Craig Olive given the Spirit of the County Award

Press Release provided by Johnston Now Magazine

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Johnston County residents honored at annual awards reception

SELMA — Eleven individuals and an area nonprofit organization were honored at the eighth-annual Johnston Now Honors event, held at The Farm at 95 on July 24.  Johnston Now Honors is an awards program hosted by Johnston Now Magazine, designed to spotlight the accomplishments of Johnston County citizens and organizations.  “We’re fortunate to be able to honor such amazing people for the work they’re doing to make Johnston County a better place,” Johnston Now Publisher Randy Capps said.  This year’s class includes: Shaun Braswell, Excellence in Arts; Lee Webb, Inspiring Coach; James Grady, Distinguished Police Officer; Dr. Katina Blue, Dynamic Entrepreneur; Chris Ellington, Outstanding Firefighter; Georgia Anthony, Best Healthcare Professional; Preston Thompson, Rising Star; Bryant Spivey, Legend Award; Bradley Palmer, Veteran Service Award; Fred Foreman, Exemplary Volunteer; The Woman’s Club of Clayton, Nonprofit of the Year and Craig Olive, Spirit of the County. 

Braswell, the Director of Performing Arts at Johnston Community College, was bitten by the theatre bug as a teenager and has been sharing that passion with others ever since.  “When I was young, I definitely liked being on stage,” he said. “But once I started working at the college and getting into the technical side of it, I kind of got more of a love of (making) the production happen. ... I love the process of getting it there. So that's really where I'm at. My love is now watching other people enjoying it on stage.”

Webb, entering his fifth season as head football coach at his alma mater, South Johnston, wants to win as many games as he can. He believes, however, that the kind of people his program can produce is more important than the results on the field.  “We've had  great seasons,” he said. “We want to win more games, obviously. But the biggest thing for us as a staff and as a community is helping the next generation become the men and fathers that they need to be. That's something that was instilled early in my life.” 

Grady, a captain with the Smithfield Police Department, grew up in Clayton, joined the department in Smithfield in 1998 and has spent the years since then doing what he loves to do — help people.  “When I was younger, I just felt the need to help people,” he said. “I think everybody that has a job, they know that's the job for them. Some people, it takes a little bit longer to figure out. Some don't. But for some reason, just when I was younger, I knew that I  wanted to help people, and that's really why I got into it.” 

A visit to the computer lab at South Johnston started a lifetime of education and entrepreneurship for Blue. Despite the fact that she’s celebrating 30 years of work for the state of North Carolina, she and her husband own and operate a handful of businesses in  Benson, including BHW Diagnostics, We Care Home Care, Studio Restore (a wellness spa), Market and Church Commercial Real Estate and Bleu Events.  “Other people will count you out, but you’ve got to know yourself,” she said. “One of my favorite scriptures is ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ I never doubted me. As a matter of fact, it became fire to me when you said I couldn’t do something. I was going to prove you wrong.”

Ellington has been the chief of the Cleveland Fire Department for 20 years, and in that span, the department has grown from two paid employees to 35 shift employees and three more admin positions.  “Since coming to work full time at Cleveland, it's never crossed my mind to go anywhere else,” he said. “I've never really desired to leave home. Where you start is, most of the time, where your heart's at, and the biggest thing is I have a desire to retire from  there one day.  “You know, they say if you enjoy what you do, you never really work a day in your life. And I am a testament to that for sure.”

Anthony, a 52-year healthcare veteran, is the engine behind Project Access, a program that has connected thousands of uninsured adults with essential medical services since its founding in 2006.  “I started in the morning answering phones and by noon I was  enrolling new patients,” she said.  “It was just so needed. And so, I've never left.” ... We had 200 people on a waiting list once they heard about us. People were standing at our door. I can remember this husband and wife that came and he had lost his job. They  said this was the last place they wanted to be, but they needed help.”

At 15 years old, Thompson has already accomplished what some may never manage to do in a lifetime. He’s the founder of two small businesses, a dedicated church and community volunteer, and an honors student — all while dealing with the sudden loss of a  father and grandmother.  “It taught me, first of all, to be grateful for everything — every day, every breath — and to not take anything for granted,” he said. “It definitely helped build my faith too, because when you’re at your lowest and you only have God to rely on, that helps you really build a stronger faith.  “I also gained a lot of maturity too. I had to grow up a lot quicker and just take into account that life is real and sometimes it’s difficult, but you’ve gotta keep pushing through because the world around you is not gonna stop.”

Spivey has spent his life helping others grow — sometimes quite literally. As the longtime County Extension Director of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension’s Johnston County Center, Spivey has played a vital role in supporting local agriculture, empowering youth and delivering educational programs that strengthen families and communities across the region.  “It’s a small amount of our population now that’s on the farm, but we’re helping our farmers be successful and we’re helping them grow food that not only that sustains their farm and their family, but also helps sustain the communities around them and steward the land and the natural resources around them,” he said.

For Palmer, retirement from the military didn’t mean the end of service — it simply marked the start of a new mission.  After 17 years in the U.S. Army and 11 in the National Guard, he continues to dedicate his time to those who’ve worn the uniform, leading numerous efforts to support veterans through organizations like the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), the American Legion and various advisory boards, committees and councils.  “You’re doing your part to carry on for the guys that didn’t make it back, what they would do,” he said. “That’s part of it. What kind of legacy am I leaving if I just sit on my hands and do nothing?... There’s so many other people in the county that I can think of that do just as much. The people who work behind the scenes never ask for any kind of recognition, and that’s the true form of giving.”

Foreman’s One Blood Movement of Unity believes in empowering through mentorship, feeding the community, mentoring our youth and building a more inclusive future. And for the last 10 years, he’s been doing exactly that.  “One Blood Movement of Unity is designed to bring people back to the understanding that we are all God’s children. To really unify all ethnicities and bring awareness that we have more similarities than we do differences,” he said. “I believe if you love yourself and understand yourself completely, you can understand and love anyone else. That’s the foundation.” 

If there’s a service project, community outreach effort or donation drive happening in or around Clayton, chances are the Woman’s Club of Clayton has a hand in it. For more than a century, that group has been a powerful force for helping those in need. “I showed up for a lunch, and I loved it and I joined,” Club President Trish Perna said. “And then from there somehow I got to take my turn being president. I love everything we do. I love all the projects and we reach out to the community in so many ways. There are so many fantastic nonprofits in the JoCo area and it’s nice to be able to collaborate with them.”

If you’ve spent more than a couple of years in Johnston County, chances are you’ve come in contact with Olive.  As Johnston County’s Register of Deeds, his office is where you go to record legal documents, get a marriage license or maybe even a passport.  Since 2002, he’s served as not only the face of that office, but as an ambassador for the county in which he was raised. “I just noticed how much my father and my mother love helping people, and I guess it's just in my blood,” he said. “But I think we have a great county. We have great citizens that live here.  And I'm just glad I am a part of their daily walk, helping them either get a marriage license or obtain death certificates for a loved one, or someone buying a new home, recording their documents, or being there for people that have to record a power of attorney because their loved one is sick or in the hospital.”