a career out of helping people with seeing or hearing disabilities.” Petty has been accepted into Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, where she will study to become a sign language interpreter. “I was watching a TV show called Switched at Birth a couple of years ago and part of it was about sign language and I thought it was really cool. I would like to do it in a school or hospital. So many people can’t do things or struggle to do them. We should help if we can.”

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Helpful nature guides Godley WRITTEN BY STEVE BARNES PHOTO BY ASHLEY VANSANT

-year old Katie Godley, her twin brother Will, her younger brother and 16-year old cousin decided it would be a good idea to turn their old backyard wooden swing set into a hunting stand so they could take aim at squirrels with their BB guns. They dragged the structure through the woods as Will cleared a path with his machete. The sharp blade sliced through the small tree ahead and also carved through part of his knee. As blood flowed freely, her cousin quickly tied a tunicate to stave off disaster until help arrived. “I knew right then I wanted to learn how to take care of other people and myself, so I could save somebody if I needed to.” Godley, now a senior at Northside High School, has made good on her pledge and has been accepted into the East Carolina University School of Nursing for the fall semester. “My aunt and uncle are paramedics, and several cousins are nurses,” Godley said. “One of them is a flight nurse, which is what I want to be.” Godley is a member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) at Northside along with Key Club. She also plays volleyball and basketball for the Panthers. As part of HOSA, she helps sell lollypops and other candy at school to raise money to buy Christmas and Valentine’s Day gifts for area nursing home residents. The group also holds blood drives and Godley tends to those who are recovering after donating. She’s been part of can food drives for the Ronald McDonald house in Greenville as part of Key Club. “It feels good to help when I know there is a need,” she explained. “James 4:17 is my favorite bible verse. If anyone knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, then it is a sin for them.”

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It feels good to help when I know there is a need.

Did you know we offer Saturday appointments to fit your busy schedule?!

LOCATION

ERI Washington DATE

Any Saturday 630 E 11th St, Washington, NC 27889 252.946.2137 | easternrad.com Monday, Tuesday 7:30am-6pm Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 7:30am-5pm Saturday 9am-1pm

TIME

9am-1pm

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Future lawyer changing lives of her peers STORY AND PHOTO BY CHELSEA HOFMANN

ashington Montessori junior Grey Llewellyn is focused on helping the community in any way she can. Since Kindergarten, Llewellyn has attended Washington Montessori and has been involved in extracurricular activities like horseback riding and volunteer work with the Ronald McDonald House. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and serves as the head of the school’s violin rental program for students. “I’d like to go to college preferably as a business major, I don’t really know yet. Long term, I want to go into law so undergrad is kind of up in the air but I know eventually I want to go to law school,” Llewellyn said. Looking ahead, Llewellyn hopes to pursue a career as a lawyer with a focus on criminal or personal injury law. While an actual job in the field may be a few years off for Llewellyn, she makes the

most of her participation in a program called Teen Court. “I’d like to go to college preferably as a business major, I don’t really know yet. Long term, I want to go into law so undergrad is kind of up in the air but I know eventually I want to go to law school,” Llewellyn participates in the Pitt County chapter of Teen Court. This program gives first time offenders between the ages of 6 and 17 with the chance to be judged by their peers and receive a sentence that will help improve their lives. If successful, individuals who go through this program can ultimately have their record expunged. “We have teens that act as the prosecution defense, clerk, bailiff and a jury of teens. You go through the program and get judged by a jury of your peers and if you go through the program, afterwards you’re always sentenced to a life skills and anger management class and some amount of volunteer hours depending on what you did,” Llewellyn said. “As long as you do that, whatever law you broke is completely wiped from your record.”

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Bright future ahead for PCA senior STORY AND PHOTO BY CHELSEA HOFMANN

ayla Tran’s senior year at Pungo Christian Academy has been anything but expected. The pandemic all but halted her schooling during her junior year but PCA made plans to pursue in person learning for the 2020-2021 school year. With such small class sizes, PCA has been successful in maintaining a healthy environment for students and faculty. Tran is one of only 11 seniors in the class of 2021. She has attended PCA since she was three years old and “This school is super small but I think that’s helped me a lot because I’ve been able to socialize with everybody whereas if I were at a bigger school I might just be able to socialize with the older people or whoever was in my class but here I get to talk to everybody,” Tran said. Tran was recently crowned the 2021 Homecoming Queen for PCA, marking her as the first Asian-American student to receive this honor. She campaigned for the title with homemade buttons and candy and was voted for by her peers. In addition to her recent title, Tran is also president of the Beta Club and a member of the PCA women’s golf team. “With COVID and everything, so many normal things we take for granted. I’ve tried to make the most of ev-

erything,” Tran said. Tran’s future is incredibly bright, as she has received acceptance into several notable colleges in the state including UNC Chapel Hill, N.C. State, UNC Charlotte and East Carolina University. With the pandemic, she has been unable to visit any of these campuses but looks forward to pursuing a career within the

biomedical engineering field. “In my mind, I’ve always wanted to go to medical school or dental school,” Tran said. “I’m probably going to go to dental school but if I don’t end up doing that then I’ll get an engineering job.” Tran will graduate from PCA as a member of the class of 2021 and will attend college in the fall.

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