County clerk honored by state organization
By Steve Herring
Published in News on March 29, 2011 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Marcia Wilson, center, clerk to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for the past 20 years, accepts the North Carolina Association of County Clerks' Howard Holly Outstanding Clerk Award from Gwen Bryan, chairman of the association's Outstanding Clerk Committee. At right is association president Debbie Gore.
Marcia Wilson, the clerk to the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for the past 20 years, was presented Monday with the Howard Holly Outstanding Clerk Award in "recognition of accomplishments superior to accepted standards and distinguished continuing contributions to county government in North Carolina."
The award, given by the North Carolina Association of County Clerks, was presented to Ms. Wilson during a surprise reception at the Goldsboro Country Club.
The award was to be presented April 9 at the association's annual conference. However, Ms. Wilson will be out of the country and unable to attend that gathering.
Her co-workers made arrangements with the association leadership to present the award early. Arrangements were even made for her father, Wilbur Wilson of Durham, to be present.
Ms. Wilson said that County Manager Lee Smith had told her they were going to a Wings over Wayne Air Show meeting to get her to the club.
"I am just so honored to be honored by my fellow clerks," she said. "It is a very humbling experience because they all are deserving. I will be on a cruise that night and I won't be able to attend. Thank you so much. Without you (co-workers) I would not be able to do my job. You all make it easier. I am just so thrilled.
"It means so much to me for each of you to come and share this with me. It is teamwork. We could not do it unless we all worked together. I am very excited and humbled for this honor. It is truly an honor to be honored by my fellow clerks throughout the state of North Carolina. It has been a surprise and one that I will never ever forget."
The award is being presented differently this year because of some unusual circumstances, said Gwen Bryan, Craven County clerk and chairman of the Outstanding Clerk Committee.
It is generally presented at the closing banquet of the association's annual conference, said Ms. Bryan, the 2010 award recipient.
Ms. Bryan thanked Wayne County officials for arranging the surprise program for them and "for this most deserving clerk."
"There is not much that I can say about this dedicated individual that you don't already know," she said. "Those of you who work with her already know that she has given outstanding service to Wayne County as clerk to the board of commissioners since 1989. I am here to tell you what her service to our association has looked like over the years."
Ms. Bryan said that she has been a member of the association since 1993 and that Ms. Wilson stands out as having been one of the "most visible and steadfast" members during that time.
"She has never served as an officer because she has been so busy supporting the other officers," she said. "But it is only a matter of time. I hope you realize that. She seems to have been a permanent fixture on our board of directors because she has been on several times. She currently serves on our board of directors.
"She has done just about everything else that the association has needed. She has been a gift that keeps on giving. She has served on just about every committee. She has provided outstanding leadership to the association's efforts to institute a certification program for North Carolina county clerks in partnership with the School of Government which became a reality in 2010."
Ms. Bryan said that Ms. Wilson has always presented herself as a person of "dignity and grace."
"She brings out the best in others as I am sure you know," she said. "We thank Wayne County for allowing Marcia to take such a prominent role in the successes of our professional organization."
"She does a tremendous job for us. You probably know that because you have shown that today," said commission Chairman J.D. Evans.
Smith said it was hard "to pull a fast one" on Ms. Wilson.
"So this is a feat itself," he said. "We are very thrilled. The commissioners know, and for the media, despite everything that I want to do and if I want to try and break the rules she does not let me do it.
"Nor does she let the commissioners do it. She keeps us legal and between (county attorney) Borden (Parker) and Marcia we have stayed out of jail."