County's new register of deeds takes oath of office
By Steve Herring
Published in News on October 21, 2015 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/STEVE HERRING
Judy Denning Harrison, left foreground, is sworn in this morning by Judge Charlie Gaylor as register for the Wayne County Register of Deeds office. Holding the Bible is Frances Hare Wiggs, a longtime friend and former co-worker of Mrs. Harrison. Mrs. Harrison was appointed to the post Tuesday morning by Wayne County commissioners to complete the unexpired term of Lois Mooring, who retired on Sept. 30.
Judy Denning Harrison was sworn in this morning as register for the Wayne County Register of Deeds office.
Mrs. Harrison, a 31-year veteran of that office, was appointed Tuesday morning by Wayne County commissioners to complete the unexpired term of Lois Mooring, who retired on Sept. 30.
"Feb. 15, 1984, I started here and my goal that day was what you just gave me, and I have worked very hard to get there," Mrs. Harrison told commissioners following their unanimous vote making the appointment. "I thank you so very much."
There is one year remaining in the term, and Mrs. Harrison said she will run for the office in 2016.
Mrs. Harrison, surrounded by family, friends and co-workers, was administered the oath by Judge Charlie Gaylor in Courtroom No. 1.
Friend and longtime co-worker Frances Hare Wiggs, who is now retired, held the Bible for Mrs. Harrison.
Gaylor said being asked to preside over the ceremony "ranks right at the top" of duties that he enjoys.
"This lady who is about to be sworn in as register of deeds is someone I have known my entire professional career," Gaylor said. "During that entire time that I have known her, she has just exemplified the attributes that you need for a public official in Wayne County or any county to be blessed enough to have her.
"I guarantee you, your register of deeds has never been in better hands than it will be with Judy Harrison as your register of deeds. I say that from experience and knowing her both professionally and as a good friend as well."
Mrs. Harrison said she could not have asked for a better person to administer the oath of office to her.
"I do plan to continue with the service that we have given since I have been working in the register of deeds office for the past 31 years," she said.
Since Mrs. Mooring, a Democrat, was elected in a partisan election, state law required that commissioners consult with the party's executive committee before filling the vacancy.
The law requires that commissioners appoint the committee's recommendation if it is made within 30 days of the vacancy.
In a letter to County Manager George Wood, Wayne County Democratic Party Chairman Ernestine Wooten said the party's executive committee met on Thursday, Oct. 15, and selected Mrs. Harrison as its nominee.
Mrs. Harrison and Constance Coram, a former employee of the office, were the only two candidates for the appointment.
"Those were the only two who came to me," Mrs. Wooten said. "It was not unanimous. But Judy, it was quite clear that she was the winner. It was not close."
A native of the Grantham community, Mrs. Harrison, 64, is a 1969 graduate of Southern Wayne High School at Dudley. She received a degree in business administration from King's Business College in Raleigh and her medical office assistant degree from Lenoir-Greene Community College.
She received her assistant register of deed certification from Institute of Government at UNC at Chapel Hill -- the first such certification in the county.
Mrs. Harrison is a lifelong Wayne County Democrat. Her parents were active in the party, and Mrs. Harrison attended events with them from childhood.
At age 5 she was handing out cards for local Democratic candidates, she said.
"From that time I have worked in some capacity for a Democratic candidate in every election," she wrote in her candidacy letter to Mrs. Wooten. "When I was a junior in high school, I ran the Wayne County Democratic Headquarters in Goldsboro on Saturdays during the primary and major election."
Mrs. Harrison is currently serving her second consecutive term as president of the Wayne County Democratic Women and is a founding member of the Wayne County Senior Democrats and its organizing committee.
She is a member of the nominating committee of District 8 for the Democratic Women of North Carolina, the North Carolina Victory Fund and Democratic National Committee.
She currently serves as precinct chairman for Precinct 24.
"I started working for Margaret Peacock, and I worked for Deborah Lane," she said. "I worked for John Chance and Lois Mooring. John and Lois hadn't ever worked in this office so I had trained them."
There have been "slight differences" in the office over the years, Mrs. Harrison said.
"But basically what we are about is providing good services to the citizens of Wayne County, and we try to be efficient, nice and friendly and get what they need," Mrs. Harrison said. "That is never going to change as long as this staff is here."
Mrs. Peacock was a "great" role model, Mrs. Harrison said.
"I learned a lot from all of the registrars," she said. "I must say that Mrs. Peacock taught me a lot about life and how to interact with others and get what you did done and be nice.
"I do believe we have the best register of deeds office in the state of North Carolina, and I think it always has been. We have a great staff. They are very helpful to the people who come in. Our duty and our pleasure is to serve the citizens of Wayne County."