Johnston County Heritage Center Annual Report 2025

10 ANNUAL REPORT 2025 Johnston County Heritage Commission heritagecenter @ johnstonnncgov wwwjcheritagecenterorg 919 - 934 - 2836 Heritage Center 919 - 938 - 5912 Museum Johnston County Heritage Center PO Box2709 Smithfield , NC 27577 Johnston County Heritage Commission heritagecenter @ johnstonnncgov wwwjcheritagecenterorg 919 - 934 - 2836 Heritage Center 919 - 938 - 5912 Museum Johnston County Heritage Center PO Box2709 Smithfield , NC 27577PageOur Mission To conduct and encourage historical and genealogical research and to collect , preserve and share materials that relate to the history of Johnston County Vision Statement adopted December 2025 The Johnston County Heritage Commission envisions a vibrant local community deeply connected to the countys rich history and diverse heritage We aspire to foster a sense of identity and belonging among all residents and visitors Our commitment to accessible research , education , and cultural programming aims to empower individuals to explore their genealogical roots and appreciate the stories that have shaped our community Together , we strive to create an inclusive space that inspires curiosity , encourages lifelong learning , and nurtures an enduring appreciation for the heritage that unites us as Johnstonians From Our Director Johnston County continues to experience unprecedented growth at a rate our grandparents scarcely would have imagined This growth has had a variety of impacts Few would argue against the benefits of economic development and the expanded tax base We also have a more diverse populace with a greater variety of perspectives , knowledge , skills , and connections Our small - town commercial districts are being revitalized Those are some of the pros As a historian and preservationist , I am alarmed and saddened when I see family farms , picturesque landscapes , pristine forests and waterways , historic buildings , sites containing prehistoric evidence of indigenous people , and abandoned cemeteries become losers in the quest for profit that fuels much of our current growth In recent years , we have expanded our focus from research , education , and exhibits to include more advocacy for historic preservation We have done this simply because on a weekly basis we field phone calls and emails or receive personal visits from individuals who are concerned about the plight of cultural and historic resources in our county State government offices can offer limited assistance , so people increasingly look to the Heritage Center for help in protecting endangered sites , buildings , and structures I am encouraged that the County of Johnston now has a department dedicated to preserving parks and open spaces We also have nonprofit organizations such as Triangle Land Conservancy and Preservation North Carolina who have been effective in protecting several natural and historic resources in our county The Historic Smithfield Foundation , a relatively new nonprofit , is restoring the Freedmens Schoolhouse and has stepped in to save Smithfields downtown movie theater Preservation Johnston County , Inc , was formed in 2023 to advocate for historic preservation countywide This organization is in search of a leader who can take it to the next level Perhaps someone reading this report would consider taking on this vital role 7o « ld foaooaPageThe Heritage Commission Pam Baumgartner , Clayton Lettie Best Vice - Chair , Selma Pearl Blackmon , Smithfield Dr Shiquita Blue , Clayton Dr John Booker , Smithfield James Dana Carter , Clayton Suzanne Cook , Benson Michelle Davis , Archer Lodge Matt Dean , Zebulon Dr Carolyn Ennis , Smithfield Pascual Goicoechea , Clayton Warren Grimes Chair , Smithfield Catherine Gutierrez , Selma Angelique Legette , Smithfield Vicky Temple - Rains , Princeton Michael Rose , Princeton Nathaniel Sanders , Jr , Clayton Vann Stancil , Kenly Gary Underwood , Smithfield Emeritus members Charles Creech , Zebulon T Wingate Lassiter , Smithfield Julia McCullers , Raleigh Rebecca Renfrow , Smithfield County Commissioner Ex - Officio Heritage Center & Museum Staff Bennett Chapman , Archivist Todd Johnson , Executive Director Phoebe Landfried , Substitute Genealogist Debbie Cobb , Accounting Specialist Rebecca Owens , Chief Genealogist Jimmy Parker , Museum Docent Shelia Rowland , Museum Docent Mark Va same , Archivist - Genealogist What We Have • Archives and Manuscripts • Photographs • Newspapers • Genealogical and Historical Research Collections • Cemetery Records • Online Research • Museum Displays • Scavenger Hunt for Children • Gift Shop • Friendly , Knowledgeable Staff & Volunteers What We Do • Historic Preservation • Black History Events • Patrons Gala • Genealogy Classes • Book Talks and Autograph Parties for Local Authors • Ghost Walk • Educational Outreach in Schools and Community Centers • Historical Markers • Literary and Historical Journal • YouTube Channel • Southern HospitalityPageFinancial Profile Annual Budget , Fiscal Year 2024 - 25 Expenditures of 378,19324 for operations Revenues of 210,624 62 from the County of Johnston and 129,17178 38 from donations , endowment , grants , fees , and gift shop sales Annual Budget , Fiscal Year 2025 - 26 Projected expenditures of 424,208 Projected revenues of 245,229 58 from the County of Johnston and 178,979 42 from reserves , donations , endowment , grants , fees , and gift shop sales Johnston County Heritage Center Endowment Held by the North Carolina Community Foundation , advised by the Johnston County Heritage Center and the Robert P Holding Foundation , Inc Balance 644,01304 as of December 31 , 2025 Contributing Patrons The Heritage Center is a public - private partnership between the County of Johnston and individuals , families , and organizations who value our history Gifts of 50 or more are acknowledged in our annual list of patrons Gifts of 1,000 or more are acknowledged on donor boards located in both the Heritage Center and Museum We are especially grateful for our leading benefactors , for those who make annual contributions , and for those who volunteer their valuable time to help us accomplish our mission Incredible is the right word A recently widowed , lifetime homemaker , age 57 , took a part - time library job and miraculously transformed it into the institution now known as the Johnston County Heritage Center Allow me to retell the story from a personal perspective In 1967 my Aunt Sissie , Margaret Mclemore Lee , started out organizing a few boxes of documents and memorabilia in space smaller than some modern walk - in closets Forty years later , Sissie ended up the grande dame of archives and genealogy in space fit for a bank Do I believe in miracles Yes indeed , but it takes more than amazement and praise to keep a still - growing institution going So am a proud supporter of the Johnston County Heritage Center and Museum William Joseph Joe Austin , Jr PagePage pageNumber5Special thanks to the Heritage Centers Contributing Patrons of 2024 - 2025 DIAMOND 1,000 + Scott & Marie Abee Billy & Debbie Austin Gail & Joe Austin Dr John M & Shirley Booker Camille Boone Steve & Suzanne Cook Allison S Elsee Maggie B Holding Charitable Trust Robert P Holding Foundation Johnston County Arts Council Johnston County Visitors Bureau Charles W & Jenelle Green Moore , in memory of Osborne H Owens & in honor of Rebecca S Owens North Carolina Humanities Rebecca S Owens Patricia Allen Rogers , in memory of Nancy Raynor Anderson Thomas Rose Mary Stephens PLATINUM 500 Rosa & Art Andrews Atkinson Milling Co Inc Mr & Mrs Kay Carroll Grover & Lou Dees Dr Carolyn G Ennis Jerry & Mary Nell Lee Ferguson Mr and Mrs Joseph S Hobbs In memory of Brant Allen Johnson , Jr Van & Blair Jones Denton & Jane Lee James Thomas Vinson Ill GOLD 250 + Emery & Kim Ashley Teresa Mclamb Blackmon , in memory of Willis & Ruth Mclamb W Landis & Paula Bullock Sharon Castleberry , in memory of Belle Allen & Margaret Maron Charles W Creech , in memory of Linnie Godwin Creech Lynda D Creech Matt & Amy Dean Norma Dean Lola Stephenson Delbridge Diana Naylor Duncan JoAnne & Claud Dunn Joyce & Jim Gibson Sharon & Pascual Goicoechea