Register of deeds announces retirement
By Steve Herring
Published in News on August 19, 2015 1:46 PM
Lois Mooring
Wayne County Register of Deeds Lois J. Mooring has announced her plans to retire effective Sept. 30, after nearly 11 years in that office.
However, her career in and around the Wayne County Courthouse spans 41 years, beginning in 1974 when she began working at a law office.
She began working in the Clerk of Court's Office in 1992 and worked there for 12 years.
In November 2004, she was elected to the Register of Deeds Office and has been re-elected for two additional four-year terms.
"So it is like this block has been my career," she said. "I am like a light fixture. I have been working around this block for 41 years."
There will be slightly more than a year remaining in her current term when she retires.
Wayne County commissioners, who announced Mrs. Mooring's retirement during the waning minutes of their Tuesday session, will be responsible for naming her replacement as set forth in state law.
Mrs. Mooring is a Democrat and since she was elected in a partisan race, the Wayne County Democratic Party will make an appointment, which will then have to be approved by commissioners.
"It is such a great job, and I hope that the next person enjoys it as much as I have," she said. "You cannot find a better job. It is never boring. There are so many situations -- situations that you didn't even know existed. But you try your best to help people to solve their problem if it is possible. Otherwise, we refer them to an attorney."
Mrs. Mooring said she plans to help the new appointee transition into the office if he or she wants her help.
"There is a little more than one year left on my term and this will give someone else time to get in place before they have to file for election," she said. "The time frame is right for me to retire and things are running smoothly at the office. It is just a good time to turn the reins over to someone else."
Mrs. Mooring, 66, said plans to "just take it easy" for a while and maybe take an extended vacation -- something longer than two days.
She said he plans to help with her grandchildren and other family members.
"That is what happens when you get older, your priorities change," she said.
But she is not ruling out returning to work at some point.
Mrs. Mooring became a certified register of deeds in 2009.
"The laws concerning the register of deeds are changing all the time and you have to keep up with the new laws and attend workshops and seminars in order to better serve the public," she said. "There are seven employees and five of those have their certification as either an assistant or deputy register of deeds. They also must attend workshops every year in order to keep their certification."
Several big projects were completed during Mrs. Mooring's tenure.
One involved redaction of confidential information from images that are on the website. Another was putting all the maps online along with the conversion chart.
Also, all personnel are able to email to a customer any real estate images that are not on the website. Over the last 10 years, the older binders for birth records were replaced as the budget allowed and new shelving was acquired as well.
Marriage certificates from 1878 through 1959 have been preserved as well.
"I have pretty much run out of projects," she joked. "So I will let some new person come in with some new ideas. I feel like I've helped a lot of people along the way."
Mrs. Mooring is a native of the Fremont community and a graduate of Charles B. Aycock High School. Her parents, Louis and Mildred Jordan, were farmers.
She is one of 10 children including a twin sister.
Mrs. Mooring and her husband, Jerry, have two adult daughters, Lori Mozingo and Jenny Wiggins, and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Mooring said she is honored to serve as register of deeds for almost 11 years.
"I want to thank everyone for their help and suggestions along the way," she said. "This is such an interesting office -- never boring. There are still plenty of projects to do, but I'll let the new registrar determine their importance and priority for Wayne County.
"Keep in mind your opinions matter in this office. Let the registrar know your opinions. This will help them structure things better for the public."