Bon Voyage Everett

Friday was a busy day in our office. To be more precise outside of our office. Friday the entire Robeson County Staff prepared for our County Director's, Everett Davis's, retirement bash at the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fairgrounds. It was a good thing he knew about it because when he joined everyone at the fairgrounds for lunch he was commenting on how excited he was about his last day in the office and instead there was no one there to help him enjoy it. As it turned out that afternoon about 200 of his closest friends, relatives, and Extension clients came together to honor him at an informal pig picking.

I say informal, but when someone has worked with Extension for more than 28 years, 25 as the County Extension Director you must expect some type of formal presentation to be made. Our South Central District Extension Director, Clinton McRae gave Everett a plaque and his official retirement certificate framed and ready to hang on his wall. Frank Boyette, of the Robeson County Master Gardener Association, made a personal presentation of a gift card for dinner to Everett and his wife Ann, before giving a gift of a clock to Everett. The clock was appropriate because they wanted to make sure Everett would be on time for his next gift from the association. Alan Faircloth, incoming President of the group, gave Everett a year's membership to Cliffwood Golf Course on behalf of the Master gardeners. Now Everett will be on time for his future tee times, one of which was scheduled for Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. Coble Wilson spoke on behalf of the fair board and recalled all the times he and Everett worked together making the fair what it is today. Then it was time for the Extension staff
to offer a small token of appreciation for his years of leadership, understanding, and friendship. The staff pitched in and purchased Everett a Flip Camera that was presented by Sunshine Committee Member Janice Fields. The camera is for Everett to use in his new touring business. We want to make sure he shares all of his new retirement adventures with us.

After all the gifts and kind words it was our esteemed County Director's turn to address the masses. In a touching speech he talked about how he owed his success to all of his families. His Family that includes his mother, brothers, sister and daughters. His wife Ann, and her sons, daughter in laws and grand daughters. He then mentioned his fair board family, extension clients, staff, and of course all of his friends he has made over the years in Extension.

The event included almost 200 people who wanted to come and help celebrate this milestone in Everett's life. For those of us in Extension it was a bitter sweet moment. We are so happy for him to be able to celebrate and enjoy his retirement, on the other hand many of us realize that come Monday he will not be in his office when we go into work. We are sad to see him go but happy that he is starting a new chapter in his life.

For Robeson County 4-H we lose the direct leadership of someone who supported innovation in our programs and encouraged us to constantly adjust our programming to meet the needs of the youth we work wit. For years Everett volunteered to work fundraisers to help 4-H have an operational budget, in recent years he has supported our largest funding source, United Way, by serving on the board, taking part in Day of Caring events and of course giving. Most recently Everett was instrumental in starting two endowments that will help support our volunteers and different aspects of programming.

The Dr. Eddie and Mrs. Brenda Locklear 4-H Endowment is named after the 4-H Agent who ran the program when Everett first began his extension career. This endowment will support a Robeson County 4-H Volunteer Hall of fame, recognizing an outstanding 4-H volunteer each year. Robert Wilkes is owner of TLC catering and a member of the Robeson County Center of the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service advisory board. Robert is an entrepreneur, and this endowment will be offered to youth and clubs who show an entrepreneurial spirit to support their leadership and entrepreneurial training and activities.

As you can see Everett has been more than a supervisor for 4-H staff. He has been a leader in the true sense of the word and left the program in a better place, ready to conquer the future. We want to wish him the best as he conquers his new future.

If you would like to contact Everett Davis and express your congratulations, and or thanks for his work with the 4-H program feel free to contact him at Everett_Davis@ncsu.edu. If you would like to make a gift in his name to one of the endowments that he help set up please feel free to honor him in this most appropriate manner. You can give on line to the Dr. Eddie and Mrs. Brenda Locklear 4-H Endowment. You can also give on line to the Robert Wilkes 4-H Endowment fund.

Thank you Everett for all you have done for us and we wish you well in your next career!