Warren Grimes Perry & Jean Harris David M Huggin Tom & Hope Humphrey Bill & Rebecca Kalsbeek In memory of Laura Faye Massengill George & Gayle Mast , in memory of Ruffin Johnson , T Yates & Pansy Dobson , & Vertie Perry Gordon Mclamb Cliff & Joyce Mitchell Claudia & Jack OHale Phyllis E Palmer Ben Peterson , Jr Deborah Burgess Sasser S Vann Sauls Smith - Bryan Chapter , Daughters of the American Revolution Millard & Patti Stallings Marvin Taylor , in memory of Gunilla Taylor Lanny & Helen Thomas Rep Donna McDowell White , in memory of Esther Hill McDowell Hampton & Betsy Whittington Steve & Delle Blount Wilson in memory of Ned & Jane Cunningham Elaine Wooten Wood SILVER 100 + Debbie Anderson Dewitt & Delane J Armstrong Michael D Atkinson Mike & Kaye Bailey Jay & Belinda Baker Rudy & Pat Baker Bob & Bet Barber Janice & Ken Bateman Pam L Baumgartner Keith Beamon Rayvon & Becky Johnson Best M Katie Blackmon Pearl Blackmon Sarah Ogburn Blalock Curtis & Cindy Brookshire Steve & Gwen Canady Susan & Ricky Carroll Porter & Timpla Casey Judith B Castleberry Patricia Chisholm - Jones Jack & Judy Coats , in memory of Ramona Cash Dr Gettys & Shirley Cohen Jr Lee & Alice Colbert Judge Andy Corbett Jane & Cornell Cox Greg & Kelley Garris In memory of Betty Gaster Patricia 0 Godwin Jennie & Franklin Grimes In honor of Warren Grimes Cathy Rusher Gutierrez Denise Castleberry Hall Cecil Heavner Thad E Hardee , in memory of Faye & Pope Hardee Sam & Joan Narron Hardy Rick & Caroline Hester John and Frankie Hobart In memory of Ann Lee Huckenbeck Jeff & Sherry Holt Paul & Shirley Ingram Dianna Popa Jicha Beverly R Johnson , in memory of Marshall H Johnson Carroll F Johnson , in memory of Fred & Daisy Creech Johnson Connie L Johnson , in memory of Ruffin Johnson Lynn Johnson Dr Oliver Johnson Todd & Donna Johnson Bill & Joyce Jordan Bill and Kay Kennedy Judy S Kennedy Frank & Betsy Knott , in memory of Debbie Jordan Braxton Jacqueline Lacy Carol Lancaster , in memory of JD Lancaster Janet & Ken Langston John C Lassiter , in memory of Mary Frances Bingham Susan & Wingate Lassiter David & Joyce Lee Tom & Barbara Lee Tony & Anita Liverman John & Andrea Maron , in memory of Claudia Stephenson Brown & Margaret BMaron Betsy B Massengill Pam Massengill , in memory of Stanton MassengillPagePage pageNumber6Tom Medlin , in memory of Lu Long & Tommy Medlin Richard & Missy Nordan Cheryl L Oliver Reggie & Dianne Parker Tom & Ann Parrish Jane T Patterson Dorothy Jean Johnson - Popa David & Betty Pope Chap & Ann Ragland Lynn & William Ragsdale Michael A & Carolyn 0 Renfrow Ingrid Shelia & Gerald T Rowland Velvaline & Nathaniel L Sanders Jr Silas Sauls & Rick Herndon John & Margaret Scovil Richard Self & Becky Veazey Jesse & Kathy Sellers Jean Simmons Ray & Dr Peggy Smith Talmadge R & Rochelle D Snead Vann & Amy Stancil Elinor W Starling Rebecca S Starling In memory of David Stephens Mary Stephens Danny & Carolyn Stephenson Grady 0 Stephenson , Jr E Wayne & Julie W Stewart Dana & Sandra Strickland Bill & Kathy Teague Jack & Janie Temple Harold & Carolyn Tharrington Ronny Creasy and Windy Thompson Tommy & Ava Thompson Tucker U Twisdale Gary R & Glenda M Underwood Haywood & Vanessa Watson Tresa Wood Wheeler Janice C White Mary Lillie & Charles Wilkins Janet Denning Wilson Eddie and Brenda Wood Gary R & Glenda M Underwood Jim & Lanie Woodard Richard V Woodard Steve & Valerie Woodard Mabel Yelvington Ben & Kellie Youngblood BRONZE 50 Ernie & Margo Allsbrook American Discount Building Supplies Monique Austin Sue Cannady Barefoot Lettie Best Adam Caldwell James Carter Debbie Armstrong Cobb Eleanor N Creech Chad , April & Ava Culver Neal & Lorine Davis Friends of Tobacco Farm Life Museum Flora H Grantham Jennifer Vileigh Narron - Hardy Linda Shehdan Hester Jerry L Higgins Jim Ingram Frances Aycock Kiker Maxine M McFadyen Frances D Norris Craig Olive Charlie Parrish Phyllis Parrish Rhonda Johnson Ray John & Dinah Reece , in honor of Julia Allen McCullers David & Barbara Ryals Taylor Gerald & Glenda Toler Billy & Clara Wellons Carolyn Williams Muriel Wilson Bruce & Ann WoodardPage